Son of God!

For Thursday, December 22, 2022:

Luke 1:35b NLT: “The baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

Our Savior has a lot of names. We know him as Jesus, which means Savior or The Lord saves. Jesus is our modern English language translation. In Hebrew, it’s Yeshua or Y’shua, to save or to deliver. In the Old Testament, that same name was Joshua.

Isaiah calls him Immanuel, God with us, and also predicts that our Savior will be known as: Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

But the angel Gabriel tells Mary that her child will be known as the Son of the Most High! Consider the complexity of God’s plan, that 1/3 of our trinitarian God would come to earth as a little baby and become the influential holy man people still worship 2,000 years later!

Mary’s baby was on a mission trip to rescue mankind!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Hope in a Manger!

For Thursday, December 23, 2021

Luke 2:1 NLT: “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.”

Interesting times 2k years ago. Who would have thought that the Roman emperor Augustus, a pagan unbeliever, would be taking orders from our Creator God, the God of the Hebrew people? And yet here was the king, ordering everyone to their hometowns for the census, causing Joseph and Mary to be in Bethlehem where baby Jesus was born, thereby fulfilling prophecy. The fact that everything fell into place just as predicted lends credibility to the Nativity events.

Then the angel brought the Good News to the shepherds, the angel chorus sang in the sky and the shepherds came to town to check it all out. They found everything just as the angel had told them, holy family in a stable, baby in a manger. They worshiped and then told everyone the Good News!

The shepherds had no clue as to the amount of hope that had been delivered to mankind that night!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

God Never Fails

Dec. 9, 2019 Monday Message:

“No word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37 NIV

God sent his messenger, the angel Gabriel, to lay the groundwork for two unusual births.

First, Gabriel told Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth, well past child bearing years, would give birth to a son, who was to herald the way for the coming Messiah. Their son told everyone to repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God was at hand. We know that man as John the Baptist.

Next, Gabriel told a young virgin, Mary, that she would give birth to the Son of God himself. Mary was confused. She was engaged, but had not yet consummated her marriage to Joseph. But this is a divinely inspired birth. We know this child to be Jesus, Son of God, lying in a manger. Wouldn’t you love to have been there?

If God, the Creator of all things, lays out a prediction for you, you can take that to the bank. Understand that God is the #1 Creator, and everything in this world and in the spiritual world was created BY him. It only stands to reason that in the end, the Creator will win! No word from God will ever fail. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We welcome guests from the New Hope tour. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

Prophecy

Dec. 2, 2019 Monday Message:

“Prophecy”

Traditionally, how you determine if it’s the Lord speaking through a prophet is if what he/she predicts actually comes to fruition. In much the same way, if a prophet of God foretells an event, and that event actually happens, it also proves that God is in it; that God is real.

About 2,000 years ago, the birth of two babies was foretold by angels. The first was shown to Zechariah and his wife, both beyond childbearing years. They were given a son, the person we know as John the Baptist. He was the prophet counseling people to repent and return to the Lord; he was preparing the way for the Messiah.

The second of course is baby Jesus, given to Mary and Joseph who had not yet consummated their marriage. The Holy Spirit seems to be in charge of unconventional conception.

The shepherds came to witness the event, and they reported: “Everything turned out exactly the way they’d been told!” Luke 2:20b Msg

Prophecy fulfilled!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

Prepare the Way - #2

Dec. 08, 2014 Monday Message:

Last week we talked about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry, and the value of advance preparation.

Mary too had been prepared for what was about to take place. The angel Gabriel told her that she would have a son named Jesus who will be called, “Son of the Most High, and like David he will reign as King of Israel, and his kingdom will never end.” Wow! from Luke 1:31-33 CEV

Mary was somewhat confused: “How can this happen? I am not married!”

Gabriel explained God’s power, the power of the Holy Spirit, and told her that her child will be called the Holy Son of God!

Mary agreed, saying, “I am here to serve the Lord.” She was now prepared for all that would happen, and therefore played her role perfectly when it was time.

This is a great story, but I have to ask: What if she had NOT been properly prepared? What if she just turned up pregnant one day?

An unwed pregnant woman would be an embarrassment to her family, estranged from her fiancé, and could be stoned by her community.

But Mary had been prepared – she knew the inside story of what was about to happen. It took another angel to bring Joseph around. But then Mary and Joseph in turn prepared their close family and friends for what was about to take place, as the prophesy of Isaiah was being fulfilled: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel – God is with us!” Isaiah 7:14b NIV

“Jesus” means “The Lord saves!”

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Dec. 14, we welcome all as Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

A Son is Given!

Dec. 23, 2013 Monday Message:

“For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6a)

Prophecies foretell by divine inspiration. God used Isaiah as his voice to disclose future events.

Prophecies are not just for filling up chapters in the Bible; they are real guidance intended for specific people. How fortunate we are that this information is for “us!” Unto US a Child is born; unto US a Son is given.”

Isaiah uses the Hebrew literary tool of repetition to stress the importance of this message. God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – had existed from the beginning of time. But the humanity of God had a starting point – the baby in a manger! Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus coming to be with us, to rescue us.

Jesus was a perfect human, like Adam before he sinned, and therefore the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.

Jesus brings hope to a lost planet. Welcome to our world!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Dec. 29, baby Jesus grows up – Pastor Daisy explains! Luke 2:21-38

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Christmas = Jesus

January 02, 2012 Monday Message:

Now that we’re in the New Year, take some time to reflect on Christmas. Did you spend time with Jesus this Christmas? I don’t mean, “Did you go to church?” Most of us did that. But did you spend a few quiet moments committing or re-committing yourself to the one who came to rescue you?

Christmas is a busy time, with trees, ornaments and presents with colorful paper and bright ribbon. We cook big dinners, invite friends and family, and over-indulge. There are bright lights, carols on the radio and manger scenes almost everywhere. Kids wear funny costumes, and we applaud as they act out the Gospel of Luke.

There’s so much going on during the holiday season that I believe we need to be very intentional about spending some time with our savior. So I encourage you to take a couple of minutes during your quiet time to thank the redeemer. At Christmas, he’s a baby in a manger. But someday, he will clothe you in garments of white!

May you grow closer to the Lord during this special time of year – Happy New Year!

Norton Lawellin

Come Holy Spirit!

June 06, 2011 Monday Message:

“If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:18

Jesus said he would send a helper, a comforter, to fill us with the power of heaven until he returns. In Greek the word is Parakletos, also translated as encourager, advocate and counselor, in the same way that a lawyer would stand beside you in a court of law.

Pentecost Sunday, June 12, is the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit, who, with a melodramatic arrival, filled the believers, following the ascension of Jesus. This appearance of the Holy Spirit was not the first. In fact, the 2nd verse of the Bible teaches, “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” Genesis 1:2

Why is the Holy Spirit such a big deal? Because we all need help. Mankind cannot ever live the perfect life. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

We need someone to rescue us. Jesus. And someone to redeem us. Jesus. But with Jesus in heaven, at the right hand of the father, who can help us now? The Holy Spirit. Who is our “connector” with God, Jesus, and with heaven? The Holy Spirit. Who will stand with us on judgment day, and remember that our name is written in the book of life? The Holy Spirit. Remember that if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are no longer under the law!

Even though Jesus ascended, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit can fill us with the super-natural power of heaven to accomplish super-natural things here on earth, in Jesus’ name, until he returns for us.

Pray, “Come Holy Spirit.” You are not alone.

Norton Lawellin

Out of Your Mire!

February 28, 2011 Monday Message:

“Rescue me from the miry mud; don't let me sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me, and from the deep waters.” Psalm 69:14

David chronicled both his life’s stories and his walk with the LORD. So today, 3000 years later, we can not only read his story, but also feel his frustrations and emotions. David is very real, very authentic.

David spends the first portion of Psalm 69 complaining about what people did to him. He lists incident after incident, situations where others tried to destroy him, mock him and shame him. David wants God to execute a plan of vengeance, to even the score.

The things that happened to David were real. But here, David is feeling a little sorry for himself. He rants, gets it off his chest, and lets it all out. He whines a wee bit. But enough complaining — let’s take some action that will move us forward.

Through all of this, David has always known the solution. In verse 13 he prays, “… LORD, my prayer is to You … answer me with Your sure salvation.”

We’re human. When we find ourselves in life’s mire and mud, we tend to complain, rant and whine just like David. But children of the living God have the same supernatural help available that lifted David out of his mire: God, His Son and the Holy Spirit.

You may not be able to lift yourself out of your mire, and complaining about your situation won’t help. But God can and will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart!” Proverbs 3:5

Norton Lawellin

Happy Epiphany!

January 03, 2011 Monday Message:

Happy New Year, and Happy Epiphany!

What’s Epiphany? The word means a revelation or new insight. That revelation is often a divine being, and for us it’s Jesus. In the Christian church-year calendar, Epiphany is January 6th, celebrating when the Magi from the east came to worship baby Jesus, the one born King of the Jews.

Only the Gospel of Matthew speaks of this. We sing, “We Three Kings of Orient Are…” but we don’t really know that there were three of them. The Bible doesn’t say how many men, but it does say that three gifts were presented. We don’t know that they were Kings. In fact, the visitors are often referred to as Magi, sorcerers, magicians, astronomers or astrologers. But while they probably practiced some of these things, we also know that these were educated men. They had studied enough astronomy to recognize a new star in the heavens. And they had studied enough world religion to know that a King would be born, that the star was a sign, and that they should follow. They were seekers. Our visitors are probably from Babylon, not the Orient. And they weren’t at the manger with the shepherds. Magi visited as much as two years later.

The real Kings in our story are Herod and Jesus. The visitors from the East first approached Herod, asking, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” Of course Herod didn’t have a clue, so they all visited the Pharisees and Scribes, who quoted from Micah 5, directing the Magi to Bethlehem.

What’s curious to me is that no Pharisees accompanied the entourage to Bethlehem. They were told that the holy King had been born, but chose not to go. But the Magi, not from Israel and probably Gentiles, showed up to worship the King sent from heaven. You see, everyone created in the image of God needs a redeemer. So God sent His Son for us all.

Norton Lawellin

Angels We have Heard On High!

December 20, 2010 Monday Message:

“Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” Luke 2:13-14

God taking human form and coming to earth as the baby Jesus is a series of miracles. There are several hundred miracle-prophecies that point to the arrival of our Savior. Jesus fulfilled all of them. We all know the most common predictors: born of a virgin, descendent of David, city of Bethlehem. Other prophecies predicted Jesus’ death, mocking by the soldiers who cast lots for his garments, and his side being pierced while, miraculously, no bones were broken.

But today, I want to consider just one small cause and effect scenario.
Cause: a baby is born on earth.
Effect: Angels praise the LORD.

It wasn’t just a few angels that praised God; the Bible calls it a multitude. I don’t know exactly how many angels in a “multitude,” but I suspect it’s like a mega-church. Hundreds for sure, maybe thousands. And these angels aren’t like the cute little Precious Moments statuettes. “Heavenly Hosts” are the huge angel-army warriors who defend eternal good from the never-ending attacks of the dark side.

And praising God for a new baby on earth isn’t limited to Jesus Christ. In fact, it happens every day. Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. So yes, God was praised for your creation and your arrival on earth. Creation of a new soul always results in a significant Heavenly celebration. Praise God because he’s awesome!

You are a child of God; you’re family. Join in celebrating the arrival of the son of God, our redeemer, Christ the newborn King!

Norton Lawellin