The influence of righteousness The life of righteousness must not become a solitary and selfish experience. When God blesses the righteous, He does it so they can share the blessing with others. “I will bless you,” God promised Abraham, “and you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2, NKJV). The “blessed man” of Psalm 1 is “like a tree” that produces fruit for others to enjoy (Ps. 1:3). “The righteous will thrive like a green leaf … The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (Prov. 11:28, 30, NIV). Let’s trace the circles of influence that radiate from the lives of men and women of God who walk on His paths. They are blessed in their character. The eminent American preacher Phillips Brooks said that the purpose of life was the building of character through truth. Christian character is one thing we’ll take to heaven with us. We’ll all have glorified bodies like that of our Lord (Phil. 3:20–21; 1 John 3:1–3), and we’ll all be happy in His presence, but we will not all immediately have the same capacity for appreciating spiritual things. Every vessel will be filled, but not all vessels will be the same size. Those who have walked closely with their Lord will be delighted to see Him (2 Tim. 4:8), but others will be “ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). The righteous desire the very best from the Lord, and He grants it to them (Prov. 10:24; 11:23). When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will want the things that delight Him (Ps. 37:4). The developing of spiritual perception, a godly appetite, and the ability to choose the best (Phil. 1:9–11), is one of the blessed by-products of a holy walk with God. The more we become like Christ, the less we enjoy the “entertainment” of this world and long for the enrichment of the world to come. Of course, godly character comes from feeding on the Word and taking time to be holy. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Prov. 9:9). Even reproof helps the godly person to mature. “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you” (v. 8, NKJV). The righteous are kind and generous (21:26) and show their kindness, not only in the way they treat people (29:7) but also in the way they treat animals. “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (12:10, NKJV). THIS IS A MUCH-NEEDED QUICK STUDY. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED MIGHTILY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
STOP SINNING James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Isaiah 1:16q Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. CHECK YOURSELF, IT’S TIME TO GET RID OF THE SIN THAT YOU ARE HOLDING ON TO. DON’T WAIT TOO LONG!!! PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
BEWARE OF THE TRICKS OF SATAN: Satan means an opponent, the accuser; hence, the adversary. He is God’s adversary, and man’s, too. He accuses God to us, and accuses us to God. 1. Satan opposes the death of Christ, as seen in his use of Peter, when he tried to keep Christ from the Cross, and brought Christ’s stern rebuke: “Get thee behind Me, Satan” (Matt. 16:23). 2. Satan catches away the seed of God’s Word, when it falls upon the wayside-bearer, lest it should find a lodgment in the heart—Mark 4:15. 3. Satan sifts the self-sufficient believer, as he did Peter, to get rid of faith in the Lord—Luke 22:31. 4. Satan endeavours to get people to compromise in their consecration, as he did Ananias, when he and his wife kept back part of the price—Acts 5:3. 5. Satan tempts with his devices to get an “advantage” by keeping us from acting after Christ in our actions towards each other—2 Cor. 2:11. 6. Satan transforms himself into an angel of light through his emissaries who come in a false guise to deceive—2 Cor. 11:11–15. 7. Satan hinders the servants of God in their service by putting difficulties in their way—1 Thess. 2:18. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
Try to Excel at Practicing What You Preach Men try to appear excellent in their preaching; but they are less excellent in practicing what they preach. 1 John 3:18 Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words. IF YOU CAN’T LIVE IT, DON’T PREACH IT. IF YOU CAN’T WALK IT, DON’T TALK IT. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU ALLOW TO PASTOR YOU. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO BEWARE: To beware of being led astray. 2 Pe. 3:17 “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastneess”. To beware of covetousness. Luke 12″15 He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.” To beware of false philosophy. Colossians 2:8 Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⸤of this faith⸥ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ. To beware of false teachers. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. TO BEWARE OF FIVE THINGS: Some Things to Guard Against. Mark 12:38–40 Men need to be warned. There are some things that especially disturb and arouse anger in Jesus, some things that will result in terrible judgment. This passage discusses six of these sins. Note that all six have to do with pride or flaunting oneself, either by elevating oneself above others or by misusing others. 1. Dressing: to draw attention (v. 38). 2. Greetings and titles: to exalt man (v. 38). 3. Front seats and high places: to be seen, admired, and honored (v. 39). 4. Devouring widows: to use widows for gain (v. 40). 5. Long prayers: to show piety (v. 40) I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK STUDY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT HYPOCRITES: God knows and detects. Isaiah 29:15 How horrible it will be for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD. Their deeds are done in the dark, and they say, “No one can see us” and “No one can recognize us.” Christ knew and detected. Matthew 22:18 Jesus recognized their evil plan, so he asked, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Shall not come before God. Job 13:16 This also will be my salvation because no godless person could face him. Having but a form of godliness. 2 Timothy 3:5 They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people. DON’T BE A HIPOCRITE. DON’T BE IN CLOSE COMPANY WITH HIPOCRITES. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
TOO MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS. NO ONE IS PERFECT Romans 3:23 ESV For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, PROVERBS 26:12 Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Ephesians 4:31-32 ESVl Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. James 3:2 ESV For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. Romans 3:10 ESV As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; DON’T GIVE ANYONE THE POWER TO PUT YOU DOWN. REMEMBER, WE ALL HAVE SIN IN OUR LIFE. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
The bible teaches us to be Quick To Listen And Slow To Speak James 1:19 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Proverbs 17:28 ESV Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Proverbs 21:23 ESV Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. Ephesians 4:26 ESV Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
OUR GOD WANTS TO BLESS US God blesses us even though we don’t deserve it. The Bible tells us, “Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another” (John 1:16 GNT). God blesses us because he enjoys doing it. Any parent can understand this. We love to bless our children. So does God. God says in Jeremiah 32:41: “I will enjoy blessing them” (GW). God promises he will bless our lives if we obey him. God’s promises and his blessings are not automatic. They are conditional. You’re not waiting on God to bless you. He is waiting for you to fulfill the conditions necessary for your blessing. God blesses us as a witness to others. God wants to show off his blessing so that other people can see what a good God he is. God blesses us to bless others. God doesn’t bless you so you can just store up his blessings and keep them all to yourselves. God blesses you so you can bless others. God’s blessing can be multigenerational. God does this over and over throughout the Bible. For example, the Bible says in Genesis 25:11, “After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac” (NIV). Never forget that God wants to bless you. You’re not waiting for him. He’s waiting for you! THINK ABOUT IT. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
