Pastor H. Gene Allen

~ Good Morning!

Let’s talk about something that may be a little hard to swallow.

Did you know that your most effective ministry comes out of your weaknesses and not your strengths?

The apostle Paul was a pro at using his pain as a witness. He wrote from a prison dungeon in Rome,

“I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.” — Philippians 1:12 (NLT).

Paul used his pain to model the message God had given him. While he was chained in prison, he wrote letters to the church that became part of the New Testament.

The Apostle Paul said, “In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God” — 2 Corinthians 6:4 (NLT).

That includes how you handle pain, failure, defeat, problems, mistakes, sin, and all of the bad things that can happen in your life.

You may have some incredible strengths. Maybe you’re…

• an incredible preacher.
• a gifted leader.
• a dedicated teacher.
• an impactful counselor.
• a great listener.
• an energetic encourager.

However, your greatest witness to the world won’t come from any of those areas. Your witness to the world will come out of your weaknesses, not your strengths.

What impresses non-believers is how you handle adversity, not prosperity. Your suffering, not your success, gives you credibility. Your faithfulness, not your fame, earns respect.

🎚Your deepest ministry will come out of your deepest hurt—and your deepest life message will come out of your deepest pain.🎚

In every area of your life where you’ve had pain, you have a testimony. —> The question is, how will you use it to help bring others from despair and into the fullness of life in Christ?

Use all of yourself, the good and the bad, to be a witness for Jesus.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!

Our Bible verse today comes to us from…

• John 3:16 •

““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” ‭(ESV‬‬)

Most everyone knows this Bible verse, whether living, and serving Jesus, or not. This verse is key to our salvation, because it tells us about God’s love for us, and about our Lord’s desire to save us and give us eternal life in Him, and with Him.

A key word, in this verse, that I want to focus on today is, GAVE. God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to save us from our sins.

Our God has “gave” us everything we have.

My question today is…

❗️“What are you giving to Him❓

There are three areas of gifts that we can give to Jesus. Those are our…

‼️ TIME, TALENTS & TITHE ‼️

Now, I encourage you to consider what you can give to Jesus within these three categories.

Jesus deserves everything that we can give Him.

Be blessed!

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning!

Today our Bible passage and Devotion is found in …

• Matthew 9:35-38 •

(35)“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. (36)When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (37)Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; (38)therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”” (ESV)

Jesus saw the Harvest!

What is the, “Harvest?”

People who are lost and without Jesus as their Lord and Savior. A crowd that was weary, poor and destitute.

Matthew Henry said, “They were people who wanted help for their souls, but could find nothing that was good for anything.”

Jesus saw the harvest Then, and He still sees it Today. People, individuals, roaming around the world, lost, destitute and who are without vision. They are people without purpose, without direction, without hope, without a Savior, a Leader, a Lord.

Jesus did something about the harvest! He gave those lost people something to grab hold to that would sustain them forever; He gave them the Word of Life, the Word of the Lord. He healed their souls, as well as their physical bodies.

Jesus then did something that was very remarkable. He called the disciples, and the church to pray …

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; (38)therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””

Today, We have a responsibility for the Harvest!

🎚 Jesus has called us to reach out to them with His love and offer them real life by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

🎚 Jesus has called us to teach them His Word and disciple them.

This is the Mission of Family Life Assembly of God …

• REACH — Offer Salvation.

• TEACH — Make Disciples.

• SEND — GO & Repeat the
Process! Every believer
is called to win the lost!

1.) Pray for people to get serious about reaching out to their Harvest Field, and pray for more Harvesters.

2.) Pray for Your Harvest Field.

3.) Reach out to Your Harvest Field and offer them Jesus.

4.) Follow up and Make Disciples. Teach Your Harvest Field the Word of God. It’s what we are All Called To Do.

Always be on MISSION for the Lord!

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning and Happy Hump Day!

Our Bible verse and Devotion, today, is found in …

• 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:7 •

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (ESV)

✝️ “Each one must give”

• Each of us have a responsibility to give, of our monetary means, to the Lord.

✝️ “as he has decided in his heart”

• The Lord gives each one of us the opportunity to choose how much we give.

• If you are giving your Tithe, the Bible does suggest that we give at least 10% of our income, (Malachi 3:6-12, Matthew 23:23, 1 Corinthians 1-2, ). Tithing is spoken about in the Old and New Testaments.

• When it comes to giving any other financial gifts to the Church, or a ministry, you should pray about it first. After you have prayed about it, then decide what amount that you want to give.

✝️ “not reluctantly”

• Don’t give begrudgingly. Don’t be upset, or angry, that you have to give.

✝️ “or under compulsion”

• Don’t feel like you are being forced to give.

✝️ “for God loves a cheerful giver.”

• God loves people who loves to give, and loves to give cheerfully.

• I’ve heard it said as a joke, “God loves a cheerful giver, but He’ll take it from a grouch.”

• I suppose the Lord will receive the gift from a grouch, but that grouch probably won’t receive any blessings for his gift.

Giving, Tithe and Offerings, are very important to the Kingdom of God! God’s people faithfully giving the Tithes and Offerings is the only way that Father God chose to fund the Church here on earth. From the Beginning of the Old Testament throughout the New Testament, God’s Word teaches His people to, Give.

⛪️ Be Faithful in supporting your Church with the Giving of your Tithe!

⛪️ Be willing, as the Lord directs, to share an Offering with a reliable ministry!

⛪️ Faithful Giving is one of the things the Lord has called you to do.

‼️ Bless the Lord…Obey His Word‼️

Trusting & Obeying,

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage and devotion comes to us from …

• Philippians‬ ‭1:3-6 •

“Every time I think of you, I thank my God. (4)And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. (5)This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. (6)God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.” ‭(CEV‬)

✝️ Verse 3: We note that every time the Apostle Paul thinks about the Philippian Church, he thanks Father God for them.

✝️ Verse 4: Here, the Apostle Paul states that every time he prays for Church at Philippi, it makes him very happy. Note, that Paul is in prison as he is writing this epistle; however, he is happy, because of his thoughts of the Church at Philippi reaching people for Jesus.

✝️ Verse 5: Paul states that his happiness was because every since people at Philippi started being converted, and a Church was started, the Church at Philippi had been very active in preaching the Gospel and leading other people to Jesus.

Also, we can see in Paul’s writing, that the Church at Philippi helped support him as well. The Church at Philippi we’re working as missionaries and supporting the Gospel work that Paul had began.

One commentator said, “We today might take the lesson to heart that the sign of our professed love for the gospel is the measure of sacrifice we are prepared to make in order to help its progress.”

✝️ Verse 6: The Apostle Paul gives all glory to God, and told the Philippian Church that, “God is the one who began this good work in you.”

Paul continues and says, I’m certain that Father God will continue working through you until Jesus returns to take us all to Heaven.

✳️ Are you saved⁉️

✳️ Are you working for Jesus and telling others about Him⁉️

✳️ Are you committed to living, and working, for Jesus until He returns and takes us all to Heaven⁉️

If so, I borrow from the Apostle Paul and pray the following prayer for you.

“I pray that your love will keep on growing and you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.” — Philippians‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭(CEV‬)

Amen.

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

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~ Good Morning and Happy Thursday:

Hang On! You’ve almost made it to the end of the week.

Our Bible verse, and devotion for today, comes to us from …

• Psalm‬ ‭37:4 •

“Delight yourself in the Lord, [Do what the Lord wants you to do], and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (‭ESV‬)

You know, so often, when we pray, we’re busy asking the Lord for what we want, and what we think we need.

✝️ How long has it been since you prayed and didn’t ask Jesus for anything?

✝️ When was the last time that you prayed, “Lord, not my will, but your will be done in my life?

✝️ When was the last time you went into your prayer time, and didn’t say anything, and just listened for the Lord to speak to you?

We are not given points for the amount of words we pray, or the amount of needs we have. Father God is most impressed, not by the words we say, but simply that we’ve taken the time to be, or speak, with Him.

✝️ Delight yourself in the Lord. Ask the Lord what He wants out of your life. Take the time to simply sit in His presence. This is what gets you the desires of your heart.

You’ll be most blessed as you seek to do His will in your life.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

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~ Good Morning!

Our Bible verse, and devotion, comes to us from …

• Nahum 1:7 •

“The LORD is good, A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him.” (AMP‬)

The message that the Lord wants us to get out of this verse is …

✝️ The Lord is benevolent, loving and caring towards those who seek after Him as their protection in times of trouble, rather than relying on their themselves and their own ideas.

In 2 Samuel 22:31-36, the prophet explains how the Lord helps those who are faithful towards Him:

“As for God, His way is blameless and perfect; The word of the LORD is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge and trust in Him. (32)For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God? (33)God is my strong fortress; He sets the blameless in His way. (34)He makes my feet like the doe’s feet [firm and swift]; He sets me [secure and confident] on my high places. (35)He trains my hands for war, So that my arms can bend (pull back) a bow of bronze. (36)7You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help and gentleness make me great.” ‭(AMP‬)

‼️ Trust in the Lord, and He will always guide, direct and protect you in your times of trouble ‼️

My prayer for you today, is that you will feel the presence of the Lord with you, and that you’ll have many opportunities to share Jesus with others.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible verse and Devotion comes to us, today, from …

• Matthew 5:3 •

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV‬)

The Contemporary English Version explains the meaning of this verse a little more clearly.

“God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!” — Matthew‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭(CEV‬‬)

In Matthew’s account of the Beatitudes, Jesus explains that, “the poor in spirit,” means meekness, and not poverty stricken.

Here, Jesus is speaking about those who humbly trust God, even though their loyalty may cost them oppression and material disadvantages.

This “poor in spirit” person is the individual who is humble toward Father God, who have an unworldly attitude, and who places their trust only in Him.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to, and/or consists of the above kind of men and women. These kind of people are God’s people.

⁉️ Have you trusted Jesus to forgive you and save you from your sins❓

⁉️ Are you the, “poor in spirit❓”

⁉️ Are you trusting, and dependent, on Father God, and His Son Jesus, alone, to provide for you and meet all your needs❓

⁉️ Have you humbled yourself to the Lord, and are completely His, and His only❓

‼️ If so, then you are the ones who’s reward will be living eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven ‼️

I close with this verse from James 4:10.

“Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].” ‭(AMP‬)

May we all be eligible for all the promises of Father God.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning!

Our Bible verse, today, comes to us from …

• John‬ ‭14:27 •

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (ESV‬)

In addition to the Holy Spirit, a divine Counselor (v. 26), Jesus promised to leave us divine Peace, as well (v. 27).

✝️ The peace that Jesus has now given us is not like the peace the world gives us.

✝️ In the Old Testament, false prophets proclaimed peace when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:13–14).

✝️ In New Testament times, Roman peace, was won and maintained by force.

✝️ When people say, ‘Peace be with you,’ or ‘Peace be to you,’ it is an expression of hope and goodwill.

✝️ However, when Jesus said He would give His peace to His disciples, much more was involved. He would be leaving them a peace of mind, and heart, in the midst of trials and persecutions; a peace they would experience with the coming of the Counsellor (Galatians 5:22).

It was on these grounds that Jesus could say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

✝️ Today, when we accept the grace of Jesus, and trust Him with our lives, He gives to each of us a genuine peace, that transcends anything, and everything, that previously would have caused us to fear, or fret (Philippians 4:7).

This morning’s scripture, and devotion, reminds me of the old church song called, “Peace, Peace Wonderful Peace.”

Stanza/Verse 2:
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace, Buried deep in the heart of my soul, So secure that no power can mine it away, While the years of eternity roll.

Stanza/Verse 3:
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control, For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day, And His glory is flooding my soul.

Chorus:
Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace, coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene
FamilyChurchAG.com

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~ Good Morning!

Here is a devotion, I read this morning, that I thought was so good, I wanted to pass it on.

— Pastor Gene

“LIVING TO PLEASE GOD ALONE”

From: Today in the Word
By: Brad Baurain

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Following Jesus should impact every area of our life. It changes the way we work and how we spend our money. It shapes the way we treat our neighbors and the way we address conflict in our own homes and marriages. But in this portion of Paul’s letter, he addresses a topic that may not always be talked about in the church: sexuality.

Here Paul speaks frankly and strongly against all forms of sexual immorality. He did so in part because sex played a large role in pagan religions in Thessalonica. But he also did so because sexual purity is an important part of holiness in general. As Paul did (1 Thess. 2:4), we should live to please God alone—and God is perfectly holy and righteous. The apostle had wanted to teach the Thessalonians more about the Christian life, and although he couldn’t do so in person, he could write this letter (vv. 1–2).

Human sexuality was a key area of temptation for the Thessalonians because sexual purity or faithfulness was not a prevailing moral standard in that culture. Unlike the pagans, Christian believers were to avoid all forms of sexual immorality (vv. 3–6). If they could not control their own bodies, they would be slaves to their “passionate lust” or desires. If they acted on these selfish and out-of-control desires, they would hurt others. That is to say, commit- ting sexual impurity might mean committing violence against a brother or sister in Christ.

God’s will for them, by contrast, was that they should be sanctified and live holy lives (vv. 3, 7). This included acting with self-control and honor in regard to their own bodies, and with holiness and love in regard to others. This aren’t merely human standards, but God’s commands (v. 8; see also 1 Cor. 6:18–20).

Sexuality can also be an area of challenge for today’s Christian. Compare today’s attitudes and problems with those facing the Thessalonians. How is it similar? What is different?

PRAY WITH US

“Much has changed since Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, but we still live in a sex-saturated culture. Lord, help us live according to your holy standards, regardless of what our society permits or promotes.”

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