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
God Knows Our Ways And Directs Our Paths The Bible tells us that the Lord knows our ways (Psalms 1:6), He leads our paths (Psalm 23:3), and He directs our footsteps (Proverbs 16:9). Psalms 37:23-24 GW A person’s steps are directed by the Lord, and the Lord delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be thrown down headfirst because the Lord holds on to his hand. God Knows Us Better Than We Know Ourselves God knows us better than we know ourselves because He looks inside the heart without the crazy filters we put on ourselves. The filters that say: I’m a mess I don’t deserve it I’m not good enough He doesn’t hear these lies that we tell ourselves. He looks at us, and He loves us just the way we are–clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Psalms 139:23-24 GW Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts. See whether I am on an evil path. Then lead me on the everlasting path. ALLOW GOD TO GUIDE YOUR FOOTSTEPS, AND REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU JUST LIKE YOU ARE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
JESUS DID IT FOR US!!! 1 Peter 2:24 ESV He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. Matthew 27:50-54 ESV [50] And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. [51] And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. [52] The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, [53] and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. [54] When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” THANK YOU JESUS!!! GLOOORRRY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Pastor Andra Higginbotham
WE MUST LEARN FROM JESUS John 13:15 KJV For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Philippians 2:5 GW Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 1 John 2:6 GW Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived. Matthew 16:24 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 2 Timothy 2:23 GW [23] Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. You know they cause quarrels. LET US LIVE OUR LIFE STRIVING TO BE LIKE JESUS. STOP STRIVING TO BE LIKE OTHER WORLDLY PEOPLE, IMITATE JESUS!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD LOVES US, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT JESUS? 1 Peter 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Matthew 20:17-19: Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. EASTER IS ABOUT LOVE, EASTER IS ABOUT GOD, JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOT THE BUNNY RABBIT!!! PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
