A House Divided...

For Sunday, May 18, 2025:

Luke 11:17 NLT: “Jesus knew their thoughts, so he said, ‘Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.’”

A house divided will not stand. When someone has reached the top, there always seems to be a challenger attempting to knock them off the pedestal. If that opponent is an enemy, they can be dealt with. We expect attacks from our enemies. A much bigger problem is division within, subversion and betrayal by our own teammates, people wearing our uniforms.

Unbelievers claimed Jesus received power from Satan. They were wrong. Jesus was clearly preaching in favor of God and God’s Kingdom. Jesus would put Satan down and separate good from evil, the sheep from the goats. He would preach repent and return, telling people that the Kingdom was at hand. Jesus was saying, “Get ready to meet the Lord!”

Satan tried tempting Jesus in the desert. He tried offering Jesus things that were already his. Jesus used the Bible as his defense. “Scripture says...” answered his battles with the Devil.

A created being can never win a battle against its creator! So let’s all join up with our Creator. Play for the winning team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Power from Jesus!

For Wednesday, May 7, 2025:

Luke 10:17 NLT, The 72 reporting to Jesus: “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”

Having been around Jesus, the 72 disciples knew about Satan and his demons. Jesus was casting out demons all the time. But little did they suspect that they too would have the power to derail these pesky critters. The 72 were amazed!

Of course, it’s not their power; invoking Jesus’ name does the trick! Know that heaven always triumphs over hell; God always triumphs over Satan; and good always triumphs over evil.

The Bible says that when sent on a mission, we’ll be well equipped. We’ll be given the tools, the resources and the power to make it all happen. This is God’s promise to us.

Jesus first sent the 12 and then the 72 as his advance teams. And now with the Great Commission (see Matthew 28), all believers are commanded to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Just like the 12 and the 72, we are to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons. We are to make disciples of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are to pull souls out of the pit of hell and point them toward a heavenly path!

Just for fun, you can flip to the back of the Book and see who wins! No surprise there! Isn’t it great to play for a winning team?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Battle Continues...

For Sunday, October 13, 2024:

1 John 5:5 NLT: “Who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Christians realize that there’s a huge battle taking place as we speak. Satan and his minions are still mistakenly thinking they have a chance at owning the souls of this world, your soul and my soul, our eternal essence. They are wrong! The battle becomes more fierce the closer we come to the end of the age. Satan is running out of time, so harder and harder he keeps trying, but he will ultimately lose.

God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – looked at everything he created, and declared that it was very good! So his desire is that we spend eternity in heaven in his presence! That’s why Jesus came to rescue mankind, to offer us forgiveness. We are redeemed. The price has been paid to get us out of Satan’s sinful pawn shop. Jesus personally paid that price with his own life, forgiving mankind’s sins and opening the doors of heaven for believers!

Believers gather on Sunday to praise all the good things God has done for us, and to worship his almighty supernatural nature. We join other believers in making a joyful sound that can be heard in the throne room of heaven!

See you in church!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Cock-a-doodle-do!

March 25, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 14:67 NLT: “The girl noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, ’You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.’”

If Peter had acknowledged being a disciple of Jesus, he would have been arrested on the spot. Instead he denied Jesus to save his own skin. I believe God had something to do with that.

Peter would be the one to spearhead Jesus’ ministry after Jesus returned to the Father. Peter was the one disciple who demonstrated the leadership skills needed to become a leader of “The Way.” Although a wee bit impulsive, Peter possessed the tenacity to step forward and take charge. Perhaps those two traits go together.

So Peter denied Jesus, the rooster crowed and it seemed that all was lost. But God is still on the throne, directing all the action at this point. Everybody was fulfilling God’s vast eternal plan. Jesus would be taking the sins of the world to the place of the dead, thereby absolving mankind. Peter was preserved to become leader of The Way. The Temple hierarchy and Roman soldiers would enforce the false accusations against Jesus. The pieces were all falling into place to complete Jesus’ mission in coming to our planet.

If you want to help with ministry, look for where God is already working and jump in there. Be a part of the winning team!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship