GOD IS OUR PROTECTOR Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Psalm 119:114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. Psalm 16:8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED, AND RECEIVED FROM THIS REFRESHER. MAY GOD CONTINUE PROTECTING, AND BLESSING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FAITH OVER FEELING Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Hebrews 10:19–23 Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of Jesus we can now confidently go into the holy place. Jesus has opened a new and living way for us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.) We have a superior priest in charge of God’s house. We have been sprinkled ⸤with his blood⸥ to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come ⸤to him⸥ with a sincere heart and strong faith. We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy. Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don’t use tricks, and we don’t distort God’s word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our ⸤letter of⸥ recommendation. So if the Good News that we tell others is covered with a veil, it is hidden from those who are dying. The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. As a result, they don’t see the light of the Good News about Christ’s glory. It is Christ who is God’s image. Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake. We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about God’s glory which shines from Christ’s face. Feeling always seeks something in itself; faith keeps itself occupied with what Jesus is.… Forget not that the faith, of which God’s word speaks so much, stands not only in opposition to works, but also in opposition to feeling, and therefore that for a pure life of faith you must cease to seek your salvation, not only in works, but also in faith. Therefore let faith always speak against feeling. When feeling says, “In myself, I am sinful; I am dark; I am weak; I am poor; I am sad,” let faith say, “In Christ, I am holy; I am light; I am strong; I am rich; I am joyful.” I HOPE YOU RECEIVED GREATLY FROM THIS REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD TEACHES US ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Proverbs 18:24 Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family. Proverbs 19:6 Many try to win the kindness of a generous person, and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts. Proverbs 22:24–25 Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, and never keep company with a hothead, or you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself. Psalm 1:1–2 Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD and reflects on his teachings day and night. 2 Corinthians 6:14–18 Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness? Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever? Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.” The Lord Almighty says, “I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.” BE ALERT, BE CAREFUL HOW YOU CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS, AND BE ALERT AS TO WHY OTHERS CHOOSE YOU TO BE THEIR FRIEND. ALLOW GOD TO GUIDE YOUR FOOTSTEPS, ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
LET US NOT FORGET WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Deuteronomy 6:12 GW be careful that you don’t forget the Lord , who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. LET US NOT FORGET THE GOD THAT BROUGHT US OUT OF SLAVERY. SOME OF US WERE IN SLAVERY TO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, DEPRESSION, FOOD, FEAR, ETC. LET US NOT FORGET THE GOD THAT FREED US FROM THE BONDAGE WE WERE IN. LET US GIVE GOD A BIG THANK YOU. 2 Corinthians 9:8 GNT And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. WE CAN DEPEND ON GOD TO TAKE CARE OF US, ARE GOD IS ABLE. Psalms 55:22 GW Turn your burdens over to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. PASTOR: ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Pay.Pal.me/donatetochurch
LIVE A GODLY LIFE Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Galatians 5:26 ESV Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. LET US LIVE OUR LIFE ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD, AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Reverence towards God expresses itself in the actions, as well as the words and worship of believers. True reverence for God leads to obedience towards him. Reverence in worship is expressed in bodily attitudes. Psalm 95:6 Come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel in front of the LORD, our maker, Exodus 12:27 you must answer, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in the LORD’s honor. The LORD passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he killed the Egyptians.’ Then the people knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground. Prostration: Genesis 17:3 Immediately, Abram bowed with his face touching the ground, and again God spoke to him, Numbers 14:5 Immediately, Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces touching the ground in front of the whole community of Israel assembled there. Revelation 5:14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the leaders bowed and worshiped. Kneeling: Ezra 9:5 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my misery, and with my clothes torn, I knelt down, stretched out my hands to the LORD my God in prayer, SELF-CHECK: DO I REALLY LOVE GOD? DO I SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD? HOW DO I SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD? AM I EMBARRASSED TO SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD IN PUBLIC? I HOPE YOU RECEIVED GREATLY FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
Except Ye Abide Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. —John 15:4 We all know the meaning of the word except. It expresses some indispensable condition, some inevitable law. “The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” There is only one way for the branch to bear fruit; there is no other possibility—it must abide in unbroken communion with the vine. Not of itself, but only of the vine, does the fruit come. Christ had already said, “Abide in me.” In nature, the branch teaches us the lesson so clearly. It is such a wonderful privilege to be called and allowed to abide in the heavenly Vine. One might have thought it needless to add these words of warning. But no—Christ knows so well how much a renunciation of self this “Abide in me” implies. He knows how strong and universal the tendency would be to seek to bear fruit by our own efforts. He realizes how difficult it would be to get us to believe that actual, continuous abiding in Him is an absolute necessity! He insists upon the truth: “Of itself” the branch cannot bear fruit; “except it abide,” it cannot bear fruit. “No more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” But must this be taken literally? Must I, as exclusively, manifestly, unceasingly, and absolutely as the branch abides in the vine, be equally given up to find my whole life in Christ alone? I must indeed. The “except ye abide” is as universal as the “except it abide.” The “no more can ye” allows no exception or modification. If I am to be a true branch, if I am to bear fruit, and if I am to be what Christ as Vine wants me to be, my whole existence must be as exclusively devoted to abiding in Him as the natural branch is to abiding in its vine. Let me learn the lesson. Abiding is to be an act of the will and the whole heart. Just as there are degrees in seeking and serving God—from “not with a perfect heart” (2 Chronicles 25:2) to “with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2)—so there may be degrees in abiding. In regeneration, the divine life enters us. But, it does not all at once master and fill our whole being. This comes as a matter of command and obedience. There is unspeakable danger of our not giving ourselves with our whole heart to abide. There is unspeakable danger of our giving ourselves to work for God—to bear fruit—but doing so with little of the true abiding, the wholehearted losing of ourselves in Christ and His life. There is unspeakable danger of much work but little fruit, for lack of this vital relationship. We must allow the words, “not…of itself,” “except it abide,” to do their work of searching and exposing. They must prune and cleanse all that there is of self-will and self-confidence in our life. This will deliver us from this great evil, and so prepare us for His teaching, giving the full meaning of the word in us: “Abide in me, and I in you.” Our blessed Lord desires to call us away from ourselves and our own strength and draw us to Himself and His strength. Let us accept the warning and turn with great fear and self-distrust to Him to do His work. Our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3)! That life is a heavenly mystery, hidden from the wise even among Christians, and revealed to the babes. The childlike spirit learns that life is given from heaven every day and every moment to the soul that accepts the teaching, “not…of itself,” “except it abide,” and seeks its all in the Vine. Abiding in the Vine then comes to be nothing more or less than the restful surrender of the soul to let Christ have all and work all—as completely as in nature, the branch knows and seeks nothing but the vine. Abide in Me. I have heard, my Lord, that with every command You also give the power to obey. With Your “rise and walk,” the lame man leaped. I accept Your word, “Abide in me,” as a word of power, that gives power. Even now I say, Yes, Lord, I will, I do abide in You. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. DO YOU ABIDE IN GOD? ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE YOUR ALL TO GOD? PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT HUSBANDS Should have but one wife. Genesis 2:24 That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh. Have authority over their wives. 1 Corinthians 11:3 However, I want you to realize that Christ has authority over every man, a husband has authority over his wife, and God has authority over Christ. Duty of, to wives To respect them. 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as those who share God’s life-giving kindness so that nothing will interfere with your prayers. To love them. Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be harsh with them. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR DAUGHTERS NO WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A HUSBAND. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR SONS KNOW HOW TO BE A HUSBAND. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch
ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TODAY, BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE TODAY, AND EVERYDAY. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com We are encouraged through encouraging others. It’s in the Bible, Romans 1:11-12, TLB. “For I long to visit you so that I can impart to you the faith that will help your church grow strong in the Lord. Then, too, I need your help, for I want not only to share my faith with you but to be encouraged by yours: Each of us will be a blessing to the other.” Consistently encourage new believers. It’s in the Bible, Acts 14:21-22, TLB. “They helped the believers to grow in love for God and each other. They encouraged them to continue in the faith in spite of all the persecution, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.” ENCOURAGE SOMEONE, BE A BLESSING. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
“I Can’t Stop Thinking about What I’ve Done” Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (Ps. 51:3) The enemies of your soul are not only relentless but also dishonest. They play both sides of sin against you. First, they flood your mind and inflame your heart with nonstop temptation, promising that if you’ll just give in, then your life will be better than you could imagine. Then, when you do give in and enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin (see Heb. 11:25), they flood you with a different barrage. This time, the thoughts that you can’t get away from run along such lines as “How could you? Look at what you’ve done. You know better. You call yourself a Christian? God couldn’t possibly love you.” Your heart is heavy. There’s no joy in the world, and everything looks bleak. That’s what God’s enemies do. They provoke you in order to goad you toward a destructive cliff. Then, when you take the bait and plunge over the edge, they stand there accusing you of your failure just as loudly as they once urged you toward it. King David has been there. The man after God’s own heart (see 1 Sam. 13:14) became infatuated with another man’s wife. He couldn’t get her out of his mind, invited her over, slept with her, made a baby with her, and then murdered her husband so he could marry her in order to cover it all up. For a time, it looked like he’d gotten away with it. But when God confronted him about it through the prophet Nathan, David couldn’t get out of his mind what he’d done. “My sin is ever before me”—can you hear how keenly aware he is of it? There’s no escape from it. He sees it everywhere he goes, and he hates it. What once was not a big deal now haunts him. But while the problem consumes his mind and his heart, he doesn’t stay locked up inside himself. That would be foolish. Since his mind and heart got him into trouble, they won’t be much help in getting him out. And so he doesn’t keep trying to deal with the mess or to figure out how to make things right on his own. Instead, he runs to God. He doesn’t go to God in order to hear the same thoughts that come from within him—the thoughts that accuse and condemn him. Instead he goes to God for mercy (see Ps. 51:1), for compassion (see v. 1), for cleansing (see v. 2), for a clean heart (see vv. 7, 10), for God’s renewed presence in his life (see vv. 11–12) and for freedom from guilt (see v. 14) so that he can praise God once again (see v. 15). He goes to God not on the strength of what he could do to make things right with God (see v. 16) but on the strength of what God does to make things right between David and himself (see vv. 7–12) according to God’s unfailing love (see v. 1). The presence of sin in David’s life doesn’t drive him to doubt God’s love; it drives him to seek the God who loves him. THINK ABOUT IT. What does the ugliness of David’s sin tell you about the greatness of God’s grace? What does the goodness that David experiences tell you about God’s longing to restore things between himself and his people? You can grow in confidence only by experiencing this grace—so, like David, let the sin that is ever before you drive you to God rather than away from him. Use David’s prayer in Psalm 51 to frame your own. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU ARE ALLOWING TO PLANT SEEDS INTO YOUR MIND, DON’T ALLOW YOUR SINS TO CAUSE YOU TO RUN AWAY FROM GOD, ALLOW YOUR SINS TO CAUSE YOU TO RUN TO GOD. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM J EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD PayPal.me/donatetochurch
