November 28, 2011 Monday Message:
“Thy Kingdom come…” Matthew 6:10a
John the Baptist said the Kingdom of God was near; but Jesus sent his apostles to preach, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” Are you watching for the Malkuth, the Kingdom of God? Good news – it’s here – right now! Jesus said so!
Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was reigning when the world was formed. He was reigning 2000 years ago as he walked the earth. As Jesus now prepares a place for us, remember that he never abdicated the throne. This is HIS kingdom; we just get to live in it.
Things realign when we realize this. For one thing, it can no longer be MY Kingdom; it’s THY kingdom. Are you ready to step out of the driver’s seat, relinquish all control? Are you ready to have Jesus be King?
Things to think about this week:
What would be different it Jesus stepped into our world today? If Jesus were CEO of your company – how would you do business differently? If Jesus ran your school – what would be different for the staff? …and for the students? What if – instead of answering to Washington, D.C. - everyone in our country answered to Jesus?
Welcome to Advent, a Christian time of preparation for the arrival of baby Jesus!
Norton Lawellin
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
The World vs the Spirit
November 21, 2011 Monday Message:
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17
In your old life, you were consumed with things of the world. Your job, house, car, and relationships top the list. True, life may seem better with some of these things, but they are not things eternal; for a believer, they are no longer your main things. The world should now be farther down on our to-do list.
In your new life, you were filled with the Holy Spirit, and things of God, things of Jesus, things of heaven have moved to the top of your agenda. Things of eternal significance have claimed a new priority.
These two differing philosophies, the world vs the Spirit, battle for your attention. So, which one wins? Native Americans teach a lesson about such conflicts: “The one you feed the most often wins.”
So starve the evil one out, put the world on a hunger strike, and attach your time and energy to things eternal. After all, you’ve been born anew into God’s holy family. And therefore, as a member of the family, you’re in line for an inheritance. Inheritances aren’t earned – they’re gifts, freely offered. Jesus is preparing your gift right now!
See—God is good (all the time). Amen.
Norton Lawellin
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17
In your old life, you were consumed with things of the world. Your job, house, car, and relationships top the list. True, life may seem better with some of these things, but they are not things eternal; for a believer, they are no longer your main things. The world should now be farther down on our to-do list.
In your new life, you were filled with the Holy Spirit, and things of God, things of Jesus, things of heaven have moved to the top of your agenda. Things of eternal significance have claimed a new priority.
These two differing philosophies, the world vs the Spirit, battle for your attention. So, which one wins? Native Americans teach a lesson about such conflicts: “The one you feed the most often wins.”
So starve the evil one out, put the world on a hunger strike, and attach your time and energy to things eternal. After all, you’ve been born anew into God’s holy family. And therefore, as a member of the family, you’re in line for an inheritance. Inheritances aren’t earned – they’re gifts, freely offered. Jesus is preparing your gift right now!
See—God is good (all the time). Amen.
Norton Lawellin
Monday, November 14, 2011
Holy Spirit - Source of Spiritual Gifts
November 14, 2011 Monday Message:
“Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.” Ephesians 4:7 CEV
When you become a follower of Jesus, you’re adopted into the heavenly family. Just as your earthly family bestows gifts upon you from time to time, so does Jesus. We call these, “Spiritual Gifts.”
You can’t earn them. You don’t deserve them. You can’t buy them. This is God’s grace-in-action, God’s unconditional love for his children — these are truly gifts.
God has a special plan for each of us, and we are given the spiritual gifts that “fit.” Your gifts are not my gifts, and my gifts are not your gifts — or they might be — it’s all up to God. No single gift is given to everyone, and none of us receives all the gifts. Therefore everyone needs to be surrounded by a community of believers, for when we use our gifts, the whole community benefits.
The Holy Spirit is in charge of allocation and distribution of Spiritual Gifts. "It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have." 1 Cor. 12:11 NLT
So if you’re trying to find your spiritual gifts, seek the Holy Spirit. Remember Paul’s question, pointing us to the source or spiritual gifts: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19:2a NLT
May you connect with the Spirit this week.
Norton Lawellin
We’ll be looking at Paul and his church plant in Ephesus, Friday 7pm, at New Hope Center in Minneapolis.
“Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.” Ephesians 4:7 CEV
When you become a follower of Jesus, you’re adopted into the heavenly family. Just as your earthly family bestows gifts upon you from time to time, so does Jesus. We call these, “Spiritual Gifts.”
You can’t earn them. You don’t deserve them. You can’t buy them. This is God’s grace-in-action, God’s unconditional love for his children — these are truly gifts.
God has a special plan for each of us, and we are given the spiritual gifts that “fit.” Your gifts are not my gifts, and my gifts are not your gifts — or they might be — it’s all up to God. No single gift is given to everyone, and none of us receives all the gifts. Therefore everyone needs to be surrounded by a community of believers, for when we use our gifts, the whole community benefits.
The Holy Spirit is in charge of allocation and distribution of Spiritual Gifts. "It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have." 1 Cor. 12:11 NLT
So if you’re trying to find your spiritual gifts, seek the Holy Spirit. Remember Paul’s question, pointing us to the source or spiritual gifts: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19:2a NLT
May you connect with the Spirit this week.
Norton Lawellin
We’ll be looking at Paul and his church plant in Ephesus, Friday 7pm, at New Hope Center in Minneapolis.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Tax Collectors and Sinners
November 07, 2011 Monday Message:
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Matthew 9:11b NIV
Jesus was always hanging out with the “wrong” kind of people. Tax collectors were among the worst.
In that day, Rome was ruling over Israel. But Roman-citizen tax collectors were greatly despised and might even be killed. Therefore Rome recruited Jews to be their tax collectors. The Hebrew people might not like paying taxes to Rome, but it was thought that they would not kill one of their own.
Levi-the-tax-collector’s ancestry was in the succession of Temple Priests. Now it’s bad enough when one of your own starts working for the enemy. But just imagine how people felt when they found that one of their high priests had gone to the dark side.
But apparently Levi wasn’t too happy with his choices. I believe he was looking for an opportunity to repent and return. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Levi left the tax-collection booth immediately, and went with the teacher. They gathered for dinner at Levi’s house, and were joined by many other tax collectors and still more sinners.
When the Pharisees asked about this, Jesus said, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy.“
So if you’re going to work with Jesus, you may find yourself socializing with sinners. You may be called to visit places to which you would not normally go, and to work with those who really need to repent and return. You’ll meet people who don’t look like you, don’t dress like you, and don’t speak like you. Choose to sit at their table and share the Good News. That’s what Jesus did.
Today we know the tax collector Levi by his Greek name; he’s the Apostle Matthew.
May the Lord walk with you this week,
Norton Lawellin
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Matthew 9:11b NIV
Jesus was always hanging out with the “wrong” kind of people. Tax collectors were among the worst.
In that day, Rome was ruling over Israel. But Roman-citizen tax collectors were greatly despised and might even be killed. Therefore Rome recruited Jews to be their tax collectors. The Hebrew people might not like paying taxes to Rome, but it was thought that they would not kill one of their own.
Levi-the-tax-collector’s ancestry was in the succession of Temple Priests. Now it’s bad enough when one of your own starts working for the enemy. But just imagine how people felt when they found that one of their high priests had gone to the dark side.
But apparently Levi wasn’t too happy with his choices. I believe he was looking for an opportunity to repent and return. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Levi left the tax-collection booth immediately, and went with the teacher. They gathered for dinner at Levi’s house, and were joined by many other tax collectors and still more sinners.
When the Pharisees asked about this, Jesus said, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy.“
So if you’re going to work with Jesus, you may find yourself socializing with sinners. You may be called to visit places to which you would not normally go, and to work with those who really need to repent and return. You’ll meet people who don’t look like you, don’t dress like you, and don’t speak like you. Choose to sit at their table and share the Good News. That’s what Jesus did.
Today we know the tax collector Levi by his Greek name; he’s the Apostle Matthew.
May the Lord walk with you this week,
Norton Lawellin
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