The World vs Jesus!

For Wednesday, April 9, 2025:

John 15:18 NIV, Jesus speaking: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”

For simplicity, let’s separate all the people on earth into two groups: those destined for heaven who love God and his Son, and those who have rejected Jesus and his Father. The Bible refers to those non-believers as “the world.” Remember that Satan currently occupies the world and will take every opportunity to throw sand in the gears.

It’s not always smooth sailing for believers. The same world that hated Jesus may cause trouble for you too. Satan will put demons in your path. That’s why our beliefs need to be locked in, nonnegotiable. Sometimes we have to help our brothers and sisters cast out demons. That’s what Jesus did.

True believers are sanctified, set apart from the world. But we must integrate with the world if we are to share the Good News, something Jesus commissioned us to do. It’s kind of a balancing act, sharing the Gospel while remaining set apart. Backsliding should be nowhere on our agenda!

If the world hates you because it hated Jesus, rejoice! You’re linked with other believers! You’re OK! It’s the demons who should beware of the name Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Priests!

March 17, 2025, Monday Message:

Leviticus 21:1 NLT: The Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.”

Under the Old Covenant, Priests were go-betweens. The general population was separated from God Almighty in the Tabernacle. On the people’s behalf, the Priests would offer sacrifices, sometimes to atone for someone’s sin, and other times just because that tithe belonged to the Lord. Priests were set apart from other Jews. They were considered special, sanctified.

In the New Testament, Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven...” So we no longer need a go-between, someone to speak with God on our behalf. Jesus said that any believer, you and I, can pray directly to God himself.

When Jesus died and took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, believers were purified. Our sins were blotted out, taken away, and now being without sin, we can speak directly with the Lord. The curtain separating the most holy place was torn from top to bottom, so it was God doing the tearing. People whose sins are forgiven no longer need to be separated from God.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Although he wasn’t born in Ireland, legend has it that Patrick did much to evangelize the region. And any day you can make new Christians is a good day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Consecrated People!

June 3, 2024 Monday Message:

1 Peter 1:16 NLT: “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”

Peter is referring to writings in Leviticus where we are instructed to “consecrate ourselves.” The radical transformation of becoming a believer should start this process in each of us. Rather than living for the world, we should now be living for Jesus, with our eyes on eternity!

To get started, we learn the principles of setting ourselves apart, but we’re probably not good at it right away. God, who knows everything, already knows that we won’t be perfect when first undertaking the task of self-sanctification. But at that point, we’re put God’s goals for us in place. We strive to be worthy of Kingdom residency. With progress but not perfection, we become more worthy day by day.

There will come a day when honoring God’s wishes will become second nature. Your “Things To Do Today” list will include fewer worldly endeavors and far more of what God would have us do! Our love for our Savior should be constantly increasing.

Dedicate yourself to the Lord; sanctify yourself!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Father God!

For Wednesday, July 27, 2022:

Psalm 4:3a NLT: “You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself.”

The Bible says, “As many as received Him (Jesus,) to them he gave the right to become children of God.” So if believers are God’s children, he will look after them as any parent would look after their own children. In his mind, God separates the godly from the rest of the world. He considers the believers special, worthy of a little extra attention.

Of course that’s where we all want to be, safely under the Lord’s care. Our faith in the Son ensures us a place in God’s eternity.

"Let your face smile on us, Lord!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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