Why Did Paul And Silas Return To Jail?

     Today, let's learn a story about Paul and Silas pictured above who were cast into prison for preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Acts 16:23 says And when they had laid many stripes upon them (Paul and Silas), they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them.

     Acts 16:26 goes on to say And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every ones's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, Do thyself no harm for we are all here.

     Finally, let's read what happened to the jailer at Acts 16:29 that says Then he (the jailer) called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

     Notice the four miracles that occurred in this story: First Paul and Silas were rejoicing at midnight, then the prisoners were released by an earthquake, next the prisoners were restrained by the power of God, and finally the jailer was regenerated and got gloriously saved.

     Alright, let's continue the story and see what happened to Paul and Silas after the jailer submitted to the Lord Jesus in the first picture above. Acts 16:32 says And they (Paul and Silas) spake unto him (the jailer) the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he (the jailer) took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway in the second picture above. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

     Now think about this. An earthquake sent by God set Paul and Silas free from jail. The jailer and his family got saved and gave Paul and Silas a blessed meal of baked chicken, mashed potatos, and cornbread. Silas probably told Paul, our work is finished at Philippi; Jesus set us free from jail; the jailer and his family are saved; and we've had a blessed meal of chicken with all the good fixins; Paul let's leave and go to the next city to preach.

     But the bible goes on to say that sometime between midnight and sunrise, Paul and Silas returned to the philippian jail cell. I could see Paul telling Silas we're going back to jail. Silas probably responded, Paul are you crazy; Jesus set us free and you want to go back to jail. Then Paul explained to Silas that they needed to go back to jail or the jailer (now their brother in Christ) would be killed for allowing the prisoners to escape. As a result,  Paul and Silas willingly submitted themselves to reincarceration.

     Friend reading this anywhere think about how Paul and Silas truly showed the love of Jesus to the jailer. Wow, they were willing to suffer and go back to jail to save the jailer's life. As a result, Paul and Silas were freed from prison by the magistrates and the jailer's life was spared. What are we as christians willing to do to help a brother or sister in trouble and even our enemies? 1 John 3:16 tells us Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He (Jesus) laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

     Pictured above we see the actual Philippian jail where Paul and Silas were reincarcerated to save the jailer's life. Acts 16:35 speaks about this saying And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants saying, Let these men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul. the magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore depart, and go in peace. Acts 16:40 goes on to say And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

     Wow, we see that Paul and Silas willingly returned to jail between midnight and daylight to save their brother in the Lord (the jailer's life). As a result, the jailer's life was spared, as the magistrates allowed Paul and Silas to depart Philippi in peace. Let us all be like Paul and Silas and deny our flesh to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord along with our enemies. Jesus said at Luke 9:23 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

     Now friend reading this anywhere, what are you willing to do to help your brothers and sisters in Christ along with your enemies? Paul and Silas were willing to return to a jail cell to save their brother the jailer. Now think about this: The greatest act of love was when our Lord Jesus Christ willingly submitted to dying on the cross to save a wretched sinner like you and me. And friends, Brother Bob says along with the apostle Paul, I am the chief of all sinners, and if Jesus can save this chief, Jesus can save all the Indians (be blessed all my friends in India that read these bible studies) and all of Brother Bob's friends and enemies all over this earth. Friends everywhere right now get saved and repent, stop sinning, confess Jesus as your God, believing that Jesus died for you, was buried, and rose again.

     To conclude this bible study below are several examples of saints that were willing to deny themselves like Paul and Silas to bless and save lost souls. In the first picture we see Philip who denied popularity and fame by leaving a crowded revival in Samaria to preach to one Ethiopian eunuch in the desert of Gaza. Philip remembered what Jesus said at Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. He also remembered how Noah kept preaching 120 years about the Lord, as he daily worked on the ark, even though no one got saved outside of his family.

     And in the second picture we see again where Paul denied his flesh and obeyed the Spirit by traveling to Macedonia instead of his own destination at Bithynia. Acts 16:7 says After they were come to Mysia, they (Paul and his disciples) assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

     Let's all be like Paul and seek Jesus for direction daily in our lives. Philippians 4:6 says Be careful for nothing (don't worry about anything), but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Friends let's take this advice, pray first about any request, then wait for the peace of God before you move to a destination. If a request to travel to a place is resisted by God with no peace, avoid that place. Remember if we just move without praying and seeking the Spirit's direction, it is usually the wrong move.

      OK, below are some more examples of people in the bible who were like Paul and Silas and denied their flesh to bless their brothers and sisters in the Lord along with their enemies. Jonah denied his flesh and was willing to preach to his Ninevite enemies. The Ninevites repented at his 8 word sermon Yet forty days and Ninevah shall be overthrown. The disciples denied their flesh and were willing to take Jesus through a storm in a boat to a lost man at Gadera in the tombs who got saved after Jesus cast out a legion demon. Friend reading this anywhere, are you willing to take Jesus through the troubles of this world to reach lost sinners all over this earth? Lord Jesus give us all boldness to preach Jesus to lost sinners at Walmarts, Targets, Krogers, Piggly Wiggly's, and Cracker Barrel restaurants.

     I had to add the following blessed sayings. An elderly husband and wife were in a nursing home. The husband told his wife, I'm blessed by you; The wife said Eh, The husband said louder I'm blessed by you; The wife said I didn't get it; Then the husband said even louder, I'm blessed by you, The wife said I've had enough of you too.

     And think about this: King Solomon premiered with wisdom, peaked with wealth, and perished with women. And the life of Belshazzar can be summed up in three words: revelry, revelation, and retribution.

     Be blessed everyone in Jesus name. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day.  

The Children Of Korah Died Not

     For today's lesson, let's learn about three men named Korah, Dathan, and Abiram pictured above who along with 250 renowned princes rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Notice that the children of Korah are not pictured above and refused to fight with their daddy against Moses and Aaron. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram wanted to be priests like Aaron and not just work in the service of the tabernacle with the Levites.

     The bible says at Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation (with Dathan and Abiram) against them (Moses and Aaron) unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation. Then God told Moses at Numbers 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

     Numbers 16:26 goes on to say And he (Moses) spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. (Notice that only Dathan and Abiram with their wives, sons, and children came out of their tents to resist Moses and Aaron; the children of Korah were not listed because they refused to agree with their father's rebellion against Moses and Aaron).

     Pictured above we see what happened to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and just the children of Dathan and Abiram (not the children of Korah) because they fought against Moses and Aaron. The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and they went down alive in their shirttails to the pit of hell as the earth closed upon them. Wow, what a way to leave this earth. Reminds me of how the beast and the false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire by our Lord Jesus.

     Numbers 16:32 says And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah (notice again that the children of Korah did not die; only the men that agreed with Korah died), and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit (hell), and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

     According to the above scripture Korah is in hell forevermore and can not escape from hell. This is because there is a great gulf fixed between hell and heaven that can not be crossed. After someone dies and leaves this earth they are either in heaven or hell. There is no purgatory where someone has a second chance to get saved. When any soul is in hell, they are in hell tormented forevermore with no second chance to get saved. Friend reading this anywhere, get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. 

     The bible says at 2 Corinthians 6:2 I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Right now and not tomorrow is the time to get saved. You might not have a mind to accept Jesus tomorrow. What matters is what you do with Jesus today now in this life. Where the tree falls is where it lands.

     If anyone leaves this earth saved, they go to heaven. If anyone leaves this earth denying that Jesus is God and rejecting Jesus (currently the Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, and Jews), they burn in hell forevermore. I know this sounds harsh but it is the truth. Jesus said at John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Also note that just being a Jew won't save you. Korah was a Jew and went to hell. Hallelujah Brother Bob also was an orthodox Jew but Brother Bob has repented, believes that Jesus is God, looks daily to the cross, and is saved going to heaven in peace forevermore.

     Also one other interesting note is that since Korah is in hell, we see that the book of Jude places Cain and Balaam also in hell by linking them by the word and with Korah. Jude 11 tells us Woe unto them. for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core (Korah). Korah was one person you did not want to be linked to. But the children of Korah were delivered from the generational curse of Korah and died not.

     Alright, let's talk about today's message titled the children of Korah died not. Rejoice and say Numbers 26:11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. Korah went to hell, but the children of Korah went to heaven and died not. The children of Korah did not appear with Dathan and Abiram's children to resist Moses. Korah's children told their father, daddy we love you but we're not going to disobey God and fight against Moses. I could see these kids telling Korah it's wrong for you as a Levite to also be a priest like Aaron. These children didn't want any part of Korah's sins.

     As a result, Korah went to hell, but the children of Korah got blessed and went to heaven and were delivered from any generational curse. When Korah's children saw their father go down alive into the pit of hell, they said, Thank God we didn't stay with our family and rebel against Moses. As a result, the Lord Jesus rewarded the sons of Korah by dedicating Psalms 42-49 as a memorial written to the sons of Korah forever.

     OK, let's learn about the above picture and what the bible says about deliverance from generational curses; Let's learn why the children of Korah were blessed in heaven while their father Korah was cursed in hell. Deuteronomy 5:9 says Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me (note that the generational curse of the father is only upon the children that hate God and agree with their parent's sins).

     Now keep reading Deuteronomy 5:10 that needs to be read with Deuteronomy 5:9 because it begins with the word And saying And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Note that the thousands of children that love the Lord Jesus and refuse to follow the sins of their parents receive mercy and deliverance from any generational curse.

      When you look at the family tree above, Brother Bob will tell you about his orthodox Jewish relatives who denied that Jesus is God. Brother Bob was like the children of Korah and had ungodly parents. Brother Bob's parents smoked, drank Michelob beer and Jack Daniels whiskey every week, and gambled by playing poker every week. Brother Bob's parents constantly watched television (hellivision) every day and refused to allow a bible to be in the house. Brother Bob lived in this environment for 21 years.

     Brother Bob didn't even know what a bible was until the age of 21. My parents are still living today and I pray in Jesus name daily that they get saved, confess that Jesus is God, and stop sinning. When Brother Bob was 21, he saw angels save his father from drowning in a boat and made Jesus God of his life. Brother Bob went to Kmart and got a bible and read it from cover to cover. My mother cursed over the bible and told Brother Bob to leave their home. Brother Bob chose to live for Jesus and was blessed and delivered from the generational curses of grandparents and great grandparents who rejected the Lord Jesus. Hundreds of my Jewish relatives who rejected Jesus might have gone to hell, but Brother Bob chose to get saved, go to heaven, and make Jesus God of his life like the children of Korah. Hallelujah, Brother Bob decided to be blessed and broke the generational curse from hundreds of his Jewish relatives who rejected the Lord Jesus and went to hell.

     Take time to read what the prophet Ezekial said about deliverance from generational curses. A son is not cursed by his father's sins. The children of Korah were not cursed by their father's sins. A daughter is not cursed by her mother's sins. If a mother is a prostitute and whore, the daughter can be delivered from this generational curse and get saved by making Jesus her God, while she lives a respectable life in a dress like a godly wife in church. It works the other way too. A father is not cursed by his son's sins. And a mother is not cursed by her daughter's sins. The apostle Paul said at Philippians 2:12 that we must all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Each person is responsible for what they do with Jesus on this earth. If a person makes Jesus their God and stops sinning, that person goes to heaven. If a person denies that Jesus is God and keeps on sinning, that person goes to hell.

     Now say aloud and think about Ezekial 18:14 while you rejoice with the picture above; Now, lo, if he (a father) beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like. That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife, Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

     Ezekial 18:17 goes on to say That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

     I also had to add this thought to the bible study. A husband can go to heaven while his wife goes to hell. Lot went to heaven but Lot's wife is in hell because she disobeyed God and looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah. Jude 7 tells us Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt in a city about Sodom and Gomorrha and is in hell where there is the vengeance of eternal fire.

     Finally, note one other bible verse that proves that each person must work out his or her own salvation with fear and trembling. Deuteronomy 24:16 says The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Oh, I also had to add yet another example of a husband who was cursed and a wife who was blessed. Nabal was cursed and died for rejecting King David, but Abigail his wife was blessed and lived because she received King David.

     After writing this bible study we see the need of preaching the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Only Jesus can save a person. I can't make the decision of salvation for my family members and friends. Remember don't judge a person by their family or relatives. I've had a mother totally reject me but her daughter got saved, believed that Jesus is God and blessed Brother Bob. I've also had a son totally reject me threatening to call the sheriff and arrest me, but that son's father was blessed and received Brother Bob believing that Jesus is God. Friends reading this bible study anywhere, keep sending out the Word of God over this internet like Brother Bob so each person can work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Be blessed everyone in Jesus name.

     I pray in Jesus name this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7033. Till we all meet again soon to lift up the Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.