February 27, 2012 Monday Message:
Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living teach us the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
This week we look at #7, “Hold on to what is good.” That seems like a great idea, but how can we do it?
There’s a lot of “good stuff” in the Bible, and it’s good when we read it. But most of the time when we say we read it, we really only skimmed it, and most of the good will soon be forgotten.
If we read and also take some notes, we’ll hold on to more of the good stuff.
And if we read it, study it, and meditate on it we’re closer to locking the information inside our minds.
But just knowing all of God’s good stuff isn’t the goal. It won’t benefit us or others until we take action – put it into practice - until we make it part of our lives. When God’s perfect unchanging character becomes second nature to us, then we truly hold on to the good that has been given to us.
Put God’s Word into your actions - that’s what the Bible says we should do.
Norton Lawellin
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Test Everything
February 20, 2012 Monday Message:
By looking at Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living, we learn the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
This week we look at #6, “Test everything that is said.” How can we test everything?
1. We’ve been given a giant reference book for our Christian faith, the Bible. If what you are taught in a lecture, sermon, or speech doesn’t add up, compare what you’ve been told with what your Bible says. Nowadays you don’t need a lot of Bibles on your bookshelf. We’re blessed to have free Bible access on our computers, and you can get low-cost Bible apps for your iPad or smart phone. Concordances cross-referencing words and topics are available as well, expediting your search.
2. Ask someone. I do my best to answer Bible questions whenever someone asks, and most Pastors and teachers would do the same. This seems easy and obvious, yet one man told me that it took him 20 years to get up the courage to ask his first Bible question. As humans living in a fallen world, we don’t like admitting that we don’t know something. Get over it. God says we need to know the truth.
3. Use logic; think it out. The Bible never contradicts itself, so if something doesn’t line up with your existing Bible knowledge, it’s time to take a second look. God’s character is unchanging, like a rock, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is good, God is love, He’s with you, He’s for you, He cares about you, and He has a good plan for your life. Your circumstances cannot change God’s value system. If something doesn’t fit within God’s character, then something’s wrong.
With today’s podcasts, it’s easier than ever to listen to solid Bible teaching. Hopefully, this will raise the bar in pulpits around the world. God wants us all to hear quality, passionate Bible teaching, and to hold the teachers accountable. Like He says through Paul, “Test everything.”
That’s what the Bible says.
Norton Lawellin
Monday Message is also available at
http://www.mondaymessage-norton.blogspot.com/
Special note:
This past Sunday was my final week leading the Sonrise Worship Team for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. In five years, we significantly grew a Contemporary Worship ministry, and transformed the volunteers into a Bible-studying small group. They held a “good-bye gathering” for me and said the nicest things. Thank you. I can lead music somewhere else, but I’ll most miss the people with whom I worshiped each week, my “church family” for 5 years.
Blessings to all,
NL
By looking at Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living, we learn the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
This week we look at #6, “Test everything that is said.” How can we test everything?
1. We’ve been given a giant reference book for our Christian faith, the Bible. If what you are taught in a lecture, sermon, or speech doesn’t add up, compare what you’ve been told with what your Bible says. Nowadays you don’t need a lot of Bibles on your bookshelf. We’re blessed to have free Bible access on our computers, and you can get low-cost Bible apps for your iPad or smart phone. Concordances cross-referencing words and topics are available as well, expediting your search.
2. Ask someone. I do my best to answer Bible questions whenever someone asks, and most Pastors and teachers would do the same. This seems easy and obvious, yet one man told me that it took him 20 years to get up the courage to ask his first Bible question. As humans living in a fallen world, we don’t like admitting that we don’t know something. Get over it. God says we need to know the truth.
3. Use logic; think it out. The Bible never contradicts itself, so if something doesn’t line up with your existing Bible knowledge, it’s time to take a second look. God’s character is unchanging, like a rock, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is good, God is love, He’s with you, He’s for you, He cares about you, and He has a good plan for your life. Your circumstances cannot change God’s value system. If something doesn’t fit within God’s character, then something’s wrong.
With today’s podcasts, it’s easier than ever to listen to solid Bible teaching. Hopefully, this will raise the bar in pulpits around the world. God wants us all to hear quality, passionate Bible teaching, and to hold the teachers accountable. Like He says through Paul, “Test everything.”
That’s what the Bible says.
Norton Lawellin
Monday Message is also available at
http://www.mondaymessage-norton.blogspot.com/
Special note:
This past Sunday was my final week leading the Sonrise Worship Team for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. In five years, we significantly grew a Contemporary Worship ministry, and transformed the volunteers into a Bible-studying small group. They held a “good-bye gathering” for me and said the nicest things. Thank you. I can lead music somewhere else, but I’ll most miss the people with whom I worshiped each week, my “church family” for 5 years.
Blessings to all,
NL
Monday, February 13, 2012
Prophecies?
February 13, 2012 Monday Message:
We’re looking at Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
#5, “Do not scoff at prophecies,” is confusing to many. What is a prophecy, who are the prophets, are there still prophets in our churches nowadays?
Let’s first look at Old Testament prophets. God would give the prophet a specific message. Jonah is a good example. God sent Jonah to Nineveh to relay the message that God was displeased with their wickedness. Jonah chose to run the other way, but God would have none of it. After a scary ride in a big fish (don’t mess with God,) Jonah brought the word of the Lord to Nineveh. The king took the message seriously, Nineveh repented and returned, and God recognized their obedience and spared them. Prophecy in action.
New Testament prophets carrying God’s word into the early church could clarify the then-new theology or reveal new things. Ephesians 2:20 speaks of “God’s house built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone,” but isn’t specific about “old” prophets or “new” prophets. Acts twice mentions the prophet Agabus. Remember that much of the New Testament had not yet been written, and was certainly not compiled, copied and published. Early churches were forced to “wing it,” and prophets could sometimes keep them on-track.
What about nowadays? Can God speak through someone, giving them a message to deliver to others? Yes! Can God reveal truth in a supernatural way? Sure. Is this the gift of prophecy like in the Old Testament? Sort of, but it doesn’t seem quite as direct. It’s as if God chose to teach “truth” through prophecies before Jesus walked on earth and before the church was established. Now that the church is in place, the church should teach truth.
Having said that, I believe God places good leaders in key positions in our churches, and through the Holy Spirit, equips and empowers them to fulfill His mission. Today’s version of a prophet may be God working through people.
In His name,
Norton Lawellin
We’re looking at Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
#5, “Do not scoff at prophecies,” is confusing to many. What is a prophecy, who are the prophets, are there still prophets in our churches nowadays?
Let’s first look at Old Testament prophets. God would give the prophet a specific message. Jonah is a good example. God sent Jonah to Nineveh to relay the message that God was displeased with their wickedness. Jonah chose to run the other way, but God would have none of it. After a scary ride in a big fish (don’t mess with God,) Jonah brought the word of the Lord to Nineveh. The king took the message seriously, Nineveh repented and returned, and God recognized their obedience and spared them. Prophecy in action.
New Testament prophets carrying God’s word into the early church could clarify the then-new theology or reveal new things. Ephesians 2:20 speaks of “God’s house built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone,” but isn’t specific about “old” prophets or “new” prophets. Acts twice mentions the prophet Agabus. Remember that much of the New Testament had not yet been written, and was certainly not compiled, copied and published. Early churches were forced to “wing it,” and prophets could sometimes keep them on-track.
What about nowadays? Can God speak through someone, giving them a message to deliver to others? Yes! Can God reveal truth in a supernatural way? Sure. Is this the gift of prophecy like in the Old Testament? Sort of, but it doesn’t seem quite as direct. It’s as if God chose to teach “truth” through prophecies before Jesus walked on earth and before the church was established. Now that the church is in place, the church should teach truth.
Having said that, I believe God places good leaders in key positions in our churches, and through the Holy Spirit, equips and empowers them to fulfill His mission. Today’s version of a prophet may be God working through people.
In His name,
Norton Lawellin
Monday, February 6, 2012
February 06, 2012 Monday Message:
We’re looking at Paul’s instructions for Christian living:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
#4 may be the most important of all: “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.”
Remember Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus? He heard loud sounds, saw flashing lights from heaven, was knocked to the ground and left blind. The voice from heaven said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” That’s how God got Saul’s attention, and this incident is Saul’s only experience with Godly intervention, so far. Therefore Saul expects that everyone’s conversion will include a similar radical transformation experience, which accounts for Paul’s question for the Ephesians, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2 HCSB) In Paul’s mind, that’s the only way it happens!
Acts teaches that with the Holy Spirit, you can do anything; and without the Holy Spirit, nothing of significance will be accomplished. Of primary importance is the fact that Jesus himself asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with us: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (John 14:16 HCSB)
So don’t shut down that which Jesus intended to be a huge blessing. Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit. Don’t tie his hands, don’t constrain Him in any way, and don’t lock Him away in the Apostle’s Creed. In fact, be intentional about calling for the Holy Spirit. Pray to the Father to send our helper, our counselor, our advocate.
Come Holy Spirit, come now, come quickly.
Norton Lawellin
We’re looking at Paul’s instructions for Christian living:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
#4 may be the most important of all: “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.”
Remember Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus? He heard loud sounds, saw flashing lights from heaven, was knocked to the ground and left blind. The voice from heaven said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” That’s how God got Saul’s attention, and this incident is Saul’s only experience with Godly intervention, so far. Therefore Saul expects that everyone’s conversion will include a similar radical transformation experience, which accounts for Paul’s question for the Ephesians, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2 HCSB) In Paul’s mind, that’s the only way it happens!
Acts teaches that with the Holy Spirit, you can do anything; and without the Holy Spirit, nothing of significance will be accomplished. Of primary importance is the fact that Jesus himself asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with us: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (John 14:16 HCSB)
So don’t shut down that which Jesus intended to be a huge blessing. Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit. Don’t tie his hands, don’t constrain Him in any way, and don’t lock Him away in the Apostle’s Creed. In fact, be intentional about calling for the Holy Spirit. Pray to the Father to send our helper, our counselor, our advocate.
Come Holy Spirit, come now, come quickly.
Norton Lawellin
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