LIVE A GODLY LIFE Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Galatians 5:26 ESV Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. LET US LIVE OUR LIFE ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD, AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Reverence towards God expresses itself in the actions, as well as the words and worship of believers. True reverence for God leads to obedience towards him. Reverence in worship is expressed in bodily attitudes. Psalm 95:6 Come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel in front of the LORD, our maker, Exodus 12:27 you must answer, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in the LORD’s honor. The LORD passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he killed the Egyptians.’ Then the people knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground. Prostration: Genesis 17:3 Immediately, Abram bowed with his face touching the ground, and again God spoke to him, Numbers 14:5 Immediately, Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces touching the ground in front of the whole community of Israel assembled there. Revelation 5:14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the leaders bowed and worshiped. Kneeling: Ezra 9:5 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my misery, and with my clothes torn, I knelt down, stretched out my hands to the LORD my God in prayer, SELF-CHECK: DO I REALLY LOVE GOD? DO I SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD? HOW DO I SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD? AM I EMBARRASSED TO SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD IN PUBLIC? I HOPE YOU RECEIVED GREATLY FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
Except Ye Abide Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. —John 15:4 We all know the meaning of the word except. It expresses some indispensable condition, some inevitable law. “The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” There is only one way for the branch to bear fruit; there is no other possibility—it must abide in unbroken communion with the vine. Not of itself, but only of the vine, does the fruit come. Christ had already said, “Abide in me.” In nature, the branch teaches us the lesson so clearly. It is such a wonderful privilege to be called and allowed to abide in the heavenly Vine. One might have thought it needless to add these words of warning. But no—Christ knows so well how much a renunciation of self this “Abide in me” implies. He knows how strong and universal the tendency would be to seek to bear fruit by our own efforts. He realizes how difficult it would be to get us to believe that actual, continuous abiding in Him is an absolute necessity! He insists upon the truth: “Of itself” the branch cannot bear fruit; “except it abide,” it cannot bear fruit. “No more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” But must this be taken literally? Must I, as exclusively, manifestly, unceasingly, and absolutely as the branch abides in the vine, be equally given up to find my whole life in Christ alone? I must indeed. The “except ye abide” is as universal as the “except it abide.” The “no more can ye” allows no exception or modification. If I am to be a true branch, if I am to bear fruit, and if I am to be what Christ as Vine wants me to be, my whole existence must be as exclusively devoted to abiding in Him as the natural branch is to abiding in its vine. Let me learn the lesson. Abiding is to be an act of the will and the whole heart. Just as there are degrees in seeking and serving God—from “not with a perfect heart” (2 Chronicles 25:2) to “with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2)—so there may be degrees in abiding. In regeneration, the divine life enters us. But, it does not all at once master and fill our whole being. This comes as a matter of command and obedience. There is unspeakable danger of our not giving ourselves with our whole heart to abide. There is unspeakable danger of our giving ourselves to work for God—to bear fruit—but doing so with little of the true abiding, the wholehearted losing of ourselves in Christ and His life. There is unspeakable danger of much work but little fruit, for lack of this vital relationship. We must allow the words, “not…of itself,” “except it abide,” to do their work of searching and exposing. They must prune and cleanse all that there is of self-will and self-confidence in our life. This will deliver us from this great evil, and so prepare us for His teaching, giving the full meaning of the word in us: “Abide in me, and I in you.” Our blessed Lord desires to call us away from ourselves and our own strength and draw us to Himself and His strength. Let us accept the warning and turn with great fear and self-distrust to Him to do His work. Our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3)! That life is a heavenly mystery, hidden from the wise even among Christians, and revealed to the babes. The childlike spirit learns that life is given from heaven every day and every moment to the soul that accepts the teaching, “not…of itself,” “except it abide,” and seeks its all in the Vine. Abiding in the Vine then comes to be nothing more or less than the restful surrender of the soul to let Christ have all and work all—as completely as in nature, the branch knows and seeks nothing but the vine. Abide in Me. I have heard, my Lord, that with every command You also give the power to obey. With Your “rise and walk,” the lame man leaped. I accept Your word, “Abide in me,” as a word of power, that gives power. Even now I say, Yes, Lord, I will, I do abide in You. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. DO YOU ABIDE IN GOD? ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE YOUR ALL TO GOD? PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT ACCESS TO GOD Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Is of God. Ps 65:4 Blessed is the person you choose and invite to live with you in your courtyards. We will be filled with good food from your house, from your holy temple. Is by Christ. John 10:7 Jesus emphasized, “I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate for the sheep. John 14:6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me. Romans 5:2 Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. Ephesians 3:12 We can go to God with bold confidence through faith in Christ. 1 Peter 3:18 This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit. WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT JESUS? WE NEED JESUS. THANK GOD FOR JESUS. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
DON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO STOP YOUR GODLY WALK. DON’T ALLOW ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. “Continue” 1. “Continue following the Lord your God” (1 Sam. 12:14). 2. “Continue in My Word” (John 8:31). 3. “Continue ye in My Love” (John 15:9). 4. “Continue in the Grace of God” (Acts 13:43). 5. “Continue in the Faith” (Acts 14:22). 6. “Continue in Prayer” (Col. 4:2). 7. “Continue in Faith and Charity” (1 Tim. 2:15). I HOPE YOU THIS POST IS HELPFUL TO YOU. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
REVERENCE AND BLESSING Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Reverence for God brings favour to individual believers, their families and the community to which they belong. God’s blessing is conditional upon reverence for Him. Psalm 128:1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD and live his way. Ecclesiastes 8:12 A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him. God responds to those who revere Him. Psalm 147:11 The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, with those who wait with hope for his mercy. Psalm 25:14 The LORD advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise. Malachi 3:16–18 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD paid attention and listened. A book was written in his presence to be a reminder to those who feared the LORD and respected his name. “They will be mine,” says the LORD of Armies. “On that day I will make them my special possession. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him. God is good to those who revere Him. Psalm 31:19 Your kindness is so great! You reserve it for those who fear you. Adam’s descendants watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you. Isaiah 33:6 He will be the foundation of your future. The riches of salvation are wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is ⸤your⸥ treasure. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THIS QUICK STUDY. MAY GOD CONTINUE BLESSING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochuruch
BEWARE OF LIMITING GOD 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⸥. Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Almighty LORD, you made heaven and earth by your great strength and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Matthew 13:58 He didn’t work many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Mark 11:23 I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. James 1:5–8 If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them. When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
FOOD FOR THOUGHT “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). EVERY CONVERSATION IS NOT WORTH BEING PART OF, CHOOSE CAREFULLY WHAT YOU TAKE PART IN, AND GUARD WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. THINK ABOUT IT. PROVERBS 19:20 GW Listen to advice and accept discipline so that you may be wise the rest of your life.
DON’T BE A KNOW IT ALL!!! ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
WE MUST LOVE GOD Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Scripture teaches believers to love God and shows how such love should be expressed in worship and practical service. Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Matthew 22:37–38 Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 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. Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the LORD.” Psalm 119:35 Lead me on the path of your commandments, because I am happy with them. John 14:15–16 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. Psalm 73:25 As long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth. Psalm 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
God is able and ready to meet our desperate needs, no matter how crushed and down we may be. No matter how exhausted we may be from suffering and from failing, God will have mercy upon us. He will deliver us if we will only cry out to Him. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:19-20). “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me” (Psalm 138:7). PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
