The Star of Bethlehem Appears Mt. 2:1-10 describes a nature miracle. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. After Jesus’ birth wise menfrom the east arrived in Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the one who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to worship him.” When King Herod and all Jerusalem heard about this, they became disturbed. He called together all the chief priests and the experts in the Scriptures and tried to find out from them where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this: Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. A leader will come from you. He will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called the wise men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. As he sent them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you have found him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too.” After they had heard the king, they started out. The star they had seen rising led them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were overwhelmed with joy to see the star. This miracle was performed by God on a star. It benefitted the Magi. OUR GOD STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES TODAY. OUR GOD IS STILL WILLING TO GUIDE OUR LIFE IF WE WILL ALLOW HIM. OUR GOD STILL PROTECTS US SAME AS HE PROTECTED JESUS. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS Isaiah 7:14 So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel [God Is With Us]. Matthew 1:18–25 The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: His mother Mary had been promised to Joseph in marriage. But before they were married, Mary realized that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph was an honorable man and did not want to disgrace her publicly. So he decided to break the marriage agreement with her secretly. Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins.” All this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: “The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife. He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus. Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they took offense at him. Luke 1:26–38 Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favorwith God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God. “Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child. But nothing is impossible for God.” Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.” Then the angel left her. Galatians 4:4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son ⸤into the world⸥. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of the laws given to Moses. THANKING GOD FOR JESUS, GLOOORRRY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! CHECK YOURSELF, DO YOU BELIEVE? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
“No Repentance Is Too Late” Matthew 3:2 “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” Mark 1:15 He said, “The time has come, and God’s kingdom is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News.” Luke 24:47 Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem. Acts 2:38 Peter answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. Acts 3:19 So change the way you think and act and turn ⸤to God⸥ to have your sins removed. Acts 17:30 “God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. To him who still remains in this world no repentance is too late. The approach to God’s mercy is open, and the access is easy to those who seek and apprehend the truth. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO COME TO GOD. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS AND COME TO GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
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“No One Is Strong in His Own Strength” Deuteronomy 8:17–18 You may say to yourselves, “I became wealthy because of my own ability and strength.” But remember the LORD your God is the one who makes you wealthy. He’s confirming the promise which he swore to your ancestors. It’s still in effect today. Matthew 26:41 Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.” 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me. Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong. 1 Corinthians 1:25 God’s nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Since we are hindered by the devil from obeying with our thought and deed God’s will in all things, we pray and ask that God’s will may be done in us. And that it may be done in us we have need of God’s good will, that is, of His help and protection, since no one is strong in his own strength, but he is safe by the grace and mercy of God. WE NEED GOD, THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
“I See More and More Sin Every Time I Look” I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isa. 6:5) When many people start to follow Christ, they see a few things in their lives that need to be straightened out—things they have tried to deal with or even things that they’ve resisted admitting were a problem. Once the Spirit of God breaks through, they can finally confess their sins, feel forgiven, and be filled with joy. They then throw themselves into the life of the church, learning, growing, and sharing … but, over time, something unexpected happens. They start to discover areas of weakness or stubbornness that they didn’t know they had. Their Scripture-reading convicts them of something they had thought was okay. They hear their small-group leader or pastor talk about something that they never considered to be a problem. They rub shoulders with people who have walked with Christ for a long time, people who exude real kindness and gentleness and compassion and courage, and they’re embarrassed by their own lack of these qualities. It’s strange—being with God and his people starts to make them feel like they’re becoming worse, not better. Ever felt like that? As weird as that is, it’s normal. As you come closer to holiness, your wickedness becomes more obvious. That’s true not just for you and me, but for all God’s people. When Isaiah—one of God’s greatest prophets—saw God, he immediately concluded that he was so unholy that he had no hope. Seeing God did not produce sin in Isaiah. It showed him the ugliness of what was already there. Despite being a prophet—one who took God’s words on his lips—he confessed that his lips were unclean. But he had previously had no idea of this. Hear this the right way, and it will set you free: you also have no idea. You haven’t begun to see the least part of your problem. And I haven’t, either. I’m still on the front end of seeing my participation in evil for what it is. I now see whole new depths of things in me that are repulsive. Things that God has always been aware of but that I have not. How is that helpful? It’s helpful because the God who has always seen clearly has already crafted a solution that meets all our needs at every level. It’s the altar that stands before him (see Isa. 6:6). More specifically, it’s the sacrifice on the altar. That sacrifice, which anticipates Christ offering himself on the cross, doesn’t merely purify the flawed prophet’s lips but transforms them so that they can proclaim the message of the King (see Isa. 6:6–8). Spend time in that King’s presence, and you’ll see your unrighteousness more clearly. At times you will feel like you are lost. But look beyond yourself to him, and you’ll see his forward-looking grace both anticipating and meeting your need. Yes, mourn your failings; but go beyond them, as well, and celebrate his proactive response to them—a response that lets you stand joyfully in his presence. If God doesn’t expect you to pay for your sin or want you to be crushed by it, why does he show you more of it? Are you moved yet to celebrate his desire to free you from it? The next time your failures threaten to demoralize you, remind yourself that God has already provided in Christ everything that you need to be cleansed from the sin that you now see and from all that you ever will see. ALLOW THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL TO YOUR LIFE. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
“Faith Starts Prayer to Work” Romans 5:1–5 Now that we have God’s approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Hebrews 4:16 So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time. Mark 11:22–25 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures.” Faith starts prayer to work—clears the way to the mercy-seat. It gives assurance, first of all, that there is a mercy-seat, and that there the High Priest awaits the prayers and the pray-ers. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Much Fruit He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. —John 15:5 Our Lord has spoken of fruit and more fruit. He now adds the thought: “much fruit.” There is in the Vine such fullness—the care of the divine Husbandman is so sure of success—that the much fruit is not a demand. It is the simple promise of what must come to the branch that lives in the double abiding—he in Christ, and Christ in him. “The same bringeth forth much fruit.” It is certain. Have you ever noticed the difference, in the Christian life, between work and fruit? A machine can do work: only life can bear fruit. A law can compel work: only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. Work implies effort and labor: the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent, natural, restful produce of our inner life. The gardener may labor to give his apple tree the digging and manuring, the watering and the pruning it needs. But he can do nothing to produce the apple. The tree bears its own fruit. Likewise, in the Christian life, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22). The healthy life bears much fruit. The connection between work and fruit is perhaps best seen in the expression, “fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). It is only when good works come as the fruit of the indwelling Spirit that they are acceptable to God. Under the compulsion of law and conscience, or the influence of inclination and zeal, men may be most diligent in good works. And yet, they find that they have little spiritual result. There can be no reason except this—their works are man’s effort, instead of being the fruit of the Spirit. They do not know the restful, natural outcome of the Spirit’s operation within them. Let all workers come and listen to our holy Vine as He reveals the law of sure and abundant fruitfulness, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” The gardener cares for one thing—the strength and healthy life of his tree. The fruit follows of itself. If you want to bear fruit, see that the inner life is perfectly right, that your relationship to Christ Jesus is clear and close. Begin each day with Him in the morning, to know in truth that you are abiding in Him and He in you. Christ tells us that nothing less will do. It is not your willing and running, it is not by your might or strength, but “by my Spirit, saith the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). Meet each new engagement, undertake every new work, with your ears and heart open to the Master’s voice, “He that abideth in me…beareth much fruit.” You see to the abiding; He will see to the fruit, for He will give it in you and through you. O my brethren, it is Christ who must do all! The Vine provides the sap, the life, and the strength. The branch waits, rests, receives, and bears the fruit. Oh, the blessedness of being only branches, through whom the Spirit flows and brings God’s life to men! I pray you, take time and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to realize the unspeakably solemn place you occupy in the mind of God. He has planted you into His Son with the calling and the power to bear “much fruit.” Accept that place. Look always to God, and to Christ, and joyfully expect to be what God has planned to make you—a fruitful branch. Much fruit! So be it, blessed Lord Jesus. It can be, for You are the Vine. It will be, for I am abiding in You. It must be, for Your Father is the Husbandman who cleanses the branch. Yes, much fruit, out of the abundance of Your grace. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK STUDY. DID YOU FIND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL? PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
CHECK YOURSELF Jeremiah 17:10 ESV “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” OH, YOU MAY TRICK AND DECEIVE MAN, BUT GOD SEARCHES YOUR HEART, AND MIND. REMEMBER YOU WILL RECEIVE A REWARD, OR PUNISHMENT FROM GOD. THINK ABOUT IT. PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Believer Goes to Be with Christ. 2 Cor. 5:6, “Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” Phil. 1:23, “But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better.” The experience (death-sleep) through which the believer passes ushers him at once into the presence of Christ. It takes him instantly to be “at home” with the Lord. Surely there can be no hint of unconsciousness or the sleeping of the soul in these words. It would seem from Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:1–5 that some kind of spiritual body is given to the believer during the period of his waiting for the resurrection body. What Paul longs for is not to be in a bodiless state, but to put on another body which shall not be subject to death. “At home with the Lord”—that is what “death” (?) means to the believer. FOOD FOR THOUGHT PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
LIVE A GODLY LIFE Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Christians should live completely for God, not patterning their lives after the world. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” SELF-CHECK: WHO DOES PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY SEE YOU? DO THEY SEE GOD OR DO THEY SEE THE WORLD? THINK ABOUT IT. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
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