JUST A REMINDER Matthew 6:33, NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE SEEKING GOD FIRST. WE MUST LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE. IF WE WILL DO THOSE TWO THINGS GOD WILL BLESS US WITH ALL THAT WE NEED. Revelation 1:8 KJV I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. OUR GOD ALWAY HAS BEEN, OUR GOD IS NOW, AND OUR GOD ALWAYS WILL BE ALMIGHTY. IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. OUR GOD HAVE OUR BACK FOREVER!!!! GLORY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! OUR GOD IS ALMIGHTY!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
God’s people are to resist sin 1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents ⸤in the world⸥, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. Proverbs 4:23–27 Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Remove dishonesty from your mouth. Put deceptive speech far away from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you. Carefully walk a straight path, and all your ways will be secure. Do not lean to the right or to the left. Walk away from evil. James 1:21 So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do. Humbly accept the word that God has placed in you. This word can save you. 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. God calls his people to avoid sin, and through Jesus Christ gives them the inner power to be victorious over it. AS WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIFE LET US RESIST SIN AND CONTINUE ON THE STRAIGHT GODLY PATH. LET US LIVE GODLY AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
IINSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 GW [16] Always be joyful. [17] Never stop praying. [18] Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this. [19] Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. [20] Don’t despise what God has revealed. [21] Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. [22] Keep away from every kind of evil. THIS IS HOW GOD WANTS US TO LIVE. HOW ARE YOU LIVING? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
WE MUST BE CHRIST CENTERED John 15:4 ESV Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. Psalm 28:7 ESV The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Philippians 4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Mark 16:15-16 ESV And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. John 1:12 GW However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Listen, Build, and Listen Again Genesis 6–7; Matthew 6–7:11; Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 More often than not, what we want is not what God wants. We desire wealth, notoriety, or influence. In our ambition, we can lose sight of the very God who created us. In the story of Noah and the flood, we see the same dichotomy: the world wants one thing and God desires another. The two aren’t congruent. In this case, selfishness has led to catastrophic levels of evil: “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence … all flesh had corrupted their way on earth” (Gen 6:11–12). So God tells Noah that He is through—He’s going to end it all. But Noah and his family will be spared if they’re obedient to God’s will. Noah listens; he builds the ark. And God honors His work by closing the door (Gen 7:16). He’s there at the end, sealing the deal. Being faithful means getting an opportunity to witness the power of God. When our ambitions aren’t guided by God’s will and His goals, the result can mean corruption or corrupting others. We might wonder how we got there, but in reality, we know how it happened: selfishness is to blame. Instead of doing things our way, we must listen, build what God wants, and then listen again. We have a choice: we can seek our own ambitions—like wisdom or knowledge—or we can choose Christ’s way, realizing that “in much wisdom is much vexation, and [that the one] who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccl 1:18). Ambition alone does not offer a happy ending. The only ending that results in joy is the one that focuses on God’s kingdom and His desires. Rather than justify our current desires, we should acknowledge the dichotomy and the problem. Individual ambition may result in selfish desires, but a focus on Christ will result in blessings: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9). What ambitions need to be set aside in your life? In what ways do you need to refocus your life on Christ’s goals? THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD COMMANDS US TO BE STRONG. God’s commands are His promises, which enable us to carry out His precepts. 1. “Be strong” to possess God’s possessions, as He urged upon Joshua—Joshua 1:6. Joshua 1:6 GW [6] Be strong and courageous, because you will help these people take possession of the land I swore to give their ancestors. 2. “Be strong” to obey Jehovah’s commands, by unfaltering response to them—Joshua 1:7. Joshua 1:7 GW [7] “Only be strong and very courageous, faithfully doing everything in the teachings that my servant Moses commanded you. Don’t turn away from them. Then you will succeed wherever you go. 3. “Be strong” in the face of difficulties, because the Lord is with us to see us through them—Joshua 1:9. Joshua 1:9 GW [9] “I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’ ” 4. “Be strong” in the face of the declension of others, for the Lord bids us to be of “good courage”—Joshua 1:18. Joshua 1:18 GW [18] Whoever rebels against your authority or does not obey your orders will be put to death. Just be strong and courageous!” 5. Pass on His Word, “Be strong,” to others, as Joshua did to the children of Israel, and overcome all your enemies—Joshua 10:25. Joshua 10:24-25 GW [24] When they brought them to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel. He told the officers who had gone with him, “Come forward and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So that’s what they did. [25] Joshua told them, “Don’t be afraid or terrified! Be strong and courageous, because this is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you’re fighting against.” 6. “Be strong,” for the Lord bids thee “fear not” those who oppose us, for He pledges Himself not to fail us—Deut. 31:6. Deuteronomy 31:6 GW [6] Be strong and courageous. Don’t tremble! Don’t be afraid of them! The Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you.” 7. “Be strong,” for the Lord hath sworn to give what He has promised—Deut. 31:7. Deuteronomy 31:7-8 GW [7] Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous. You will go with these people into the land that the Lord will give them, as he swore to their ancestors. You will help them take possession of the land. [8] The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you. He will be with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you. So don’t be afraid or terrified.” BE STRONG, MORE PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU THAN YOU REALIZE. GOD HAS ASSIGNED PEOPLE TO WATCH YOU AND RECEIVE FROM YOU. BEING STRONG IN GOD WILL BRING BLESSINGS TO YOU AND TO PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOU. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD TEACHES US ABOUT APPEARANCE Don’t judge others by appearance. Remember that God looks beyond what we look like on the outside. It’s in the Bible, I Samuel 16:7, NIV. “The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We should avoid anything that causes confusion over what we stand for. It’s in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” We need to accessorize our inner character, not our outer attire. It’s in the Bible, 1 Peter 3:3-4, NKJV. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” Being a follower of Christ will make you different from those around you. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 5:13-14, NKJV. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” Our Christian influence and witness is affected by our appearance. It’s in the Bible, 1 Timothy 2:9, 10, NEB. “Woman again must dress in becoming manner, modestly and soberly, not with elaborate hairstyles, not decked out with gold or pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as befits women who claim to be religious.” Don’t be like the world, the world focuses on what is attractive for the eyes and drawing attention to yourself. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 2:15-16, NKJV. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” DID YOU FIND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL? WHAT DOES PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY SEE YOU? SELF-CHECK, DO PEOPLE SEE THE WORLD OR DO THEY SEE GOD WHEN THEY SEE YOU? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
God speaks to us about henderences and stumbling blocks. Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Galatians 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? Isaiah 57:14 And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.” Malachi 2:8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” John 16:1 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU DRAW CLOSE UNTO. DON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO BE A HENDERANCE OR STUMBLING BLOCK UNTO YOU. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Attitudes of the Believer In Relation to Christ There are some terms which relate to the Christian life which are of pressing importance, because of the issues which are involved in relation to them. The following seven words indicate a few aspects of the Christian’s life, namely, “Believe,” “Pray,” “Abide,” “Walk,” “Take,” “Stand,” “Watch.” 1. To Believe on Christ is the secret of the Christian life—Gal. 2:20. Galatians 2:20 KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 2. To Pray to Christ is the stay of the Christian life-Phil. 4:6. Philippians 4:6 KJV Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 3. To Abide in Christ is the strength of the Christian life—John 15:4. John 15:4 KJV Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 4. To Walk as Christ is the shining out of the Christian life—1 John 2:6–9; 1 Peter 2:21. 1 John 2:6-9 KJV [6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. [7] Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. [8] Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. [9] He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 1 Peter 2:21 KJV For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 5. To Take from Christ is the supply of the Christian life—Isaiah 27:5. Isaiah 27:5 GW Or else let them come to me for protection. Let them make peace with me. Yes, let them make peace with me. 6. To Stand with Christ is the staple of the Christian life—Eph. 6:14. Ephesians 6:14 GW So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. 7. To Watch for Christ is the standing order of the Christian life—Mark 13:33. The term watchfulness is a comprehensive one. It signifies far more than merely holding the truth of the Lord’s Coming. It covers the whole trend of the spiritual life in the variety of its traits. Mark 13:33 GW Be careful! Watch! You don’t know the exact time. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
