Fire from Heaven!

For Tuesday, May 14, 2024:

Ephesians 4:25b NLT: “Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.”

Truth is conforming to fact, to actuality. Truth is valuable; lies are worthless! Eyewitnesses verify the truth of the Bible.

On Mt. Carmel, Elijah said to the people of Israel, “How long will you waver between two opinions?” Elijah, one man, was working for the true God. 450 were working for Baal, and 400 for Asherah, false gods! Kind of lop-sided, wouldn’t you say? The deck was stacked against Elijah!

Elijah challenged the groups to sacrifice a bull and place it on their altar. We’ll see which one God chooses! The prophets of Baal went first, dancing around their altar from sunrise until noon. Nothing happened. They regrouped and continued until evening. Still nothing happened.

Next Elijah prepared his altar: a stone base piled high with wood, and pieces of his bull on top. Finally, just to be more dramatic, he had his oppressors pour 12 big jars of water onto everything. Then he prayed to the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Everyone’s jaws dropped when fire fell from the sky, igniting the burnt sacrifice! Elijah and his God were vindicated that day, victorious! All the people were convinced because they had seen truth with their own eyes! (I Kings 18)

Some churches avoid controversy by steering clear of biblical truths. The hot topics today seem to be sexual identity and abortion. We can choose to hide from these topics, or we could choose to teach the entire Bible. God’s value system isn’t about to change!

Choose a pastor and a church where you can learn truth! See you in church!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Transfiguration!

For Tuesday, January 30, 2024:

Mark 9:7 NLT, During the transfiguration: “A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.’”

Jesus led Peter, James and John, the Apostles’ “A Team,” up a high mountain for the purpose of being alone. What they were about to witness would have scared most people, and there’s no telling how a crowd might react. But these Apostles had been traveling with Jesus and had witnessed all his miracles. Dare I say that they had grown accustomed to supernatural occuraces?

But even for Jesus, what was about to happen was extraordinary. Jesus was transfigured! His face shown like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white! He took on the appearance of a heavenly being, which in fact he was! Suddenly Elijah and Moses appeared and started talking with Jesus. Not knowing what else to say, Peter suggested building shelters for their guests, but they wouldn’t be staying that long.

What happened next reminds me of Jesus’ baptism. A cloud overshadowed them all, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” That event removes all doubt as to Jesus’ identity. He’s the Son of God! God said so!

The trio was not to tell anyone about this event until Jesus rises from the dead, which brings up another question. What’s with this “rise from the dead?” They hadn’t seen that before!

So much to learn, and so little time. The disciples learned about God, Jesus and heaven one event at a time. They were living inside the story. We are blessed to have Bibles, the complete Jesus story, that we can carry in one hand!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Messiah!

For Wednesday, May 3, 2023:

Matthew 17:12 NLT, Jesus teaching: “I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and the religious leaders chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.”

My wife and I have similar cars. Hers is red, mine is black. Once in a while we wind up driving each other’s cars, and when I come out of the store, I sometimes can’t find my car right away! I’m looking for the black one after having just driven the red one! My bad! We won’t find the right thing if we don’t know what we’re looking for!

Elijah was a prophet who told people what to watch for in the future. John-the-Baptist took on Elijah’s role as the Son of Man came to earth. He told everyone to prepare the way because the Messiah’s arrival was imminent and the Kingdom was at hand!

The Pharisees had been told to expect a Messiah, but they – as Jesus was pointing out – were watching for the wrong signs. They were shouting, “Free us from Roman occupation,” and Jesus answered, “Your sins are forgiven!” They didn’t see that coming!

If you’re not seeking a Savior, you might not find salvation!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship