Psalm 91:14-16 Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name. When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you.
GOD TAKES CARE OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. DO YOU LOVE GOD? ARE YOU SURE YOU LOVE GOD? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE GOD? THINK ABOUT IT?
1 John 4:16 “We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God’s love live in God, and God lives in them.” “God is love” One of the most profound theological declarations in Scripture. It doesn’t merely say God has love or shows love—He is love. His very nature is defined by love. “Those who live in God’s love live in God, and God lives in them” This describes a mutual indwelling: abiding in love is synonymous with abiding in God. It’s a spiritual union where love is both the evidence and the environment of divine presence. 1 John 3:24 – “The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him… John 15:4 – “Abide in Me, and I in you…” – Jesus speaks of mutual indwelling through love and obedience. Divine Nature: God’s essence is love—not just an attribute, but His very being. Spiritual Union: Love is the evidence of abiding in God. Without it, spiritual claims are hollow. Faith and Experience: Believing and knowing God’s love is both a doctrinal truth and a lived reality. Obedience and Love: Keeping God’s commandments is inseparable from abiding in Him.
1 Corinthians 2:14 A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. He thinks they’re nonsense. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them. John 3:19-21 This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. People who do what is wrong hate the light and don’t come to the light. They don’t want their actions to be exposed. But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen. 1 John 2:9-10 Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light. Ephesians 4:17–19 So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. They can’t understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness. 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.
Psalm 37:4 “Be happy with the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Delight in God leads to fulfillment and success aligned with His will. Joshua 1:8 “Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.” Success is tied to meditating on and obeying God’s Word. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. Psalm 57:2 I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
John 5:5 “Who wins the victory over the world? Isn’t it the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” This verse emphasizes that faith in Jesus as the Son of God is the key to overcoming worldly influences and spiritual opposition. It’s part of a broader passage that explores the power of belief, spiritual rebirth, and the testimony God gives about His Son. Victory through faith is a central biblical and theological theme, rooted in the belief that trusting in Jesus as the Son of God empowers believers to overcome worldly trials, sin, and spiritual opposition. 1 John 5:4–5 is the anchor: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 Corinthians 15:57: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse ties victory directly to Christ’s resurrection. Practical Implications for Believers • Faith is not passive—it’s a weapon. It enables discernment, endurance, and spiritual authority. • Victory is relational: It’s not earned by effort but received through union with Christ. • Overcoming the world means resisting its values—lust, pride, fear—and living by truth, love, and obedience.
OUR VICTORY IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he told me: “My kindnessis all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me. A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God’s work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, “I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory,” defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for “it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.
WE MUST REALIZE WE NEED GOD. WE CAN’T DO IT ON OUR OWN. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM AND ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER.
The Bible teaches that respect within the family is foundational to love, harmony, and spiritual growth. Exodus 20:12 (GW) – “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.” Proverbs 22:6 (GW) – “Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (GW) – “Brothers and sisters, I encourage all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to agree with each other and not to split into opposing groups. I want you to be united in your understanding and opinions.” Psalm 133:1 (GW) – “See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!” Galatians 5:22–23 (GW) – “But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (GW) – “If anyone doesn’t take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” God is described as “faithful and true” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Families that practice honesty mirror His character and invite His blessing.
WE MUST LOVE OUR FAMILY AND TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.
(I’VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASK ME TO TEACH ABOUT SUICIDE.) From a biblical perspective, the question of whether suicide prevents someone from going to heaven is not directly answered in Scripture. However, here are a few key themes that many Christians consider when wrestling with this: Salvation Is by Grace, Not by Works • Ephesians 2:8–9 (GOD’S WORD Translation): “God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God, not the result of your own efforts.” • Salvation is based on faith in Jesus Christ, not on the final act of a person’s life. Many believe that if someone has truly trusted in Christ, that salvation is secure—even if their life ends in tragedy. Suicide Is Not God’s Will • Scripture affirms the value of life and calls believers to endure suffering with hope: • “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.” — Psalm 139:16 • “Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God.” — Isaiah 41:10 • Suicide is often the result of overwhelming pain, mental illness, or despair—not a rejection of God. God’s Mercy Is Greater Than Our Weakness • Romans 8:38–39 says that “nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or rulers…” • Many Christians believe that even in moments of deep suffering, God’s grace can reach a person. God Knows the Heart • Only God sees the full picture—our pain, our intentions, our faith. “The Lord looks into the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 What Does the Bible Say About Suicide? While the Bible doesn’t directly mention suicide as a doctrinal issue, it does record several instances: • Saul (1 Samuel 31:4–5): After being wounded in battle, Saul took his own life. • Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23): After his advice was rejected, he hanged himself. • Samson (Judges 16:29–30): He died by collapsing a building on himself and others—some view this as sacrificial, others as suicidal. • Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:5): After betraying Jesus, he hanged himself. None of these passages include commentary on eternal destiny. The Bible doesn’t declare suicide as an unforgivable sin—but it does affirm the sanctity of life and God’s mercy. Is Suicide the “Unforgivable Sin”? Some traditions have taught that suicide is unforgivable because it’s a sin that cannot be repented of. But this view isn’t supported by Scripture: • Romans 8:1 — “So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned.” • John 10:28 — “I give them eternal life, and they will never be lost. No one will tear them away from me.” • Hebrews 7:25 — “He is always able to save those who come to God through him.” The only sin described as “unforgivable” is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32), which involves a hardened, persistent rejection of God’s grace—not a moment of despair. What About Mental Illness and Despair? Many suicides occur under the weight of mental illness, trauma, or hopelessness. These are not signs of rebellion—they’re signs of suffering. • Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed.” • 1 Kings 19:4–8 — Elijah begged God to take his life, but God responded with rest, nourishment, and gentle presence. God sees the whole person—their pain, their story, their faith. He is not quick to condemn. He is slow to anger and rich in mercy (Exodus 34:6). What Is Our Hope? If someone has trusted in Christ, their salvation is secure—even if their life ends in tragedy. God’s grace is not fragile. • 2 Timothy 2:13 — “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to himself.” • Romans 5:20 — “Where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more.” How Should We Respond? If you’re concern for someone—or for yourself—please know: • You are not alone. • Your life has immeasurable worth. • God’s love is deeper than your pain. • There are people who want to walk with you—pastors, counselors, friends, and crisis teams.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS DEEP STUDY TO BE HELPFUL. SHOULD WE CONTINUE OUR DEEP STUDIES?
Matthew 4:6 He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump! Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock’” Luke 4:9–11 Then the devil took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump from here! Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.’ ” The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
Psalm 68:6 “God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives, but rebellious people must live in an unproductive land.” Freedom for the oppressed: “He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives” speaks of liberation—not only literal release from captivity, but also freedom from spiritual, emotional, or social bondage. It’s a picture of transformation and purpose. Judgment for the rebellious: “Rebellious people must live in an unproductive land” contrasts God’s blessings with the consequences of resisting Him. The “dry land” symbolizes spiritual barrenness, isolation, and lack of fruitfulness. If you feel alone, this verse reminds you that God sees you and desires to place you in a nurturing community. If you feel trapped—by circumstances, habits, or fears—God offers freedom and a fruitful life. It also calls for humility and surrender, warning that rebellion leads to spiritual dryness. Psalm 27:10 – “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will take care of me.” Galatians 5:1 – “Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Isaiah 30:15–16 – God offers rest and salvation, but rebellion leads to ruin.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
