GOD IS THE BEST TEACHER WE CAN HAVE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 25:8-9 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” ALLOW GOD TO TEACH YOU, AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
If I struggle with a habitual sin, does that mean I am not saved? On this side of heaven, every Christian will struggle with sin. The apostle John writes to believers of every generation: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (1 John 1:8, NLT, see also 1 John 1:10). If Christians were destined never to wrestle with sin, then Jesus would not have taught His followers to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12, NLT). The good news is that, even though we still sin, we can confess our sins to the Lord, receive His forgiveness and cleansing, and remain in fellowship with God (see 1 John 1:9). The Bible clearly shows that, after salvation, Christians continue to sin. No one is perfect. James writes, “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way” (James 3:2, NLT; see also Philippians 3:12; James 3:8; 4:17). The author of Hebrews describes the believer’s battle with habitual sin and the need to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” (Hebrews 12:1, NLT). In Romans 7:14–25, the apostle Paul writes openly and honestly of his struggle with sin: “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate” (verses 14–15, NLT). Habitual sin won’t cause us to lose our salvation or keep us out of heaven, but it can hinder our fellowship with God if we don’t humbly confess and continually seek restoration. As we grapple with sin in our Christian walk, we must never give up the fight or give in to our sinful desires. If we are to be adequately armed for the battle, it helps to understand what happens to us when we are saved. As soon as we place our faith in Jesus Christ and receive His salvation, we become new creations in Jesus Christ. Our old life of sin is dead and gone, and a new life begins (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4). At the same time, we are just starting a spiritual growth process called sanctification. At the moment of salvation, God gives us the Holy Spirit to initiate an internal work of conforming us into the image of His Son (see Romans 8:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). He starts making us more and more like Jesus, and He continues the work over our lifetime (Philippians 1:6). It is a slow progression of “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The process will not be complete until we see Jesus face-to-face (1 John 3:2). Only then will our struggle with sin cease. God does the work, but we must submit ourselves into His hands and cooperate with Him. (Matthew 26:41; Luke 12:15; 1 Peter 5:6–11; James 4:7). Paul encourages all believers to “press on toward the goal” of Christian maturity (Philippians 3:12–14). Pursuing a lifestyle of habitual sin will impede our ability to live in the light, grace, and freedom that Jesus Christ intended for us (see Romans 6:11–14; 13:12–14). We can’t let guilt over sin take us out of the fight (Romans 8:1–17), nor should we allow God’s gracious willingness to forgive our sins to lull us into callous apathy, feeling like we can go on sinning (Romans 6:1–14). John urges, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (1 John 2:1–2, NLT). God has given us Jesus Christ to advocate for us. Even when we do our best not to sin, we fall short sometimes. When we fail, we must remember that all is not lost. Jesus stands before the Father, pleading our case. He “understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NLT). We can come to Jesus and find mercy and grace to help us with our struggle against habitual sin (see Hebrews 4:16). He paid the price and the penalty for our sins, including those committed after we were saved (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:25; Colossians 2:13–14; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24). Scripture teaches us to be honest with ourselves and God about our struggle against sin, recognizing that we are incapable of overcoming the battle in our own strength and power. We can only be victorious by relying on the power of God’s Holy Spirit, letting the Spirit guide our lives (Galatians 5:16), walking and living by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), trying not to stifle the Spirit’s work (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30) but seeking instead to be filled with the Spirit, surrendering entirely to His control (Ephesians 5:15–20). We can ask the Lord to discipline us in whatever way necessary to overcome any habitual sins in our lives. We can be smart and on guard in our struggle with sin (2 Peter 3:17; Romans 6:12–14), resisting temptations (Hebrews 12:4; James 4:7), avoiding enticements (1 Thessalonians 5:22), standing on God’s Word (Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16), and seeking the way of escape that God provides (1 Corinthians 10:13). It may take a lifetime, but by God’s grace, we will experience continuing, growing victory over sin. DID YOU FIND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL AND INTERESTING? PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Pastor Andra Higginbotham
WORDS OF WISDOM Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son while there is still hope. Do not be the one responsible for his death. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept discipline so that you may be wise the rest of your life. Proverbs 23:13–14 Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If you spank him, he will not die. Spank him yourself, and you will save his soul from hell. Proverbs 23:19 My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction. Proverbs 24:19–20 Do not get overly upset with evildoers. Do not envy wicked people, because an evil person has no future, and the lamps of wicked people will be snuffed out. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Pastor Andra Higginbotham
GOD IS OUR HEALER Exodus 15:26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what he considers right, if you pay attention to his commands and obey all his laws, I will never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I am the LORD, who heals you.” Psalm 103:2–3 Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases, Luke 5:15 The news about Jesus spread even more. Large crowds gathered to hear him and have their diseases cured. Mark 10:52 Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well.” At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road. Luke 6:17–19 Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples and many other people were there. They had come from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They wanted to hear him and be cured of their diseases. Those who were tormented by evil spirits were cured. The entire crowd was trying to touch him because power was coming from him and curing all of them. FOOD FOR THOUGHT GOD IS OUR HEALER ALLOW THESE VERSE TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Bible Speaks To Us About God Answering Prayers John 15:7 ESV If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:16 ESV You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. Isaiah 65:24 ESV Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. James 4:3 ESV You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Psalm 37:4-5 ESV Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Matthew 21:22 ESV And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Hebrews 4:16 ESV Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. DO YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS SEEK TO LIFT GOD UP, OR YOU UP? DO YOU HAVE FAITH THAT GOD WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYER? DO YOU DELIGHT YOURSELF IN GOD, OR THE WORLD? Think about it. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
A Time To Die Psalm 103:15-16 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. Job 14:1-2 “Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. “Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain. Psalm 102:11 My days are like a lengthened shadow, And I wither away like grass. Death Will Soon Happen 2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Deuteronomy 31:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the time for you to die is near; call Joshua, and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. 1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” LIFE ON EARTH IS SHORT. LIVE YOUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT WHEN YOU DIE OF THIS EARTHLY LIFE YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER WITH GOD. John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Perfection Is Unattainable Ecclesiastes 7:20 Certainly, there is no one so righteous on earth that he always does what is good and never sins. James 3:2 All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does. Philippians 3:12–15 It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think. DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF, AND DON’T BE TOO HARD ON OTHERS. WHEN YOU WANT TO JUDGE SOMEONE, LOOK AT YOURSELF FIRST. DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF, OR OTHERS, BUT CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO WIN THE PRIZE. KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT PREFECT IS NOT MEANT TO BE A CRUTCH, CONTINUE STRIVING TO BE PERFECT. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch
HE HAS RISEN Luke 24:6-7 KJV He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. I PRAY THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE EXPERIENCING A JOYFUL, BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY TODAY. HE GOT UP!!! GLOOORRRY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD IS SENDING US A STRONG MESSAGE ABOUT LOVE: Matthew 22:37–39 Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Matthew 5:43–45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you this: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. John 13:34–35 “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.” LOVE A feeling of deep affection. A central theme in Scripture and Christian theology and ethics. Defines our relationship with God and dictates how we should treat others. THINK ABOUT IT. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
