Matthew!

 For Sunday, June 28, 2026: 

Luke 5:28 NLT: “Levi got up, left everything, and followed Jesus.”

 Being a tax collector is not easy. It involves making a decision to accept a position with the opposition, with those who have been persecuting your people. In simple words, you’re knowingly working for the bad guys! All your Hebrew friends dislike you because you’re working for the Romans.

 The Bible often describes “sinners and tax collectors” when listing evil people. Tax collectors were thought to be a step worse than regular sinners. Most tax collectors lived an opulent lifestyle. It was well known that they’d add a little extra to the tax, and then skim those shekels for themselves. But in spite of their wealth, most tax collectors were not happy. They had been raised as Jews and would be more content living out their divine purpose.

 So when Jesus said, “Follow me and be my disciple,” Levi was primed and ready to go! He threw a huge banquet at his home to honor Jesus. He invited other tax collectors and government officials. He had previously made a decision to become this tax collector, but today he was making a decision to follow Jesus. He was proud of his new decision and wanted all his friends to know, hence the gathering.

 We all have a “before Jesus” story and an “after Jesus” story. No matter how you lived your life before Jesus, those days are in the past. There is no sin too great that it cannot be covered by the sacrifice made by Jesus. Followers of Jesus are 100% forgiven. God is more concerned with your turning point, when you made your decision to follow the Son. That decision changed everything. Believers are then adopted into the Holy Family. As such, we share all the rights and privileges of those who call heaven home.

 That day, Levi wasn’t just deciding in favor of Jesus. He was locking in his eternal destiny. We know Levi as the Apostle Matthew!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church

Trust in Jesus!

March 2, 2026, Monday Message:

John 14:1 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.“

Followers of Jesus were worried. First off, all the Hebrews were living under Roman rule, and while the Romans tolerated religion, they really didn’t like it. They believed in all their false gods, like a god for rain, for a bountiful harvest, for the sun and moon and stars. Some Romans even claimed that Caesar was God. Of course, he wasn’t.

Next problem, the followers of Jesus found themselves at odds with the Temple leaders. The Temple wanted to be in charge of Hebrew religion, and didn’t like this relative newcomer Jesus pulling worshipers out of the Temple, which also pulled their tithes out of the Temple. As with many things in life, if you’re trying to figure out what’s wrong, just follow the money! Also, when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, they considered it blasphemy. The Temple attitude was, “We’ve always done things this way, and we’re not about to change.”

Jesus wants to comfort the loyal believers, put them at ease, have them not worry. Rest assured knowing that Jesus and his Father are in charge. Since they’re the creators of everything, we know their power. We can securely leave everything in their hands. Trust God, and trust his Son.

So friends, don’t worry about the future, in this life or the next. Don’t let your heart be troubled. Don’t give defeat a second thought. Put a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, Jesus in your heart and optimism in your head. With Jesus at the helm, everything will be A-OK. He said so himself! He promised!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Jesus – Proophet-Approved!

For Wednesday, December 24, 2025:

Luke 2:38 NLT: “Anna, a prophet, came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem

Today is Christmas Eve. 2,000 years ago, as Joseph and Mary wrapped up her 9^th month of pregnancy, the couple would complete their sojourn to Bethlehem for Caesar’s census, and improvise sleeping quarters in a stable where the Son of God would make his earthly entrance! Eight days later, the prophet Anna confirmed that Jesus was the one for whom they had been waiting! Let’s see what he has up his sleeve.

Some of the people weren’t too confident about this newborn Jesus. They’d been expecting someone to overpower the Romans, to liberate them from slave-like conditions. A tiny baby just wouldn’t do!

But God’s timing is always best, and it would play out in 30-or-so years. Jesus would have thousands of followers by then. Jesus and his Father understood the Hebrew’s predicament better than they did. The Hebrews were concerned with the Romans being in charge. God and Jesus were concerned with removing sins that could block the path to eternal forgiveness. God’s desire is that everyone would repent and return. Of course, God is always right! Sin problem solved, eternity problem solved. God is good beyond measure!

On the cross, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, saying, “Your sins are forgiven.” Only God can forgive sins. Anna was right! Jesus IS the one!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Innocent?

 

For Tuesday, March 26, 2024:

Mark 15:1 NLT: “Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire Sanhedrin—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”

The Jewish leaders couldn’t legally execute their own prisoner. That sentence had to come from a Roman authority, in this case Pontius Pilate. They awoke early to accomplish this. Time was of the essence. Shabbat would arrive at sundown, when they could do no more work. And the people were all preparing for Passover. The entire evil deed needed to be completed in one-half day while the sun was shining. So they started early.

This was the last official daylight trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. The verdict in this kangaroo court was predetermined, and Jesus was the loser. Now the Jewish officials needed a stamp of approval from the Romans, so off they go to Pilate. History shows us he was a cruel, ruthless man, completely insensitive to the moral feelings of others. The Jewish leaders thought this would be a slam dunk. It was not.

Pilate found Jesus to be innocent of the charges, but thought he needed support for his position. So Jesus was delivered to Herod, who also found him innocent, but considered this a local matter. So Jesus was returned to Pilate for the final decision.

The custom was for the governor to release one prisoner at Passover. Pilate hoped this would be his ‘out.’ He offered Barabbas, a revolutionary and murderer, and Jesus, King of the Jews. Pick one. The crowd illogically demanded the release of Barabbas.

"What should I do with this other man, Jesus,” asked Pilate.

"Crucify him,” shouted the people!

"Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

 But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

  So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. Jesus was delivered to Roman soldiers for torture and eventually crucifixion.

The people shouting, “Crucify him,” were the same crowd that shouted, “Hosanna! Save us now!” a week earlier. Don’t be a fickle mob like these people. When we make a decision for Jesus, we need to be “all in.” We’re 100% for Jesus, and we’re not changing our minds!

Don’t follow the mob – follow truth!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship