The Bible is the only unchanging, absolute truth today.
Below we see that Jesus’ coming, as a baby, was prophesied, and later came true, just as the Lord had said.
✝️ Jesus Prophesied: Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (ESV)
✝️ Prophecy Revealed: Matthew 1:21-23
“She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (22)All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: (23)“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (ESV)
Do you have time to read a few verses from the Jesus/Christmas Story?
Read these verses and let them resonate within you. As we prepare for Christmas, may we also prepare our hearts to worship Jesus, the God who is with us, and within us.
• Matthew 1:18-25 •
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (19)And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (20)But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21)She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (22)All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: (23)“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (24)When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, (25)but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (ESV)
This morning, our Scripture & Devotion is from Ephesians 4:31-32.
“Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. (32)Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.” (CEV)
If, in verse 31, the Apostle Paul tells us to, stop being bitter and angry and mad at others, and not to yell, curse or be rude toward others — he must mean for us to be the opposite, to be kind towards one another, and have a HAPPY disposition toward others❗️
This must be true, because in the very next verse, verse 32, Paul says, “be kind and merciful, and forgive others…”
Now how are we going to be kind, merciful and forgiving toward others, if we’re bitter, angry and mad❓
The last line of verse 32 has the answer:
“just as God forgave you because of Christ.”
Honestly, the only way that we can be genuinely kind to others, and have a HAPPY disposition toward others, is by doing to others what Jesus did to us, and that’s forgive them.
• When others are unkind? Forgive them!
• When others are rude? Forgive them!
• When others are mean to you? Forgive them!
Forgiveness is the only way that all people will live in peace in this world today.
During this Christmas season, instead of retaliation, offer people Forgiveness. Whether they ask for it, or not, Forgive them in your mind, and Forgive them in your heart.
Do everything in your power to have a HAPPY and JOYFUL Christmas‼️
Today, I want to talk about the fact that a Christian is a, “Life On Mission.”
A Christian is a person who should be on a daily Missionary Journey to reach others for Jesus.
Dr. Ed Stetzer says, “As Christians, I believe we should always be more driven by our missionary identity than we are by our national identity, our political identity, our environmental identity, our social identity or even our church identity.”
Here on earth we must face the reality that our surrounding culture is not to be our primary identity.
Our culture is a Mission Field. We must see ourselves as, “People On Mission.” This earth, our address, is not our home. This is our Mission Field. Therefore, we all must see our vocations as mission—as kingdom work.
First Peter 2:11 tells us that we are strangers and exiles.
“Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you.” — 1 Peter 2:11 (CEV)
This land is not our home, as the hymn says, “We’re just passing through.” But part of the challenge is that a lot of people want to fight for their supposed homeland instead of acknowledging that we’re supposed to have the mindset of foreigners and exiles.
We need a reemphasis on gospel clarity. Being labeled Christian no longer means a ‘social Christian’, but instead means someone who’s been changed by the power of the gospel.
Jeremiah 29:5 speaks to those, like us, who are in exile. Sure, plant gardens and grow and flourish and more. But always remember you’re in Babylon, meaning that where you are now, isn’t your home; you’re here only temporarily.
The Lord has you here temporarily. You are here on assignment, and when we have accomplished what He has called us to do, He will take us out of our travels and take us home to be with Him.
Having the right thinking, in this matter, is vitally important. — Why? — It’s because, when we understand that we’re only a visitor on this earth, and our home is really in heaven with Jesus, then we will have Exile Thinking and Gospel Focus. We begin to think about our mission to engage a culture that God loves and wants to redeem and restore to Himself.
Prayer: “Lord, help us not lose focus concerning the reason we are really here on this earth. Give us every opportunity to reach lost people, (people who do not have a personal relationship with you). May we always be about your business while here on earth. Amen.”
We can’t reach every lost person; however, each of us have an opportunity to reach the ones that we’re close to, and come in contact with.
The Lord’s Bless You Greatly While Your On Your Journey!
“A friend is there to help, in any situation, and relatives are born to share our troubles.” — Proverbs 17:17 (CEV)
“The sweet smell of incense can make you feel good, but true friendship is better still.” — Proverbs 27:9 (CEV)
“Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.” — Proverbs 27:17 (CEV)
Since yesterday afternoon, I’ve been thinking about . . .
• Friendship,
• Meeting new friends, and
• Becoming a better friend to my friends.
So this morning, I’d really like to be your friend.
The older I get, the more I value relationships. So seriously, I’d like to be your friend, and be a person that you can really count on at all times.
I really want to be this way; however, more importantly, Jesus has called us all to be this way.
Enjoy the following Song, and Be A Friend!
— Pastor Gene FamilyChurchAG.com
P.S. For further reading . . . Lyrics: You’ve Got A Friend In Me
You’ve got a friend in me You’ve got a friend in me When the road looks rough ahead And you’re miles and miles From your nice warm bed You just remember what your old pal said Boy, you’ve got a friend in me Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me You’ve got a friend in me You’ve got a friend in me You got troubles, I’ve got ’em too There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you We stick together and see it through ‘Cause you’ve got a friend in me You’ve got a friend in me Some other folks might be A little bit smarter than I am Bigger and stronger too Maybe But none of them will ever love you The way I do It’s me and you, boy And as the years go by Our friendship will never die You’re gonna see it’s our destiny You’ve got a friend in me You’ve got a friend in me You’ve got a friend in me
~ Today is Giving Tuesday! It’s a special day to share a special gift with a non-profit organization that you care about.
I’d like for you to consider Family Life Assembly of God in Nicoma Park, Oklahoma.
We currently support 32 Missionaries, plus a number of projects in our community.
Currently, we are preparing to provide a Special Christmas Luncheon for Senior Citizens in our community. It’s scheduled to take place on December 18th.
Your generous donation will help us continue to do ministry in our local area and around the world.
Thank You for Giving to the Lord, and Family Life Assembly of God!
We love, and appreciate, each one of you.
Ways 2 Give:
1.) Mail your generous gift to:
Family Life Assembly of God P.O. Box 4040 Nicoma Park, Oklahoma 73066
2.) Tithe.ly
Go to Tithe.ly and follow the instructions. Search for Family Life Assembly of God then make your generous donation.
It’s the beginning of the Christmas season so I have chosen for our Bible verse today . . .
• Matthew 1:18 •
“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NLT)
🎚 Start the Christmas season off Correctly and Commit to keeping Christ in Christmas! 🎚
My prayer is that the Lord will greatly bless your Monday, and your entire week.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; (25)the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; (26)the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul tells us to . . .
“Rejoice always, (17)pray without ceasing, (18)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (ESV)
✝️ Rejoice Always,
✝️ Pray Always,
✝️ Give Thanks in Every Situation.
Sometimes the giving thanks in every circumstance is the hardest of the three, because we’re really supposed to give the Lord thanks for the good things, and the difficult things, that come through our lives.
No matter where you are today, whether in a good place, or a tough place, give God Thanks and Praise.
Your Praise, Prayers and Thanks, to the Lord, is God’s will for your life; and when you are in God’s will, good things are going to come to you.
The Sights, Sounds and Smells, of the Thanksgiving season, have began filling the Allen home, and we are genuinely grateful, and thankful, for all the blessings that the Lord has given to us.
Our Bible passage, today, is found in . . .
• Psalm 28:6-7 •
“Give praise to the Lord; He has heard my cry for help. The Lord protects and defends me; I trust in Him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise Him with joyful songs.” (GNTD)
God’s Word tells us to, “Give Praise to the Lord” and “praise Him with joyful songs,” because :
• He has heard our prayers,
• He protects us,
• He defends us,
• We can place our trust in Him,
• He helps us,
• He makes us glad.
And these are only a few things that the Lord does for us; there are many, many more ways that He blesses us.
Perhaps you’re alone this holiday season, or maybe, because of the loss of a dear loved one, you are sad right now — Can I tell you that even in the midst of aloneness, sadness or disappointment, you still have something to Praise the Lord for.
Reach down deep inside you, think of the many ways that the Lord has blessed you, and in this season of Thanksgiving, give the Lord Thanks and Praise.
Remember, in every situation, The Lord, “gives me help and makes me glad” (v. 7).
May our Lord’s greatest blessings be yours today, and may you feel His help and experience gladdness.
Pastor H. Gene Allen 