GOD TEACHES US ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance. Jesus sometimes cast demons out of people; other times He healed people with no mention of the demonic. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and warns us to oppose the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10–18). Ephesians 6:10–12 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This text teaches some crucial truths: we can only stand strong in the Lord’s power, it is God’s armor that protects us, and our battle is ultimately against spiritual forces of evil in the world. Ephesians 6:13–18 is a description of the spiritual armor God gives us. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and by praying in the Spirit. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to know the truth, believe the truth, and speak the truth. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we face. We are not to waver in our faith, trusting God’s promises no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. And we are to pray in the power and will of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our ultimate example of resisting temptation in spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Each temptation was combatted with the words “it is written.” The Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? We rely on God’s power, not our own. We put on the whole armor of God. We draw on the power of Scripture—the Word of God is the Spirit’s sword. We pray in perseverance and holiness, making our appeal to God. We stand firm (Ephesians 6:13–14); we submit to God; we resist the devil’s work (James 4:7), knowing that the Lord of hosts is our protector. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2). Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Be Skillful The Lord expects us to apply ourselves intellectually and do some serious thinking as we study His Word. We should love the Lord with our minds as well as with our hearts and souls. Matthew 22:37 Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ DON’T JUST READ THE BIBLE, STUDY THE BIBLE, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU READ, AND APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE. THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTS AND EXPECTS FROM US. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR PEACE COMES FROM GOD. Ps 4:8 I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O Lord, enable me to live securely. Is 26:3 With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you. Lk 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!” Jn 14:27 “I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly. Ro 5:1 Now that we have God’s approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Php 4:7 Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. A relationship with God marked by loyalty and love is also described as a relationship of peace. Although it appears sometimes as if the wicked have peace (Job 21:9; Psa 73:3), in reality peace with God is the possession not of the wicked (Isa 48:22; 57:21) but of those who are meek (Psa 37:11) and righteous (Isa 57:1–2), who serve Yahweh (Psa 35:27), who love the law of God (Psa 119:165), and who please the Lord (Prov 16:7). I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
WE CAN’T TRUST MAN, BUT WE CAN TRUST GOD. John 18:17 GNB The girl at the gate said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of the disciples of that man?” “No, I am not,” answered Peter. JUST BECAUSE A PERSON SAY THEY LOVE YOU, JUST BECAUSE A PERSON HANG OUT WITH YOU EVERYDAY, DON’T THINK THEY WON’T TURN THERE BACK ON YOU. THINK ABOUT IT. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. WE CAN TRUST GOD TO TAKE CARE OF US. LIVE GODLY, TRUST GOD AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Children’s reponsibility to honour their parents “Honour” implies respect, obedience and care for the parents’ needs. 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. Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother as the LORD your God has commanded you. Then you will live for a long time, and things will go well for you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Leviticus 19:3 “Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of rest as holy days. I am the LORD your God. Ephesians 6:1–3 Children, obey your parents because you are Christians. This is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother that everything may go well for you, and you may have a long life on earth.” This is an important commandment with a promise. Mark 10:19 You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother.” This honor is due especially to mothers in old age Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old. Penalties for disobeying parents Exodus 21:15 “Whoever hits his father or mother must be put to death. Proverbs 20:20 The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother will be snuffed out in total darkness. Matthew 15:4 For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.’ Following Jesus Christ involves a commitment to him even deeper than love of one’s parents Luke 14:26 “If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples. Matthew 10:37 “The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK STUDY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS QUICK STUDY? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOHAM
STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT GOD Numbers 14:20-35 The LORD said, “I forgive them, as you have asked. But as I live and as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, I solemnly swear that none of the people who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I did in Egypt and in the desert will see the land which I promised their ancestors. They have tested me now ten times and refused to obey me. None of those who treat me with contempt will see it! But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I’ll bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it. (The Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys.) Tomorrow you must turn around, go back into the desert, and follow the road that goes to the Red Sea.” Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “How long must I put up with this wicked community that keeps complaining about me? I’ve heard the complaints the Israelites are making about me. So tell them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, I solemnly swear I will do everything to you that you said I would do. Your bodies will drop dead in this desert. All of you who are at least 20 years old, who were registered and listed, and who complained about me will die. I raised my hand and swore an oath to give you this land to live in. But none of you will enter it except Caleb (son of Jephunneh) and Joshua (son of Nun). You said your children would be taken as prisoners of war. Instead, I will bring them into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it. However, your bodies will drop dead in this desert. Your children will be shepherds in the desert for 40 years. They will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies dead in the desert. For 40 days you explored the land. So for 40 years—one year for each day—you will suffer for your sins and know what it means for me to be against you.’ I, the LORD, have spoken. I swear I will do these things to all the people in this whole wicked community who have joined forces against me. They will meet their end in this desert. Here they will die!” So the men Moses sent to explore the land died in front of the LORD from a plague. They died because they had returned and made the whole community complain about Moses by spreading lies about the land.Of all the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh) survived. BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TEST GOD. IT IS NOT GOOD TO CONTINUE COMPLAINING ABOUT GOD. DISOBEYING GOD COMES WITH CONSEQUENCES. IT IS NOT WISE TO DISRESPECT GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Let us be Eager to Pursue Godliness God didn’t save us so we could do whatever we want and still go to heaven. He saved us so we could once again live our lives devoted to Him. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11–12). It’s God’s desire that we live according to the righteousness He’s bestowed on us through faith in Jesus Christ. In Him, we are made new, “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24) through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Once we were slaves to sin, but now we are not. There was a time we could not help but give in to our sinful passions, but now we have the power to overcome them. So do it, says the Lord. Live like you’re a child of God and seek to imitate your Father (Eph. 5:1). “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Tim. 6:11–12). In other words, pursue God, who is all those attributes and more. Do not set your hopes “on the uncertainty of riches, but on God” (1 Tim. 6:17). Secure your mind on Christ. Participate in the expansion of His kingdom and seek the things that are above. Don’t be consumed with earthly possessions, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. When you do, you will live the life God desires for you. WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU PURSUING AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY WALK? HOW ARE YOU LIVING? CHECK YOURSELF. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THINK ABOUT IT. Proverbs 2:8 GNB He protects those who treat others fairly, and guards those who are devoted to him. IF WE WILL TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY, AND DEVOTE OUR LIFE TO GOD, GOD WILL PROTECT US AND GUARD US. Deuteronomy 10:21 GNB Praise him — he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you. THINK ABOUT ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU. NOW RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE GIVE HIM SOME PRAISE!!! THANK YOU LORD!!! GLORY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! THANK YOU LORD!!! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT SEXUALITY Men and women are intended to complement one another and to take pleasure in one another. God has provided for the full and glad expression of this in marriage. Sexuality comes from God It was created by God Ge 1:27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God intended men and women to complement one another 1Co 11:11-12 Yet, as believers in the Lord, women couldn’t exist without men and men couldn’t exist without women. As a woman came into existence from a man, so men come into existence by women, but everything comes from God. Perversions of sexuality Adultery Exodus 20:14 “Never commit adultery. Deuteronomy 5:18 “Never commit adultery. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery. LUST Matthew 5:28 But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart. Ephesians 4:19 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. Ephesians 5:3 Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people. Colossians 3:5 Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). Homosexuality Romans 1:26–27 For this reason God allowed their shameful passions to control them. Their women have exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion. Leviticus 18:22 Never have sexual intercourse with a man as with a woman. It is disgusting. Sexual perversion will be punished 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit God’s kingdom. Revelation 21:8 But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Sexual perversion can be cleansed 1 Corinthians 6:11 That’s what some of you were! But you have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
