GOD WILL ACCEPT YOU Christ invited everyone to come to Him. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 11:28, NKJV. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Will Jesus take me back? Will God accept me? It’s in the Bible, John 6:37, NKJV. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” We may come to God with all our weakness, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at His feet in penitence. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 55:7, NKJV. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Christ doesn’t accept only the righteous and holy; He died for us while we were sinners. It’s in the Bible, Romans 5:8, NKJV. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” No matter what our past may have been, God accepts us unconditionally, but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. It’s in the Bible, Ezekiel 18:21-22. “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.” LET US SHARE THIS WORD OF GOD. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR GOD WILL ACCEPT THEM JUST LIKE THEY ARE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
A God Who Is Present Psalm 103:1–14 Praise the LORD, my soul! Praise his holy name, all that is within me. 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, the one who rescues your life from the pit, the one who crowns you with mercy and compassion, the one who fills your life with blessings so that you become young again like an eagle. The LORD does what is right and fair for all who are oppressed. He let Moses know his ways. He let the Israelites know the things he had done. The LORD is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive. He will not always accuse us of wrong or be angry ⸤with us⸥ forever. He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs. As high as the heavens are above the earth— that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west— that is how far he has removed our rebellious acts from himself. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. He certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust. It’s sometimes difficult to grasp that the Creator of the universe cares about us—that He bothers with miniscule people like us. Because we tend to forget about others and focus on our own tasks and needs, we’re prone to think that God isn’t concerned with the details of His creation—that He’s not intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. Psalm 103 presents a different understanding of God. The psalmist describes a God who wants to know us and wants us to respond to Him. He illustrates a responsive love. Because of God’s love for him, he declares, “Bless Yahweh … all within me, bless his holy name” (Psa 103:1). God doesn’t stop at forgiving our sins and redeeming us. He “crowns [us] with loyal love and mercies” (Psa 103:4). Although we have greatly offended Him, He doesn’t hold it against us: “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities” (Psa 103:10). As a father, He knows where we fail, and He pities us: “For he knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust” (Psa 103:13–14). We can easily forget that God is concerned about our existence and jealous for our praise. If we don’t realize His work and thank Him for it, we’re not bringing Him glory. Ultimately, He has shown His love through His act of reconciling us to Himself. When we forget where we stand with Him, we can look to that great testament of His love. Then we can be like the psalmist and respond with praise. Do you doubt God’s love and care for you? Does this affect your praise for Him? LET US NOT FORGET OUR GOD LOVE US AND CARES ABOUT US, AND HE DESERVES OUR PRAISE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD TEACHES US ABOUT EVANGELISM How can Christians be involved in evangelism? They should personally be responsible to pass on the gospel. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV. “Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Evangelism is a worldwide work for all Christians. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 28:19-20, NIV. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Sharing Jesus Christ should be a way of life. It’s in the Bible, Colossians 1:28-29, TLB. “So everywhere we go we talk about Christ to all who will listen, warning them and teaching them as well as we know how. We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what Christ has done for each of them. This is my work, and I can do it only because Christ’s mighty energy is at work within me.” The good news of salvation must be preached everywhere before Jesus will come. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:14, NKJV. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. You don’t have to be a sophisticated, highly educated person to share Jesus. It’s in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, NKJV. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” We are called to be representatives of Jesus. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV. “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Evangelism is not only speaking for the Lord, but also modeling the truth in our lives. It’s in the Bible, Mark 16:15; John 13:35, NKJV. “‘And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”…”By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” Evangelism is more than preaching and witnessing; it is caring for people’s needs. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 61:1, TLB. ““The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” Each Christian should feel the same compulsion the apostle Paul felt to share the gospel with others. It’s in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:16, 22, 23, NIV. “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! . . . I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” AS WE GO ABOUT OUR EARTHLY JOURNEY LET US PREACH, TEACH, AND LIVE THE WORD OF GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR SECURITY IS IN THE LORD We can find security in knowing Jesus. It’s in the Bible, I John 4:18, TLB. “We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to us, and shows that we are not fully convinced that He really loves us.” We can have security in the midst of natural disasters. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 46:1-3, TLB. “God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble!” We can be secure knowing that God never sleeps, but watches over us. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 121:2-4, NIV. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Security is having a settled mind. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 112:7-8, TLB. “He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid but can calmly face his foes.” We need the security of being under Christ’s protection. It’s in the Bible, John 6:39, TLB. “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the Last Day.” THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC. REST IN PEACE KNOWING THAT OUR GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF US. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
SELF-CHECK We may have attended church—but have we ever really worshipped God? We may have said prayers—but have we ever really prayed? We may have read the Bible—but have we ever let God speak to us through it and have we done what he said? It is no good approaching God with our lips if our hearts are far from him. To do so is sheer hypocrisy. THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD IS GOOD In spite of evil, God is working out his good purposes. It’s in the Bible, Genesis 50:20, TLB. “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.” God can use all things, even the bad, for a good purpose. It’s in the Bible, Romans 8:28, NIV. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” OUR GOD IS GOOD TO US. OUR GOD CONSTANTLY PROTECTS US AND BLESSES US. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT ENTERAINMENT Here are the criteria for choosing any entertainment: Including books, music, television, and movies. It’s in the Bible, Philippians 4:8, TLB. “And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.” Avoid inappropriate activities. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 101:3, TLB. “Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor all crooked deals of every kind, to have no part in them.” You cannot enjoy many of the entertainment pleasures this world offers and still be a friend of God. It’s in the Bible, James 4:4, TLB. “You are like an unfaithful wife who loves her husband’s enemies. Don’t you realize that making friends with God’s enemies—the evil pleasures of this world—makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy the evil pleasure of the unsaved world, you cannot also be a friend of God.” What are some of the evil pleasures of the world? It’s in the Bible, Galatians 5:19-21, TLB. “But when you follow your own wrong inclinations your lives will produce evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, … murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The definition of worldly pleasures and entertainment expands: It’s in the Bible, I John 2:15-17, TLB. “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. And this world is fading away, and these evil, forbidden things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever.” Everything we do should be done in harmony with the name of Christ. It’s in the Bible, Colossians 3:17, NIV. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Trusting God means publicly acknowledging him. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Ps. 91:2, NIV) Part of trusting God is telling others. It’s being public (but not obnoxious) about it. Here are some more excerpts from the Psalms in which the psalmist makes it clear to the people around him that he’s put in all his chips on God. Psalm 25:1-2 says, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me” (NIV). Psalm 31:14-15 says, “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me” (NIV). In Psalm 40:3, the psalmist declares, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him” (NIV). Bible Verses about Trusting God: “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Ps. 91:2). Jeremiah 17:7-8 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. James 1:6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Psalm 62:7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. TRUST GOD. LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU TRUST GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
WE MUST TAKE ACTION James 2:14-17 ESV What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 1:23-25 GW [23] If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, [24] studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s laws say. 1 John 3:18 ESV Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. James 2:26 GW [26] A body that doesn’t breathe is dead. In the same way faith that does nothing is dead. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. DON’T JUST PRAY FOR A PERSON HELP THE PERSON. A HUNGRY PERSON CAN’T EAT YOUR PRAYER, GIVE THE PERSON SOME FOOD ETC. IT IS GOOD TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE, BUT IT IS ALSO GOOD TO HELP THE PERSON WITH THEIR NEEDS. TAKE ACTION!!! HELP SOMEONE!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
