Eyewitness!

Daily message of hope...
September 28, 2026, Monday Message:

Acts 4:14 NLT: “Since everyone could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the (religious) council could say.”

In a court, there’s nothing better than eyewitness testimony. Everyone knew that the subject had been lame from birth. He had been unable to walk. He had been a beggar at an entrance to the Temple, so everyone recognized this guy. And here he is now, walking around like he’d been doing that all his life. He probably could have danced a jig, but that’s just my opinion!

Unfortunately, the religious council held to their preconceived beliefs. Prejudice. Their minds were already made up. They wouldn’t admit Jesus was the heaven-sent Son of God in whose name healing was fulfilled. Illogically, they were denying what they were seeing with their own two eyes!

The desire for power and money can bring deplorable behavior to the surface. The council liked being the authority with the final word on religious matters, and they loved having all the tithes delivered to the Temple. Despite the healing miracle in Jesus’ name, their previous beliefs prevailed. Jesus, after all, was dead (or so they thought!)

Peter and John were issued a “Cease and Desist” order, forbidden to speak of Jesus again. They disobeyed almost immediately!

The Great Commission authorized (commanded) us all to share the Good News. Jesus said that if the Gospel wasn’t shouted out by mankind, even stones would proclaim the truth. Trust what you see with your own two eyes! Be your own eyewitness!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church

Good Heart!

For Sunday, September 27, 2026:

Luke 6:45 NLT, Jesus speaking: “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Hang out with the wrong people, and trouble will ensue. Jesus explains: “Figs are never gathered from thorn bushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.” We tend to become a likeness of our environment and our associates.

Some people are like brambles and thorns. They’re always rough, unpleasant and walking trouble. If they’re your pals, you’ll likely fall into the same misery that follows them. Avoid them like the plague!

Where do we find good people? Surprisingly, they could be anywhere. We can find bankers who are ethical, giving borrowers a fair deal. We can find honest mechanics and repairmen, but we may have to search for a while! The occupation doesn’t matter as much as that their moral compass is pointed in the right direction. These are people who Christians should seek as long-term friends.

We can also spend a little time with those who fall short of our criteria. We need to share the Good News about forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. We can counsel them into being born again as a new and improved model. God wants everyone to hear the Gospel. God wants everyone to have a chance to play for the Jesus team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Saved!

For Saturday, September 26, 2026:

Romans 10:1 NLT: “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.”

Paul is writing to the church in Rome, and the first believers came from the Jewish faith. They already knew God the Father, and a Messiah’s arrival had been predicted. With just a few theological adjustments, Christianity worked for at least some of them.

Paul’s starting point was to lock in those Jews. Once the people of Israel formed a solid base, they could begin evangelizing pagans. People living in Rome, as in Greece, were offered many false gods through their traditions. They had a god for the sun, moon, wind and rain. They had a god for abundant crops and a goddess for sexual satisfaction. You could buy little statuettes of these pretend gods and put them on your mantle. Teaching these people about the real God and his Son would be a monumental task, but Paul was up for it.

God’s desire is for ALL to believe, Jews, Gentiles, pagans and aristocrats alike. Jesus was sent to offer forgiveness and salvation to everyone, no exceptions.

Believers are blessed to have been saved, and we have been commissioned to teach the Gospel truth to everyone on earth. Where is your mission field? Is it where you work or where you work out? Perhaps your children go to school with their children, and you can meet the parents. God wants everyone to have a chance to make the right decision, and that would be to claim Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. Commit or recommit yourself to him today, and then tell others!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church