Get Going!

October 29, 2012 Monday Message:

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

When Abram was 75 years old, the Lord told him to leave a lifetime behind. “Get going!”

“Where to?”

“I’ll show you later – just get going!”

Can you imagine having to explain that to Mrs. Abram (Sarai,) and the extended family that pitched their tents beside yours.

“Where are we headed?”

“I dunno – God said He’s tell us later.”

This is all about faith and obedience. God will always send you in the right direction, and God has a destination in mind even if you aren’t aware of it yet. The question is, are you willing to get going?

It might be a journey, or it might be a task. God puts good people in key positions, and doesn’t micro-manage. He expects them to get going, to do their thing to put His mission into action.

So even if you don’t know how something will finish, are you willing to get started?

Get going for the kingdom!

Norton Lawellin

Pastor Michael continues our journey through Luke this Sunday. Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF,) North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. C U @ church!

NL

I Am, the Truth

October 22, 2012 Monday Message:

Jesus, teaching the woman at the well: “God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

God is Spirit, and God is truth. Just as God is sinless and therefore cannot be around sin, He is also always truthful and cannot tolerate lies.

The good news is that if God says something, you know it’s true, because God cannot lie. (Satan is the author of lies.)

God is truth, and God’s Word, the Bible, is truth. The Holy Spirit and Jesus, as parts of the Triune God, are also truth.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. “The way” is the name used by early Christians. It’s also the right way, the best way, the way to forgiveness, the way to heaven. “Truth” keeps you away from deceit, and puts you in harmony with God’s plan for you. “Life” is eternal life in the presence of God, as promised by God in the Old Testament and by Jesus in the New Testament.

“No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Norton Lawellin

This Sunday, I’ll be teaching about Jesus as he names his 12 Apostles (Luke 6:12-16.) Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF,) North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am.

NL

Worship in Spirit

October 15, 2012 Monday Message:

Jesus, teaching the woman at the well: “God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

God is Spirit, and so are we. It’s important to realize that an earthly body is just a temporary home for our ruach, our spirit, and our nephesh, our soul, the essence of our life.

Our body will not live forever, but our spirit will exist as long as God allows us to continue. That’s why it’s important to know Jesus as your savior. Then your eternal spirit will rest in heaven, in the presence of God, rather than in hell, separated from God.

True worship would be our spirits communing with the Spirit of the Living God. Many of us don’t often get there. Our worship hours are filled with man-made traditions and rituals, and most churches do little to help you connect your spirit with God’s spirit.

And yet that’s what Jesus said we were to do. May your spirit reach out to the spirit of the Holy Father today.

Next week – worship in truth!

Norton Lawellin

See you at New Hope Center Friday Oct. 19, 7pm for Chapel, and we’ll dig deeper into Jesus’ meeting with the woman at the well.

JICF worships Sunday in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. This week Pastor Daisy Mae Rader teaches from Luke. See you at church!

NL

Come unto Me

October 08, 2012 Monday Message:

“Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” James 4:8a

Before Jesus, mankind was wise to remain some distance from God, separate. Moses came down from Mt. Sinai sunburned! The earliest commands were about maintaining separation and distance. Only the highest priest, the kohen godol, could enter the Holy of Holies once per year.

But Jesus changed everything. He walked with mankind on earth. He developed a community of close friends. Many were notorious sinners, tax collectors, and harlots – Jesus rescued them all. He explained that he had not come for the righteous, but rather to rescue those who needed redemption. The veil was forever torn!

It was not the mission of Jesus to remain separate. God would not have sent a redeemer if we didn’t need rescuing. Jesus said to cause children to come to him, and to also come ourselves. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! … and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 Phillips

Today, take one step closer to the Lord.

Norton Lawellin

Last Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship experienced an outstanding Sunday of worship, communion and fellowship with Familia de Fe that will be remembered for some time!

JICF worships this Sunday in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. Pastor Michael Pilla continues our journey in Luke. See you at church!

NL

Serve the Lord - Gideon and You

October 01, 2012 Monday Message:

YHWH: “Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it.” Judges 6:25b NLT

Sometimes God wants us to take action. Even though Gideon loved the Lord, followed the law and brought sacrifices, there was more work to be done.

God had promised Gideon victory over the Midianites. “I will be with you,” said the Lord, “and you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Judges 6:16

But God also commands us to not worship idols, hence the instruction to “pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it.”

Gideon built a new altar on that site and gave a sacrifice to honor God. The people of the town were unhappy about this, and wanted Gideon to die for what he had done. Eventually it was decided to leave vengeance to Baal, who, since he doesn’t exist, did nothing. And after that, Gideon was known as “Jerub-baal,” which means, “Let Baal defend himself.”

Of course the big picture isn’t about any single incident. Gideon’s trend was simply to serve the Lord, through love, sacrifices, tearing down idols and building a new altar for the Lord – whatever God needed. There were no job-description or geographic restrictions on Gideon’s ministry.

Now put yourself in Gideon’s shoes. You already love the Lord and try to honor his commandments; but maybe there’s more to do. It may be something new for you, different from what you have been doing. Talk it over with God, and see what he needs you to do next.

Norton Lawellin

This coming Sunday is the day we’ve all been eagerly anticipating - Jesus in the City Fellowship and Familia de Fe (Spanish language) will be worshiping together, in the main sanctuary of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. Pastor Michael Pilla teaching, Pastor Walter Chuquimia translating. Potluck follows in the gym – bring something to share!

We’re working on special music for this service – it should be awesome! See you at church!