Holy Spirit!

For Saturday, October 10, 2026:

Mark 1:8 NLT: “John the Baptist announced: ‘I baptize you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!’”

During Jesus’ days, adults would make a commitment to follow the Lord. As an outward sign of an internal shift, they would be baptized by a believer, who would then lay on hands and convey the Holy Spirit to the new believer.

Later, Christians began baptizing infants. A great to-do was made of the water baptism, but regrettably, since the candidate was too young to understand, the Holy Spirit fell by the wayside. That’s something we as believers need to correct!

The Holy Spirit makes the Christian experience better, more complete. The Holy Spirit is the conduit connecting our natural world with God’s supernatural world. He helps with healing, raising the dead where appropriate, and casting out demons. Those are things that churches in the first century did regularly. In fact, one of their prime activities was casting out demons. That was considered normal Christianity!

Jesus told us to do these things and to make disciples of all nations. He never sends us on a mission without equipping us for the task. The Holy Spirit is a tool we need to fulfill Jesus’ requests. A pastor once told me, “The Holy Spirit is like your American Express card. Don’t leave home without it!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Flourishing Faith!

For Friday, October 9, 2026:

Luke 7:6-7 NLT: “Jesus went with the Jewish elders. But just before they arrived at the house, the Roman officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.”

Healing was needed, and Jesus was the only one who could do the job! Because Jews didn’t normally associate with Romans, the Centurion asked some Jewish elders to ask this favor of Jesus. They asked, and Jesus was quick to respond. God loves everyone he created – Romans, Greeks, Jews, Gentiles. There are no separate ethnic races in heaven. There are no religious denominations in heaven. If someone needs help, let’s all pitch in and do what we can to make things better. That’s what Jesus was doing!

But the Roman soldier sent messengers, saying, “Don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home. I’m not worthy! Simply say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed!” Think about this. This Centurion must have had great faith. The Centurion must have been a believer! Wow! Friends, faith can flourish outside of Jewish norms, outside of organized Christian religions. Faith in Jesus may occur in the most unlikely of places. We just need to watch for it!

Jesus says, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And he’s looking inside a Roman soldier’s heart, not in a synagogue. Can Jesus heal by remote control? Of course! “When the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed!” Saved by grace through faith!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Deserving???

For Thursday, October 8, 2026:

Luke 7:4-5 NLT: So the respected Jewish elders earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

The servant of a Roman officer was dying, and he sought Jesus’ intervention in the matter. Rather than approach Jesus directly, he used Jewish elders as “go-betweens.” Later in this Gospel, we find out that the soldier doesn’t feel worthy to be in the Son’s presence, perhaps because he’s serving in Rome’s military.

The Jewish elders got it wrong when they said, “If anyone deserves your help, this man does, for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” None of us ‘deserves’ God’s favor. God’s mercy isn’t dispensed to repay favors.

We’re all saved by grace, which by definition is undeserved favor. God isn’t keeping score. He doesn’t say, “You did this for me, so I owe you one!” Wrong, bad philosophy!

Jesus operates out of love and kindness. He sees a need, he’s able to help, so he does the next right thing. He wants believers to follow in his footsteps. Love God and love your neighbor. Be kind and helpful, not to repay favors, but because it’s the right thing to do! We’ll look at more tomorrow!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church