BIBLE FACTS

BIBLE FACTS
A theme of Scripture often overlooked is what the Bible promises to do for God’s people. The Word, under various synonyms, is said in Psa. 19:7, 8 to convert the soul, make wise the simple, rejoice the heart, and enlighten the eyes. These great rewards are given to all who keep the precepts of Scripture, v.11.
Men are born again through the instrumentality of the Word, Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23. Faith comes to believers as they hear the Word, Rom. 10:17. Spiritual growth results from the realized desire for the sincere milk of the Word, 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18. Great peace have they who love God’s Word, Psa. 119:165. Those who obey it are promised divine blessings, Jas. 1:25. In the same way that Christ overcame the devil by using the written Word, Matt. 4:1–11, Christians are able to overcome the wicked one as the Word abides in them, 1 John 2:14.
Paul spoke of the Word as able to build us up, Acts 20:32. An entire book has been written to provide the assurance of salvation which is normal Christian experience, 1 John 5:13. It is the Word that sanctifies or cleanses, John 17:17, acting as a laver which reveals sin and provides cleansing as well, Eph. 5:25–27. The promise is given that those who honor the Word will find prosperity and success in all of God’s will, Josh. 1:8; Psa. 1:3.
LET US DESIRE THE WORD, LET US HEAR THE WORD, LET US STUDY THE WORD, AND LET US ALLOW THE WORD TO DO ITS WORK IN US AS WE LIVE THE WORD OF GOD AND BE BLESSED BY GOD.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetohurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

Disobedience

Disobedience
Damage and distress are sure to follow in the steps of disobedience.
1. Abram found it so when he left the Bethel of communion for the Egypt of compromise—Gen. 12:7–13.
2. Moses lost the land of promise through using the rod of self-will—Num. 20:10–12.
3. Jonah got an uncomfortable bed through not going to the Nineveh of ministry—Jonah 1:17.
4. Peter found his “net” broken through not letting down the “nets” of full obedience—Luke 5:4–6.
5. The man of God out of Judah lost his life through listening to the lying prophet of Bethel—1 Kings 13:20–26.
6. The children of Israel dug graves for themselves in the wilderness by means of their evil heart of unbelief—Heb. 3:17.
7. Solomon got his soul hurt by getting into the trap of fleshly desire—1 Kings 11:4.
DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS CONSEQUENCES
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetochurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

FAITH AND WORKS

FAITH AND WORKS
Faith is the confident assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of the reality of things not seen, Heb. 11:1. It is the basis for salvation, Gal. 3:26; 1 Pet. 1:5. Works are the deeds men do, whether good or evil, Gal. 2:16; Eph. 5:11. They are the basis for rewards or punishment when men are judged, 1 Cor. 3:11–15; Rev. 20:11–15. Men confuse these two concepts; Scripture never does.
A contradiction has been imagined between two passages. Paul wrote, “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” Rom. 3:28. Wrote James, “by works a man is justified, and not by faith only,” Jas. 2:24. There is no real problem. Paul was writing about justification before God, Rom. 4:2, while James wrote about justification before men. He was dealing with the question of the man who says he has faith, but has no works to demonstrate its reality, Jas. 2:14–20. He says nothing to discredit faith, nor to suggest that a man of faith may be lost. Paul speaks of the root of the Christian life; James its fruit.
Faith and works are put in their proper perspective in Eph. 2:8–10. We are saved by faith, not by works, but we are saved “unto good works.” This means we are to maintain good works, Tit. 3:8, being fruitful in them, Col. 1:10, so that God may be glorified when Christ returns, 1 Pet. 2:12.
LET US REMEMBER THIS WORD FROM GOD AND LET US APPLY IT TO OUR LIFE.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetochurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

THE PREPARATION OF JESUS FOR HIS MINISTRY

THE PREPARATION OF JESUS FOR HIS MINISTRY (Matt. 3:13–4:11; Mark 1:9–13; Luke 3:21–4:13)
1. Why did Jesus come to be baptized by John? As a seal of consecration to God’s work.
2. What wonderful thing happened at his baptism?
“The heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost [Spirit] descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said. Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22.
3. What may be the reason for the “temptation” of Jesus? That “he might be in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.
4. Where did these temptations occur? In the wild country called “the wilderness of Judea.”
5. What is the devil called in Mark? Satan.
6. What is the meaning of the two terms? Satan means “adversary” or “enemy,” and devil means “accuser.”
7. What were the three temptations? (1) To make from the stones of the place bread to satisfy his personal hunger. (2) To throw himself down from a high point on the temple, trusting that God would work a miracle to save him. (3) To offer homage to Satan and receive through him power over the world.
8. What was the real temptation in the last two? They seemed to offer Jesus at once, without toil or suffering, the very things he had come to earth to win.
9. How did Jesus conquer? By the use of the Word of God in direct answer to Satan’s proposals.
10. Can we conquer in the same way? Yes, and we have besides the help of our Lord Jesus.
11. What does living “by every word of God” (Matt. 4:4) signify? Trusting all his promises, and keeping all his commands.
12. What is the meaning of the word “tempt” in Luke 4:12? Presumptuously try or provoke.
13. Was it an empty boast of the devil in Luke 4:6? Not altogether, as he is called “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2).
I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK STUDY.
DID YOU FIND IT INTERESTING?
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetochurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

GOD IS GOOD

GOD IS GOOD
Psalm 84:11 The LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD grants favor and honor. He does not hold back any blessing from those who live innocently.
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good. ⸤He is⸥ a fortress in the day of trouble. He knows those who seek shelter in him.
Psalm 145:9-10 The LORD is good to everyone and has compassion for everything that he has made.
Everything that you have made will give thanks to you, O LORD, and your faithful ones will praise you.
OUR GOD IS GOOD TO US.
TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR LIFE AND SEE HOW GOOD GOD IS TO YOU.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE HOW GOOD GOD IS TO YOU?
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetochurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM




All reactions:
66

THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS.

THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS.
2 Corinthians 6:17–18 The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.” The Lord Almighty says, “I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.”
Separation—Adoption: the third call is for believers to come out from unbelievers and be separate. These two verses are a quote from the Old Testament (Is. 52:11–12). When God led Israel out of the Babylonian captivity, He told them to leave everything behind. They were to take nothing out of the defiled land, for they were to begin a totally new life under His leadership. Note two significant points.
a. First, believers are to come out from among unbelievers and be separate. What does this mean? Of course, it does not mean that believers are to leave the cities, communities, and work places of the world. Believers are not to isolate themselves from unbelievers. It does not mean that believers have nothing to do with unbelievers—never talking, sharing, or associating with them. Both believers and unbelievers are in the world; thus they have to share the world together.
What God means is at least two things.
1) God means what has just been discussed in verses 14–16, that is, that believers differ from unbelievers. They differ radically. Therefore …
• believers are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. They are not to be yoked, be intimately involved, in a relationship with unbelievers.
• believers are not to be in fellowship with unbelievers. They are not to share or participate in the worldly, ungodly functions and events of unbelievers.
• believers are not to be in communion with unbelievers. They are not to be closely bound in partnership with unbelievers. They are not to be so united with unbelievers that there is the need or expectation to be a part of worldly or ungodly activities and behavior.
• believers are not to be attached to or in covenant with unbelievers. Believers must not follow the worthless leader, Belial (Satan), of the unbelievers.
• believers are not to move about in the sphere, the realm, the life and position of the infidel, the person who has rejected Jesus Christ.
• believers are not to worship with unbelievers.
2) God means what He says in this verse: believers are not to touch the unclean thing (v. 17). Believers are no longer to live as the sinners of the world do. They are not to participate in the sins of unbelievers.
3) God commands that believers live separate from the wicked unbelievers of the world (v. 17). “Be ye separate, saith the Lord.” There is to be no questioning, rationalizing, twisting, or ignoring of the command. God demands separation. In fact, separation is so important to God that it is one of the essentials in order to be received by God (see next point, point 2).
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Ro. 1:29–32).
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Co. 6:9–10).
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Ga. 5:19–21).
Thought 1. Very simply stated, believers are in the world, but they are not to be of the world. They live in the world, but they are not to take part in the sins of the world.
b. Second, the results of separation are phenomenal.
1) If we separate ourselves and consecrate our lives to God, He receives us. The word means to accept, approve, welcome. Imagine being accepted and approved by God Himself! God cannot receive a person who lives in sin and shame, in worldliness and immorality, in covetousness and idolatry. But if a person comes out from the world and separates himself, God receives that person.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 Jn. 2:15–16).
2) If we separate ourselves and consecrate our lives to God, God will become our Father and adopt us as sons and daughters of His. Note that it is the “Lord Almighty” who adopts us, the only Person who has the might and power to do such a glorious thing. God’s relationship to us is that of a father to his sons and daughters! God favors and nurtures us with …
• love
• affection
• care
• instruction
• provision
• glory
• protection
• reward
• deliverance
• guidance
• direction
• life
• growth
• reproof
• discipline
• chastisement
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (Jn. 1:12).
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Ro. 8:15–17).
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Co. 6:17–18).
“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Ga. 4:5–6).
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK STUDY, AND FOUND IT HELPFUL.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetochurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT US

GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT US
Psalm 139:1-5 O LORD, you have examined me, and you know me. You alone know when I sit down and when I get up. You read my thoughts from far away. You watch me when I travel and when I rest. You are familiar with all my ways. Even before there is a ⸤single⸥ word on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD. You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me. You lay your hand on me.
Psalm 119:73 Your hands created me and made me what I am. Help me understand so that I may learn your commandments.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
OUR GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US AND STILL LOVE US JUST LIKE WE ARE. LET US DRAW CLOSE UNTO GOD ASKING GOD TO TEACH US MORE ABOUT HIM AND MORE ABOUT OURSELVES.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PayPal.me/donatetochurch
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

Finding Help

Finding Help
Reflections on Numbers
I say, “Help comes from God.” I tell people, “You’re not alone.” Both are empty phrases if I don’t live like I believe them. The book of Numbers shows us that as the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they, too, struggled to live out these words. After 40 years of wandering, they were likely wondering if God had fallen asleep on the job.
The author of Psalm 121 spotted this problem. The ancients believed the gods dwelt on the mountains, but the psalmist says otherwise: “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (hcsb).
God doesn’t sleep. In contrast to the belief that gods drifted into the underworld, and consequently awful things happened, the psalmist explains that God is always present: “He will not allow your foot to slip … the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.” We think we are different than the ancients, but we, too, link terrible things to God’s supposed ineptitude, or his judgment. The psalmist says the opposite: God is a shelter from the elements.
God doesn’t get sunburned. Even though people believed the “sun” and “moon” gods brought unbearable weather, the psalmist says: “The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm.” Again, we think we are more advanced than the ancients, but we have the insurance clause for “other acts of God.” Rather than viewing the Lord, or the gods, as the cause of unexpected disaster, the psalmist views him as a Protector. But why would God protect us?
God doesn’t blush. It seems that any creator would look at what we have done to the world and either hate us, or be embarrassed. Instead of blushing, God turns his face towards us. God teaches the priests, via Moses, to request his presence. Psalm 121 echoes the priestly prayer: “The Lord bless you and protect you; the Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” God follows this by saying, “In this way [Aaron and his sons, the high priests] will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them” (Num 6:24–27). God’s undaunted presence marks believers. Here’s how we can be enveloped in that presence.
Find help in Jesus. Just prior to
his arrest and betrayal, Jesus prays, “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, … protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:11). Our acceptance of Jesus makes us one with the Father. Consequently, we are protected. But help is not for hoarding. We are called to use God’s protection to create community
Find help in community. Jesus prays for love, which is at the center of good community: “May [the believers] be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23). When believers unite in Christ’s love, the broken can be helped.
Bring help to the world. The fruits of our Bible study should not be private. We have to live what we believe. Jesus ends his prayer by saying, “I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them” (John 17:26). We should show God and other people the love he has shown us.
Let’s take our needs to God, watch him act, and then make him known.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL.
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM

AN INDEPTH BIBLE STUDY

AN INDEPTH BIBLE STUDY
ABRAHAM (Gen. 11:23–27; 25)
1. Which line of descent from Noah is most fully described, and why? The line from Shem, because in that line were the Jewish people who wrote the books of the Bible; and from whom, after the flesh, Christ came. Gen. 11:10–26.
2. From what sons are the Gentiles descended? The other white races are supposed to have descended from Japhet, and the black race from Ham.
3. What was Abraham’s name in his early life? Abram.
4. Where was Abram born? In Ur of the Chaldees, S. E. of Babylon. Gen. 11:28.
5. To what land did his father remove, and why? To Haran, still on the river Euphrates, but in the northern part of Mesopotamia; perhaps because of God’s call to Abram while in Ur.
6. Which of Abram’s brothers died before they left their native land? Haran, the father of Lot.
7. After his father’s death did Abram stay in Haran? No. God told him to leave his home and go to a land he would afterward show him. This was Canaan, or Palestine. Gen. 12:1–9.
8. Who went with him? Sarai his wife, Lot his nephew, and their servants.
9. What promise did God make to Abram? That he should have many descendants who should form a great nation owning the land of Palestine, and that “in him should all the families of the earth be blessed.” See Gen. 12:2, 3, 7; 13:14–17; 15:5; 17:5–8; 22:17, 18.
10. To what finally did the promise refer? To the coming of Jesus Christ.
11. Where did Abram first settle, and what was his first act in the land of Canaan? At Sichem, or Shechem, where he built an altar to God.
12. Where do we again hear of Shechem? See Josh. 24:1, 25, 26; John 4:5–42.
13. Where did Abram then make his home? Between Bethel and Hai, about twelve miles north of Jerusalem.
14. Was Abram a rich man or a poor man? He later became very rich; and was certainly not poor at this time. Gen. 13:2.
15. How had Lot prospered? Very much.
16. What was the result? A quarrel between the herdsmen of the two.
17. How did Abram behave on this occasion? He proposed that they should part, and gave Lot the choice of the land.
18. Do you think that Lot behaved as well as Abram in this affair? He made no liberal offer in return, and thought more of the goodness of the pasture than of the character of the people with whom he was to live.
19. Had Lot cause to repent his choice? He suffered constant distress of mind, and at length narrowly escaped with his life, with the loss of his wife, many of his family, and of most or all of his property. Gen. 19:15–29.
“Delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).” 2 Pet. 2:7, 8.
20. What doleful news did Abram soon hear of Lot? That Lot and his goods had been carried away with other captives from Sodom, by the kings of Elam, Babylonia, etc. Gen. 14:11, 12.
21. What did Abram do? He armed his own trained servants and went in pursuit. He divided his men, attacked the enemy by night on several sides at once, routing them and recovering the prisoners and booty.
22. Who met Abram on his return? Melchizedek, king of Salem, which probably was Jerusalem.
23. Is this mysterious person ever alluded to again in the Bible? Yes, in Heb. 6:20; 7.
24. Of whom was he a type? Of Christ in being both king and priest.
25. Did Abram take of the spoil of the battle? No, he refused to take anything but food for his men, and the share of his allies among the Canaanites.
26. Who was Hagar? One of Sarai’s waiting maids, whom Abram took to wife, thinking thus to bring the fulfillment of God’s promise of descendants. Gen. 16.
27. Who was her son? Ishmael, the ancestor of the modern Arabs.
28. What especial covenant did God make with Abram soon after this? The “covenant of circumcision,” where God renewed his promise of many descendants, and promised to be their God; and enjoined upon him the rite of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Gen. 17.
29. How did God change the names of Abram and Sarai? From Abram, or “high father,” to Abraham, or “father of a multitude”; and from Sarai, “my princess,” to Sarah, “princess” (for all the race).
30. Where was Mamre? Near Hebron, in Judah. Gen. 13:18.
31. What remarkable event happened to Abraham there? The Lord with two angels, or heavenly visitors, appeared to him in the form of men. Gen. 18.
32. How did Abraham receive them? With true Oriental hospitality, asking them to rest while he prepared food for them.
33. What did they promise to Abraham? That he and Sarah should have a son.
34. How did Sarah receive the news? She laughed, for it seemed to her impossible.
35. When the three visitors had eaten for what place did they start? For Sodom, to destroy it and rescue Lot.
36. Why were they to destroy Sodom?
“Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grievous.” Gen. 18:20.
37. How did Abraham plead for the city? By six times asking the Lord to spare it if there were fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and even ten, righteous persons in it.
38. How did the Lord answer him? He put no check on his prayer, and consented to do all that he asked.
39. Would the Lord have saved the city if Abraham had asked for it for the sake of Lot alone? He might have; but its destruction would only have been postponed, for Lot alone could never have reformed the city.
40. What warning did the heavenly visitors give to Lot?
“Whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord.” Gen. 19:12, 13.
41. How many of Lot’s family believed the warning and fled with him? His wife and two daughters. But his wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt. Gen. 19:16–26.
42. Does there remain any relic of this event? The Dead Sea probably covers the place where they were.
43. When did God perform his promise to Sarah? At the end of a year, the time fixed. Gen. 21.
44. By what name was the child of promise called? Isaac, which means “laughter.”
45. What occurred on the day Isaac was weaned? Abraham made a great feast; and Ishmael mocked at the young Isaac.
46. What did Sarah wish Abraham to do? To send away Hagar and Ishmael.
47. Was this in accordance with the wishes of God? Yes, he so told Abraham.
48. What became of Hagar and Ishmael? After some hardships they lived in the wilderness of Paran, in Arabia, and Ishmael grew large and strong, and became the ancestor of a race whose present representatives are the Arabs.
49. What was the greatest trial of Abraham’s faith? The command of God to offer as a burnt offering his only son, Isaac, whom he loved. Gen. 22.
50. Where was this sacrifice to take place? “In the land of Moriah,” usually supposed to be the mountain of that name in Jerusalem.
51. Did he tell his son what he was about to do? No. When Isaac inquired for the lamb he replied that God would provide one.
52. When Isaac knew of his father’s intention did he resist it? No.
53. Was he able to have done so? Yes, as he was probably twenty-five years old, and his father was old.
54. Did God allow the sacrifice? No, the angel of the Lord spoke from heaven and said:
“Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” Gen. 22:12.
55. How did God provide the burnt offering? Abraham found a “ram caught in a thicket by his horns,” and offered him as a burnt offering.
56. By what name did Abraham call the place where this occurred? Jehovah-jireh, meaning “the Lord will see, or provide.”
57. What is said in the New Testament of this act?
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Heb. 11:17–19.
58. How old was Sarah when she died? One hundred and twenty-seven years. Gen. 23:1.
59. Where did Abraham bury her? In the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, or Hebron, which he bought for the purpose from Ephron the Hittite.
60. What more do we know about Abraham? He married a wife named Keturah, and had six sons. Gen. 25:1–6.
61. Did these sons share the inheritance with Isaac? No, Abraham gave them gifts and sent them away.
62. How old was Abraham when he died? One hundred and seventy-five years. Gen. 25:7.
DID YOU FIND THIS STUDY TO BE HELPFUL?
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM