Slave vs Friend!

May 11, 2026, Monday Message:

John 15:14-15 NLT, Jesus speaking: “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

Life was different 2K years ago. Nowadays, if we use the word ‘slave,’ our minds go primarily to African people, taken against their will and forced to serve their captors. But in Jesus’ day, being a slave could be voluntary, kind of like having a job or mutually beneficial employment.

If I pitch my tent near Abram’s, I can help him with the herds. He in turn will see that I have food for my family, and protection from raiders. He can command me because I’m there to help. I do what he asks because living within Abram’s group is a better, safer life for my family.

Jesus cleans up the language a bit, calling the relationship ‘friends.’ He confides in his friends, sharing prophecies given to him by God Almighty. As Jesus traveled with his itinerant ministry, there were first the 12 apostles, and then many other disciples in the group. Perhaps hundreds! They were like slaves in that they would do Jesus’ bidding. They were also friends in whom Jesus could confide. They would protect each other. You could say they were all playing for the same team.

So do like Jesus did. Identify your friends, and let them know that they are friends, not slaves. A group of friends with religious beliefs in common is called a church. If you are not part of one, today is the accepted day to sign up. It could be a relationship that lasts a lifetime!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Clean vs Unclean!

For Sunday, March 9, 2025:

Leviticus 11:1, 2b NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Of all the land animals, these are the ones you may use for food.”

In this chapter, God defines the land animals, birds and fish suitable for food. God must have known this was coming when he designed the animals. Any animal with completely split hooves and chews the cud is good for food. Jews call this “kosher.’ Other animals were considered unclean. Birds are OK, but not those who clean up dead carcasses, like vultures. Fish are good, but not the bottom-feeders that keep the water clean. Vultures and bottom-feeders eat garbage, so they are garbage!

Back then, no one had refrigerators to keep food fresh or stoves to fully cook the meat. There were no professional meat inspectors. So God instituted these rules to protect his people, to keep them safe and alive. Once again God was watching out for his people, protecting them, even when they didn’t yet understand the need.

In the New Covenant, Jesus declares us clean or unclean not by what goes into our bodies, but by what comes out of our mouths!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Trust In the Lord!

For Tuesday, March 12, 2024:

Isaiah 8:17 NLT: “I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.”

There are times when God’s people no longer prioritize the Lord. Let me be clear: This is not a good thing! Turning your back on God means you will no longer be under his hand of protection. Apparently, the people of Syria, Israel, and Judah chose to put God on the back burner. It would not go well for them.

Nothing could stop the Assyrian army because God was using them to get his people back on track. Syria, Israel, and Judah tried to gird themselves against the imminent attack, but to no avail.

Our take-away from this scenario is that we should fear God, not Assyria. Fear God, and not the catastrophe threatening your life. No matter what is happening, I can assure you that the Lord is bigger and more powerful – and a much better choice! God can out-live any problem you may encounter. Our enemies will die, but God is eternal!

The Lord will never leave you or forsake you! So do not leave him or forsake him!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Protection!

For Saturday, June 10, 2023:

2 Thessalonians 3:2 NLT: “Pray, too, that followers of Jesus will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.”

Life isn’t always easy being the hands and feet of God on earth. Never underestimate the number of people working against you! Never underestimate the power of Satan. The Devil is real, and his pesky demons are akin to throwing sand in the gears.

The Evil One already has considerable influence over what we call “the world.” So now we find him at work in our churches, spreading lies, gossip and false theology. We must be vigilant in adhering to the Bible and doing exactly what Jesus said to do!

Pray that God would place a cloud of protection around his believers. Pray that Satan would be ineffective in our churches. Pray that only the truth of the bible would be taught in our houses of worship!

Pray that the light of Jesus would shine on all believers today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Save Us From Evil!

January 30, 2023 Monday Message:

Matthew 6:13 NIV, Jesus continues teaching The Lord’s Prayer: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

You should know that the Greek word for “temptation” could also be translated “tests.” The only way God would lead someone into temptation would be as a loyalty test, and Scripture says that God will not tempt us beyond what we have the ability to withstand.

Here’s an example: Abraham and Sarah were well beyond child-bearing years when God blessed them with a son, Isaac. They loved Isaac more than you can imagine. Then God told Abraham to take his only son into the wilderness and sacrifice him to the Lord. Unthinkable! But Abraham was obedient, loyal to God. Turns out the whole scenario was a loyalty test. At the last minute, God provided an appropriate sacrifice, and Isaac was spared! God is good!

J.B. Phillips translates this passage: “Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from evil.” Satan is relentless, perpetually ready to take us off track. Since God and Satan, good and evil, cannot exist in the same realm, if you desire protection from the evil one you should get closer to God. In His arms, you’re safe!

“Saving” us is a function of Jesus, who died that our sins might be forgiven as he redeems the children of God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God of Protection!

For Wednesday, December 27, 2022:

Matthew 2:8 NLT: Then Herod told the Magi, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

Lies, lies, lies! Jesus, the new baby, the promised Messiah, was purported to be “King of the Jews,” but Herod thought HE should be ruler of that region, and you can’t have it both ways! Since Jesus was a little baby and Herod was already the ruler, he was confident about how this scenario would conclude! He planned to use the Wise Men to pin down Jesus’ location, and then execute his competition.

Being wise men, they saw right through Herod’s plot. After visiting Jesus and leaving their gifts, they returned via a different route and never did report back to Herod, who was furious. His solution was to kill all the Hebrew babies less than two years old. God, who provides everything including solutions for safety, sent an angel to tell Joseph to gather his family and seek refuge in Egypt. The next morning they were off, and tragedy was averted, at least for Joesph’s family. Herod, though, showed his true colors, and the blood of many babies was on his hands.

We worship the Savior who was protected by the Lord. We are proud to have him as our Redeemer and our King!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Protection!

For Friday, December 9, 2022:

Revelation 3:10 NLT: “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.”

God is sharing this Revelation with the Apostle John near the end of his time on the island of Patmos. John goes on to share this with the world!

Mankind will live once and then come to a time of judgment. Those who continue to steadfastly follow Jesus will receive special protection on judgment day. Continuing to follow the Son is the key. Jesus took away our sin; took it to the bottom of the deepest ocean; separated sin from us as far as the east is from the west!

When we get to the pearly gates, we can remain confident as they search for our name in the Book of Life. When found, they’ll look over to the column marked ‘sin,’ and it will be empty. Blank. No scratch-outs, no erasure marks. Just blank white space! That’s surprising since the Bible says that ALL have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory! But with the protection of Jesus, it’s as if our sin never happened!

That’s what Jesus did for you! It’s a free gift for all believers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God vs Evil!

For Saturday, November 19, 2022:

2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT: “The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

Let us remember that there is much evil in this world. Bad things happen and corrupt people rise to power. We blame governments and political systems. But sometimes the evil in this world is Satan at work. When we see vile behavior, we need to consider that the devil might be the source of the problem.

That’s why we all need to be on a first-name basis with God. If Jesus is in your heart, no Satan-based evil can survive. Wretchedness cannot exist in the same place as the Lord. The Lord is eternally faithful. His presence will guard and protect you from the evil one.

God said that everything he created was “very good,” and that includes mankind. We are made in God’s image, and his desire is that none would be lost. The Lord wants everyone to repent and return to him. Jesus has already prepared a place for believers in the next life!

When you need protection from evil, don’t hesitate to call on the Lord! He wants to help!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Call on the Lord!

For Wednesday, September 21, 2022::

Psalm 25:17 NLT: David, praying to the Lord: “My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!”

David wears his religion on the outside. What I mean is, he’s not shy about worshiping God, praying to God and also pouring out all his troubles before the Lord. And he writes it all down for everyone to see!

Psalm 25 shows us a roller-coaster of David’s emotions. Up and down! He begins by expressing total allegiance to the Creator, but his thoughts quickly turn to asking for protection and being kept safe amidst his enemies. David had been anointed to be the next king of Israel, and heads-of-state are always in danger. He concludes saying his hope is in the Lord, and asks protection for Israel. (You might wonder, did David suffer from ADHD?)

The point is, God wants to know all the details of your life, both the good and the bad. Being an omniscient God, he already knows, but he wants you to share your life with him. He wants you to turn to him in times of trouble. God wants to be 100% involved in your life!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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