Life Turn-around!

For Saturday, April 30, 2022:

Acts 9:18 NLT: “Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.”

Saul, known to us as Paul, had a face-to-face encounter with the Living God. He was on the road to Damascus, intending to persecute Christians who were threatening stability at the Temple. The Lord had other plans!

Struck blind for three days, Paul’s cohorts led him into town where he was met by a well-known believer, Ananias. The Lord told him, “Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”

Ananias laid hands on Saul, scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored immediately! He was baptized before he even had lunch, and then started preaching right away!

Our takeaway: Even when somebody seems to be a lost cause, the Lord can turn their life around. Hang onto hope! The chief persecutor became the chief evangelist. God made it so! Place your faith, hope and trust in the Loving God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Eternal Priests!

For Friday, April 29, 2022:

Revelation 1:6 NLT: “Jesus Christ has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

Jesus has provided well for the believers. He’s not only reserving a place for us in the Kingdom; he is calling us “priests,” people who lead others in worship and spiritual matters.

That’s why we praise him! Jesus not only rescued us; he bequeathed us a place of extreme honor in the eternal Kingdom.

Today, we serve out of gratitude for the good things Jesus has done for us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Rescue!

For Thursday, April 28, 2022:

Luke 19:10 NLT: “The Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Jesus healed and performed other miracles, and taught about God and the Kingdom of heaven. But I believe his primary mission, the main thing, is what he states here. The rescue of mankind from the curse of sin is his consummate assignment.

One Bible translation refers to ‘the lost sons of Abraham,’ those predestined for heaven who have lost their way. Nowadays we call them backsliders. That describes Zacchaeus, the man Jesus was rescuing at the time.

Jesus wants to rescue not only Zacchaeus; Jesus wants to rescue ALL of us! Our God is a God of second chances, and his Son Jesus is in the rescue business! Have faith in Jesus, and prepare to be amazed!

God’s people prayed for liberation from the Romans, but God sent a better gift: eternal hope!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

The Father's Kingdom!

For Wednesday, April 27, 2022:

Acts 2:24 TLB: “God released Jesus from the horrors of death and brought him back to life again, for death could not keep this man within its grip.”

That crucifixion did not go well for the Centurions. Their reputation for being ruthless was on the line. Three days later Jesus was up, walking around and speaking! A great many could see and hear him! Jesus was truly alive after having been declared dead! Another miracle!

As usual, Jesus is paving the way for us. He is without sin, and he paid the price to redeem mankind from our sins. He showed us that death is not the end. And just as Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised to prepare a place for us, so that all the believers could join him, spending eternity in the Father’s Kingdom.

God is good, all the time!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Necessary Faith!

For Tuesday, April 26, 2022:

Romans 1:17 TLB: “This Good News tells us that God makes us ready for heaven—makes us right in God’s sight—when we put our faith and trust in Christ to save us. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says it, ‘The one who finds (eternal) life will find it through trusting God.’”

The Bible tells us that this life is not the end of our existence. When we die on earth, we’ll all be alive in the next reality. So the real question is, where will you be spending your time? There are only two possible destinations – heaven or hell. No surprise, most everyone thinks heaven would be the better choice!

Our best efforts won’t get us there, because mankind always come up short. There’s no such thing as redeeming works! Fortunately God loves mankind and wants to include us in his Kingdom. He sent a Savior, Jesus the Christ, to take away the sin of the world and make us suitable for eternity in his presence. If we accept Jesus’ free gift for us and put our faith in him, we’ll be welcomed into heaven with open arms!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God!” (Eph. 2:8)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Good vs Evil

 April 25, 2022 Monday Message:

1 Cor. 15:56 NLT: “Sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.”

Consider, if you will, life in the Garden of Eden before mankind’s fall. Right and wrong had not yet been defined, so Adam and Eve just enjoyed life with an “anything goes” attitude. But then they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and now having that knowledge, they were expected to pursue the good and avoid the evil. You see, evil was only sin when defined as such by God. Turns out Adam and Eve weren’t very good at avoiding sin. Turns out they should have left that knowledge to God!

God, who knows everything and can see into the future, knew this problem was on the way. He had already formulated a plan to send a Messiah from heaven to redeem mankind. After all, God loves us unconditionally! In his vast eternal plan, we’re worth saving!

"Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Final Victory!

For Sunday, April 24, 2022

1 Cor. 15:54 NLT: “When our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

Death is a defeated enemy because of Jesus’ work. His resurrection proves that there is life after this life. Jesus rose from the grave, and promised that believers can also know eternal life. He said he’d go on ahead and prepare a place for us!

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. God gives true believers ‘resurrection bodies,’ bodies suitable for spending eternity in the presence of God Almighty!

God, the great provider, knows our every need!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Love!

For Saturday, April 23, 2022

1 Cor. 13:13 NLT: “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

We hear these words at weddings. We tend to think of love as between a man and woman or between two best friends. But Paul’s “agape love” goes much further. The Greek “agape” describes unconditional love, the love of God for man and of man for God, a love that persists regardless of circumstances. Jesus spoke of this, and also preached “philia,” brotherly love, our love for one another. Rather than only being concerned with self, Jesus introduced a new concept: concern and caring for the well-being of others

When asked the greatest commandments, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus added “love” to mankind’s agenda!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406