Pastor Joel Laswell

Message 298: ”Like Caleb”

In this world, people become afraid; they say the forces against them are too many. But if you have faith in God, that doesn’t matter. In fact, if you have faith, the less numbers you have, and the greater the number of enemies you have, the bigger the victory is going to be, because God never loses! Jesus is not only a Savior; He is a General who has never lost a battle. If you have faith in Him, you are on the winning side, and you can know that right now.

Message 297: ”Avenge Me of My Adversary”

In Luke 18:2–5 Jesus tells the story about a lady whose husband had died, leaving her in debt. Her adversaries had come and taken everything she had, and she was in a position where she did not know how she was going to get it back. The judge in this parable persistently repulsed the woman. Again and again she was treated with contempt, and he continually said “No.” Jesus described the judge as being unrighteous and unjust. The woman was in trouble and needed help, but he refused to help her. In this parable Jesus describes the situation that His people will go through in the last days and we can be prepared for the time if we heed His message.

Message 296: ”Reflecting on Motherhood and Family”

On Mother’s Day families pay special tribute to their moms in various ways—cards, flowers, breakfast in bed, lunch at a fine restaurant, long distance calls, and special gifts. These are just some of the ways families will say thanks to mom, and that is as it should be. But too often Mother’s Day is simply a time when families attempt to atone for an entire year of neglect, indifference, misuse, disrespect, and a lack of thoughtfulness and genuine appreciation. So I’d like to reflect upon motherhood from a biblical view for mothers as well as the entire family.

Message 295: ”Battle Armor”

We are told in the book Revelation that what began as a war in heaven will soon end in the battle known as Armageddon. In this conflict between the forces of good and the powers of evil, light and truth is under constant attack from deception and darkness. And whether we like it or not, every single one of us is involved. This spiritual war is not over some planet or piece of ground; it is for control of each human heart and mind. All of the literal battles in the Bible—from Gideon's conflict with the Midianites to David's defeat of Goliath—can serve to teach us how we might experience victory in spiritual battles. Because these battles are of a spiritual nature, the weapons we use are also spiritual. The great thing about it is that our Battle Armor is provided for us to have victory in this spiritual warfare.

Message 299: ”In a New Light”

What really happens to a person when they start to look at the cross of Calvary and start to think through the spiritual meaning of what they are looking at? A lot of Christians know the story. They have crosses hanging from their necks, rear-view mirrors and in their homes but they do not know the spiritual meaning of the story. Redemption is a process by which a human soul is trained for eternal life. It means knowledge of Christ in the heart and not just the mind. After Paul saw his life in a new light, he said in Philippians 3, all I want is just to know Him. I want to know the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings. I just want to know Him that is all. Everything I had before is worthless. What is our life like when compared to the life of Jesus?

Message OTM3: ”Boot Camp”

When you enlist in the United States Army they send you to boot camp. This is a general training of how to conduct yourself as a member of the army. It is also called ‘basic’ training. You are trained physically and mentally to do the will of the supreme commander. And as Christians there are two specific types of training. There is a general training and there is an individual training. Both of which are ongoing processes actually, for we never really graduate from the school of Christ! Throughout all eternity we will be in the school of Christ and learning and growing in wisdom and knowledge. But the schooling and training for today, known as present truth, is preparation for the final battle. So let’s take a look at the general training or ‘boot camp’ of the Lord’s army.

Message 279: ”No King but Caesar”

In the Scriptures, our robe, or our clothing, is used as a symbol for our character. Normally what we choose to wear on the outside tells everyone who sees us something about what is in our heart… what we treasure. It says something about our true character. We see this in the experience of Adam and Eve. They had a robe of light, representing a righteous character. When they sinned and lost that covering, they made some fig-leaf garments to replace it. These artificial garments have become synonymous with righteousness by works, and such garments are not acceptable for citizens of God’s kingdom. In place of the leaves, the Lord prepared a garment for them from the skin of an animal. This garment, which cost the life of the innocent animal, was symbolic of the robe of Christ’s righteousness, which cost the life of His own Son and which all who will be citizens of heaven must wear. Which robe do you choose to wear? Who will be your king?

Message 275: ”Life’s Uncertainty”

When you lay your head on the pillow at night and close your eyes, you sleep in faith that you will awaken again for a new day. You close your eyes with the assumption that all will be well as you sleep. You don’t expect to be awakened at 4am with a life or death call for help. There is nothing in this life that is foolproof, at least nothing mechanical. There are no supermen and no super agents. It takes but one projectile through the heart, or the bursting of one vessel in the brain, or one drunk driver swerving into our lane at the wrong time, and all is wiped out. Nothing in this life is foolproof. There is nothing sure or stable in this life without God's direct protection and care—not your marriage, your money, your children, your health, your church, your nation, and certainly not yourself. Nothing! We need to humble ourselves before God and invite Him into our lives. We need to realize our total dependence upon Him.

Message 271: ”Return to Him”

In Revelation chapter two Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that they have lost their first love. This “love” included wholehearted love for God and His truth, and love for one another as brethren and for their fellow men in general. History is being repeated all over the world and right here in our churches. God’s people are so scattered right now that it has become easy for the enemy to sow seeds of error and discouragement and many leave spiritually from our congregations if not physically. Many are losing their first love just as Jesus said. What is the remedy for such a condition?

Message 278: ”Taken By Babylon”

Now these Old Testament prophecies were not just given to tell us the history of God’s people in ancient times. The prophecies were given to describe to us what is going to happen in our time and to warn us about what will happen if we give the same regard to the prophets, the messengers that God sends to us, as they did to the messengers that He sent to them. Why did God allow Israel to be taken by Babylon? Lets see and learn...