Faithful Examples Titus 2:1–8 Tell believers to live the kind of life that goes along with accurate teachings. Tell older men to be sober. Tell them to be men of good character, to use good judgment, and to be well-grounded in faith, love, and endurance. Tell older women to live their lives in a way that shows they are dedicated to God. Tell them not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of virtue. In this way they will teach young women to show love to their husbands and children, to use good judgment, and to be morally pure. Also, tell them to teach young women to be homemakers, to be kind, and to place themselves under their husbands’ authority. Then no one can speak evil of God’s word. Encourage young men to use good judgment. Always set an example by doing good things. When you teach, be an example of moral purity and dignity. Speak an accurate message that cannot be condemned. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed because they cannot say anything bad about us. We cringe when we see other Christians exploiting the gospel, using it to advance their own personal or political agenda. Today, it doesn’t take much effort to do so—it’s as easy as posting a video or link online. In these situations, it’s tempting to respond with anger or frustration, but if we do so, we’re compounding the problem with our own behavior. We can learn a lot from an ancient Graeco—Roman context that really isn’t so different from ours. Paul had left Titus in Crete to help the Cretans learn what it looked like to live the gospel. Paul gives Titus instructions for each age and gender group to help the Cretan believers reset their old ways of being and avoid bringing the gospel message into disrepute. Paul realized, though, that the Cretans needed real-life examples to truly change. He set up mentors within the community. The elderly women were to teach younger women so that “the word of God may not be slandered” (Titus 2:5). Titus, a young man, needed to be a model of good works. His teaching needed to show “soundness, dignity, a sound message beyond reproach” (Titus 2:7–8). His works and his teaching were intended to be a model Christian living. The Cretan believers had to examine their old habits and behaviors, and we’re no different. All of us come from different contexts that have shaped the way we live out our faith—and sometimes we need correction. Although we’re quick to look down on other Christians when they inhibit the gospel message through their faulty applications, we’re often unaware when we do it ourselves. When we see others misusing the gospel, we need to wisely and lovingly confront them about their motives. Like Titus and influential Cretan believers, though, we also have to be open to the work of Christ in our own lives. We can do this by aligning our motives with the gospel and graciously and humbly accepting correction when it’s needed. Through living out the gospel, we can reflect Christ so that others are drawn to Him. How are you being a model for other Christians? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD LOVES TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH US. OUR GOD TALKS TO US AND LISTENS TO US. Genesis 3:9–15 The LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden. I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?” The man answered, “That woman, the one you gave me, gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The snake deceived me, and I ate,” the woman answered. So the LORD God said to the snake, “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all the wild or domestic animals. You will crawl on your belly. You will be the lowest of animals as long as you live. I will make you and the woman hostile toward each other. I will make your descendants and her descendant hostile toward each other. He will crush your head, and you will bruise his heel.” Genesis 4:8–13 Cain talked to his brother Abel. Later, when they were in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. The LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he answered. “Am I supposed to take care of my brother?” The LORD asked, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the ground, which has received the blood of your brother whom you killed. When you farm the ground, it will no longer yield its best for you. You will be a fugitive, a wanderer on the earth.” But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can stand! SPEND TIME WITH GOD AND RECOGNIZE HIS VOICE. OUR GOD STILL TALKS TO US AND LISTENS TO US. IT IS PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT IS GOOD TO SPEND TIME COMMUNING WITH GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
CHRIST DRIVING PEOPLE OUT. Psalm 119:115 Depart from me, evildoers, That I may observe the commandments of my God. Psalm 6:8 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. THERE MAY COME A TIME WHEN YOU WILL NEED TO DRIVE PEOPLE AWAY FROM YOU. THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
JUST A REMINDER Matthew 6:33, NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE SEEKING GOD FIRST. WE MUST LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE. IF WE WILL DO THOSE TWO THINGS GOD WILL BLESS US WITH ALL THAT WE NEED. Revelation 1:8 KJV I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. OUR GOD ALWAY HAS BEEN, OUR GOD IS NOW, AND OUR GOD ALWAYS WILL BE ALMIGHTY. IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. OUR GOD HAVE OUR BACK FOREVER!!!! GLORY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! OUR GOD IS ALMIGHTY!!! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
God’s people are to resist sin 1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents ⸤in the world⸥, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. Proverbs 4:23–27 Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Remove dishonesty from your mouth. Put deceptive speech far away from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you. Carefully walk a straight path, and all your ways will be secure. Do not lean to the right or to the left. Walk away from evil. James 1:21 So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do. Humbly accept the word that God has placed in you. This word can save you. 1 John 3:6 Those who live in Christ don’t go on sinning. Those who go on sinning haven’t seen or known Christ. God calls his people to avoid sin, and through Jesus Christ gives them the inner power to be victorious over it. AS WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIFE LET US RESIST SIN AND CONTINUE ON THE STRAIGHT GODLY PATH. LET US LIVE GODLY AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
IINSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 GW [16] Always be joyful. [17] Never stop praying. [18] Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this. [19] Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. [20] Don’t despise what God has revealed. [21] Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. [22] Keep away from every kind of evil. THIS IS HOW GOD WANTS US TO LIVE. HOW ARE YOU LIVING? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
WE MUST BE CHRIST CENTERED John 15:4 ESV Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. Psalm 28:7 ESV The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Philippians 4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Mark 16:15-16 ESV And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. John 1:12 GW However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Listen, Build, and Listen Again Genesis 6–7; Matthew 6–7:11; Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 More often than not, what we want is not what God wants. We desire wealth, notoriety, or influence. In our ambition, we can lose sight of the very God who created us. In the story of Noah and the flood, we see the same dichotomy: the world wants one thing and God desires another. The two aren’t congruent. In this case, selfishness has led to catastrophic levels of evil: “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence … all flesh had corrupted their way on earth” (Gen 6:11–12). So God tells Noah that He is through—He’s going to end it all. But Noah and his family will be spared if they’re obedient to God’s will. Noah listens; he builds the ark. And God honors His work by closing the door (Gen 7:16). He’s there at the end, sealing the deal. Being faithful means getting an opportunity to witness the power of God. When our ambitions aren’t guided by God’s will and His goals, the result can mean corruption or corrupting others. We might wonder how we got there, but in reality, we know how it happened: selfishness is to blame. Instead of doing things our way, we must listen, build what God wants, and then listen again. We have a choice: we can seek our own ambitions—like wisdom or knowledge—or we can choose Christ’s way, realizing that “in much wisdom is much vexation, and [that the one] who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccl 1:18). Ambition alone does not offer a happy ending. The only ending that results in joy is the one that focuses on God’s kingdom and His desires. Rather than justify our current desires, we should acknowledge the dichotomy and the problem. Individual ambition may result in selfish desires, but a focus on Christ will result in blessings: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9). What ambitions need to be set aside in your life? In what ways do you need to refocus your life on Christ’s goals? THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
OUR GOD COMMANDS US TO BE STRONG. God’s commands are His promises, which enable us to carry out His precepts. 1. “Be strong” to possess God’s possessions, as He urged upon Joshua—Joshua 1:6. Joshua 1:6 GW [6] Be strong and courageous, because you will help these people take possession of the land I swore to give their ancestors. 2. “Be strong” to obey Jehovah’s commands, by unfaltering response to them—Joshua 1:7. Joshua 1:7 GW [7] “Only be strong and very courageous, faithfully doing everything in the teachings that my servant Moses commanded you. Don’t turn away from them. Then you will succeed wherever you go. 3. “Be strong” in the face of difficulties, because the Lord is with us to see us through them—Joshua 1:9. Joshua 1:9 GW [9] “I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’ ” 4. “Be strong” in the face of the declension of others, for the Lord bids us to be of “good courage”—Joshua 1:18. Joshua 1:18 GW [18] Whoever rebels against your authority or does not obey your orders will be put to death. Just be strong and courageous!” 5. Pass on His Word, “Be strong,” to others, as Joshua did to the children of Israel, and overcome all your enemies—Joshua 10:25. Joshua 10:24-25 GW [24] When they brought them to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel. He told the officers who had gone with him, “Come forward and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So that’s what they did. [25] Joshua told them, “Don’t be afraid or terrified! Be strong and courageous, because this is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you’re fighting against.” 6. “Be strong,” for the Lord bids thee “fear not” those who oppose us, for He pledges Himself not to fail us—Deut. 31:6. Deuteronomy 31:6 GW [6] Be strong and courageous. Don’t tremble! Don’t be afraid of them! The Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you.” 7. “Be strong,” for the Lord hath sworn to give what He has promised—Deut. 31:7. Deuteronomy 31:7-8 GW [7] Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous. You will go with these people into the land that the Lord will give them, as he swore to their ancestors. You will help them take possession of the land. [8] The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you. He will be with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you. So don’t be afraid or terrified.” BE STRONG, MORE PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU THAN YOU REALIZE. GOD HAS ASSIGNED PEOPLE TO WATCH YOU AND RECEIVE FROM YOU. BEING STRONG IN GOD WILL BRING BLESSINGS TO YOU AND TO PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOU. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
