The Great Influence of Christ Philippians 2:1–4 So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. John 1:14 The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth. Matthew 8:20 Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.” Matthew 13:55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary? Aren’t his brothers’ names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.… There never was in this world a life so unpretending, modest, and lowly in its outward form and condition, and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. THINK ABOUT IT. WE NEEDED JESUS. WE NEED JESUS. WE WILL ALWAYS NEED JESUS. PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT GOD’S LOVE God’s love takes many forms throughout Scripture. 1 John 4:8 even refers to God Himself as love. Love could be explained as wanting the best for someone, and that’s exactly what God intends for us. God loves you simply because he loves you. You don’t have to work for his affection. You don’t have to set yourself straight before God can pour out his love over you. 1 John 4:19 – We love because he first loved us. Romans 5:8 – But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 1 John 4:16 – So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT BEING SAVED. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com 1. Originator of our being Saved. The Lord: “Who hath saved us” (2 Tim. 1:9). God saved us and called us to be holy, not because of what we had done, but because of his own plan and kindness. Before the world began, God planned that Christ Jesus would show us God’s kindness. 2. Mediator through whom we are Saved. Christ: “Through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. 3. Cause of our being Saved. Grace: “By grace ye are saved” (Eph. 2:5–8). We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness that saved you.) God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him. He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come. God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. 4. Instrument of being Saved. Faith: “Thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 7:50). Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!” 5. Assurance to those who desire to be saved and those who are. Word of Christ: “These things I say that ye might be saved” (John 5:34). But I don’t depend on human testimony. I’m telling you this to save you. 6. Promise to those who want to be Saved. Prayer: “Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 7. Mission of the Christ and the Gospel. “By which also ye are saved” (1 Cor. 15:2). In addition, you are saved by this Good News if you hold on to the doctrine I taught you, unless you believed it without thinking it over. OUR GOD LOVES US!!! WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE, AND NOT BY ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE. OUR GOD LOVES US. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE SAVED. 1. Saved from the wrath to come—Rom. 5:9. 2. From the curse of a broken law—Gal. 3:10. 3. From the servitude of sin—Rom. 6:16. 4. From the pollution of sin—1 Cor. 6:9, 10. 5. From the corruption of the world—2 Peter 1:4. 6. From the selfishness of self—2 Peter 2:10. Saved 1. To relationship with God—John 1:12. 2. To eternal life—John 3:36. 3. To newness of life—Rom. 6:4. 4. To holiness of character—Rom. 6:22. 5. To pureness of heart—Matt. 5:8. 6. To the love of Christ—2 Cor. 5:14. 7. To righteousness of conduct—Rom. 14:17. 8. To sweetness of temper—Eph. 4:31, 32. 9. To victory over Satan—Rev. 12:11. 10. To saving others—Jude 23. THANKING GOD FOR JESUS!!! GLOOORRRYYY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! IT IS GOOD TO BE SAVED. PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT SATAN The Bible shows that Satan can play many parts, and among the principal parts he plays are the following seven: 1. He is the Devil to deceive—Rev. 20:10. 2. He is the adversary (Satan) to accuse—Luke 22:31. 3. He is an angel of light to misrepresent—2 Cor. 11:14. 4. He is an enemy to oppose—Matt. 13:28, 39. 5. He is the hinderer to deter—1 Thess. 2:18. 6. He is the god of this age to blind—2 Cor. 4:4. 7. He is the tempter to allure—Luke 4:2; 1 Thess. 3:5. BE ALERT AND RECOGNIZE THE MOVES OF SATAN AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR LIFE. PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Walking In The Spirit Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 1 John 4:1 ESV Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Romans 8:9 ESV You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Micah 6:8 ESV He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Galatians 6:8 ESV For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT LIFE. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil. and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10-11 As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. Proverbs 27:19 ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
What is Christian love for one another? Believers should have a deep love for others. Evidence that you have been born again is that you have a deep love for your brothers and sisters in Christ. I’ve met people who claimed to be Christian but they had no love for others. They were mean, rude, ungodly in speech, stingy, etc. When a person bears bad fruit that is evidence of an unregenerate heart. When a person is a new creation through repentance and faith in Christ alone you will see a change of heart. You will see a person who desires to love how Christ loved. Sometimes it is a struggle, but as believers we seek to love Christ more and when you love Christ more it leads to loving others more. STOP THE HATE, STOP THE ENVY, STOP THE RACISM, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Satan’s Activities Part 1: Satan has many devices, designs, and doings to accomplish his fell purposes. 1. He provokes to wrong action, as seen in David—1 Chron. 21:1. 2. He resists the grace of God, as illustrated in Joshua—Zech. 3:1. 3. He tempts to gain advantage, as manifest in Christ—Matt. 4:10. 4. He takes away the seed of God’s Word, as taught in the parable of the sower—Luke 8:12. 5. He desires to have us, to sift, as stated by Christ to Peter—Luke 22:31. 6. He transforms himself into an angel of light to lead us astray, as warned by Paul—2 Cor. 11:14. 7. He incites to sin, that he may get us under his power, as unfolded by John—1 John 3:8. BE AWARE OF SATAN, DON’T ALLOW SATAN TO GUIDE YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Satan’s Activities Part 2: 1. He attracts by the glamour of wonders, as will be evidenced in the coming man of sin—2 Thess. 2:9. 2. He seeks to get “an advantage” over us by misrepresentation, as pointed out by the apostle—2 Cor. 2:11. 3. He fills the heart with lies to keep back what is devoted to the Lord, as practised in Ananias—Acts 5:3. 4. He hinders in seeking to thwart God’s purposes, as stated by Christ—Matt. 16:23. 5. He seeks to gain possession of people, that he may carry out his designs, as demonstrated in Judas—John 13:27. 6. He oppresses that he may harm those whom he dominates, as manifest in Christ’s opposing ministry—Matt. 9:32; 15:22; Acts 10:38. 7. He persecutes the servants of God, who are faithful to Him, as predicted he would—Rev. 2:10. BE AWARE OF THE TACTICS OF SATAN BE ALERT AT ALL TIMES. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Bible speaks to us about the Sabbath: 1. We are commanded to keep holy the Sabbath Day—Exod. 20:8–10. When God commands, it is for us to obey. 2. We are to rest one day in seven, because God rested from His creative work on the seventh day—Gen. 2:2. It is economic and essential that everything that works should have a period of rest. 3. The early Christians by the practice of gathering together to worship the Lord, and to remember His death, on the first day of the week, proclaim they had the authority of Christ to do so—Acts 20:7. 4. There is a special blessing promised to those who keep God’s Day of rest—Isa. 56:4, 5. 5. If God’s Day is not recognized, people will drift into the rapids of agnosticism, rationalism, covetousness, self-pleasure, and sin; for if we cut ourselves from one of God’s commands, we shall cut ourselves from others—Isa. 56:2, 6; 58:13. 6. Disobedience to remember the Sabbath by self-action always brings punishment, as is evidenced in the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath—Num. 15:32–41; and in the case of those who gathered manna—Exod. 16:25, 26. 7. And the most important of all, is, the Sabbath is a Holy Day; for the Lord has sanctified it—Gen. 2:3; hence, for man to take what is holy to the Lord for his own use is to commit a trespass in God’s holy things; and when any man did this under the law, atonement had to be made for his sin, and reparation—See Lev. 5:14–19. It is a principle we do well to recognize, that in all God’s commands He has our best interests at heart, and we study our own interests when we obey His bidding. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
