Today, our first story is about the ten dollar bill pictured above. This ten dollar bill got into circulation and did a lot of good. It helped buy food for some needy orphans. It helped buy shoes for some poor souls. It helped pay the rent for an elderly woman to avoid eviction. It even showed up in the collection plate at church one Sunday. But these good deeds did not save the ten dollar bill when it fell into the hands of a bank teller who burned it up because it was a counterfeit.
Friends, learn a lesson from this ten dollar bill. All our good deeds will not save us. In order to pass inspection by God, be saved, and avoid the lake of fire, we need to claim Jesus as our God. Jesus said at John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Friends reading this don't end up like this ten dollar bill burning in a lake of fire without Jesus and only good works. The bible tells us about a rich unsaved young ruler who did many good works but was not willing to sell everything and follow Jesus. As a result this rich young ruler did not get saved and is lost forever in hell without Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Jesus as God). and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Also, Titus 3:5 says Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Friend reading this anywhere, get saved now, repent and stop sinning, make Jesus your God, and believe daily that Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again.
Alright poem time again. Let's learn a lesson from the two pictures above of a cork and a whale. As you read the poem below, remember to rise above troubles around us daily say I am crucified with Christ and covered by the blood of Jesus. Let the devil know when any problem is placed on the cross of Jesus by faith, it is destroyed because the blood of Jesus has overcome the devil, evil must pass over me, and our sins are cleansed and forgotten forevermore. Don't let no devil or any person keep you down and discouraged. With Jesus we are winners. Jesus said at John 16:33 In me ye might have peace; In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
THE CORK AND THE WHALE
A little brown cork fell into the path of a whale
who lashed it down with his angry tail
But in spite of its blows
It quickly arose
And floated serenely before his nose
Said the cork to the whale
You may flap and sputter and frown
but you never never can keep me down
For I'm made of the stuff that is buoyant enough
to float instead of to drown
In Jesus name, let's all be like this little cork and not let anyone or anything keep us down and discouraged. I claim in Jesus name anyone who reads this will rise above their troubles and be healed. Remember we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us. Proverbs 24:16 tells us For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
THE DANDELION
OK, our next story is about the dandelions in the picture above. Dandelions have a peculiarity that can teach saints how to overcome the troubles of this world. You can't keep a good dandelion down. It will always rise up above the grass, weeds, thorns, and thistles to behold the sunshine and our Lord Jesus. The dandelions say friends reading this all over this earth, remember Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass (troubles in the world around us), then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (Jesus) draweth nigh.
Just go outside and look at the dandelions. If the grass is one inch high, the dandelion will come up two inches; If the grass grows 4 inches high, the dandelion grows 5; If the grass is 10 inches high, the dandelion comes up 11 inches.
Why? It's because dandelions never stay down under their circumstances. Like the dandelions, saints must always rise above our circumstances (the weeds, thorns, and thistle troubles of this world) to behold the glorious sunshine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Remember with Jesus as God in our lives tell the devil and all his troubles I am far above you where nothing can by any means harm me. Ephesians 1:21 promises that with Jesus as our God we are far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Jesus also promised us at Luke 10:19 that nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Alright, my final story is about a preacher named Mack Hodge who climbed the path pictured above to preach a sermon at the church on the top of the hill. As Mack climbed the path it began to rain and Mack wanted to go home and not preach. But God told him to keep climbing and preach to whoever was at the church.
When Mack entered the church, there was only a grandfather with his five year old son. Mack was faithful and told the grandfather and little boy how to get saved and go to heaven. He told them to repent, stop sinning, make Jesus God of their lives, and believe daily that Jesus died for them, was buried, and rose again.
As Mack left the church, it began raining harder. As Mack went down the path in the rain, he shook his head and said God why did you have me walk through the rain to preach to just a grandfather and a little kid? Mack didn't get any money and felt this was a waste of time.
Well, thirty years later, Mack got a letter in the mail from the five year old little boy who was now an adult soldier in the army. The letter said, Dear Mr. Hodge, thank you for being faithful and walking up a path in the rain to preach to my grandfather and myself and teach us about the Lord Jesus. Because of you Mr. Hodge, I got saved and gave my life to the Lord Jesus. Jesus has saved me from many troubles as a soldier and I've led thousands to know about our Lord Jesus. May Jesus bless you for your faithfulness and determination to win souls to our Lord Jesus. As Mack read this letter, he rejoiced and told this story many times wherever he preached.
Friends remember James 5:20 tell us that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. Saints we must care about lost sinners in this world and remember Jude 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference; And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Also, Proverbs 11:30 says The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
To give your life purpose and avoid a wasted life, win souls to our Lord Jesus. Remember Luke 15:10 tells us there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Don't worry about the number of souls you win. Jesus rejoices in the presence of the angels when we win just one soul to Jesus. And keep working for Jesus trying to win souls like Noah who preached 120 years and won no souls outside of his family. This did not discourage Noah who kept working for God by building the ark. Let's all be like Noah and keep working for Jesus (even when lost sinners reject us) telling lost sinners how to be saved. Jesus will reward any saint who wins souls and allows Jesus to save multitudes from hell and the lake of fire.
SOME MORE BLESSED SAYINGS TO MAKE YOU SMILE
1) A wife said to her husband; Why do you say Amen in church instead of Awoman? The husband replied because you sing hymns and not hers.
2) A fortune teller told a preacher, Let me tell you your future. The preacher replied, No let me tell you your future. You're gonna burn in hell and the lake of fire unless you repent and make Jesus your God.
3) What money did they have on Noah's ark? The skunk brought in a scent, the frog brought in a green back, the duck brought in a bill, and the doe brought in a buck.
As always, it is a blessing to write these bible studies. 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. Until we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day.
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