Wars!

September 30, 2024 Monday Message:

2 Samuel 2:26 NLT: “Abner shouted down to Joab, ‘Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?’”

Nowadays we think of Israel as one country. But historically, Judah and Israel were separate and opposing nations, David leading Judah while Ish-bosheth led Israel. That’s right, tribes of God’s Chosen People were fighting one another with real pointy spears! Finally Abner and Joab, the military leaders, said, “Enough killing!” The conflict was not settled, but they agreed to go their separate ways. This was about 900 years before Jesus, so Middle East conflict has been ongoing for over 3,000 years that we can document.

The irony is that at the time those battling one another were all related, probably cousins. By the time Jesus arrived, Israel was united. But right in the middle of their country were the Samaritans, again cousins, but considered unclean by the Jews. Complicating matters was Rome, who occupied most of the world at the time. Israelites weren’t sure who to battle first, the Samaritans or the Romans!

God, through his servant Moses, led the Hebrew people to the edge of the promised land, Canaan. A Rabbi once told me, “It’s our land; God gave it to us!” And that is Israel’s position as war once again breaks out in the Middle East.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militants invaded Israel from Gaza, killing over 1,100 and capturing about 250, some of whom are still being held. As you’d expect, Israel retaliated. It wasn’t pretty. Then, months ago, Iranian backed Hezbollah started lobbing rockets from Syria into Northern Israel. Their rockets have gone deeper and deeper into Israel, until Israel felt it had no choice but to retaliate. Now Houthis from Yemen have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea, and have longer range missiles reaching Southern Israel. Again, Israel is retaliating.

In an unrelated incident, I have felt for some time that the US and its NATO allies are battling Russia, North Korea and China in what could be the beginning of WWIII. For now, the fighting is all taking place on Ukrainian soil, and Putin doesn’t seem interested in backing down. (That’s just my opinion, not from the Bible!)

The point is that Jesus said there will be wars and rumors of wars until he returns, and we have war in spades! There are over 40 different war-like conflicts in the world today. But each day we’re one day closer to the second coming. We’ve been given signs to watch for, but trust me, everyone will be surprised when it happens!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Praise & Worship!

For Sunday, September 29, 2024:

Psalm 150:2 NLT: “Praise God for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!”

If we’re espousing a worship event to honor our Lord, the music and preaching should meet that goal. Let me explain.

A surprising number of so-called “Christian” songs fit God’s value system, but don’t necessarily exalt the majesty of God Almighty. Examples: “I Love My Church,” “The Cross,” and “Bless the Children,” all support Christian ethics, but don’t necessarily worship the majesty of our Creator God.

Similarly, a message encouraging us to live a good life isn’t wrong, but we need to include God and Jesus. A few years ago, some of us sat through a wonderful Father’s Day message about being a good dad. It wasn’t so wonderful when we realized the preacher never once mentioned Jesus!

God is awesome, almighty, the Creator of the universe, eternal, all powerful, omni-present and has knowledge of everything. These items are a good starting point for praise and worship!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Worship!

For Saturday, September 28, 2024:

Psalm 150:6 NIV: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Hallelujah!)”

I once asked a Jewish lady if she could pick up her project on a certain day. She replied, “No, that’s the Sabbath (Shabbot).”

"What about the day before?”

"No.”

"What are you doing then?”

"Getting ready for Shabbot!”

Worshiping God on the Sabbath is that important! It’s a time to re-prioritize your life, a time to put the Lord “first.” Next comes family and loving your neighbors, being kind and helpful.

Put yourself on the Sabbath list too. God knew that we’d benefit from having a day off, a day to rest up and relax; a day to take the pressure off and recharge our batteries, so to speak.

But above all, celebrate the awesomeness of God, the Creator, and his Son Jesus, the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit who lives with us day-to-day. Remember that God is wondrous on his own. He doesn’t need us to worship him, but personally I choose to be among those that do!

Choose wisely! See you at church tomorrow!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Messiah!

For Friday, September 27, 2024:

1 John 4:2 MSG: “Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God.”

As the end times draw near, the Bibles says that the number of false preachers will increase. It seems that many want to stake out a piece of the action, especially Satan! It’s his last chance!

While we’re generally told that there is no reason to question or to test God and his inspired Word, we’re told quite the opposite here. “Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God.”

Fill your mind with truth and reject everything that doesn’t conform. Believers are adopted into the Holy Family as children of the Most High, so we need to intentionally integrate God’s family values into our lives. Remember, truth is our Father’s opinion on everything!

The truth for which we are looking is the story of Jesus’ life. He came to earth as a little baby in a human body. He died as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, giving believers access to the hereafter. Death could not hold him – he was resurrected, ascended back to the Father from whence he came and is eternal. Jesus is the prophesied Messiah.

Jesus is the key to truth. No Jesus – no truth!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

God's Purpose!

For Thursday, September 26, 2024:

Exodus 2:3b NLT: “The mother put her baby in a basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.”

The mother had done all she could for this special baby. The rest was up to God. What followed was a series of synchronized unlikely events that would preserve the child for God’s purpose. We know him as Moses.

Pharaoh's daughter spotted the basket when she came to bathe in the river. The baby’s sister, probably Miriam, offered to locate a Hebrew woman to nurse the wee one. She took Moses to his own mother, and Pharaoh’s daughter, none the wiser, paid the mother for her help, hopefully not in bitcoin! Moses was later adopted into the royal family and given his name. Moses means “to lift out,” as in “to lift the basket out of the water.”

Moses would later be exiled from the royal family for defending his Hebrew brethren, but would return as leader of the Israelites telling Pharaoh to “Let my people go!” Moses was on God’s side, and after a series of plagues, Pharaoh did let the Hebrew people go. In fact, after the plagues, he was glad to see them leave! Moses led God’s chosen people out of Egypt to the edge of the promised land!

This is an example of the value of prophesy. If we can visualize God conclusion, we can be a part of making it happen. Who would have thought that an abandoned baby floating in a basket would lead the Israelites to their homeland?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eternal!

For Tuesday, September 24, 2024:

1 John 3:14a NLT: “If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life.”

God decides our days on this earth, when we live and when we die. That doesn’t matter as much as we think! What really matters is ETERNAL life!

The Bible says that all have sinned. Therefore mankind is naturally condemned. Only the Father can change that. Only God can forgive sin. So our God who loves us sent Jesus to pay the ransom for the sins of the world, and those who put their faith, hope and trust in the Son have now been forgiven! It’s as if Jesus was handing out free tickets to heaven! Visit him soon and get yours!

All aboard!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Love from the Heart!

For Wednesday, September 25, 2024:

1 John 3:23b NLT: “We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.”

The Bible’s message never changes: Love God and love your neighbor. And that includes loving Jesus, who holds the keys to forgiveness and eternal life!

Yes, loving God and loving our neighbor is a command from God, but our reward doesn’t come from being good at following instructions or obeying rules. Your Father desires to see concrete examples of love in action, of caring and of kindness. We are to abandon narcissistic behavior and adopt compassion as our standard mode of operation.

Love puts a smile on God’s face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Second Coming!

September 23, 2024 Monday Message:

Matthew 28:20b NLT, the resurrected Jesus speaking: “Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Our Lord promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus, who also said, “I and the Father are one,” confirmed God’s commitment. If believers are loyal to God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – he will be with them until the end. And he will carry believers into the next age’s reality!

When is the “end?” Only God knows for sure. He has given us signs to watch for, and day by day we seem to be drawing nearer. The end of the age is closer than it’s ever been!

When Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, it was the beginning of a new chapter in mankind’s relationship with God. The Old Covenant was updated with a new one. Rather than trying to “earn” our way into heaven, life after this life was now a gift based on our faith in the Son. Forgiveness and reconciliation became a permanent part of the new plan.

The next arrival of Jesus will begin another new chapter in God’s plan for the earth and for mankind. It will be an exciting time! Watch for it! Wait for it, patiently!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Holy - 2!

For Sunday, September 22, 2024:

Ezekiel 43:12a NLT: “This is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness!”

Holiness – conformation with God’s value system – is mandatory in a place of worship. The Bible says that leaders and teachers are held to higher standards, and all will be judged.

When we use the phrase, “a high view of the Bible,” we believe that the Bible is true and God-inspired. A high view also means that we treat the Bible’s commands as God’s instructions, and we do our best to live our lives God’s way.

Q: Does your church still need God? A large church with abundant resources will have most positions filled. We have a choir director, Bob leads a Bible study and his wife handles children’s ministry. That all sounds good, but don’t ever let God show up with nothing left for him to do. God, his Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit should have a permanent role as leader of the leaders. Pray to God and talk things over with him.

Include the Lord in your church’s planning. After all, he’s already included you in the Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Holy!

For Saturday, September 21, 2024:

Ezekiel 43:12a NLT: “This is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness!”

God and Satan are diehard enemies, one good and one evil. God is the Creator of everything and Satan is a created being, so in the end, God will always win. My advice is to play for the winning team! Make a lifelong commitment to the good guys!

The presence of the Lord would reside in the innermost room of the Temple, IF it was kept Holy, free from sin and corruption. Nowadays we don’t have a temple. We worship God, his Son and the Holy Spirit in our churches, and just like in the Temple, God will be there IF we keep that place Holy. It goes without saying that we absolutely want God in our churches!

Regrettably, mankind doesn’t seem to be very good at keeping a place Holy. I’m always saddened and a little ‘let down’ whenever a national-level pastor fails the holiness test. Oftentimes something in their past comes back to haunt them. Of course the solution would be to be like Paul – confess the sin, repent and let the world know that you’ve made a 180º turn-around in your value system, a change for the better!

Seek the presence of the Lord in the place you worship! If he’s not there, find a different place!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

God's Way!

For Friday, September 20, 2024:

James 1:27 EASY: “If you want to serve God in a completely good way, do things like this: Help children who have no parents and women who are widows. Help them in their troubles. If you serve God our Father like that, he will be pleased with you. Do not let the bad people in this world make you bad too.”

James was writing to the 12 tribes of Israel. He might as well have been writing to everyone on the planet! The world had fallen into an “eye for an eye” way of living. Most people only looked out for #1, themselves. This revenge-centered “get even” philosophy left the world a bitter place. I believe Satan had a hand in this.

God designed mankind to live in community, to be kind and helpful to each another. Jesus had to re-teach benevolence, loving our neighbors and looking out for one another. Widows and orphans should never have to worry if they can get by. That they’re included in a community of believers should assure not only their survival, but a good quality of life.

Believers are to love their neighbors, and be kind, helpful and useful. Be joyful and smile. Don’t allow the world to extinguish your fire. Like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Narrow Path!

For Thursday, September 19, 2024:

1 John 3:13 NLT: “Don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.”

Abel lived a righteous life; his brother Cain did not. He harbored bitterness, jealousy and extreme hatred, so much so that Cain eventually killed his brother.

Don’t confuse living an honorable life with winning a popularity contest. God’s people are repeatedly put down by those living for the world. And yet God’s people are on the right side come judgement day!

God allows us to choose sides. The narrow path is the best choice!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Whose Children?

For Wednesday, September 18, 2024:

1 John 3:10 NLT: “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”

I’ve heard people caution others, “Don’t do that; it’s against the law!” The deed would be contrary to rules legislated by mankind. But are those the rules that really matter?

I almost never hear someone say, “Don’t do that; it’s a sin!” Friends, shouldn’t God’s laws be more important to us than mankind’s laws?

Sin in its simplest form is disrespect for God. God wants what’s best for us, but sinners think they know a better or different way. They don’t. Believers already know right from wrong because God’s laws are written on their hearts. They are children of God. Evildoers are children of the devil.

God allows us to choose sides, and we can easily tell who’s on one side and who’s on the other.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Holy Spirit Insight!

For Tuesday, September 17, 2024:

1 John 3:1 NLT: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

The unceasing battle between good and evil is herein expressed as “Children of God” vs “Satan, prince of the world.” Because believers have the Holy Spirit, they perceive life differently than non-believers. Simply getting by in this world is the short-sighted goal of those who do not know the Lord. But this world as we know it will end, and those who do not know Jesus will end with it.

Believers know a much greater goal: Eternal life in the presence of our Father! The Holy Spirit points out the promises of Jesus to his loyal followers.

Because they lack the insight of the Holy Spirit, non-believers have no idea what they’re missing!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus' Teachings!

September 16, 2024 Monday Message:

James 2:1 NLT: “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?”

James writes in order to encourage his readers to live consistently with what they have learned from Jesus. Surprisingly, many who know Jesus’ teaching – guidelines for living our lives – don’t put his instructions into action. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbors,” he meant ALL of them!

Jesus came to the earth through the Jews, but he came FOR people of all races, all countries and all colors. Believers who know the Good News have been designated “teachers” – evangelists challenged to make disciples of ALL nations. Jesus said so!

As a nation, the US has a cloudy past in this area. Over 150 years ago, a civil war was fought and won on the principle that all men (people) are created equal. The law says that everyone in the US should have the same opportunities. Everyone has the same right to be included. Exclusion based on someone’s race or color is now illegal.

In 150 years, we have learned that we can change laws, but it’s a lot more challenging to change hearts. If Jesus was still among us, he’d say that there’s still a lot of work to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship