Psalm 14

(For some unknown reason, the Sept. 7 Psalm 14 message wasn't showing up on the blog list. I've been asked to re-post it, so the commentary on Psalms would be complete.)

September 7, 2015 Monday Message:

Happy Labor Day holiday!

“Only a fool would say, ‘There is no God!’” Psalm 14:1a CEV

David pens Psalm 14 “for the music leader,” literally one who shines for the Lord. The one who “shines” is to tell everyone the Good News, that there is indeed a God, a God who looks after all things on earth. To David, it’s self-evident.

If you examine the earth, its size, its complexity – or the vastness of our galaxy, and galaxies beyond our own – or even the complex systems within a human body – there is only one logical explanation: Divine Intervention. The intricacy of these entities tells us that all of this is no happenchance. In other words, God designed all of this. He planned everything, and He keeps his hand on all creation.

Good people celebrate their connection with the Lord. Evil ones should fear God. David asks, “Won’t you evil people ever learn?”

God is on the side of every good person. The Lord protects the poor. God’s people cherish their partnership with God. They’re confident knowing that God is the consummate leader. This psalm concludes, “When You bless your people again … Israel will celebrate.” Not “if” you bless your people, but “when.” God is faithful – He will never abandon his people. Jesus says, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” from Matt. 28:20

Norton Lawellin

Psalm 16

September 28, 2015 Monday Message:

“Lord, You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11 ESV

In Psalm 16, David expresses his extreme devotion to God, and explains how that has proven to be a good decision.

The saints, followers of the Lord, are those with excellence in the land, whereas sorrows multiply for those who pursue other gods.

The Lord is David’s portion, his cup, his lot in life. And David is OK with that. In fact, he testifies that walking with the Lord has worked out well. It’s been a good decision, and if he had to do it all over again, he’d make the same decision again. David reports, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

The Lord counsels and instructs David. “Because the Lord is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Following the one true God has, over and over again, proven to a wise choice, and has filled David with confidence, both as a leader of Israel and as a leader of worship of the Lord. “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not let your holy one see corruption.”

And David sums it up like this: “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Oct. 4, Pastor Michael Pilla wraps up our Acts series.

Congregation vs. Leaders

September 21, 2015 Monday Message:

Last week’s Monday Message was confusing at best. The Bible gives us a distinction between who should be in church leadership, and who is welcome to attend church, and I blurred the line. I’m sorry - I need to teach this better!

In ancient times, the “Presence of God,” the Shekinah, was believed to reside in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, in the inner sanctum. The Holy of Holies could only be entered by the high priest, the Kohen Gadol. No one else could even touch these Holy places, or they would die. Other priests performed specific religious duties, both within and outside of the Temple, similar in a way to today’s church leadership.

Note that the temple also had a very large outer court, plenty of space for the general congregation and even seekers. ALL were welcome there. This is like our congregations and those that attend our churches. ALL are welcome.

Just to be clear, EVERYONE is welcome to attend church, but not everyone can or should be part of the church leadership team. God has called specific individuals to His work, and each of us should serve as we are called.

Commentary:

The Bible says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1 NIV As I read the news nowadays, I am saddened by the number of fallen clergy, often causing their congregations to second-guess their commitment to Jesus. Beware of people who, under the cover of religion, hide unclean, impure and evil things. Beware of evil workers in the Kingdom, Priests who lie, and churches that prefer to bury the truth rather than tell the truth. God will hold these leaders to His higher standard.

May your churches be served by leaders with an intact value system, and may your congregations be filled with those who love our Lord, and with those seeking to learn about Him.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Sept. 27, Paul, man of God, survives a stormy sea – a miracle! See you at church!

Psalm 15

September 14, 2015 Monday Message:

“Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain?” Psalm 15:1 CEB

During David’s reign, about a thousand years before Jesus, the Temple in Jerusalem didn’t exist. (His son Solomon was later allowed to complete the Temple.) Therefore the things of God, the items of worship, had to be portable. So the Lord’s tent is indeed the Lord’s Tabernacle, and if you reference several different Bible translations, you’ll sense the difficulty naming the “House of the Lord.”

Today we could simply ask, “Who gets to hang out at church, with the people of God?” It’s pretty simple: “The person who does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely.” Psalm 15:2

The list of who is NOT welcome is longer: no gossip, no harming your friends, and no insulting your neighbors. The wicked should just stay home. Don’t cheat on financial deals, and don’t accept bribes against the innocent.

The house of the Lord is for those who keep a promise even when it hurts. And those GOOD people shall stand with the Lord forever. Psalm 15:5b

See you at church!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Sept. 20, Pastor Retha speaks from God’s Word.

Psalm 13

September 1, 2015 Monday Message (on Tuesday!):

“Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?” Psalm 13:1a HCSB

We’ve all been there. Every follower of God has, at times, felt discouraged; we feel like the LORD has neglected us. In Psalm 13, David asks 4 different times, “How long, Lord?”

David is human. He has the same feelings we feel, the same pressures and tensions we experience daily. We can always find a little bit of ourselves in a Psalm of David. Remember that David and God are on a first-name basis, so neither forsakes the other if something goes a little bit wrong. David is, after all, a man after God’s own heart! 1 Sam. 13-14

David prays for restoration, victory over his enemies, and the continued love of God. He trusts in the Lord.

And guess what? Things turned around for David, so now it’s time to thank God for His care and provision. David shows his gratitude like this: “I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.” Psalm 13:6

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Sept. 6, Pastor Michael Pilla continues our study in Acts.