False Witness?

November 05, 2012 Monday Message:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

A false witness is a liar, a prevaricator, and if he lies about his neighbor, he probably lies about everything and can’t really be trusted at all. Of course, “deceiving your neighbor” flies in the face of “loving your neighbor as yourself.”

This well-known commandment isn’t just about courtroom testimony. In fact, it includes gossip, exaggeration, slander, and anything put forth as a truth, which is, in fact, false. Speech intended to rob a person of his good name or character is against the spirit of this law.

Suppressing the truth when the truth could benefit your neighbor is wrong, as is putting forth the truth when it can only injure someone. Not everything true needs to be said.

None of us likes being lied to, but we sometimes experience it in an imperfect world. We do not expect lies to come from the mouths of believers. It’s far worse when we’re deceived by pastors or church elders, and the Bible says that God will hold them to a higher standard.

“There are things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate … someone who tells one lie after another." from Proverbs 6:16-19 GNT

Godliness and honesty must walk hand-in-hand. That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin

Exceptional worship and teaching last Sunday, and if you weren’t there, you missed it! This week we continue in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF,) North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am.

NL

Get Going!

October 29, 2012 Monday Message:

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

When Abram was 75 years old, the Lord told him to leave a lifetime behind. “Get going!”

“Where to?”

“I’ll show you later – just get going!”

Can you imagine having to explain that to Mrs. Abram (Sarai,) and the extended family that pitched their tents beside yours.

“Where are we headed?”

“I dunno – God said He’s tell us later.”

This is all about faith and obedience. God will always send you in the right direction, and God has a destination in mind even if you aren’t aware of it yet. The question is, are you willing to get going?

It might be a journey, or it might be a task. God puts good people in key positions, and doesn’t micro-manage. He expects them to get going, to do their thing to put His mission into action.

So even if you don’t know how something will finish, are you willing to get started?

Get going for the kingdom!

Norton Lawellin

Pastor Michael continues our journey through Luke this Sunday. Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF,) North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. C U @ church!

NL

I Am, the Truth

October 22, 2012 Monday Message:

Jesus, teaching the woman at the well: “God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

God is Spirit, and God is truth. Just as God is sinless and therefore cannot be around sin, He is also always truthful and cannot tolerate lies.

The good news is that if God says something, you know it’s true, because God cannot lie. (Satan is the author of lies.)

God is truth, and God’s Word, the Bible, is truth. The Holy Spirit and Jesus, as parts of the Triune God, are also truth.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. “The way” is the name used by early Christians. It’s also the right way, the best way, the way to forgiveness, the way to heaven. “Truth” keeps you away from deceit, and puts you in harmony with God’s plan for you. “Life” is eternal life in the presence of God, as promised by God in the Old Testament and by Jesus in the New Testament.

“No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Norton Lawellin

This Sunday, I’ll be teaching about Jesus as he names his 12 Apostles (Luke 6:12-16.) Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF,) North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am.

NL