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
Evidences of Abiding in Christ 1. Not Practicing Sin. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not” (1 John 3:6). 2. Keeping God’s Commandments. “He that keepeth His commandments abideth in Him” (1 John 3:24, R.V.). 3. Bearing Fruit. “He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit” (John 15:5, R.V.). 4. Loving Each Other. “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light.” “Hereby we know we abide in Him” (1 John 2:10; 4:13, R.V.). 5. Walking as Christ Walked. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6). 6. Continuing in Christ’s Word. “If ye abide in My Word, then are ye truly My disciples” (John 8:31, R.V.). 7. Faithfulness to God’s Truth. “If that which ye heard from the beginning abide, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father” (1 John 2:24, R.V.). “Whosoever goeth onward (margin, “taketh the lead”) and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching the same hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9, R.V.). I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. Evelastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Delighting In God Job 22:21 “Be in harmony and at peace with God. In this way you will have prosperity. Psalm 37:4-5 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act ⸤on your behalf⸥. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. Psalm 119:24 Indeed, your written instructions make me happy. They are my best friends. SELF CHECK: BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF. DO YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD? ARE YOU AT PEACE WITH GOD? ARE YOU HAPPY WITH GOD? DO YOU TRUST GOD? DO YOU LOVE LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WICKED? WHO DO YOU TAKE ADVICE FROM, THE GODLY OR THE WICKED? DOES THE WORD OF GOD MAKE YOU HAPPY? BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AS YOU CHECK YOURSELF. DO YOU LOVE GOD? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT OUR SPEECH What should our speech be like? What should be our usual way of talking? It’s in the Bible, Colossians 4:6, NIV. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, . . . so that you may know how to answer everyone.” God asks us to rid ourselves of foul language. It’s in the Bible, Colossians 3:8, NIV. “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” “Dirty stories, foul talk and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God’s goodness and be thankful!” (Ephesians 5:4, TLB). The Ten Commandments forbid the misuse of God’s name. It’s in the Bible, Exodus 20:7, TLB. “You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently, nor use it to swear to a falsehood. You will not escape punishment if you do.” Our words affect our lives. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 13:3, NIV. “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” What we believe is reflected in what we say. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 12:34, 35, NIV. “How can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” God will hold us responsible for the words we speak. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 12:36, 37, NIV. “Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” The words we use influence others. It’s in the Bible, 1 Timothy 4:12, NIV. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” What should characterize our way of speaking? It’s in the Bible, Ephesians 5:4, TLB. “Dirty stories, foul talk and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead remind each other of God’s goodness and be thankful!” I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
MAN’S IGNORANCE OF GOD: IS EVIDENCED BY: Absence of love. 1 John 4:8 The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, because God is love. God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. Living in sin. Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but they deny him by what they do. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit to do anything good. 1 John 3:6 Those who live in Christ don’t go on sinning. Those who go on sinning haven’t seen or known Christ. Not keeping His commandments. 1 John 2:4 The person who says, “I know him,” but doesn’t obey his commandments is a liar. The truth isn’t in that person. IGNORANCE OF GOD LEADS TO: Alienation from God. Ephesians 4:18–19 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. Error. Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered, “You’re mistaken because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power. Persecuting believers. John 15:21 Indeed, they will do all this to you because you are committed to me, since they don’t know the one who sent me. FOOD FOR THOUGHT. A LOT OF PEOPLE’S MOUTH SAY THEY KNOW GOD, BUT THEIR LIFESTYLE SAYS THEY DON’T KNOW GOD. DO YOU KNOW GOD? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
