FOOD FOR THOUGHT 1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. WE MUST CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD. WE MUST TURN AWAY FROM OUR SINS. GOD WILL FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS, AND CLEANSE US. DON’T ALLOW YOUR SINS TO BLOCK YOUR BLESSINGS. Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” GET RID OF THE ANGER, ENVY, AND HATRED. ALLOW THE PEACE OF GOD TO RULE IN YOUR HEART. STOP COMPLAINING, BE THANKFUL. THINK ABOUT IT. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR: ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
COME TO GOD NOW Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 Since we are God’s coworkers, we urge you not to let God’s kindnessbe wasted on you. God says, “At the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you.” Listen, now is God’s acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation! MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION: the message demands a decision. Note three facts. a. Ministers are co-workers with God. They actually have the great privilege of working together with God. What is the work that they do with God? The minister who works with God does exactly what Scripture says: he “beseeches,” that is, urges, begs, and pleads with men to receive the wonderful grace of God. What is that grace? It is the glorious truth … • that God has provided salvation through Christ and proclaimed that salvation through Christ b. The message of redemption is not to be received in vain. A person must not hear the message with empty, deaf ears. Redemption and salvation are available. God has made it possible—He even begs and pleads with men—to be saved; but a person can receive the message with empty ears and heart. He can either do nothing about the message or deliberately reject it. In either case he refuses … • to let the grace of God take effect in his life • to let God’s grace work in his heart through regeneration • to let the death and righteousness of Christ be counted as his death and righteousness A person must not receive the grace of God in vain. God’s grace is much too wonderful—it is the only hope and way of redemption and salvation. c. The decision to be saved is to be made now. Now is the only reasonable time to be saved. There may be no tomorrow; in fact, there may not even be one hour left for any of us. Any person’s life can be snatched away any moment of any day by accident, disease, or heart attack. Verse two declares two significant facts (note that this is an Old Testament quotation and God Himself is the spokesman, Is. 49:8): 1) This is the acceptable time when God has heard the cries of men. This is the day of salvation when God has succoured men. 2) Paul, the minister, cries out: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Note the forceful implication: the day is coming when the day of salvation will no longer be present. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good and death and evil” (De. 30:15). “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (De. 30:19). “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsover thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mk. 10:21). “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (Jn. 6:66–67). “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Jos. 24:15). “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him” (1 K. 18:21). IT’S TIME TO STOP GOING BACK AND FORTH. IT’S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO FOLLOW? MAKE YOUR DECISION TODAY, DON’T WAIT, TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE STORM COME INTO YOUR LIFE TO FORM A RELATIONSHIIP WITH GOD, FORM YOUR RELATIONSHIP NOW. DON’T CAUSE GOD TO TELL YOU TO GO AWAY FROM ME I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU!!! PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT GRACE Hebrews 4:16 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. Psalm 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD USES HUMANS ACTS 19:11-12 AMP God was doing extraordinary and unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or face-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them]. YES, GOD CAN USE HUMANS TO PERFORM MIRACLES IF HE CHOOSE TO DO IT. THINK ABOUT IT. God is loyal to us. Deuteronomy 7:9 GW 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. WE MUST LOVE GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS. WE MUST BE LOYAL TO GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR: ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Blessings of the Upright One said of a devoted Christian man in his business, “He commands my custom, for all his goods are Christian;” and of another, “He sells a Christian shovel.” When we are “upright in heart and life and business, we need no recommendation.” The upright man, and not the leaner, is ever the blessed one. If the Book of Proverbs is carefully studied, it will be found there are many blessings which come to the upright. 1. The upright “dwell in the land” of promised blessing—2:21. Proverbs 2:21 Decent people will live in the land. People of integrity will remain in it. 2. The upright have Jehovah as their strength—10:29. Proverbs 10:29 The way of the LORD is a fortress for an innocent person but a ruin to those who are troublemakers. 3. The integrity and righteousness of the upright bring guidance and deliverance—11:3, 6, 11. Proverbs 11:3 Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin. Proverbs 11:6 Decent people are saved by their righteousness, but treacherous people are trapped by their own greed. Proverbs 11:11 With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up, but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down. 4. The upright are a joy to the Lord, and He delights to answer their prayer—11:20; 15:8. Proverbs 11:20 Devious people are disgusting to the LORD, but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent. Proverbs 15:8 A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD, but the prayers of decent people please him. 5. The upright find that the Lord keeps them, causes them to flourish, and obtain definite direction—13:6; 14:11; 21:29. Proverbs 13:6 Righteousness protects the honest way of life, but wickedness ruins a sacrifice for sin. Proverbs 14:11 The houses of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tents of decent people will continue to expand. Proverbs 21:29 A wicked person puts up a bold front, but a decent person’s way of life is his own security. 6. They find “good things in possession” (28:10). “No good will Jehovah withhold from them who walk uprightly” (Psa. 84:11). Psalm 84:11 The LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD grants favor and honor. He does not hold back any blessing from those who live innocently. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK REFRESHER HELPFUL. LIVE AN UPRIGHT LIFE AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The people of God are to imitate God Leviticus 11:44–45 “Here is the reason: I am the LORD your God. You must live holy lives. Be holy because I am holy. Never become unclean by touching anything that swarms or crawls on the ground. Here is the reason ⸤again⸥: I am the LORD. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. Be holy because I am holy. Leviticus 20:26 Be my holy people because I, the LORD, am holy. I have separated you from other people to be my very own. 1 Peter 1:16 Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Ephesians 5:1 Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. TOO MANY PEOPLE STRIVING TO BE LIKE THE WORLD. STOP IMITATING THE WORLD AND START IMITATING GOD. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
REMEMBER GOD KNOWS: Psalm 69:5 O God, you know my stupidity, and the things of which I am guilty are not hidden from you. Jeremiah 2:22 Even if you wash with detergent and use a lot of soap, I would still see the stains from your wickedness,” declares the Almighty LORD. 1 Corinthians 4:4–5 I have a clear conscience, but that doesn’t mean I have God’s approval. It is the Lord who cross-examines me. Therefore, don’t judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will also bring to light what is hidden in the dark and reveal people’s motives. Then each person will receive praise from God. REMEMBER GOD KNOWS YOUR WICKEDNESS. REMEMBER GOD KNOWS YOUR GUILT. REMEMBER GOD KNOWS YOUR MOTIVE. THINK ABOUT IT. CHECK YOURSELF, HOW ARE YOU LIVING? PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
“But How Do I Know I’m Part of God’s Family?” Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:6) In Galatians 3:23–4:7, Paul wrestles with the question “Who inherits the promises given to Abraham of an eternal life with God?” Or, in our modern vernacular, who is saved? The answer is everyone who trusts God to justify them through Christ’s death and resurrection. All who believe—who take God at his word—regardless of their gender, social standing, or ethnicity, are now “sons” of God. This means that all who believe inherit equally. There are no second-class family members seated around God’s dining room table. But how do you know if you have a seat? The acid test of sonship comes from something inside you that insists—demands—that you think of God as your Father. It’s the Spirit of his Son that he has sent into your heart that says, “You are related to him.” Even in your worst moments, you know that you can turn to Him and he will hear you, because you’re family. And so you don’t even think about it. You just expect Him to take your call, because that’s what family does. This is an experiential argument, not a conceptual one. It asks you whether you find yourself naturally, if unexpectedly, turning to God in random moments of your life. • Do you ever feel grateful and silently whisper, “Thank you”? • Do you ever get upset and tell God how frustrated you are? • Have you ever been sick or in pain and asked him to heal you? • Have you ever urged Him to make the future turn out a certain way? • Have you ever felt cut to the heart and asked Him to comfort you? • Do you ever find yourself struck by the beauty of a sunset, the delicacy of a spiderweb, the power of a thunderstorm, the quietness of a snowfall, the softness of a baby’s cheek, or the loyalty of a pet, and then find yourself marveling at the One who made it? Responses like these—reaching out to God or associating him with the things you experience in life—make sense only if there is something real between the two of you. Something that transcends your fears and uncertainty. Something that’s there whether you consciously think about it or not. When you instinctively turn to God—not to make all your wishes come true, but in order to invite him into your world or to share yourself with him—you are demonstrating that his Spirit really is inside of you crying out, “Father!” It’s the evidence that you are family. Being family wasn’t your idea first. God put the Spirit of his Son in you. And since he has done that, you are not just family for the moment—you are family forever. Think back over the past few days. Were there times when you casually, instinctively reached out to God? Be honest with yourself: do you have a sense inside that you can talk to God as your Father? If so, thank Him for his Spirit. If not, ask Him to adopt you and give you his Spirit. FOOD FOR THOUGHT I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Beware of Limiting God Psalm 37:4-5 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act ⸤on your behalf⸥. Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Almighty LORD, you made heaven and earth by your great strength and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Matthew 13:58 He didn’t work many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Mark 11:23 I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. James 1:5–8 If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them. When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything. DO NOT LIMIT GOD. DO NOT DOUBT GOD. TRUST, OBEY, BELEIVE AND RECEIVE FROM ALMIGHTY GOD. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch
GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT COMMITMENT Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Deuteronomy 10:12–13 Israel, what does the LORD your God want you to do? He wants you to fear him, follow all his directions, love him, and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul. The LORD wants you to obey his commands and laws that I’m giving you today for your own good. Joshua 24:14–15 “Fear the LORD, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the LORD. But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the LORD.” Matthew 22:37 Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Luke 16:13 “A servant cannot serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Romans 12:1–2 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect. Hebrews 10:23 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. There are very few who in their hearts do not believe in God, but what they will not do is give Him exclusive right of way.… They are not ready to promise full allegiance to God alone. WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU COMMITTED TO, ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GOD? WE MUST BE FULLY COMMITTED TO GOD. PayPal.me/donatetochurch ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
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