Cast Out!

For Friday, November 6, 2026:

Mark 1:25-26 NLT: “Jesus reprimanded the demon. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.”

This occurred on the Sabbath in a Synagogue. This may have been Jesus’ first showdown involving Satan’s minions. In such a conflict, Jesus always wins. He is, after all, God in a human body! He later told believers to use his name when encountering evil.

When leaving, the evil spirit screamed, making a hideous sound. That often happens. The victim was thrown to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. Again, that’s typical. Demons are squatters. They would like to claim a home in someone’s body, but they don’t belong there. When forced to leave, they are not happy. They resist leaving, oftentimes creating quite a scene. But they have no power against the name of Jesus. He ordered the demon to leave, and the man’s life instantly improved!

We have been told to love our neighbors. Like Jesus, we should always do the next right thing. Doing nothing is effectively siding with the devil. So get in the game; get on the ‘Jesus team!’ In the end, Jesus wins every time. Don’t you want to be part of a winning team?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Boldly Proclaim!

For Thursday, November 5, 2026:

Acts 4:31 NLT: “After they prayed, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”

It’s important to understand the context of this scripture. I’ll try to give you the Reader’s Digest condensed version.

Jesus had been falsely accused, arrested and eventually crucified. Later, two of his disciples, Peter and John, healed a man near the Temple entrance. The man was well known to be lame from birth. They healed him using Jesus’ name, were arrested for doing so, and brought before the Jewish council. The council perceived anything “Jesus” to be a threat against their established religion. Nonetheless, the lame man was indeed healed! So what to do? The best solution was to just send the disciples away, instructing them to never do it again.

Those disciples immediately returned to the other believers, who were overjoyed at their release, and began praying: “O Sovereign Lord, Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and now the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

As their prayer ended, the ground shook as if God was adding his 2¢, agreeing with what had taken place. The Holy Spirit filled the believers and empowered them with needed boldness to continue preaching the Good News, despite the council’s directive.

If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you too can boldly share the Gospel with those hungering for a Savior!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

One Faith!

For Wednesday, November 4, 2026:

Romans 10:12-13 NLT: “Everyone is included, because (in God’s eyes) there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all and richly blesses all who call to him. As the scripture says, “Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.”

The first believers in Jesus were all Jews. Scripture told them that God would send a Messiah, and Jesus was that man. He told John-the-Baptist’s disciples to use their eyes. Use common sense. The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk and insanity leaves a person as demons are cast out. What does that look like to you?

Christianity was never intended to be a separate religion, but rather God’s next step in the Hebrew timeline. Jesus was the Jew’s promised Messiah, God’s solution to their sin problem. Jewish leaders at the time, not wanting to give up power and money, didn’t endorse Jesus. They were wrong, and they confused generations of Jewish progeny.

Paul wisely tells us that everyone is included, Jew or Gentile. The Messiah is for everyone! We’re all created by God, made in his image, and God sees no difference. There will not be separate Jewish sections and Christian sections in heaven. “Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.” Everyone! That’s what the Bible says!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church