April 25, 2011 Monday Message:
With Holy Week and Easter behind us, it’s a good time to look at what happened and how it affects us.
First of all, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday fulfilled many prophecies. While Bible scholars can debate the exact number, it’s well over 100. A single prophecy fulfilled is evidence that Jesus is who he says he is. But this sizable number of prophecies fulfilled removes any doubt. Jesus is truly the Son of the living God. Jesus really is the way, the truth and the life.
Next, our Savior took the sins of the world to the grave, and in the Great Exchange, clothed us in His righteousness. Most of us don’t have a good perspective on our sin. It’s either, “I don’t think I’m that bad,” or, “I’m so bad I don’t think I could ever be forgiven.” We either don’t take this seriously, or we’re serious to the point of depression. But the Bible doesn’t ask us to judge ourselves; we don’t need to, and we shouldn’t. We can confess without assigning a degree of wrong vs right. If we simply confess our sins and claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will be forgiven and become children of the living God, adopted into His holy family. That's Good News!
Finally, death has been conquered for all time. It may be challenging to understand some things about God, such as His omnipresence or the fact that He isn’t constrained by our concept of time. But we certainly understand death. Humans die every day. We put them in the ground, and don’t expect to encounter them again. Death appears to be final. But Jesus walked away from death, and about 600 people saw him walking around and heard him speaking. So Jesus proved that death is NOT the end!
It isn’t just Jesus who rises from the dead. You and I will rise from the dead too. Our bodies will rise to be with Jesus when he returns. So get ready, put on your white wedding garment, and prepare for another resurrection — YOURS!
I’m with the guy on the white horse…
Norton Lawellin
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Holy Week - We Know the Future!
April 18, 2011 Monday Message:
This is Holy Week. Many of you will visit church more than once this week. Holy week actually started yesterday, with Palm Sunday. Let’s look at what happened during this week 2000 years ago.
It’s Pesach, the Passover week, so Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. As they finished Thursday’s Passover meal, Jesus took common items from the dinner table, bread and wine, and instituted The Lord’s Supper, known also as Holy Communion or the Eucharist. Jesus said to do this so as not to forget him, “in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
On the surface, Good Friday seems anything but good. This is the day Jesus was beaten and crucified. But it is good that Jesus took our sin to the grave, it’s good that as he took away our sin, his righteousness covered us, and it’s good that the Father’s plan was being fulfilled.
Friday was Jesus’ first day in the place of the dead; Saturday was the second, and Sunday the third. And on that third day, “God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen.” Acts 10:40 MSG
Each year as we transition from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, I’m reminded of Dr. Tony Campolo’s famous story, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’!” No matter how bad Friday looks, we know everything will be fixed by Sunday. We know the future!
At any given point in time, God’s plan may not make sense to us. But only God knows the entire plan; only God can see the big picture. “My thoughts are not your thoughts; your ways are not My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
So our mission is to trust in the Lord, and lean not on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Everything will be all right in the end. If everything is not all right, it is not the end.
May you and your loved ones have a safe and blessed Easter.
He is risen; He is risen indeed!
Norton Lawellin
This is Holy Week. Many of you will visit church more than once this week. Holy week actually started yesterday, with Palm Sunday. Let’s look at what happened during this week 2000 years ago.
It’s Pesach, the Passover week, so Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. As they finished Thursday’s Passover meal, Jesus took common items from the dinner table, bread and wine, and instituted The Lord’s Supper, known also as Holy Communion or the Eucharist. Jesus said to do this so as not to forget him, “in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
On the surface, Good Friday seems anything but good. This is the day Jesus was beaten and crucified. But it is good that Jesus took our sin to the grave, it’s good that as he took away our sin, his righteousness covered us, and it’s good that the Father’s plan was being fulfilled.
Friday was Jesus’ first day in the place of the dead; Saturday was the second, and Sunday the third. And on that third day, “God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen.” Acts 10:40 MSG
Each year as we transition from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, I’m reminded of Dr. Tony Campolo’s famous story, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’!” No matter how bad Friday looks, we know everything will be fixed by Sunday. We know the future!
At any given point in time, God’s plan may not make sense to us. But only God knows the entire plan; only God can see the big picture. “My thoughts are not your thoughts; your ways are not My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
So our mission is to trust in the Lord, and lean not on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Everything will be all right in the end. If everything is not all right, it is not the end.
May you and your loved ones have a safe and blessed Easter.
He is risen; He is risen indeed!
Norton Lawellin
Monday, April 11, 2011
Jesus - 100%
April 11, 2011 Monday Message:
Do you rationalize sin? Many of us do. “I didn’t really mean to do it; I’ll never do that again; he/she deserved it – they had it coming; it wasn’t all my fault; it’s just a little white lie.” It’s like we believe in “degrees” of sin, which logically leads to “degrees” of forgiveness. But that’s not what the Bible says.
Any sin is offensive to God. That’s the bad news. God doesn’t grade sin on a curve. It’s pass/fail. If you remain free of all sin, you pass. If you commit any sort of sin, you fail. According to the Bible, we have all come up short.
The good news, of course, is that Jesus dispenses forgiveness on a pass/fail system as well. He doesn’t forgive just a few of your sins, or only the minor ones. Jesus came to take away ALL the sin of the world, and that includes all of YOUR sin and all of MY sin.
If you have turned away from sin and claim Jesus as your savior, you are forgiven. Not just a little forgiven, but totally and completely forgiven. There is no sin for which you cannot be forgiven. Jesus didn’t do just half the job. When Jesus took the sin of the world to the grave, he took it ALL!
So leave ALL your burdens at the foot of the cross. Jesus will take care of everything. When He takes your sin in exchange for his robe of white, you become as holy as the Holy One. “You are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:10 Now we can stop worrying about old sins, and get back to worshiping God!
May God’s hand be on you and your loved ones as Holy Week draws near.
Norton Lawellin
This Friday night 7PM some of us will lead worship at New Hope Center, part of Metro Hope Ministries. We’ll look at the anointing of David, and his encounter with Goliath as God once again rescues the entire Hebrew nation.
Do you rationalize sin? Many of us do. “I didn’t really mean to do it; I’ll never do that again; he/she deserved it – they had it coming; it wasn’t all my fault; it’s just a little white lie.” It’s like we believe in “degrees” of sin, which logically leads to “degrees” of forgiveness. But that’s not what the Bible says.
Any sin is offensive to God. That’s the bad news. God doesn’t grade sin on a curve. It’s pass/fail. If you remain free of all sin, you pass. If you commit any sort of sin, you fail. According to the Bible, we have all come up short.
The good news, of course, is that Jesus dispenses forgiveness on a pass/fail system as well. He doesn’t forgive just a few of your sins, or only the minor ones. Jesus came to take away ALL the sin of the world, and that includes all of YOUR sin and all of MY sin.
If you have turned away from sin and claim Jesus as your savior, you are forgiven. Not just a little forgiven, but totally and completely forgiven. There is no sin for which you cannot be forgiven. Jesus didn’t do just half the job. When Jesus took the sin of the world to the grave, he took it ALL!
So leave ALL your burdens at the foot of the cross. Jesus will take care of everything. When He takes your sin in exchange for his robe of white, you become as holy as the Holy One. “You are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:10 Now we can stop worrying about old sins, and get back to worshiping God!
May God’s hand be on you and your loved ones as Holy Week draws near.
Norton Lawellin
This Friday night 7PM some of us will lead worship at New Hope Center, part of Metro Hope Ministries. We’ll look at the anointing of David, and his encounter with Goliath as God once again rescues the entire Hebrew nation.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Holy Spirit - Secret Decoder
April 04, 2011 Monday Message:
When I was growing up, I’d dig through the cereal box that advertised, “Secret Decoder inside.” Usually it was just a piece of red cellophane. But when held in front of the jumble on the back of the box, letters magically appeared that revealed the secret message, “Tony the Tiger is Grrrreat!”
We all want a little “inside information,” to be “in the know.” Christians have a secret decoder for messages from God — it’s the Holy Spirit! Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
We walk this planet with both worldly people and Spirit-filled people. Here’s what the Bible says: “The worldly person does not understand that which comes from God’s spirit; it seems foolish to them. The worldly person cannot understand, because it needs to be revealed spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can discern everything ... we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:14-16
This explains a lot of things. When something seems obvious to you, but others just don’t get it, it could be the Holy Spirit speaking right to your heart. Those who aren’t “in the Spirit” can listen all day long, but won’t be convinced; they just won’t understand. Their eyes can’t see God’s vision, God’s big picture.
In Greek, “worldly man” or “natural man” is “psuchikos.” It describes a material person who lives in a material world, who lives as if there were nothing beyond this physical life. This “psuchikos” person is unrepentant and unsaved. We all start there, but things radically change for some of us. We repent and return to God. First God chooses us, next Jesus rescues us, and then the Holy Spirit fills us until the end of the age, so we’ll always have the inside track!
Isaiah 40:13 asks, “Who can know the mind of the Lord?” The answer is that WE can, with the help of our secret decoder, the Holy Spirit!
May you and your loved ones be blessed during this holy season.
Norton Lawellin
When I was growing up, I’d dig through the cereal box that advertised, “Secret Decoder inside.” Usually it was just a piece of red cellophane. But when held in front of the jumble on the back of the box, letters magically appeared that revealed the secret message, “Tony the Tiger is Grrrreat!”
We all want a little “inside information,” to be “in the know.” Christians have a secret decoder for messages from God — it’s the Holy Spirit! Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
We walk this planet with both worldly people and Spirit-filled people. Here’s what the Bible says: “The worldly person does not understand that which comes from God’s spirit; it seems foolish to them. The worldly person cannot understand, because it needs to be revealed spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can discern everything ... we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:14-16
This explains a lot of things. When something seems obvious to you, but others just don’t get it, it could be the Holy Spirit speaking right to your heart. Those who aren’t “in the Spirit” can listen all day long, but won’t be convinced; they just won’t understand. Their eyes can’t see God’s vision, God’s big picture.
In Greek, “worldly man” or “natural man” is “psuchikos.” It describes a material person who lives in a material world, who lives as if there were nothing beyond this physical life. This “psuchikos” person is unrepentant and unsaved. We all start there, but things radically change for some of us. We repent and return to God. First God chooses us, next Jesus rescues us, and then the Holy Spirit fills us until the end of the age, so we’ll always have the inside track!
Isaiah 40:13 asks, “Who can know the mind of the Lord?” The answer is that WE can, with the help of our secret decoder, the Holy Spirit!
May you and your loved ones be blessed during this holy season.
Norton Lawellin
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