2 TIMOTHY 2:24–26 “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” SOME MAY SAY WHY ONLY ONE VERSE TODAY? GOD ASKED HAVE YOU MASTERED THIS ONE VERSE YET? (SELF-CHECK) Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Anxiety and Committal “Be Not Anxious” Matt. 6:25, R.V. “Glass, with anxiety!” Strange expression this! What does it mean? These words accompanied a parcel sent from Norway to England, and they were intended to indicate that the sender feared, from the fragile nature of the contents, that some mishap might befall it. Is there not a lesson here for Christians? Might not some of us be rightly labelled, “Christians with anxiety?” In many instances there is no need for a label, as anxiety is only too plainly stamped upon the countenance, although the apostolic injunction is, “In nothing be anxious” (Phil. 4:6. R.V.). Some obey this command in certain circumstances only, while others reverse the reading, and live as though they were to be anxious for everything. The Lord wishes His children to carry their worries and anxieties to Him; and to leave them with Him. Here are seven things which He bids us cast upon Him, or commit unto Him. 1. Commit Yourself unto Him. “He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). Paul deposited himself in the hands of the Heavenly Banker; and, as the money in the Bank of England is kept safe in the strong-rooms within and by the guard without, so was the apostle, for he was kept by the Holy Spirit within, and by the Lord who encamped round about him. 2. Commit Your Soul unto Him. “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19). Suffering we shall have, but if we commit the keeping of our souls unto the Lord in well-doing, as the three Hebrew young men did, we shall, like them, cut loose our bonds, and gain the company of Jesus. 3. Commit Your Spirit unto Him. “Into Thine hand I commit my spirit” (Psa. 31:5). If the Lord has the control of our spirit, He will control us altogether. 4. Commit Your Way unto Him. “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass” (Psa. 37:5). If we commit our way unto Him, we shall never stray from Him. Commit Your Works unto Him. “Commit thy works unto the Lord” (Prov. 16:3). If the Lord controls the works and the workers, there will be no clashing in the working. 6. Commit Your Burden unto Him. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord” (Psa. 55:22). If the Lord is our Burden-bearer, we shall be free to bear one another’s burdens. 7. Commit Your Care unto Him. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). One, John Careless, a martyr, in writing to a friend, said: “Now my soul is turned to her old rest again, and has taken a sweet nap in Christ’s lap. I have cast my care upon the Lord, who careth for me, and will be careless, according to my name.” If we cast all our cares upon Him, He will take all care of us. I HOPE ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT SELF-CONTROL Proverbs 25:28 ESV A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Proverbs 16:32 ESV Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Romans 12:19 ESV Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Proverbs 29:11 ESV A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Titus 2:6 ESV Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. LET US MAINTAIN OUR SELF-CONTROL Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me, /donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
God’s faithfulness Numbers 23:19 God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. Deuteronomy 7:9 Keep in mind that the LORD your God is ⸤the only⸥ God. He is a faithful God, who keeps his promise and is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and obey his commands. Lamentations 3:21–23 “The reason I can ⸤still⸥ find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind: the LORD’s mercy. We were not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited. It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great. Luke 1:46–52 Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord’s greatness! My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior, because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant. “From now on, all people will call me blessed because the Almighty has done great things to me. His name is holy. For those who fear him, his mercy lasts throughout every generation. “He displayed his mighty power. He scattered those who think too highly of themselves. He pulled strong rulers from their thrones. He honored humble people. Hebrews 10:23 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. OUR GOD LOVES US. OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL. IF OUR GOD SAID IT WE CAN BELIEVE IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THINK ABOUT IT. Romans 12:18-19 GNB Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it.For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” DON’T START TROUBLE, LIVE IN PEACE. DON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO CAUSE YOU TO GET INTO TROUBLE. LET GOD FIGHT YOUR BATTLES. GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF 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. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD IS WITH US. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do no fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” OUR GOD IS WITH US, WE ARE NOT ALONE. THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT GRIEF AND LOSS When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.… Jesus wept. John 11:33, 35 Expressing sorrow is a healthy response to grief. Even with the full knowledge that He would bring Lazarus to life only moments later, Jesus wept. He was angered to see the ravaging effects of sin on His precious child. Being a Christian does not mean being happy all the time. Jesus Himself was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” at death. Jesus knows the pain of loss and deep sorrow. He knows the incredible power of death and understands our pain. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25–26 Because of sin, death comes to all of us (Rom. 5:12–14). Though we may try to ignore it, we cannot escape it. Feared or embraced, expected or not, death still occurs. When we are faced with the reality of loss, we begin to grasp that death is not normal. Even in the midst of sorrow, Jesus is life. As believers, we do not grieve as those who have no hope, because death is not eternal for Christians. “The sting of death is sin” (1 Cor. 15:56), but death is no more than a passing shadow between this earth and God’s presence. WHAT AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE CALLED HOME TO BE WITH GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
LET US RESPECT, AND TRUST GOD Proverbs 30:5, 6 Agur had great respect for the Divine Word of God. His attitude needs to be embraced by more people today. 1. The Character of the Word (Proverbs 30:5) “Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Proverbs 30:5). The character of the Word is described in a twofold way here. • The purity of the Word. “Every word of God is pure.” It is completely true with no mixture of error in it. No other book can claim this attribute as strongly and surely as the Scriptures. • The protection by the Word. “He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Here the Word is personified in a Person. It is impossible to separate the revelation of the Word from the revelation of God and Christ. If you trust in Him, you trust in His Word. The protection comes from trust. Unbelief in God’s Word will forfeit any protection for you from the Word. 2. The Contents of the Word (Proverbs 30:6) “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:6). This is a warning to not tamper with the contents of the Scripture • The practice of adding to the Scriptures. “Add thou not unto his words.” This can be done by either addition or subtraction, for in either case it adds a meaning to Scripture that is not in the original. Revising and improving translations is not adding to the Scripture but perverted translations and interpretations can be and are very guilty of adding meaning to the Scripture which is not in the original. The injunction about adding or subtracting from the Scriptures is also stated in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32. Revelation 22:18, 19 has a very strong warning about tampering with that book of the Scriptures. • The punishment for adding to the Scriptures. “Reprove … found a liar.” Judgment comes upon those who tamper with the Word of God. This judgment is stated quite mildly compared to the judgment expressed in Revelation 22:18, 19. To be reproved of God and revealed as a liar by God is judgment one does not want to experience in the slightest. PROVERBS 30:5-6 “All of God’s word has proven to be true. He is a shield to those who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar. WE MUST RESPECT THE WORD OF GOD. THE WORD OF GOD IS COMPLETELY TRUE. WE MUS TRUST THE WORD OF GOD. I HOPE YOU ARE WILLING TO RECEIVE THIS WORD FROM GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Power of Words 1 Timothy 5:19–22 19 Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid. 21 I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites. 22 Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone ⸤to ordain him⸥. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure. Gossip kills churches. And gossip is always painful, especially when disguised as concern. A request to “pray for so-and-so because of this thing they did” is not asking for prayer; it’s gossiping. If you know some personal detail about someone’s mishap, don’t share it with everyone—take it to God. Entire leadership structures have been wrongfully destroyed because of rumors starting this way. Paul warns against rumors when he says, “Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses” (1 Tim 5:19). How often have we heard something and been so influenced by it that we accuse someone on the basis of that rumor? Hearing something may make it feel factual, but it’s circumstantial at best. Although Paul is cautious, he has no tolerance for leaders who sin repeatedly, especially those sinning directly against the community. He tells Timothy to “reprove those who sin in the presence of all, in order that the rest also may experience fear” (1 Tim 5:20). The fear Paul means is a good kind; it keeps people from sinning. It’s not just a fear of getting caught, but an understanding that there are ramifications for the abuse of power or lack of godly conduct. Paul is not creating a legalistic system here; instead, he is focusing on making people feel what God feels when they sin. They shouldn’t be consumed with guilt, but they should feel enough shame in their actions to realize that they need grace—that they need to step out of a leadership position if they misuse their power. Paul doesn’t demand that these people be cast out of the community. He requires that such leaders be reconciled to the faith community and be made an example so that others don’t do the same. Paul’s entire framework is based on his assumption that leaders will be godly; he provided details for determining that standard earlier (e.g., 1 Tim 3:1–12). Leaders who fall short must be held accountable. And above all, leaders must be chosen wisely. If they live and conduct themselves in line with God’s work, they will have no need to fear accusations against them. How can you help establish and support a correct leadership structure in your faith community? How can you help stop any false accusations or gossip? PEOPLE NEED TO STOP SITTING STILL AND BEGIN TO DO SOMETHING. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD IS TAKING TIME TO TALK TO US THROUGH HIS WORD. The Wordy Tongue “The mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Proverbs 15:2). Fools talk too much, and since they have little substance in what they say, their talk is an abundance of foolishness. Proverbs 15:2 The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity. Unrestrained Rhetoric “A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards” (Proverbs 29:11). A fool talks too much. Wise men restrain their tongue. Proverbs 29:11 A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them. A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them. Gossiping Since gossiping betrays a confidence (also stated in 11:13a), a person ought to be careful with whom he shares secrets. Gossiping is also denounced in 16:28; 18:8; 26:20, 22. So people who talk too much should be avoided because they will probably divulge information that should be kept confidential. Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets. Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open. DON’T BE ONE THAT TALKS TOO MUCH AND BE CAREFUL OF DRAWING TOO CLOSE TO PEOPLE THAT TALK TOO MUCH. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
