Father Knows Best!

For Saturday, October 18, 2025:

John 14:24b NLT, Jesus speaking: “Remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.”

We have grown accustomed to Jesus speaking this way. Most of us, one way or another, have some sort of Christian education, so Jesus’ words don’t sound strange to us. But 2K years ago, people were still trying to figure out religion. If Jesus had told them everything straight away, they might not have believed him. So he keeps feeding them pieces of the theology puzzle that they can assemble as the Holy Spirit leads.

In today’s scripture, Jesus tells us that the words he teaches are not his own. They originate from God the Father. From this we can assume that Jesus and the Father know each other well and are on the same page. They believe the same things, and both want mankind to behave the same way. Their commandments are identical. And apparently, Jesus knew the Father long before he came to Earth. Apparently, Jesus has already seen heaven from the inside! When he says, “The Earth is not my home,” there’s another place, Heaven, God’s Kingdom, their eternal residence. Jesus is right there alongside his Father.

We would be wise to cherish all of Jesus’ hints, the theology puzzle-pieces. Pray that the Holy Spirit would show you the big picture, the truth about who Jesus is, who sent him to visit the Earth, and his mission. I believe his primary mission is the redemption of mankind by forgiving our sins. Once forgiven (and therefore sinless,) we can join God in his eternal Kingdom.

The Lord’s desire is that none would perish, and all would repent and return. Jesus is the Captain of the team, bringing God’s desires to fruition!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

My Lord!

For Saturday, July 19, 2025:

Mark 12:36 AMP: “David himself said [when inspired] by the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord (the Father) said to my Lord (the Son, the Messiah): Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’”

Jesus was teaching in the Temple, which in and of itself seems odd since the Temple leaders weren’t big fans of Jesus. Part of what he was doing was correcting incorrect theology put forth by the other Temple teachers. In this case, they were claiming that the Messiah was David’s son. Not so!

In Psalm 101, David himself wrote, “The Lord said to my Lord...” So the first “Lord,” God Almighty, was speaking to the other “Lord,” Jesus the Messiah. It’s a confusing generational puzzle the way it’s stated, but the Amplified Bible helps clear things up!

If you want to learn theology, choose your teacher carefully. Jesus is a safe bet. God’s Son would certainly know what’s going on with God stuff! It’s called truth, and the Bible is full of it. The “High View” of the Bible believes that every word is true, and that things happened just the way the Bible says. But be discerning. A lot of bad stuff happened in the Bible. The text documents it accurately, but we should not engage in such behavior.

Remember, the Lord (God) spoke to our Lord, and our Lord should be Jesus the Christ!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

All Hallow's Eve!

For Thursday, October 31, 2024:

2 Corinthians 5:8 PHILLIPS: “We would really rather be “away” from the body (in death) and be “at home” with the Lord.”

In the US, today is “Halloween” or All Hallows’ Eve. Kids don fun costumes, ring doorbells, shout “Trick or Treat” and receive candy, allegedly for not ‘tricking’ anyone! It can be a fun holiday celebrating autumn, harvest and sometimes the first snowfall.

But there are dark parts of Halloween to be avoided. ’Witchcraft’ means the use of magic or supernatural powers to inflict harm or misfortune on others. If anyone has such power, it comes straight from the devil himself. When believers die, our spirits are instantly with the Lord. Non-believers get to hang out in Satan’s realm. The Bible makes no mention of souls caught midway between this life and the next. So there really are no ghosts. Graves do not open up. Once we’ve entered the next reality, there’s no going back. Sorry, Ghostbusters! You’ll have to find another line of work!

The Lord will show you everything you need to know. Hauntings, séances, tarot cards, Ouija boards, and crystal balls are attempts to offer insight into an unknown world that lies beyond the limits of our physical existence. The truth is that we cannot go there.

Tomorrow is “All Saints’ Day,” often celebrated the following Sunday. We remember both our ancestors and other great people who have gone before us. Our Mexican neighbors celebrate Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos,) similar to All Saints’ Day.

So let’s enjoy the holiday, savoring the fun parts, the good parts, and setting aside rumors and bad theology. Stick with what the Bible teaches!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Psalm 24b

November 30, 2015 Monday Message:

“Lift up your heads, you gates…” Psalms 24:7a

When a king arrives at a gated city, the crier shouts, “Open the gate!”

From within, a voice demands, “Who is there?”

“It’s the king!” And immediately, the gate is opened.

Sometimes the stuff going on in our heads is like a gate. It’s difficult to fully understand some Christian principles – that God can be everywhere at once, omnipresent – that God knows everything, omniscient – God has the power to do anything, omnipotent. The Christian triune God – one God who has revealed himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is difficult for many to grasp.

If we over-think some of these things, our souls could be left behind. Thinking about Godly things is good, but OVER-thinking theology can be like putting up a gate. We have to accept some things by faith, and let go of the details. There are some things that only God knows.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.” Rev. 3:20

Jesus promised – open the door, and I will come in! He desires fellowship with each of us. So lift up your gates today!

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 Sunday, Dec. 6, Pastor Michael Pilla speaks on the 2^nd Sunday of Advent.