Pastor H. Gene Allen

~ Good Morning!

Today, our devotion comes to us from …

• 3 John‬ ‭1:2 •

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” ‭(ESV‬‬)

“dear friend, and I pray all goes well for you. I hope you are as strong in body, as I know you are in spirit.” (CEV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

From verse one, we can see that John is talking about, Giaus, his dear friend, in the ministry of reaching the lost, and helping other Christian believers along in their daily lives.

Here, in verse two, the Apostle John greets, his dear friend, and prays that he may, “prosper and be in good health even as his soul prospereth” (KJV).

The Apostle John, was very pleased with Gaius’ spiritual condition and wished that he might get along equally well on a physical level.

Verses two through six shows that Gaius was evidently an outstanding spiritual man. One commentator wrote, “The words, ‘I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you,’ are not a mere conventional expression of good wishes. The apostle was concerned for the temporal well-being of others, and not only for their spiritual welfare.”

The Apostle John must have learned this ideology, from Jesus, who’s concern for people’s physical issues is clearly shown in all four Gospels accounts.

• CONCLUSION •

This hope, and prayer, of wanting believers to be well, even as they are spiritually well, is really a biblical order for Christians today, to pray, for the physical, secular needs of their spiritual friends and fellow believers.

Let’s start praying this kind of prayer over our Christian friends, today. Of course, it will be up to them to keep their spiritual relationship, with Jesus, strong, so that they will have a blessed physical life while on this earth.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

• Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭(ESV‬) •

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”

‼️ I’m reading, and listening, to The Word of God, and growing closer to Him everyday ‼️

⁉️ How about you ⁉️

~ Good Morning!

Let’s make this a day of Praise for our Lord!

1. Praise the Lord for all the good things that He has blessed you with.

2. Praise the Lord for all the negative situations in your life, knowing that when we trust Jesus with them, even they will work out for your good.

3. Give the Lord Praise in All Things!

Today, our Bible passage is found in …

• Psalm‬ ‭107:1-2‬ •

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! (2)Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble…” (ESV‬)

Check your attitude today, and purpose to be a Christian who is Grateful for your Salvation and whose heart, and mouth, is filled with Praise!

💡 Today, may the Church be a Bright Light in this dark world. 💡

‼️Let Your Mouth Be Filled With PRAISE‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible verse, today, is found in …

• John‬ ‭15:4 •

“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.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ We must “Abide” (stay connected to Jesus, stay in relationship with Jesus) or we can’t bear fruit (produce spiritual results, win others to Jesus).

✝️ Just like a single branch that is cut off from its main vine (source of life), can’t reproduce on its own, neither can a believer produce any spiritual results, unless he, or she, is securely connected to Jesus.

• CONCLUSION •

It is so important that every believer stay in a Close, Vibrant, Relationship with Jesus.

As Believers, our main objective, our main Job in life, is to Bear Fruit, that is to, WIN THE LOST and MAKE NEW DISCIPLES for Jesus.

It’s a shame that so many Christians are unemployed.

Follower of Christ …

‼️ GET BACK TO WORK ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

(2020 Presidential Election)

I’m tired of hearing, “President-elect,” associated with the name, Joe Biden.

Joe Biden is still a private citizen, and the Honorable Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States of America.

If citizen Joe Biden does ultimately win this presidential election, he will not officially be, “President-elect,” until December 14, 2020, when ALL the votes have been certified.

Let me also say this …

If Joe Biden does win the presidential election, I will pray for him and offer him my respect; however, I absolutely do not agree with his policy on abortion, partial-birth abortion, or government funded abortions.

If You Have Time Read On:

⁉️What is Partial-Birth Abortion?

— In the U.S., a federal statute defines “partial-birth abortion” as any abortion in which the life of the fetus is terminated after having been extracted from the mother’s body to a point “past the navel [of the fetus]” or “in the case of head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother”

⁉️Joe Biden’s Stance on Abortion.

•—> “Biden and Harris say they support Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion and allowed states to regulate it after viability. They also say they are against state laws that violate the case, and would work to codify the ruling into law.” (Ref. Politifact.com)

•—> From the above quote, “legalized abortion and allow states to regulate it after viability.” — Fetal Viability means a fetus has the ability to be revived and live. Roe vs. Wade says that each state can determine whether or not an abortion can be performed on a living fetus/baby. Joe Biden agrees with this ruling.

Just my opinion; and I have a right to have one.,

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage, today, is found in …

• Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21 •

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21)For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ Verse 19: “treasures on earth”

•–> Jesus didn’t want His people to hoard up, or be greedy with, the good things of the earth, because all they were going to do was decay and lose value.

📍 “treasure on earth” = great wealth; exotic, extravagant, expensive, unnecessary things. Etc.

📍 Note: It’s alright to be wealthy, if your vocation affords that, but don’t make wealth the most important thing in your life. And if you are wealthy, don’t hoard it, use it for ministry opportunities.

✝️ Verse 20: “treasures in heaven”

•–> Jesus instructed us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven that would not decay, nor lose value (Ref. Luke 12:33-34).

📍 “treasure in heaven” = Being saved & forgiven from your sins; having eternal life; doing good deeds for others, on earth, that grants you rewards in heaven. Etc.

✝️ Verse 21: “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

•–> Jews of the time typically perceived the heart as the seat of intelligence and will. Jesus’ teaching reflects this view: People’s choices and actions are shaped by the things they cherish most.

•–> Jesus is saying here, “For where your treasure is — that which you value most — there will your heart be also.”

•–> Martin Luther said, “What a man loves, that is his God. For he carries it in his heart, he goes about with it night and day, he sleeps and wakes with it. Be it what it may — wealth or self, pleasure or fame.”

• CONCLUSION •

We must be very careful what we choose to value greatly. And again, it’s alright to be wealthy, and it’s alright to like, and value, nice things; however, these nice things cannot come between you and the Lord Jesus.

‼️ If at a moment’s notice, Jesus asked you to sell all, and give it to the poor, our answer must immediately be, “Yes Lord!” ‼️

May the Lord Jesus richly bless you as you lay up treasures in heaven.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage for today is found in …

• Matthew‬ ‭18:19-20 •

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (20)For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

Beginning in verse 15, Jesus starts instructing the disciples on how to deal with a sinning member of this new group of followers of Jesus.

As the verses progress, and after Jesus speaks of the binding, and loosening, of a sinful brother in Christ, Jesus moves immediately into teaching this new group about their prayer habits.

In essence, here’s what Jesus was saying: “Not only do you need to come together and deal with sinning church members, you, as a church, need to come together and pray. The same binding, and loosening, power that I give you to deal with your sinning brother’s, or sister, I’ll give you when you come together and pray.

Whenever these new believers would come together in the name of Jesus, He would be with them. And if two, or three, would agree together about anything it would be done for them by the Father in heaven.

Jesus was telling the disciples, that the Church, and its leadership, are given authority to carry out God’s will and to oppose the powers of evil (Ref. Matt 12:29–32).

• CONCLUSION •

Concerning the Praying Church, one commentator wrote:

“It is not merely that the church should be in union, in prayer, for the same thing — for that might be with very jarring ideas of the thing to be desired — but it is to symphonious prayer, the prayer by kindred spirits, members of one family, servants of one Lord, constrained by the same love, fighting under one banner, cheered by assurances of the same victory; a living and loving union, whose voices, in the divine ear, is as the sound of many waters. — Accordingly, what they ask for “on earth” is done for them, says Jesus, “of My Father which is in heaven.””

‼️ No Power can Override a Praying Church ‼️

May these words be an encouragement to the individual Church (you and me), to Join Together, and Call Upon the Name of The Lord, in Prayer.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible verse, today, is found in …

• Hebrews‬ ‭11:1 •

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

Just because you don’t see your miracle yet, doesn’t mean it’s not coming.

• CONCLUSION •

‼️ Don’t Give Up; Keep Praying & Expecting Your Miracle ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage comes from …

• Isaiah 60:1-5 •

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (2)For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (3)And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (4)Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. (5)Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.” (ESV)‬‬

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

Because of the Sin, of Israel, and Jerusalem, their relationship with God was to the point of total separation. Israel’s actions required the separation— it was not what God wanted. (Ref. Isaiah 59:1)

Where there is no “Presence of God light,” there is spiritual darkness.

In Isaiah, chapter 60, the Lord begins revealing that His love, presence, forgiveness and rich provision is coming back to Bless Israel.

With this understanding, re-read Isaiah 60:1-5 again.

• CONCLUSION •

This is a prophetic passage of scripture that is even being fulfilled in our present time.

The spiritual light, wealth, provision and influence of God, is returning to Israel. Not only will Israel come back to the light of God, but they, themselves, shall become a light and will begin to draw other nations to them. Israel, who was once downtrodden, and a place to escape from, is now a nation of great influence and is now drawing Israelites, from all other nations, back to itself.

Today, the Lord is setting Israel, Jerusalem, back up as His capital city and is making plans, now, to build His Temple there again.

The Lord is calling you back to Himself. Come back to Him!

May we all seek the Lord while He may be found.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage for today is found in …

• Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20 •

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. (19)Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20)teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ Verse 16: Jesus called His disciples to meet Him on a mountain. Probably the mountain where the transfiguration of Jesus took place; Mt. Tabor.

✝️ Verse 17: When the disciples seen Him, most of them fell and worshiped Him; however, some of them had some doubts.

✝️ Verse 18: One commentator stated,

“The resurrection is the ultimate validation of Jesus’ divine authority” (Ref. Matt. 12:38–40; Eph. 1:20–23). Here, Jesus extended His authority, to all His disciples, to continue the work of the kingdom of heaven.

✝️ Verse 19: Jesus instructed the disciples to reach “lost” people for Him, and make more disciples, by reproducing themselves in the lives of others in all nations, by Going, Baptizing, and Teaching.

✝️ Verse 20: Jesus said to be about Going, Baptizing and Teaching others about Him until, “the end of the age,” or the second coming of Jesus.

• CONCLUSION •

This passage of scripture is what’s called the, “Great Commission;” not the great suggestion.

Jesus, here, is instructing every follower of Himself, from this day onward, to imitate Himself, and to duplicate others into followers of Himself.

‼️ Our job, is to live for Jesus, and to duplicate ourselves, into the lives of those who do not know Him ‼️

‼️ We are called to reach lost people and turn them into Followers of Jesus ‼️

‼️ This is why it’s so important for you to live as an excellent witness for Jesus ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene