March 26, 2012 Monday Message:
Israel and its neighbors were at war with Moab, a country south and east of Jerusalem, on the far side of the Dead Sea. As they traveled to the confrontation, “there was no water for the men or their animals.” 2 Kings 3:9b
God, through the prophet Elisha, told them to dig ditch after ditch in the valley, and He (God) would fill them. Elisha also commented that this was a small thing for the Lord, who had also promised them victory over Moab.
Well, it happened just the way God said: the ditches were miraculously filled with water (it didn’t rain!) and Israel was victorious over Moab.
When God calls you to a task, he will equip you for that mission. You may need to do part of the work, dig your own ditch first. You can count on God to do His part.
For example, if you’re carrying the message to a prospective believer, that’s like digging your ditch. God (Holy Spirit) will open their eyes, their mind and their heart to the Good News. That’s Him filling the ditches.
If your church is growing, you may feel called to dig a few ditches from time to time, and to ask God to fill them. We don’t have the Prophet Elisha nowadays, but you can look for where God is already working, and jump in there.
God will direct, God will equip and God will help. God wants you on His team. God will fill the ditches He asked you to dig.
Norton Lawellin
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Such a Time as This
March 19, 2012 Monday Message:
“…for such a time as this.” from Esther 4:14b
Mordecai prophetically called Esther into the Lord’s service. As the new queen, she had access to the King, and Mordecai believed that her influence could rescue the Hebrew people. He told her, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther hesitated at first, as so many of us do when God knocks at our door. But she saw the big picture, the vision, and responded: “I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16b
Esther decided to take a running jump into the deep water – she was all in. If the plan worked, the Jews would be saved. If the plan failed, Esther could be put to death. But there’s no turning back once you leap, and she was OK with that. Whatever happened, happened.
Things worked out for Esther, and today we hold her up as an example of someone who answered God’s call when His people had their backs up against the wall. As it turns out, she WAS made for “such a time as this.”
What about you? You too are fearfully and wonderfully made for such a time as this, but maybe you haven’t yet heard your call yet. Ask God where He needs you. Look for where God is already working, and jump in there. Ask what value you can bring to the “Building the Kingdom” project. When He sends you on a mission, leap into the deep waters with all your might. Trust God who finds the good in all things.
After all, you too were made for a time such as this!
Norton Lawellin
“…for such a time as this.” from Esther 4:14b
Mordecai prophetically called Esther into the Lord’s service. As the new queen, she had access to the King, and Mordecai believed that her influence could rescue the Hebrew people. He told her, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther hesitated at first, as so many of us do when God knocks at our door. But she saw the big picture, the vision, and responded: “I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16b
Esther decided to take a running jump into the deep water – she was all in. If the plan worked, the Jews would be saved. If the plan failed, Esther could be put to death. But there’s no turning back once you leap, and she was OK with that. Whatever happened, happened.
Things worked out for Esther, and today we hold her up as an example of someone who answered God’s call when His people had their backs up against the wall. As it turns out, she WAS made for “such a time as this.”
What about you? You too are fearfully and wonderfully made for such a time as this, but maybe you haven’t yet heard your call yet. Ask God where He needs you. Look for where God is already working, and jump in there. Ask what value you can bring to the “Building the Kingdom” project. When He sends you on a mission, leap into the deep waters with all your might. Trust God who finds the good in all things.
After all, you too were made for a time such as this!
Norton Lawellin
Monday, March 12, 2012
We're Family!
March 12, 2012 Monday Message:
Imagine this scenario with 2 different endings:
You go to the garage behind your house, and find the door open and your car missing. You call the police and report the vehicle stolen. Later your phone rings, it’s the police, and your vehicle has been recovered.
Ending #1:
It turns out that they’ve arrested a young man who lives a couple blocks away. He stole your car, and he’s now in jail. He’ll be charged with Grand Theft Auto tomorrow morning. You hope you never see that rotten kid again.
Ending #2:
It turns out that your own 15-year-old son “borrowed” the car for a joyride. He’s been given a ticket for underage driving, but you can come to the police station and pick up both your son and your car. When you get home, you have “the talk,” suspend some privileges, and explain that money to pay the ticket will come out of his savings.
But he’s still your son, he still has a room in your house, and you still love him unconditionally. Your love goes beyond any one incident, any slip-up of character, any shortcoming in good judgment. After all, he’s family!
When we become Christians, we become children of God, adopted into the Holy family. As members of that family, we have certain rights, privileges and expectations. Jesus has us covered every time we mess up. Our errant character and poor judgment are not only forgiven – but the record of our sin is wiped clean. We can still come home; there is still a place for us in the eternal kingdom. Jesus gives us fine garments of white to wear in the presence of God. That future is our inheritance.
Jesus has your back! After all, we’re all family!
Norton Lawellin
Imagine this scenario with 2 different endings:
You go to the garage behind your house, and find the door open and your car missing. You call the police and report the vehicle stolen. Later your phone rings, it’s the police, and your vehicle has been recovered.
Ending #1:
It turns out that they’ve arrested a young man who lives a couple blocks away. He stole your car, and he’s now in jail. He’ll be charged with Grand Theft Auto tomorrow morning. You hope you never see that rotten kid again.
Ending #2:
It turns out that your own 15-year-old son “borrowed” the car for a joyride. He’s been given a ticket for underage driving, but you can come to the police station and pick up both your son and your car. When you get home, you have “the talk,” suspend some privileges, and explain that money to pay the ticket will come out of his savings.
But he’s still your son, he still has a room in your house, and you still love him unconditionally. Your love goes beyond any one incident, any slip-up of character, any shortcoming in good judgment. After all, he’s family!
When we become Christians, we become children of God, adopted into the Holy family. As members of that family, we have certain rights, privileges and expectations. Jesus has us covered every time we mess up. Our errant character and poor judgment are not only forgiven – but the record of our sin is wiped clean. We can still come home; there is still a place for us in the eternal kingdom. Jesus gives us fine garments of white to wear in the presence of God. That future is our inheritance.
Jesus has your back! After all, we’re all family!
Norton Lawellin
Change the World
March 05, 2012 Monday Message:
In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, his instructions for Christian living include the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
We conclude our study with his final point, “Stay away from every kind of evil.”
Evil is a part of our fallen world. People routinely lie, cheat and steal. They lust after their neighbor’s spouse and covet their neighbor’s Lexus. God has no part in their lives, and they see nothing wrong with trash-talking God, making insulting jokes about God and taking His name in vain. This is secular evil, the world outside the church. While we must step into the secular world to “go make disciples of all nations,” we must be careful to not fall into its evil.
Things should be better inside the church, but unfortunately, evil sometimes creeps in there too. The Bible says our Christian lives should be sanctified, set-apart and distinctive. We should be radically transformed, born anew, adopted into the Holy family. Our behavior and our lives should be different from when we first found the Lord. Therefore sin within the church is a much bigger problem for the church than sin outside the church.
There’s one more kind of evil – the kind coming directly from Satan. The evil one and his demons torment us at every turn. They love confusing a new believer, derailing a ministry, and replacing recovery with relapse. Jesus knew what to do. Mark 1:34 tells us, “Jesus healed many people … and he cast out many demons.”
Jesus sent his apostles with the instructions, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8a Jesus encountered demons all the time, and they recognized him as the Son of God. If Jesus knew that demons needed to be removed, we should follow in His footsteps and cast them out in His name.
Change the world without becoming part of it - that’s what Jesus did!
Norton Lawellin
In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, his instructions for Christian living include the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)
We conclude our study with his final point, “Stay away from every kind of evil.”
Evil is a part of our fallen world. People routinely lie, cheat and steal. They lust after their neighbor’s spouse and covet their neighbor’s Lexus. God has no part in their lives, and they see nothing wrong with trash-talking God, making insulting jokes about God and taking His name in vain. This is secular evil, the world outside the church. While we must step into the secular world to “go make disciples of all nations,” we must be careful to not fall into its evil.
Things should be better inside the church, but unfortunately, evil sometimes creeps in there too. The Bible says our Christian lives should be sanctified, set-apart and distinctive. We should be radically transformed, born anew, adopted into the Holy family. Our behavior and our lives should be different from when we first found the Lord. Therefore sin within the church is a much bigger problem for the church than sin outside the church.
There’s one more kind of evil – the kind coming directly from Satan. The evil one and his demons torment us at every turn. They love confusing a new believer, derailing a ministry, and replacing recovery with relapse. Jesus knew what to do. Mark 1:34 tells us, “Jesus healed many people … and he cast out many demons.”
Jesus sent his apostles with the instructions, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8a Jesus encountered demons all the time, and they recognized him as the Son of God. If Jesus knew that demons needed to be removed, we should follow in His footsteps and cast them out in His name.
Change the world without becoming part of it - that’s what Jesus did!
Norton Lawellin
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