God's Presence!

For Tuesday, October 7, 2025:

John 14:15-17a NLT, Jesus speaking: “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

Jesus wants us to obey his (and his Father’s) commandments. Sounds reasonable, but how does that work for mankind? Wasn’t it the Apostle Paul who said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Paul was human. Paul experienced what we all experience: “shortcomings.”

The Bibles we read were translated from centuries-old writings that were hand-copied and therefore subject to minor differences. I discovered originals that said, “obey my commands,” “you will obey my commands,” and “you should obey my commands.” All of this tells us that following Jesus’ direction is a good idea, but we may not always get it right. After all, we’re flawed humans, subject to shortcomings. As pagans, we used to not care. But now that we know Jesus, we do the best that we can. We’re not perfect, but we have a goal in place of living our lives in a God-pleasing manner.

Jesus said he’d ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to us. (Aha – so there are three of them – Triune God!) He is sending someone to advocate for us, to comfort, encourage and counsel us, someone to walk alongside us through this lifetime. The Greek writers call him “Paraclete.”

Jesus said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The “I” refers to the 3-in-1 God. Jesus was on earth with us and died so our sins could be forgiven. He ascended to Heaven, so the Holy Spirit will be our helper for the rest of our time here. And when we transition to God’s Kingdom, Heaven, the Father himself will be our master.

Pray that the Holy Spirit would keep all believers pointed in the right direction!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Pentecost – God's Day!

For Wednesday, June 4, 2025:

Acts 2:6 NLT: “When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”

On the Day of Pentecost, God created a loud sound like a roaring wind. The Jewish visitors who had pilgrimaged to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost were a curious lot, and had to check it out. They were met by believers, most of whom were from Galilee. The visitors were amazed and confused to hear the believers speaking their own languages! At least that was their perception.

Logic tells me that the disciples, many of whom were simple fishermen, didn’t instantly learn new languages. Besides, the visitors were from all over Asia Minor. How many languages could one person muster? The truth is that this was a God thing. It’s as if God filled the air with a universal translator, giving each visitor the ability to understand what was being said. Simon Peter only spoke one language, but he was working with the Holy Spirit. That’s the big difference!

Speaking of Simon Peter, he was the one who denied Jesus three times on the night before the crucifixion. That was to save his own skin. But believe it or not, that too was a God thing. God had preselected Peter to lead the believers after Jesus’ ascension. God needed Peter alive and well to fulfill Peter’s calling in God’s vast eternal plan!

It was speech-making day for Peter, but he had nothing new to share. He would reiterate what Jesus and John-the-Baptist had said: “Repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Many in the audience had shouted, “Crucify him,” on Good Friday. But now they’re having second thoughts about what had happened. God had opened their minds to see the truth. It was time for a mass moment of “repent and return!”

What an exciting day to be on the “Jesus Team!” We need another Pentecost in our country and in our world. Sooner rather than later should be our preference!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship