Dr. Tom Burns

We were blessed recently to celebrate Dr. Tom Burn's 20th anniversary as worship pastor at Fairview. He has served longer than any ministerial staff member in the history of the church. That's an accomplishment!! Congratulations to Tom. It is a joy for me to serve with him.

Parable of the Soils, Eternal Security, and Fruit

Recently I preached on the Parable of the Soils in Matthew 13. Of the four soils, only one is good, and it produces fruit. The other three produce nothing. In explaining the parable, Jesus said: But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times [what was sown].” Matthew 13:23 (HCSB)

A couple of thoughts came to mind as I prepared for this sermon. First, a Christian is going to bear fruit. Jesus teaches that truth even stronger in John 15:8: My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples. Not only will a Christian bear fruit, but he or she will bear "much" fruit. The parable points out, however, the yield for every Christian is different.

This has application to the doctrine of eternal security of the believer. There is a warning for those who say they are members of churches but have no regard for the things of God. These are people who are on the rolls of churches, who walked down an aisle, shook a preacher's hand, signed a membership card, perhaps were even baptized, but were never really saved. The parable is clear that many do not allow the seed of God's Word to take root in their lives. Satan, problems/persecution, and greed keep people from truly accepting the Lord, even though they may be a member of a church. These folks can say, "I'm a member of Fairview Baptist Church," (or any other church) but that does not mean they are going to heaven. The Parable of the Soils teaches that fruit proves one's committment to Christ, not profession. One can say he is a Christian but only fruit proves it.

Second, the parable also warns believers who set themselves up as "fruit inspectors." Jesus taught that Christians do produce fruit, but the harvest will be different in each person's life. Some people produce fruit later than others. Others produce fruit that might be undected by us but not by the Lord.

Jesus said believers produce fruit. Ultimately only He knows what the quality of the fruit is in someone's life. Christ did not call any believer to be a fruit inspector. We are not judges of others (See Romans 2:1). We must leave that up to One who knows each heart perfectly.

Thus the parable, like so many other of Jesus' teachings, has a warning to both believers and unbelievers. Believers are not fruit inspectors--only God is. Unbelievers better not rely on being on a church membership roll. The only membership roll God recognizes is the Lamb's Book of Life.

A Nation in Debt

I forget now how many trillion we are in debt but my kids, kids, kids probably won't pay it off. Why are we facing such an economic calamity? Obviously I believe spiritual reasons are paramount. A speaker in our church on Wednesday night shared a verse of Scripture with us that blew me away:

The Lord will open for you His abundant storehouse, the sky, to give your land rain in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:12 (HCSB)

Note the underlined portion of the verse. This text is taken from a chapter in which God reminds Israel of the blessings of obedience and the curses for disobedience. One of Yahweh's great blessings for obedience is that the nation would have all it needed plus much more. The blessings would so overflow that Israel would be able to share its blessings with others.

For the nation that disobeys:

He will lend to you, but you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail. Deuteronomy 28:44 (HCSB)

Who is the head now? China?

Just musing.

Unforgiveness

I was impressed with a Baptist Press article about the problem of unforgiveness in the church. The story is about Tom Eliff and his dad, which is very much worth reading. I would argue that unforgiveness is THE problem in most churches that keeps both pastors/staff and people from experiencing the unleashing of the Holy Spirit's power. The sad reality is that Christians who need to repent and reconcile are simply too proud to do so. We cannot, however, rebel against God's command to love our neighbor and receive His blessings.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many. Hebrews 12:15 (HCSB)

I wonder how often God says, "I'd bless you if you'd just forgive?" And we don't listen and obey.

He's Alive!

¹ After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. ² Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” ⁸ So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. ⁹ Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.” ¹¹ As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ¹³ and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ ¹⁴ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day. ¹⁶ The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:1-20 (HCSB)

I should have had this entry on Sunday, but was too busy. However, we should celebrate Easter every day!!

Good Friday-Matthew 27

Matthew 27:1-66 (HCSB) ¹ When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. ² After tying Him up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, the governor. ³ Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. ⁴ “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!” ⁵ So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. ⁶ The chief priests took the silver and said, “It’s not lawful to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ So they conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ Therefore that field has been called “Blood Field” to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the sons of Israel, ¹⁰ and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me. ¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are You the King of the Jews?” the governor asked Him. Jesus answered, “You have said it.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn’t answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t You hear how much they are testifying against You?” ¹⁴ But He didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. ¹⁵ At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?” ¹⁸ For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy. ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!” ²⁰ The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. ²¹ The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. ²² Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?” They all answered, “Crucify Him!” ²³ Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?” But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more. ²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!” ²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. ²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him. ²⁸ They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet robe. ²⁹ They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ Then they spit at Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head. ³¹ When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. ³² As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced this man to carry His cross. ³³ When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place), ³⁴ they gave Him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. ³⁵ After crucifying Him they divided His clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ Then they sat down and were guarding Him there. ³⁷ Above His head they put up the charge against Him in writing: THIS IS JESUSTHE KING OF THE JEWS ³⁸ Then two criminals were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹ Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him and said, ⁴² “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. ⁴³ He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now—if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ” ⁴⁴ In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept taunting Him. ⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. ⁴⁶ At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah!” ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink. ⁴⁹ But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him!” ⁵⁰ Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. ⁵¹ Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest were raised. ⁵³ And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “This man really was God’s Son!” ⁵⁵ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. ⁵⁷ When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb. ⁶² The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, He said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ “You have a guard [of soldiers],” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Maundy Thursday

18 “Go into the city to a certain man,” He said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place with My disciples. ’ ” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, He was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, He said, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me.” 22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl—he will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” “You have said it,” He told him. 26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.” 27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood [that establishes] the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in My Father’s kingdom with you.” 30 After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

[Matthew 26:18-30]