Deceivers!

For Tuesday, October 29, 2024:

2 John 7 NLT: “Many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Believers know that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. He arrived in our world as a little baby, one who could have died when Herod was trying to exterminate all the Hebrew babies. That’s why his parents took refuge in Egypt. In fact his human body would eventually die as he took our sins to the place of the dead.

But the extraordinary wisdom, the healings and other miracles were straight from heaven. The resurrection was not Jesus dying; He was returning to his Father in heaven, saying, “Mission accomplished!”

There are credible writings, both sacred and secular, that clearly acknowledge the supernatural feats of this Jesus who walked alongside mankind. Yes, the stories about him are true, these things actually happened, and a denier is at least wrong, a deceiver and a candidate for antichrist-of-the-year.

Believers need to steer clear of deceivers. Truth can be reinforced by associating with other believers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Beware the Antichrist!

For Tuesday, September 3, 2024:

1 John 2:22 NLT: “Who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.”

One church where I minister says there are two kinds of people:

1. Those who know Jesus, and

2. Those who don’t know Jesus yet!

I sometimes come across a third type: Those who have considered Jesus, but in the end decided to reject the Gospel. They will argue against Biblical truths, and make a case that there is no God or that some other god should have the top spot, perhaps even themselves. But the Bible says that anyone not ‘for’ you is ‘against’ you, and anyone in this third group is clearly working against Christians and their Savior Jesus.

Believers know (believe through faith) that Jesus is the Messiah, the long-expected anointed one from the prophesies. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” And anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Pretty strong accusation, but when it comes to loyalty, God doesn’t mince words.

When evangelizing, spend time with those who have ears to listen. Now get out there and make disciples of all nations!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Beware the Antichrist!

For Sunday, September 1, 2024:

1 John 2:18 NLT: “Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.”

An antichrist is anyone who opposes Jesus. They oftentimes falsely claim to actually be the Christ. They claim to be a Savior. They are not. Only Jesus holds the keys to heaven.

The Bible uses words like “pseudokhristos,” a pretend Christ or false Christ. Jesus also warned of false prophets, who sometimes can perform great signs and wonders and achieve worldly greatness. But we know their greatness is all worldly, not from God.

This is Sunday, a good day to join your friends at church and worship the real anointed one, Jesus. Remember that at the baptism, God’s voice boomed over the water saying, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased!”

My Savior is God-approved!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Greatest!

For Wednesday, May 24, 2023:

1 John 4:4 NLT: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them (the evil spirits of the Antichrist,) because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

If I asked you to number every living thing in the world from greatest to least powerful, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit would be 1-2-3. Surprisingly, evil spirits wouldn’t be at the bottom of the list. They have power to deceive mankind, to disrupt our spiritual paths and to wreak havoc in our lives. But believers are blessed to have Jesus living in our hearts, a power much greater than the evil in the world. We are both protected and redeemed!

Jesus said that we will experience tribulation in this world, but to take heart because he has overcome the world!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

False Prophets

For Thursday, May 18, 2023:

1 John 4:1 NLT: “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”

John is advising believers to test spiritual occurrences and religious leaders. Many, many false teachers and false prophets stand ready to lead us astray. There are both evil spirits, and spirits from the Lord, and we are being taught to be discerning. This is especially important for congregational leaders.

Believing in Jesus is a prerequisite for all who teach in a religious setting. If the spirit does not acknowledge the Son of God, they are not speaking for God. Also remember that God doesn’t change his position on sin, and God never contradicts himself. If something was wrong yesterday, it’s still wrong today.

Good news: Believers are delivered from the spirit of the Antichrist!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Truth!

 For Thursday, March 30, 2023:

1 John 2:22 NLT: “Who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.”

The Holy Spirit has given believers the gift of discernment. We can usually tell when somebody is lying right to our face. I frequently fact-check, comparing what someone says with what the Bible says. If someone denies that Jesus is the Messiah, they’re a liar, a deceiver. If someone denies that there is a God, they don’t know the truth.

There’s a surprising number of deceivers. They masquerade as cults, New Age advocates and other false religions. Sometimes they worship nothing. Be especially suspicious of groups that look like a church or have “Jesus” in their name, but don’t accept the Bible or use a fake Holy Book.

John sums it up like this v23: “Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

End Times!

For Tuesday, March 28, 2023:

1 John 2:18 NLT: “Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.”

Are we in the end times? There are many signs that the end times is growing closer each day, but no one knows the exact day or hour. Jesus said that only the Father knows. But seeing the nature of our times and what the Bible says about the end times, we should regard ourselves as being in the last few minutes.

Q: Is there a clock in heaven, or are hours and days only applicable for the earth’s residents, based on the earth’s rotation? Jesus said that he will return. John certainly thought it would be within his lifetime, and yet we wait patiently. If we can estimate Jesus’ return date based upon God trends, it will be at the perfect time!

Antichrist means the opposite of Jesus or instead of Jesus. The Antichrist is placed in our midst by Satan to divert our attention from the true Savior. Interestingly, John speaks of many antichrists paving the way for the supreme Antichrist. Satan can be slick. The Antichrist will appear to be wonderful, charming and successful. He will be the ultimate winner, and appear as an angel of light. It’s all a lie. Do not be deceived.

There is only one way to spend eternity with the Father. Jesus told us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Know Jesus - Know God!

For Thursday, July 14, 2022:

1 John 4:2-3 NIV: “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

As each day passes, we are one day closer to the end times. That’s good news for believers, because Jesus has given his followers assurance of salvation. We will join him in the sky as Satan is being defeated once and for all.

Satan knows what’s coming, and he wants to make one final push to leave his mark on our world. Enter the ‘antichrist.’ This deceiver will try to make it look like he represents God. He does not. He will not acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. Like ‘fool’s gold,’ he’ll shine on the outside but there’s nothing of value on the inside. Don’t be fooled.

Jesus said that we’ll encounter more and more false prophets as the end times draw nearer. My advice is to not get caught up in the next new thing. Instead, set your eyes upon Jesus - that’s all we really need!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406