THE BLESSED, PART 2 To whom God imputes righteousness without works. Romans 4:6–9 David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said, “Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgiven and whose sins are pardoned. Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.” Are only the circumcised people blessed, or are uncircumcised people blessed as well? We say, “Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of God’s approval.” Whom God chastens. Job 5:17 “Blessed is the person whom God corrects. That person should not despise discipline from the Almighty. Psalm 94:12–13 O LORD, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings. You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble while a pit is dug to trap wicked people. Who suffer for Christ. Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when people hate you, avoid you, insult you, and slander you because you are committed to the Son of Man. Who have the Lord for their God. Psalm 144:15 Blessed are the people who have these blessings! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! Who trust in God. Psalm 34:8-9 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you holy people who belong to him. Those who fear him are never in need. Psalm 40:4 Blessed is the person who places his confidence in the LORD and does not rely on arrogant people or those who follow lies. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD. The LORD will be his confidence. Who fear God. Psalm 112:1–4 Hallelujah! Blessed is the person who fears the LORD and is happy to obey his commands. His descendants will grow strong on the earth. The family of a decent person will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his home. His righteousness continues forever. Light will shine in the dark for a decent person. He is merciful, compassionate, and fair. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE, AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BLESSED PART 3 Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Who hear and keep the word of God. Psalm 119:2 Blessed are those who obey his written instructions. They wholeheartedly search for him. James 1:23–25 If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s laws say. Matthew 13:16 “Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “Rather, how blessed are those who hear and obey God’s word.” Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads, as well as those who hear the words of this prophecy and pay attention to what is written in it because the time is near. Revelation 22:7 I’m coming soon! Blessed is the one who follows the words of the prophecy in this book.” OUR GOD TEACHES US WHO HE BLESSES, AND WHY HE BLESSES THEM. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS SERIES ON THE BLESSED? PayPal.me/donatetochurch Pastor Andra Higginbotham
THE BLESSED PART 4 Who delight in the commandments of God. Psalm 112:1–4 Hallelujah! Blessed is the person who fears the LORD and is happy to obey his commands. His descendants will grow strong on the earth. The family of a decent person will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his home. His righteousness continues forever. Light will shine in the dark for a decent person. He is merciful, compassionate, and fair. Who wait for the Lord. The LORD is waiting to be kind to you. He rises to have compassion on you. The LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. Whose strength is in the Lord. Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those who find strength in you. Their hearts are on the road ⸤that leads to you⸥. Who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Matthew 5:6–11 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied. Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully. Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God. Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children. Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me. Who avoid the wicked. Psalm 1:1–2 Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD and reflects on his teachings day and night. Who rebuke sinners. Proverbs 24:25 But people will be pleased with those who convict a guilty person, and a great blessing will come to them. The undefiled. Psalm 119:1–3 Blessed are those whose lives have integrity, those who follow the teachings of the LORD. Blessed are those who obey his written instructions. They wholeheartedly search for him. They do nothing wrong. They follow his directions. The pure in heart. Matthew 5:8–10 Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God. Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children. Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. The just. Psalm 106:3 Blessed are those who defend justice and do what is right at all times. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT SLANDER Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Proverbs 20:19 GW Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets. Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open. Psalm 101:5 ESV Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. Titus 3:2 ESV To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Exodus 23:1 ESV “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. Proverbs 11:9 ESV With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. Matthew 7:12 GW “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is ⌞the meaning of⌟ Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets. James 1:19-20 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. FOOD FOR THOUGHT, DON’T BE A SLANDERER. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
ALLOW GOD TO GUIDE YOUR LIFE Proverbs 31:9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Luke 3:11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Romans 2:6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” FOOD FOR THOUGHT, ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch
KINGDOM OF GOD Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com God is a King. His kingdom is glorious, majestic, everlasting, Psa. 145:1, 11–13; Dan. 4:3. It is universal, “His kingdom ruleth over all,” from a throne in the heavens, Psa. 103:19. Mentioned some 70 times in the NT, the kingdom of God was the subject of Christ’s post-resurrection ministry, Acts 1:3, and that of the apostles, Acts 8:12; 19:8. God’s natural laws govern the world of nature; His written laws were given to govern and control men. God’s kingdom includes things that are seen: “all the earth,” Psa. 47:7; material things as well as living creatures, Psa. 104; men and their rulers, Dan. 4:17. Its visible establishment on the earth was announced at Christ’s first coming, Mark 1:15. It will be set up at His return, Rev. 12:10. The kingdom also includes things invisible. Believers enter it at the new birth; the unsaved cannot see it, John 3:3, 5. Characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy, Rom. 14:17, it is not inherited by flesh and blood, 1 Cor. 15:50. Angels are a part of God’s kingdom, Psa. 103:20–22. Satan and demons are answerable to it, Isa. 24:21, 22; Rev. 20:1–3. Men are to seek it, Matt. 6:33. Believers are to be worthy of it, 2 Thess. 1:4, 5. It is never identified with the church in Scripture, nor are men anywhere told to build the kingdom. FOOD FOR THOUGHT, PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
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GOD IS OUR PROTECTOR Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 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. Psalm 16:1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. OUR GOD IS OUR PROTECTOR, WE CAN DEPEND ON GOD. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Jesus Says, “I Have Prayed for You” “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32) When do you lose confidence in your friendships? Isn’t it most often when you realize that people can’t handle you in your weaker moments? If a relationship falters because of something you did—because you let the other person down, didn’t carry through on a promise, said something inappropriate, or even sinned against them—then you learn that the friendship is only as good or as strong as you are. When that happens, you lose confidence in the other person’s commitment to you. Conversely, if they can handle you well when you’re not at your best, then you grow more confident in them and in your relationship with them. Watch, then, as Jesus engages Peter at one of Peter’s least impressive moments. Jesus was eating the Passover meal with his disciples on the night he was betrayed. He knew that they would all abandon him (see Matt. 26:31). In a few short hours they would all be faithless, and Peter would lead the charge as he denied even knowing Christ (see Matt. 26:34). Remember that this is the guy who confessed earlier that Jesus was God’s Messiah—the one who would save his people (see Matt. 16:16). Put yourself in his place. Can you imagine the uncertainty that would flood your mind after you had rejected him? How you’d wonder whether someone who could deny the Savior had ever really been saved—or, worse, now that you’d distanced yourself from him, could ever be saved? Wouldn’t you end up wondering, “What hope is there for me now?” The hope was there before Peter even sinned. Jesus told him that he knew what Peter would do before he did it. His faithless denial didn’t surprise Jesus. More importantly, Jesus told him what he had already done for him in advance. He prayed that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fail and that he would turn back—that he would have more confidence in Christ’s ability to save him than in his own ability to place himself beyond salvation. This same Jesus now prays for you (see Heb. 7:25). If he prays for people’s faith not to fail in extreme cases, don’t you think that he also prays for your faith not to fail as you question his love for you or his ability to save you? The only difference is that he no longer prays on earth with his glory cloaked; now, having been raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God, he prays in heaven, where he is radiant and glorified beyond our imagining (see Rom. 8:34; Heb. 1:3). His prayer was powerfully effective on earth. What possible reason could you have for believing that it’s less so now? Have you noticed that Jesus is not intimidated by his people’s struggles with faith? Do you see how proactively Christ works right now to rescue people from themselves? Take a few minutes and thank him for all the ways he is continuing to work in your life to bring you closer to himself. DON’T ALLOW YOUR WEAKNESS TO DRAW YOU AWAY FROM GOD. GOD KNOWS YOUR FAITH WILL BE WEAK AT TIMES, GOD KNOWS YOU WILL SIN AT TIMES, AND GOD KNOWS THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN YOU TURN AWAY FROM HIM. JESUS IS PRAYING FOR YOUR FAITH TO STRENGTHEN, JESUS IS PRAYING FOR YOU TO TURN FROM YOUR SIN, JESUS IS PRAYING FOR YOU TO RETURN TO GOD. AGAIN, DON’T ALLOW YOUR WEAKNESS TO CAUSE YOU TO TURN FROM GOD, OR STAY AWAY FROM GOD. ALLOW YOUR WEAKNESS TO CAUSE YOU TO COME TO GOD, OR RETURN TO GOD, KNOWING THAT HE IS PRAYING AND WANTING YOU TO COME TO HIM. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
LIFE ON EARTH IS SHORT Job 14:1–2 “A person who is born of a woman is short-lived and is full of trouble. He comes up like a flower; then he withers. He is like a fleeting shadow; he doesn’t stay long. LET US LIVE OUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO LIVE ETERNALLY WITH GOD ONCE THIS EARTHLY LIFE IS OVER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS Proverbs 11:25-26 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. As it is written, “He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness. In every way you will grow richer and become even more generous, and this will cause others to give thanks to God because of us, 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
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