GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT BUSINESS Where do material blessings come from? It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV. “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Can money get in the way of more important things? Wealth can become the center of our life and take God’s place. It’s in the Bible, Jeremiah 9:23-24, NIV. “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” Wealth can give us wrong attitudes about material things. It’s in the Bible, Luke 12:15, NIV. “Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” It is unwise to make financial success a priority. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 6:24, NIV. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” What investment strategy does God recommend? It’s in the Bible, I Timothy 6:17-19, NIV. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Where do material blessings come from? It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV. “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Can money get in the way of more important things? Wealth can become the center of our life and take God’s place. It’s in the Bible, Jeremiah 9:23-24, NIV. “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” Wealth can give us wrong attitudes about material things. It’s in the Bible, Luke 12:15, NIV. “Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” It is unwise to make financial success a priority. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 6:24, NIV. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” What investment strategy does God recommend? It’s in the Bible, I Timothy 6:17-19, NIV. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD USES WOMEN TOO: Romans 16:1–2 With this letter I’m introducing Phoebe to you. She is our sister in the Christian faith and a deacon of the church in the city of Cenchrea. Give her a Christian welcome that shows you are God’s holy people. Provide her with anything she may need, because she has provided help to many people, including me. IN THESE TWO VERSES WE SEE THAT Phoebe: a Christian sister who deserved to be welcomed and befriended. Note these facts about her. a. The name Phoebe is one of the names of the goddess Diana; therefore, Phoebe was probably a convert from a heathen religion. b. Paul calls her “our sister,” meaning a sister in the faith of Christ. She was a woman beloved by Paul and the believers of her church, highly esteemed as a genuine sister of the faith. c. Phoebe was a servant of the church at Cenchrea, which was the seaport of Corinth. Note the word servant (diakonon). It is the word deacon or deaconess. Does this mean that Phoebe held the official office of a deacon in the early church? Note closely what the Scripture says and it seems to be saying that she did: “Phoebe our sister, which is a servant (deaconess) of the church.” The words of the church (tes ekklesias) modify servant or deaconess. Phoebe was a servant or a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea. Paul is not saying she is a servant of the Lord to all of God’s people in general. She was, of course, just as all believers are. But this is not what Paul is saying. He is very clear about the matter: she is an official “servant [deaconess] of the church which is at Cenchrea.” The separation of the sexes in that day would almost necessitate some official office of women to minister to the women of the church. This would be especially true in the area of ministry where women would be alone, for example, in visiting and caring for the sick and in distributing food and clothing among the needful. d. Phoebe deserved to be welcomed and befriended in the Lord. There are two reasons for this. 1) Believers are always to welcome and befriend other believers. The church is not an exclusive club nor a society of cliques. It is to be a welcoming center for all strangers and neighbors, whether saint or sinner. 2) Phoebe had been a succourer (prostatis) of many, including Paul himself. The word succourer means that she protected, helped, looked after, and provided for people. Phoebe was a woman who ministered to the needs of many. Apparently, she helped and looked after the welfare of any who had need. The great lessons to be learned from Phoebe are twofold: ⇒ We should be servants of the church. ⇒ We should be constantly ministering to all who are in need. God felt that is was acceptable to use a woman as deacon within His church. God did not have a problem using a woman in a leadership position within His church. IF IT IS OKAY WITH GOD IT IS OKAY WITH ME. STOP HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GOD USING WOMEN IN HIS CHURCH!!! AND THINK ABOUT THIS: A local church should be a friendly, welcoming church—an open, gracious church. There should be no strangers in the Lord’s church. The church should guard against becoming a closed society, a body of cliques, shut up only to themselves. DID YOU FIND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS Leads to all evil. Ephesians 4:17–19 So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. They can’t understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness. Since they no longer have any sense of shame, they have become promiscuous. They practice every kind of sexual perversion with a constant desire for more. Our country is becoming spiritually blind, which is causing evil to be rampant within our country. Do not continue in spiritual blindness, and do not allow your children to grow up spiritually blind. Learn the Word of God, teach your children the Word of God, AND LIVE AS GOD’S PEOPLE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
YOUR LIFESTYLE CAN CAUSE GOD TO WANT TO BLESS YOU Proverbs 28:20 A trustworthy person has many blessings, but anyone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment. Psalm 5:12 You bless righteous people, O LORD. Like a large shield, you surround them with your favor. Luke 1:45 You are blessed for believing that the Lord would keep his promise to you.” Psalm 112:1 Hallelujah! Blessed is the person who fears the LORD and is happy to obey his commands. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD. The LORD will be his confidence. Psalm 119:1 Blessed are those whose lives have integrity, those who follow the teachings of the LORD. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT ABUSE Abuse can take a number of forms—physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, etc. But any form of abuse is opposed to the ruling principle of God’s kingdom—unselfish love. An abusive person does not know love and does not know God. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 4:7, 8, NKJV. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” The Bible forbids physical or verbal spouse abuse. It’s in the Bible, Colossians 3:19, NIV. “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” We are not to admire violent persons or pattern our lives after them. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 3:31, NIV. “Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways.” Eventually abusers will get their due. It’s in the Bible, Romans 12:19, NKJV. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD TEACHES US ABOUT BEING GENEROUS Proverbs 22:9 Whoever is generous will be blessed because he has shared his food with the poor. A generous man is, literally, “a good eye.” (In 23:6 and 28:22 “a stingy man” is, lit., “an evil eye.”) Willingness to share food with the poor (dal, “feeble, weak, helpless”) shows that a person is genuine; he looks at others with the desire to help them, not to take advantage of them. Deuteronomy 15:10 Be sure to give to them without any hesitation. When you do this, the LORD your God will bless you in everything you work for and set out to do. Proverbs 28:27 Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing. Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses. LET US BE GENEROUS, AND WILLING TO HELP OTHERS, AND GOD WILL BE GENEROUS AND WILLING TO HELP US. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
LET US LIVE OUR LIFE DOING GOOD THINGS Titus 2:11–14 After all, God’s saving kindness has appeared for the benefit of all people. It trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives in this present world. At the same time we can expect what we hope for—the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things. God’s grace, the Lord Jesus Christ, has brought salvation to us. God’s grace, the gift of His own dear Son, saves us from sin, death, and hell. We do not deserve it, but God loves us beyond imagination. He has given His very own Son for us—to save us. He did it because He is gracious. His very nature is the embodiment of grace, of favoring and blessing those who do not deserve it. And note: His salvation is for all men—no matter who they are nor what they have done. LET US THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE. LET US LIVE OUR LIFE DOING GOOD THINGS. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
RIGHTEOUS LIVING The benefits of living righteously are tremendous. When we choose to walk in the fear of the LORD, we position ourselves to receive the blessings God has promised to those who trust and obey Him. Psalm 34:15 The LORD’s eyes are on righteous people. His ears hear their cry for help. When we live righteously, we are under the watchful care of the LORD. His eyes are fixed upon us, noticing our every need (Ps. 33:18). As He watches over us, the LORD provides for us and protects us from all evil. Moreover, He hears us when we cry out to Him. Prayer is a wonderful privilege secured for us by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (He. 4:14–16). However, sin breaks our fellowship with God and hinders our prayers (Ps. 66:18; Jn. 9:31). Therefore, we must live in obedience to the LORD so that we will be in full fellowship with Him. His ears are always open to the righteous. Psalm 34:16 The LORD confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. In sharp contrast to the righteous, God’s face is turned away from evildoers. He does not protect them, nor does He hear their prayers. The thought of being ignored by God is a frightening one. Yet, it is the plight of those who pursue a life of sin. When they desperately need the LORD’s help, they cannot get His attention because they have ignored God and cut Him out of their lives. The righteous leave a legacy that long outlives them on this earth (Re. 14:13). The wicked, however, are quickly forgotten (Pr. 10:7). Generally speaking, evildoers do not enjoy long, prosperous lives like the righteous (v. 12). In His perfect justice, the LORD removes them from society, even erasing their memory from the earth (Ps. 9:5–6). If their names do live on, it is usually in infamy and disgrace. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO RECEIVE A QUICK REFRESHER, DON’T YOU AGREE? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
DO YOU WANT A FULL LIFE? HOW ARE YOU LIVING? Psalm 34:12–17 Which of you wants a full life? Who would like to live long enough to enjoy good things? Keep your tongue from saying evil things and your lips from speaking deceitful things. Turn away from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it! The LORD’s eyes are on righteous people. His ears hear their cry for help. The LORD confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. ⸤Righteous people⸥ cry out. The LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. ALLOW THIS WORD OF GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FAMILY FIRST 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Matthew 10:37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live for a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
