Holy Spirit Insight!

For Tuesday, September 17, 2024:

1 John 3:1 NLT: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

The unceasing battle between good and evil is herein expressed as “Children of God” vs “Satan, prince of the world.” Because believers have the Holy Spirit, they perceive life differently than non-believers. Simply getting by in this world is the short-sighted goal of those who do not know the Lord. But this world as we know it will end, and those who do not know Jesus will end with it.

Believers know a much greater goal: Eternal life in the presence of our Father! The Holy Spirit points out the promises of Jesus to his loyal followers.

Because they lack the insight of the Holy Spirit, non-believers have no idea what they’re missing!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Pecking Order!

June 19, 2023 Monday Message:

Matthew 19:30 NLT: “Many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

Jesus is pointing out groups of people judged by different standards. When judged by the world, popular people with recognizable names rise to the top: politicians and media people; actors and beauty queens; musicians. Their lives and their activities make daily headlines, even when they’re flaunting God’s rules.

The children of God remain humble and loyal. They’re helpful. They always try to do what is right. They care for their neighbors even when there is no apparent reward. But they are loyal to Father God and his commands.

Their reward comes later. When we transition from this life to the next, Jesus says that the first will be last and the last will be first, a complete reversal of the world’s pecking order. We are then being judged by the Lord’s standards. What the ‘world’ thinks no longer matters!

The most popular people on earth may not even get to see heaven from the inside!

In the next life, everything will be in the proper order!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Jesus vs the World!

For Tuesday, May 30, 2023:

Matthew 18:7 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”

Jesus simplified being a believer. Group A: Christian believers follow the teachings of Jesus and his Father in heaven. Group B: The “world,” people living in sin and tempting others to sin.

There are only two groups. On judgement day, Jesus will place everyone in the proper group, just like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Therefore if someone sins against us, we don’t need to seek revenge. We can let go and let God. At the end times, the world’s judge will settle all matters.

Believers line up with the other sheep following Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Psalm 2

June 08, 2015 Monday Message:

“Why do the nations plot, … make useless plans?” from Psalm 2:1 CEV

Psalm 2 tells us that “the world” is in a perpetual struggle against

God. Kings of this world think they would be better off without God. They want to cut the ropes and free themselves.

God just laughs at them, but his laughter soon turns to anger. God has made his Son Jesus King over all believers, and the nations are to worship the Son. God has given Jesus the authority to smash them with an iron rod and shatter them like dishes of clay if they don’t comply.

Those who pay close attention to these warnings, those who serve and honor the Lord are said to be smart, said to be wise. We are to show respect for the Son. Otherwise the Lord could become furious with us, and destroy us.

But Psalm 2 ends on a very positive note: “God blesses and protects all those who seek him.” Psalm 2:12b

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, June 14, Pastor Michael Pilla teaches from Acts, and it’s our special Pot Luck Sunday – we’ll have food for everyone following worship!