Miracle Babies!

For Saturday, November 22, 2025:

Luke 1:26 NLT: “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.”

God was about to deliver a son to Zechariah and Elizabeth, a most unlikely situation. He openly admits that he’s quite old, and she’s well past childbearing years. Only God! As Gabriel instructed, they’ll name him John. We know him as John-the-Baptist.

In a separate, seemingly unrelated event, Gabriel is sent to visit Mary in Nazareth. Yes, our Mary! She was married to Joseph, but marriage was different back then. The husband would leave to arrange a place to live and find a job or start a business. The wife would begin gathering (or making) domestic things the new family would need: clothing, cooking supplies, household items. When everything was in order, the husband would return for his wife, and the two would begin their new life together. Mary and Joseph were still in that “prep” stage; they had not yet come together.

As usual, the angel says, “Be not afraid! You are favored by God!” He further explains, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asks, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God!”

Then Gabriel drops this bombshell, which ties the events together: “Your cousin Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. The word of God will never fail!”

Remember, Mary’s husband wasn’t living with her yet. So she decided to stay with her relative for a time. They could help each other through their pregnancies and share dreams for their new babies, both under God’s watchful eye!

Some of the most eventful times in Christian history are about to unfold. Christmas is coming!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Kingdom of God!

May 19, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 11:20 NLT, Jesus speaking: “If I am casting out demons by the power (the hand) of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.”

John-the-Baptist’s mission was to prepare the population for Jesus’ arrival. He told people to repent and return, because the Kingdom of God was coming soon. In other words, get your lives in order because God’s about to show up!

And here he is, Jesus, the anointed one, the Christ, heaven-sent, performing miracle after miracle in the name of the Father. Yes friends, with the arrival of Jesus, God’s Kingdom had arrived on earth! Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” With the power of God, he could cast out demons and cure any ailment! Jesus wields the power of our Creator!

For my 2¢, I wish the Bible and our churches made a much bigger song and dance of the arrival of God’s Kingdom. That is what was predicted, that is what everyone was waiting for, and now, here it is! (Perhaps some believed the Kingdom arrived 30 years earlier!)

Old Testament scriptures predicted a Messiah would come to rescue mankind. Now here he is! Those present needed to focus in on what was happening right before their eyes. We need to learn from those eyewitnesses. The Kingdom of God had arrived! Jesus said so!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Holy Spirit!

For Saturday, December 30, 2023:

Luke 3:16 NLT: “John (the Baptist) answered their questions by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’”

Everyone assumed the Messiah’s arrival was imminent, just around the corner. John was telling people to repent of their sins as he baptized them. They knew that only God could forgive sins against God’s law. So the question arose, is this “John” the one for whom we’ve been waiting?

John is quite clear in his response. He’s a number of things. He’s a baptizer, preparing the world for the soon-to-come Messiah. In a way he’s like a prophet, heralding the Messiah’s arrival. But he is not the one.

John makes mention of receiving the Holy Spirit, the ‘fire’ baptism. The gift of the Holy Spirit is received by believing in Jesus Christ. Peter explains in Acts 2:38 “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit never leaves a believer, but mankind can become lax in worshiping God-the-Spirit. That’s why it’s essential to stay plugged in to a church, to recharge your Holy Spirit battery, to top off your Holy Spirit tank.

With the Spirit, we are prepared to do battle in the world in the name of Jesus!

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

Jesus is Returning!

For Tuesday, March 21, 2023:

Matthew 11:10 NLT, Jesus speaking: “John (the Baptist) is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’”

God gives prophets His words to speak, often about future events. And if that person truly IS a prophet, the predictions come true – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but things always happen just as God said. In this case, John-the-Baptist fulfilled the prophet’s words in Malachi 3. John had come to prepare the way before Jesus. He told the people to repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom was at hand.

Jesus-the-Messiah could cast out demons, heal the sick and raise the dead. He predicted his own death. All this gave him a lot of credibility. So when he told his disciples that after death, he’d be returning, they had every reason to trust what he said. What do you think?

Jesus rose from the dead in three days, and before he ascended into heaven, he promised to return. No one knows the exact date, and if someone tells you that they know, they really don’t. Jesus said that only the Father knows! Jesus said that he would prepare a place for all God’s children.

Believer – you have a reservation in heaven!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Eyes and Ears!

 For Sunday, March 19, 2023:

John 11:4-5 NLT: “Jesus told them, (disciples of John-the-Baptist,) ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’”

The question had been, “Who is Jesus? Is he the Messiah? Is he the one for whom they had been waiting?” John-the-Baptist sent some disciples to ask the questions since he was imprisoned.

Jesus simply tells them to use their eyes and ears. Observe what’s been happening around Jesus. Never before seen miracles, that’s what!

In my mind, I picture everything calm as Jesus approaches. Then he preaches the Good News and miraculously heals those who need healing. As his itinerant ministry moves down the road, I picture commotion and excitement in the aftermath! Everyone is amazed by what just happened, and they can’t stop talking about the heaven-sent miracles! Jesus coming to town was indeed Good News! And for me, these eyewitness accounts clearly point to the Son of the Most High!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Prepare the Way!

For Friday, December 30, 2022:

Matthew 3:2 NLT, John-the-Baptist’s message: “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

A basic leadership principle is to let people know what’s coming, to get them accustomed to new ideas. Then when you make the final announcement, it won’t be a big surprise to anyone. People will say, “I’ve heard of that – that’s what we’ve been talking about!”

Example: A church needed more room, and they suddenly announced a building campaign. It was voted down. No one had heard of the idea, so the leadership regrouped and talked benefits. A new fellowship hall would accommodate community meals, women’s luncheons, men’s Bible studies and allow growth for the youth group! Everyone benefits! A year later, 90% voted ‘yes!’

The Son of God coming to earth to rescue mankind and the Hebrew people transitioning from a ‘works’ based religion to ‘grace & faith’ religion was monumental, Good News for all of us. The prophet Isaiah cracked open the door 800 years earlier. Now John-the-Baptist was the advance man for our Messiah. Jesus and John were close to the same age, but Jesus didn’t begin his ministry until he was 30. That gave John at least 10 years to prepare hearts to receive Jesus’ message.

"The Kingdom of God is right here, right now!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Anticipation!

For Saturday, December 24, 2022:

Luke 1:57-58 TLB: “By now Elizabeth’s waiting was over, for the time had come for the baby to be born—and it was a boy. The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives of how kind the Lord had been to her, and everyone rejoiced.”

This was a time of great spiritual activity and anticipation. An angel had visited Zechariah in the Temple. An angel had visited Mary, and then Joseph. Zechariah had been promised a son who would announce the soon-to-arrive Messiah. Zechariah’s son was to be named John. Mary was told that she would be birthing that Messiah, and Joseph was assured that his wife had been faithful. The Messiah-baby was from the Holy Spirit! They were to name him Jesus which means Savior.

As you might expect, everything happened just as they had been told. John-the-Baptist turned out to be a strange fellow, living in the wilderness, wearing clothing made of coarse camel hair and relying on locusts for sustenance. Nonetheless, many people came to hear his message: Repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Those who agreed were baptized in the Jordan.

At about age 30, Jesus began his public ministry. We celebrate his arrival tomorrow, on Christmas day. After Jesus, everything was different – better! He atoned for mankind’s sin-problem. People are still talking about it 2,000 years later!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship