Following Jesus means we will keep His commandments. I John 2:4, NKJV. “He who says, ‘I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.” Following Jesus requires self-denial. Matthew 16:24, TLB. “Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” If we do not follow Jesus, we follow Satan. Matthew 12:30, NIV. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and He who does not gather with Me scatters.”
AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAY, WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING? THINK ABOUT IT. LET US FOLLOW JESUS.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Following Jesus requires a decision and then action. Matthew 4:19-20, NIV. “Come, follow me, Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Psalm 25:1–5 To you, O LORD, I lift my soul. I trust you, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame. Do not let my enemies triumph over me. No one who waits for you will ever be put to shame, but all who are unfaithful will be put to shame. Make your ways known to me, O LORD, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me because you are God, my savior. I wait all day long for you. Psalm 25:1–5 is a heartfelt prayer from David, expressing deep trust in God and a longing for divine guidance. Here’s a breakdown of the key themes in these verses: – Verse 1 – “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” This is an act of surrender and devotion. David is offering his innermost being to God, showing vulnerability and dependence. – Verse 2 – “O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.” David declares his trust in God and pleads for protection from disgrace and defeat. The fear of enemies triumphing is both literal and symbolic—he doesn’t want his faith to be mocked or proven futile. – Verse 3 – “Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.” This verse contrasts the faithful with the deceitful. Those who patiently rely on God will ultimately be vindicated, while those who betray without cause will face disgrace. – Verse 4 – “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” David seeks not just deliverance, but understanding. He wants to walk in God’s ways, showing a desire for spiritual growth and alignment with divine will. – Verse 5 – “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” This is a plea for ongoing instruction and guidance. David acknowledges God as his Savior and commits to patiently waiting and learning. Together, these verses form a beautiful picture of humility, trust, and a yearning to live rightly. David isn’t just asking for help—he’s asking to be shaped by God’s truth.
ALLOW THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOU.
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE GOD Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. Psalm 32:8 The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” 1 John 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Jeremiah 23:31 “I’m against the prophets who speak their own thoughts and say that they speak for me. Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD told me, “These are the lies that the prophets are telling in my name: They claim that I sent them, commanded them, and spoke to them. They dreamed up the visions they tell you. Their predictions are worthless. They are the products of their own imagination. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. Matthew 24:11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. BE AWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS. ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” 1 John 4:19 “We love because God loved us first.” Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.” Psalm 31:23 “Love the Lord, all you godly ones! The Lord protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.” Deuteronomy 6:5 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” This verse is part of the Shema, a foundational declaration of faith in Judaism. It calls for total devotion—not just emotional love, but a love that engages your entire being: your thoughts (heart), your life (soul), and your actions (strength). It’s about loving God with everything you are. John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” Jesus links love with obedience here. It’s not about following rules out of fear or duty, but out of relationship. True love for Christ naturally leads to a desire to live in a way that honors Him. 1 John 4:19 – “We love because God loved us first.” This verse reminds us that our ability to love—God or others—originates from God’s love. His love is the spark that ignites ours. It’s a beautiful cycle: we receive His love, and it transforms us into people who love in return. Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.” This is a promise of divine purpose. Even when life feels chaotic, God is weaving everything—good and bad—into a greater plan for those who love Him and are aligned with His calling. Psalm 31:23 – “Love the Lord, all you godly ones! The Lord protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.” This verse is both a call to love and a warning. It celebrates God’s protection over those who are faithful, while also reminding us that arrogance and rebellion have consequences.
Revelation 3:16 But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I’m going to spit you out of my mouth. Jesus Christ warns the lukewarm and half-committed person: “I will spew you out of my mouth.” This is graphic language, but it is used for a purpose. The person who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ is claiming to be a part of His body, claiming to be nourishment for His body, a part of the growth of His body. But when the person is lukewarm, he is none of this. He is like lukewarm food, unappetizing and unwanted. Christ does not want the nourishment that such food provides. It is not fit to help in the nourishment and growth of His body. Therefore, He rejects all who are lukewarm and half-committed. This verse is part of a message to the church in Laodicea, one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation. The imagery of “lukewarm” refers to spiritual apathy or complacency. In the context of Laodicea—a city known for its wealth but lacking a good water supply—this metaphor would’ve hit home. Their water arrived via aqueducts from hot springs and was tepid by the time it reached them, making it unpleasant to drink. Spiritually speaking, Jesus is warning against being indifferent or half-hearted in faith. “Hot” symbolizes passionate devotion, “cold” could represent openness to transformation, but “lukewarm” implies a smug, self-sufficient attitude that’s neither fully committed nor receptive. That’s what made the Laodicean church spiritually ineffective. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being engaged. This verse is a wake-up call to live with purpose and not settle into spiritual autopilot.
DON’T ALLOW ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO CAUSE YOUR GODLY FIRE TO GO OUT. STAY ON FIRE FOR GOD!!! KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE HOT!!! DON’T BECOME WARM OR COLD, CAUSING GOD TO SPIT YOU OUT.
James 2:14-17 My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn’t do any good things? Can this kind of faith save him? Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food and one of you tells that person, “God be with you! Stay warm, and make sure you eat enough.” If you don’t provide for that person’s physical needs, what good does it do? In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it doesn’t cause you to do any good things. James 2:24 You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.
ALLOW YOUR FAITH IN GOD TO CAUSE YOU TO DO GOOD THINGS.
The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God and should be treated with love, respect, and equality. It strongly opposes racism and discrimination, emphasizing unity and the value of every individual. Here are some key biblical teachings on racism: – All humans are created in God’s image – Genesis 1:27 states that God created mankind in His own image, meaning every person has inherent worth. – Unity in Christ – Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Love and respect for all – 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.” Christians are called to love others without prejudice. – Judging by the heart, not appearance – 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – Condemnation of favoritism – James 2:9 warns, “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” – James 2:1 – “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” This verse condemns discrimination and partiality. The Bible consistently promotes justice, kindness, and unity among all people, rejecting racism and encouraging believers to treat others with fairness and compassion.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. YOU CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN AND A RACIST, YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE, ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN OR ARE YOU A RACIST?
Psalm 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” James 1:26 If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. James 3:10 Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!
LET US CONTROL WHAT COMES FROM OUR MOUTH. CONTROL YOUR SPEECH.
Luke 6:31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Romans 13:10 “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” 1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Galatians 5:14 “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
