The Bible speaks to us about the Sabbath: 1. We are commanded to keep holy the Sabbath Day—Exod. 20:8–10. When God commands, it is for us to obey. 2. We are to rest one day in seven, because God rested from His creative work on the seventh day—Gen. 2:2. It is economic and essential that everything that works should have a period of rest. 3. The early Christians by the practice of gathering together to worship the Lord, and to remember His death, on the first day of the week, proclaim they had the authority of Christ to do so—Acts 20:7. 4. There is a special blessing promised to those who keep God’s Day of rest—Isa. 56:4, 5. 5. If God’s Day is not recognized, people will drift into the rapids of agnosticism, rationalism, covetousness, self-pleasure, and sin; for if we cut ourselves from one of God’s commands, we shall cut ourselves from others—Isa. 56:2, 6; 58:13. 6. Disobedience to remember the Sabbath by self-action always brings punishment, as is evidenced in the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath—Num. 15:32–41; and in the case of those who gathered manna—Exod. 16:25, 26. 7. And the most important of all, is, the Sabbath is a Holy Day; for the Lord has sanctified it—Gen. 2:3; hence, for man to take what is holy to the Lord for his own use is to commit a trespass in God’s holy things; and when any man did this under the law, atonement had to be made for his sin, and reparation—See Lev. 5:14–19. It is a principle we do well to recognize, that in all God’s commands He has our best interests at heart, and we study our own interests when we obey His bidding. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT HEALING Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com God has healed in the past by prescription, 2 Ki. 20:7; 1 Tim. 5:23; through physicians, Luke 5:31; Col. 4:14; by direct intervention, Mark 3:1–5; in answer to the faith of friends, Mark 2:5; in response to prayer, Jas. 5:15, 16; and in spite of unbelief, Mark 6:5. It did not please God to heal Daniel, Dan. 8:27; Elisha, 2 Ki. 13:14; Timothy, 1 Tim. 5:23; Epaphroditus, Phil. 2:26; Trophimus, 2 Tim. 4:20; or Paul, 2 Cor. 12:7–10. God is able to heal anyone at any time, but the Bible reveals that it is not normally His purpose to do so. Evangelicals therefore believe in divine healing, but not in divine healers. Sickness and infirmity are permitted for a number of revealed reasons: so that God’s works may be made manifest, John 9:3; for His own glory, John 11:4; for our profit, Psa. 119:67; Heb. 12:5–10; so that we may be able to comfort others, 2 Cor. 1:4; to make us more fruitful, John 15:2; Heb. 12:11; to prepare us for future glory, Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:17. God always provides a way to escape, 1 Cor. 10:13. It comes through prayer, Matt. 6:13; Heb. 4:16. It may also come through self-judgment, in the light of the Word, 1 Cor. 11:31; 2 Chr. 7:14. If God does not heal, His grace is sufficient, 2 Cor. 12:9. DID YOU FIND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE INTERESTING. DID YOU RECEIVE FROM IT. SHOULD WE CONTINUE THESE QUICK STUDIES. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GIVE GOD THANKS. 1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GW Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this. TAKE TIME TO GIVE GOD THANKS. HE IS SO GOOD TO US ALL THE TIME. GOD LOVES US. TAKE TIME TO THANK GOD FOR ALL THE GOOD HE HAS DONE, IS DOING, AND WILL DO IN YOUR LIFE. OUR GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR THANKS. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD’S CHILDREN Who are God’s children? Spiritual birth makes someone a child of God. It’s in the Bible, John 1:12-13, NIV. “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” God offers us the opportunity to be His children. It’s in the Bible, I John 3:1, NIV. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” Christians are adopted into God’s family. It’s in the Bible, Romans 8:16, NIV. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Galatians 4:4-5, RSV. “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Take a lesson from the children. It’s in the Bible, Luke 18:16-17, TLB. “Then Jesus called the children over to Him and said to the disciples, ‘Let the little children come to me! Never send them away! For the Kingdom of God belongs to men who have hearts as trusting as these little children’s. And anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get within the Kingdom’s gates.” I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL. PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
“Nothing Without My Savior” Romans 6:3–5 Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life. If we’ve become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did. 1 Timothy 3:16 The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory. The Person of Christ is to me the surest as well as the most sacred of all facts; as certain as my own personal existence; indeed, even more so: for Christ lives in me, and he is the only valuable part of my existence. I am nothing without my Savior; I am all with him, and would not exchange him for the whole world. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS TO BE A GREAT REFRESHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FORGIVE AND COMFORT There is a subtle type of grudge that festers. When we extend forgiveness, the challenge isn’t necessarily in the moment of reconciliation. It’s extending that moment and letting it permeate the interactions that follow. In 2 Corinthians, Paul doesn’t just ask the Corinthians to forgive. He asks them for much more: “So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him. Because for this reason, also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything” (2 Cor 2:7–9). Patronizing superiority suits our selfish desires, but grudging forgiveness doesn’t heal a community. Paul calls the Corinthian church to much more. He wants them to live sacrificially. That’s why, when Paul calls for the offender in Corinth to be reprimanded, he specifically turns to address those who were affected by the sin. The solution was intentional, ongoing forgiveness and an outpouring of love. He then reminded the Corinthians of Christ’s sacrifice, which they didn’t deserve (see Col 3:13). Forgiveness is undeserved—a reminder we all need. Are you holding on to a grudge against someone—perhaps even someone you’ve already forgiven? How can you let go of your grudge and extend the love that has been shown to you? FORGIVE AND LET GO OF THAT GRUDGE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
Your Inner Self Deuteronomy 4:1–49; 2 Corinthians 1:17–24; Psalm 32:1–11 “Did I leave the burner on?” “Did I lock the door?” “I feel like I’m forgetting something.” Forgetfulness is a syndrome we all experience at one time or another. Many of our forgetful moments end up being minor inconveniences. But there is one thing we should never forget: God and His instructions. As the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land, Moses offered them a string of commandments, including this: “Take care for yourself and watch your inner self closely, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen, so that they do not slip from your mind all the days of your life” (Deut 4:9). In watching ourselves closely, we remember what we’re meant to do and who we’re meant to be. And this isn’t just a value added to our lives and our relationship with God. Moses went on: “And you shall make [the commandments] known to your children and to your grandchildren” (Deut 4:9). Moses knew that God had chosen the Israelites to carry out His work in the world. He also knew that forgetting God’s commandments could jeopardize that work and even their very lives. He tells them to be certain about who they are—to keep themselves in line with God. It’s precisely this point that Paul emphasizes about God’s plan in 2 Cor 1:17–24: God is about the resounding “yes.” Yes, God has affirmed us. Yes, God has chosen us. Yes, we are the receivers of His salvation. We are called—not some of us, but all of us. And in this we should rejoice, for we can claim, as the psalmist does, “I will confess concerning my transgressions to Yahweh, and you [Yahweh] took away the guilt of my sin” (Psa 32:5). The best way to make your “yes” be a yes and your “no” be a no is to align yourself with God’s great calling upon your life. Commandments only get us so far; identity in Christ and the Spirit’s work in us will take us where we need to go. What can you do to constantly remind yourself of God’s will, your identity in Him, and His work in your life? THINK ABOUT IT. DID YOU FIND THIS POST TO BE A HELPFUL REMINDER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Faith Healing Mark 5:34 ESV And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Malachi 4:2 ESV But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Psalm 30:2 ESV O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Psalm 41:3 ESV The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. Exodus 23:25 ESV You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. Deuteronomy 7:15 ESV And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you. TRUST, BELIEVE, AND RECEIVE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THINK ABOUT IT. Genesis 1:27 GW So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. NO WE DID NOT EVOLVE FROM MONKEYS, GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE. 1 Corinthians 11:11–12 (GW) 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. WE MUST REALIZE, WE NEED EACH OTHER. A MAN NEED TO BE A MAN AND A WOMAN NEEED TO BE A WOMAN. BE WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FOOD FOR THOUGHT John 11:40 GW Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see God’s glory?” WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD. OBEY, BELIEVE, AND RECEIVE!!! WATCH GOD MOVE ON YOUR BEHALF. Luke 18:41-42 GW “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Lord, I want to see again.” Jesus told him, “Receive your sight! Your faith has made you well.” GOD WANT US TO TELL HIM WHAT WE WANT HIM TO DO FOR US. WE WILL RECEIVE ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH, GLORY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
