Pastor H. Gene Allen

Saturday, November 7, 2020

📍Friday Night Live Praise and Prayer Experience Report and Daily Devotion📍

~ Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday!

Let me give a short report on Family Life Church’s, “Friday Night Live Praise and Prayer Experience.”

About 40 people gathered last night, the first Friday of November, in the sanctuary, at Family Life Church. We enjoyed praise and worship, words and music, throughout the entire evening. During this time we were also exhorted by Bible Teacher, Dan Smith, and Pastor Jeremy Benson.

Throughout the entire evening, people worship, praised, prayed and enjoyed the presence of Jesus. Some sat, some stood, some kneeled, some laid on the floor. Some whispered their prayers, others spoke their prayers out loud. Some shouted their praise to the Lord and many shed tears. It was a wonderful experience to see people focused on worshiping, and seeking Jesus, with their own expressions.

There were some who said they received a special Word from the Lord, and some who said their prayers were answered. Most everyone testified of being touched by Jesus and having their faith strengthened and encouraged. And we’ve only just begun!

‼️These Praise and Prayer Experiences will continue to be held on the first Friday of each month, at 7 PM, in the sanctuary, at Family Life Assembly of God. You’re Invited‼️

DEVOTION

Our Bible verse for today is found in …

• Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ •

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for Him.” (CEV‬‬)

✝️ No one can please God unless they really believe in Him.

✝️ Faith entails believing that God is real, and that He really exist. Father God has revealed, and is revealing Himself in these last days, through His Son, Jesus. It is not difficult, today, to recognize that there is a God, and to believe in Him by faith.

The question, today, seems to be, “Am I willing to surrender to God, and live for Him, or do I just want to be selfish with my life, and live my own way, and do my own thing, the rest of my life.”

✝️ Father God rewards all of those who faithfully seek Him out. He rewards with the promise of eternal life, and He rewards believers with the promise of an abundant life while here on earth.

So faith entails believing that God really exist, and that He rewards those who seek Him out.

1️⃣ Have you acknowledged that God is real, and that you need Him in your everyday life?

2️⃣ Have you accepted Him, and His Son, Jesus, as Lord of your life?

3️⃣ Are you living like you faithfully serve Him, or are you living in your own selfish ways?

✅ It’s time to get serious about the Lord, and begin living for Him now!

✅ It’s time that you become a real testimony of Jesus and show Him in your everyday life!

✅ It’s time that you begin leading others to Jesus!

The Lord ask that we are faithful to Him. That’s not too much to ask, considering what He has already done for us, and keeps doing for us.

I Encourage You to Serve Jesus Faithfully.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Yep, it’s Friday, and you’ve almost made it through an entire work week. Praise Jesus For What God Has Done‼️

Our Bible verses for today is found in …

• 1 John‬ ‭4:13-15 •

“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (14)And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. (15)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides [lives] in Him, and he [lives] in God.” ‭(ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ Verse 13: “His Spirit” — God’s Spirit not only resides in believers, but also teaches believers the truth concerning the saving work of Jesus that lives in them.

(Ref.) 1 John‬ ‭3:24 – “If we obey God’s commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with Him, and He will stay one with us. The Spirit He has given us is proof that we are one with Him” (CEV‬‬).

✝️ Verse 14: “Savior of the World” — This describes the purpose of Christ’s coming into this world — to rescue mankind from their sin. John wants his readers to understand that when we accept Jesus, it requires proof of Jesus’ existence in our lives. Our lives must reflect Jesus living inside of us.

(Ref.) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John‬ ‭1:9 (ESV‬‬).

✝️ Verse 15: “God abides [lives] in him” — Through the work of God, as Holy Spirit, Father God lives in every believer.

(Ref.) “…The Spirit He has given us is proof that we are one with Him” — 1 John‬ ‭3:24‬b ‭(CEV‬).

• CONCLUSION •

Are You Living as a Testimony of what God, through Jesus and His Salvation, has done in Your Life⁉️

Can Others See Jesus in Your Life⁉️

Are You Leading Others to Jesus by Your Words and Behavior⁉️

Romans‬ ‭10, verses 9, and 13, says …

(9)“if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (13)For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ESV‬‬)

‼️ Be Saved ➡️ Live Saved ➡️ Act Saved ‼️

🎈 Don’t Forget Tonight’s Worship & Prayer Experience …

~ Good Morning!

The Bible passage is a little long, so I’ll keep my comments short.

Our devotion, today, comes from …

• Hebrews‬ ‭13:1-8‬ •

(1)“Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should.

(2)Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.

(3)Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine you are there with them.

(4)Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.

(5)Don’t fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.

(6)This should make you feel like saying, “The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?”

(7)Don’t forget about your leaders who taught you God’s message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and try to have faith like theirs.

(8)Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (CEV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ V. 1: Have Brotherly/Sisterly Love for One Another.

✝️ V. 2: Express Hospitality. Angels?!

✝️ V. 3: Don’t Forget about the Incarcerated, Mistreated and/or Suffering.

✝️ V. 4: Honor Your Marital Relationship.

✝️ V. 5: Don’t fall in Love with Money; Live Contently.

✝️ V. 6: Be Confident in Persecution. Don’t ever forget that the Lord is Your Helper.

✝️ V. 7: Follow the Direction of Godly Leadership.

✝️ V. 8: Don’t Ever Forget that Jesus is Continuously, and Forever, the Same!

• CONCLUSION •

Because of what Jesus has, sacrificially, done for each of us, the Apostle Paul calls all believers to live a life that honors, pleases and offers praise to the Lord.

‼️ You can do this. Remember, Jesus is your Helper ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

In our Devotion today, we’re looking closely at …

• Ephesians‬ ‭4:31-32 •

“Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. (32)Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.” (NCV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

In Verse 31, the Apostle Paul says, to get rid of these 6 Vices, from your life.

1. Bitterness: Lack of Kindness.

2. Rage: Outbursts of Anger.

3. Anger: Displeasure, Hostility.

4. Brawling: Noisy or Rough;

Quarreling and/or Fighting.

5. Slander: False Spoken Statement

Damaging a person’s reputation.

6. Malice: The Intention, or Desire to

do Evil.

In Verse 32, the Apostle Paul, gives us 3 Positive Commands to Live by:

1. Be Kind: Considerate, Helpful,

Showing Benevolence.

2: Be Compassionate: Showing Deep

Sympathy and Consideration.

3. Be Forgiving: Pardon someone

from their offense toward you. Be

gracious toward others and

forgive them freely, and

graciously.

• CONCLUSION •

Why Get Rid of these 6 Vices and Obey these 3 Positive Commands⁉️

Because, in Christ, God is …

✝️ KIND (Ephesians 2:7),

✝️ COMPASSIONATE (Mark 1:41)

✝️ GRACIOUS (Romans 8:32)

As Believers — We Should

Always Strive To Be Like

Jesus, Always ‼️

I Encourage You To Be Like Jesus and Live Blessed!

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning and Happy Monday!

I’ve got a powerful passage of scripture for you to read, and meditate on today.

• Romans‬ ‭3:22-26 •

“God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. (23)All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (24)But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, He freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. (25-26)God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered His life’s blood, so by faith in Him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when He accepts people who have faith in Jesus.” (CEV)‬‬

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ God treats everyone alike.

✝️ He accepts people only because

of their faith in Jesus.

✝️ Everyone has sinned.

✝️ God treats us much better than

we deserve.

✝️ Because of Jesus, God accepts us

and frees us from our sins.

✝️ God sent Jesus to be our sacrifice,

so by faith, we could accept Him

and be free from our sins.

✝️ Faith is the means by which God

justifies a person.

• CONCLUSION •

“You were [are] saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. (9)It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. (10)God planned for us to do good things and to live as He has always wanted us to live. This is why He sent Christ to make us what we are.” — Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-10 ‭(CEV‬‬)

‼️ Live God’s plan for your life and be blessed ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

I hope you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep as you fell back one hour last night.

Following is our Bible verse for today.

• Romans‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭•

“God’s eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all He has made. That’s why those people don’t have any excuse.” (CEV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

Really, the intent of Romans One was to …

✝️ Introduce the Apostle Paul,

✝️ Announce Paul’s job description,

which was to preach the Good News

of Jesus,

✝️ To let the Romans know that they

have no excuses for not knowing, or

ignoring God.

• CONCLUSION •

Because of all the beautiful, and miraculous, “God-Created,” scenery, on this earth — and because of God’s noticeable divine attributes, especially those that can be observed through divine creation — God has made all creation, and all such attributes, discernible, so that mankind has no excuse for rejecting Him.

Be honest; you really can see Father God in all the things which have been created for us to enjoy on this earth, can’t you?

There is a God! Admit it. Accept Him!

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage, today, is found in…

• Romans‬ ‭12:1-2 •

“So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to Him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to Him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship [Him]. (2)Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect.” (NCV‬‬ – New Century Version Translation)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ V. 12:1a = Since Father God has shown us so much mercy, and has been so incredibly good to us, we should give, and live, our entire life for Him, and serve Him faithfully.

✝️ V. 12:1b = We should live our lives for God, and Him only. This is the correct way to live, and the correct way to worship, and show appreciation to God.

✝️ V. 12:2a = Don’t conform, or live your life in an earthly manner, the way everyone else lives; instead, be changed, from the inside out, and live the way that God wants you to live.

✝️ V. 12:2b = After you have given your life to God, to serve Him — and you have a better understanding of Him, and His Word — you should be able to distinguish the way that God wants you to live, and you should know how to live your life in a way that perfectly pleases Father God.

• CONCLUSION •

‼️ Live your life in a way that completely honors the Lord ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning and a Fabulous Friday to You!

Following is our Bible passage for today.

• Psalms‬ ‭37:39-40 •

“The salvation of the righteous [God’s people] is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. (40)The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.” (ESV‬‬)

Psalm 9:9-10 sounds a lot like our scripture for today.

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. (10)And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (ESV‬)

And again, we see nearly the same message in Psalm‬ ‭62:6-7.

“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (7)On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

The Psalmist David is telling us, in Psalm 37:39-40, that in a world with wicked people in it, the Lord is His children’s Salvation and Stronghold, (a strong, fortified, safe place). To those who call upon Him, He will protect them from the wicked people.

In Psalm 9:9-10, the Psalmist describes Father God as a place of refuge, (a shelter), for the oppressed, (persecuted). The Hebrew word used here, for stronghold, or place of refuge, describes high walls, or a rocky fortress. In essence, David is saying that the Lord is a stable, strong, place of protection, for all those who need Him.

• CONCLUSION •

Today’s Devotion is telling Us that The Lord is …

~> My Strong and Safe Place,

~> My Protector,

~> My Provider,

~> My Stability,

~> The One I can Trust, at All Times, to Meet All My Needs!!!

‼️ RUN TO JESUS ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Thank the Lord the ice, and frozen temperatures have, “Left the Building,” in Central Oklahoma!!! Now I’m praying that electricity will be restored to everyone’s home and businesses.

Two of my daughters have extensive storm damage at their homes, and have been without power, for a number of days now. Trees are broken, and down, all over the Family Life Church campus. I can relate to your problems, right now, and I’m praying for a quick relief for your circumstances.

Our verse for today is found in …

• Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬ •

“I can do all things through Him (Jesus) who strengthens me.” (ESV‬)

• The BOTTOM LINE •

The Apostle Paul, here, is testifying to the sufficiency (ability, power) of Christ’s strength. He’s saying, because of the Jesus that is within him, he is prepared to endure any circumstance, in life, because Jesus empowers him to do so.

In today’s language, Paul is saying … “Jesus gives me the strength, at the time, to endure whatever I must endure. So if I have nothing, I’m alright, and if I have plenty, I’m still alright. I have total faith in Jesus.”

• CONCLUSION •

The same is true with you. Jesus will empower you to deal with whatever situation that you find yourself in.

Today — Pray, Stand on the Promises of God’s Word, Have Faith in Jesus — and He will empower you to endure in whatever situation that you find yourself in.

Expect Your Blessings!

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

(Ref. Phil. 4:19 & Psalm 37:4)

~ Good Morning!

I know — it’s freezing cold, icy and wet outside, and many of you have to get up, and get out, in this Central Oklahoma Freeze Zone. Well, grab some hot coffee, or tea, and set down for a few minutes and warm yourself on God’s Word. And before you head out the door, this morning, pray, at least, these four things:

1. Lord, thank you for allowing me to wake up this morning and have another day to live for you.

2. Lord, watch over, and bless, my family today.

3. Lord, keep me safe as I head off on my journey(s) this morning.

4. Lord, place me in someone’s way, today, that I can encourage and tell about you.

Our Bible verse, today, is found in …

• Luke‬ ‭6:35 •

(35)“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because He is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin.” (NCV – New Century Version Translation)

NOTE: I have only given you one Bible verse to read today; however, today’s devotion covers, verses 27–36. You should read the entire passage when you have the time.

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus mentioned seven aspects of unconditional love. These actions are not really able to be kept up naturally, by human nature, because they’re not in our human nature. These actions, and behaviors, require a supernatural enabling that can only come from the Lord.

Exhibiting the kind of love, listed in verses 27–36, marks that person off as being distinctive (vv. 32–34), and as having, and showing, the same characteristics as our Heavenly Father.

Here is what our Lord says to do…

1. Love your enemies.

2. Do good to those who hate you.

3. Bless those who curse you.

4. Pray for those who mistreat you.

5. Do not retaliate (v. 29a).

6. Give freely (vv. 29b–30).

7. Treat others the way you want to be treated (v. 31).

• CONCLUSION •

Our Lord’s characteristics, and actions, mentioned above, serve as a standard for the follower of Jesus to exhibit today.

‼️ Do Your Best To Be Like Jesus ‼️

Sincerely,

Pastor Gene