Matthew 6:33, NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE SEEKING GOD FIRST. WE MUST LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE. IF WE WILL DO THOSE TWO THINGS GOD WILL BLESS US WITH ALL THAT WE NEED. Romans 12:18-19 GNB Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” DON’T START TROUBLE, LIVE IN PEACE.DON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO CAUSE YOU TO GET INTO TROUBLE. LET GOD FIGHT YOUR BATTLES.GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Not Hesitating to Share Acts 2:44–45 All the believers kept meeting together, and they shared everything with each other. From time to time, they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it. Acts 4:32–37 The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything. With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. ⸤God’s⸥ abundant good willwas with all of them. None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it. Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “a person who encourages.” He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles. ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP OTHERS? OUR GOD EXPECTS US TO BE WILLING TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE AND BE WILLING TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED. LET US NOT HESITATE TO HELP OTHERS. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
NOT BORN A CHRISTIAN A man becomes a Christian, he is not born one. John 3:3–7 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.” Nicodemus asked him, “How can anyone be born when he’s an old man? He can’t go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?” Jesus answered Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter God’s kingdom without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual. Don’t be surprised when I tell you that all of you must be born from above. 1 Peter 1:3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. 1 Peter 1:23 You have been born again, not from a seed that can be destroyed, but through God’s everlasting word that can’t be destroyed. That’s why ⸤Scripture says⸥, HAVE YOU BEEN REBORN? ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL Lamentations 3:22–23 the LORD’s mercy. We were not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited. It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great. Numbers 23:19 God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. Hebrews 10:23 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL. WE CAN COUNT OF GOD!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
DOUBT • Doubt is a fundamental distrust, fear, or lack of confidence in personal belief. Questioning one’s beliefs is a healthy part of the growing-up process, but for many teens, fear of being judged keeps them from actually asking the hard questions. Yet asking hard questions—of parents, of friends, of faith—is an important part of coming to own one’s faith. • The questions of faith are an integral part of the adolescent search for identity. The normal teen tendency to question her parents’ authority and beliefs leads her also to question what she’s been taught about faith. For many this questioning is soon resolved by good teaching and patient listening, but for some, unanswered (or poorly answered) questions can erode their faith. • There’s nothing wrong with teens asking hard questions about the character of God, the authority of the Bible, and the meaning of faith. Adults who are threatened by these questions drive teens away from the faith. Instead, we need to validate their questions, avoid simplistic answers, value them for their courage and interest, and enter the process of discovery with them. Psalm 78:18–22 They deliberately tested God by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God by saying, “Can God prepare a banquet in the desert? True, he did strike a rock, and water did gush out, and the streams did overflow. But can he also give us bread or provide us, his people, with meat?” When the LORD heard this, he became furious. His fire burned against Jacob and his anger flared up at Israel because they did not believe God or trust him to save them. Matthew 14:30–31 But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?” Matthew 28:16–17 The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they bowed down in worship, though some had doubts. James 1:6–8 When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything. CHECK YOURSELF, DO YOU TRUST GOD, OR DO YOU DOUBT GOD? GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH YOUR DOUBT. WHY DO YOU DOUBT GOD? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Come to God Without Reserve When you come back to God for pardon and salvation, come with all you have to lay all at His feet. Come with your body, to offer it as a living sacrifice upon His altar. Come with your soul and all its powers, and yield them in willing consecration to your God and Savior. Come, bring them all along—everything, body, soul, intellect, imagination, acquirements—all, without reserve. 2 Chronicles 7:14 However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear ⸤their prayer⸥ from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country. James 4:7–10 So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters. Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the Lord’s presence. Then he will give you a high position. 1 Peter 1:22–25 Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other. You have been born again, not from a seed that can be destroyed, but through God’s everlasting word that can’t be destroyed. That’s why ⸤Scripture says⸥, “All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower drops off, but the word of the Lord lasts forever.” This word is the Good News that was told to you. Ezekiel 18:21–23 “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty LORD. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED GREATLY FROM THESE VERSES. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE, AND REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
All Hell Would Approve God’s Character All hell, if they could view God in his absolute existence, without any relation to themselves, would heartily approve his character. The reason why wicked men and devils hate God is because they see him in relation to themselves. Their hearts rise up in rebellion because they see him opposed to their selfishness. 2 Corinthians 10:3–4 Of course we are human, but we don’t fight like humans. The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defenses, that is, their arguments 2 Timothy 3:2–7 People will be selfish and love money. They will brag, be arrogant, and use abusive language. They will curse their parents, show no gratitude, have no respect for what is holy, and lack normal affection for their families. They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous, lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good. They will be traitors. They will be reckless and conceited. They will love pleasure rather than God. They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people. Some of these men go into homes and mislead weak-minded women who are burdened with sins and led by all kinds of desires. These women are always studying but are never able to recognize the truth. 1 John 3:17 Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer? HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE GOD SEEING HOW YOU LIVE? ARE YOU MORE LIKE GOD OR MORE LIKE THE WORLD? KNOWING GOD, AND KNOWING HOW YOU ARE LIVING, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT GOD, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
PLEASING GOD IS COMMANDED Ephesians 5:8–10 Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light. Light produces everything that is good, that has God’s approval, and that is true. Determine which things please the Lord. Romans 12:1-2 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect. Romans 14:17–19 God’s kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God’s kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people. So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other. An essential aspect of the life of believers that is more than a matter of external observance, but a total and heartfelt commitment to God. LET US LIVE OUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT WILL PLEASE GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE CHURCH The community of faithful believers, of whom Jesus Christ is the head. Ephesians 1:22–23 God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church. The church is Christ’s body and completes him as he fills everything in every way. Ephesians 5:23 The husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is his body, and he is its Savior. Colossians 1:18 He is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that he would have first place in everything. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE WORSHIPPING THE PASTOR AND PRAISING THE PASTOR, BUT NOT RECOGNIZING CHRIST, NOT WORSHIPING CHRIST, AND NOT PRAISING CHRIST. LET US NOT FORGET CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, NOT THE PASTOR!!! IT SEEMS LIKE SOME PASTORS ARE EVEN FORGETTING THAT!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
