Psalms 72 - Pray for Our Leaders

November 28, 2016 Monday Message:

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.” Psalms 72:1 NLT

This ancient prayer for a country’s leader and the country’s next leader is as relevant today as it was for King David and his son Solomon 3,000 years ago.

Without regard for political affiliations, we should always pray that God’s value system would be the moral compass guiding our leaders. We need honest, truthful leaders, who live out their lives as if Jesus was watching – because he is watching! God has no time for those who cannot be honest, who cannot tell the truth.

God will also test the compassion of his leaders, wanting them to love their country and its residents just as Jesus loved everyone. Heaven wants leaders to love all their neighbors without constantly asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus already answered that, by saying that your neighbor may not look like you or speak like you or dress like you. Jesus said to be nice to pretty much everybody, unless they give you reason to do otherwise.

Because the out-going and the in-coming administrations in the US are so different, is perhaps the best reason to pray for God’s hand on all of this.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Advent 2, Dec. 4, 2016, Pastor Pilla teaches about the birth of Jesus foretold.

Revive Me, Again

November 21, 2016 Monday Message:

“You, God, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.” Psalms 71:20 NKJV

Both God and Jesus said that they would never leave us or forsake us. In fact, the Holy Spirit has been sent to help us until Jesus returns.

Troubles may come and go in our lives, but if you’ve been adopted into the Holy Family, troubles are not the end. If you think about it, most people’s earthly lives end with trouble – sickness, some kind of disease, or an accident - but the life of a believer in Jesus doesn’t end on earth.

As we pass from this reality into the next reality, everything is made right. In heaven, there is no sickness or disease. There is no pain or suffering. Everything is running well, because everything is God-directed – and all the residents are pulling in the same direction.

Your worst day in heaven will be better than your best day on earth – look forward to it! It’s God’s promise from Psalm 71.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, Pastor Pilla celebrates Advent 1 – the conception of John the Baptist.

Psalms 70 - Mutual Aid

November 14, 2016 Monday Message:

“Come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer.” from Psalms 70:5 NIV

David teaches that his relationship with God is a kind of mutual aid pact. David speaks highly of God, lifts up God’s Holy name, writes worship songs that honor God and leads others in exalting God-the-creator. David is one of God’s outspoken children.

Therefore, when the bad guys have David in their sights, he prays for Holy intervention, fully expecting God to hold up his end of the deal. God does not disappoint. David does not ask for the death of his enemies, but rather, “confuse them, put them to shame, turn them back in disgrace.”

This is more than just a history lesson about David. He wrote this so that people just like us would learn to honor and trust God, and know that divine intervention is available when facing life’s trials.

God said in Deuteronomy 31:6, and Jesus said in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you for forsake you.” Count on it!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, Pastor Pilla continues our study in 1^st Corinthians.

Psalms 69 - Whipping Boy

November 7, 2016 Monday Message:

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.” Psalms 69:1 NIV

We’ve all had days like that, where nothing seems to go right, and everyone is out to get you. But the psalmist doesn’t sink into a pit of despair. Instead, the problem becomes an opportunity to call upon God.

We’re not sure if Psalm 69 was written by David, by Jeremiah, written by Jeremiah ABOUT David, or if Jeremiah added to verses started by David. We do know that they were both “whipping boys,” someone who is punished when they did nothing wrong, and both David and Jeremiah took a lot of heat for standing up for God.

Jesus is the prime example of a “whipping boy.” Mankind sinned, Jesus did nothing wrong, and yet – in the Great Exchange - he willingly took the punishment for the sins of the world, and then covered us in his righteousness, making it possible for us to see heaven from the inside, for eternity – and that’s a really long time!

Repent, return, and stick with the Son!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, Pastor Pilla continues our study in 1^st Corinthians.