FHBC Sermon Notes

Luke 13:1-9: A bold passage on this 911 anniversary. Jim presents us with a greater truth, a truth with all urgency, in need of a response.

Intro
It is amazing how trials and struggle focus our attention on the truth and goodness of God. As C.S. Lewis said, suffering is God's megaphone to the world. It is no surprise that after 911 it seemed the whole world turned to God for hope. It seemed that revival was imminent in this country.

Fast forward ten years. Church attendance is down. The very memorial services on this day are on the whole void of any prayer at all. What happened?

As the church there are many things we could discuss. The evil of sin, the need to send the gospel to the Muslim world. But today, Jim wants us to think more personally. Where are we personally now? How have we been changed? We have not seen a great movement of God in this country in 150 years. Does this bother us?

1. There is a day if reckoning coming for each of us...
We are all in need of account. Hebrews 9:27, John 5:24-29, Revelation 20:11-13
A. ... because we are all sinners.
Why is this reckoning needed? Because we all fall short. Jesus in this passage isn't just talking to those that had been directly affected by the tragedy, but to everyone because all people had been fallen short.

Who were the people that Pilate killed? Were they innocents or criminals? What about the tower? Was this an Act of God? Was is judgment on them for their sins?

Jesus says their sins were not greater that ourselves. There is a simple truth here that
Christ brings. We are all doomed to die. We are guilty, we are debtors. All of us... All of us have a day of reckoning. Death is he universal curse.

B. .... at a time about which we cannot be certain.
We don't know our time. On 911 those 3000 did not know what the day would bring.
It has been on my mind this week, that we are all preparing to die. It was appointed for Christ to die, and it is appointed for all of us that we will share in his sufferings as well. But in Christ, we also share in his victory over death.

Why hasn't judgement come already? If God is just, why not go ahead and bring us to account. Why? Because God is merciful. We are living in a Day of Mercy. Yet, we do not know when this day will end.

2. God has granted a day of mercy to us...
A. ... that we might repent and bear fruit.
Why does God wait? That we may repent, and after repentance that we may bear fruit. We cannot just bear fruit of our own effort. We must first reject that which God hates, and in the power and confidence of his Son, in the power of his Spirit, with a new nature, only then will we bear fruit.

People repent all the time though. How do we know that the change has occurred. It is the fruit that shows this. Without persistent change, not revival has occurred, whether in our own lives or as a church, or as a country.
B. ... to act with urgency.
Can we wait and "prepare"? NO! We do not know our time. We must act now, not wait for the "right" moment". This is not just some manipulative trick. It is the nature of all that is true. Let us know this, God is just and true, but also merciful and loving. We are not God, we do not decide our time. We have been offered e most valuable and joyous gift ever presented to man. Not just to be saved from death and judgement, but to know the love and mercy of our almighty God, creator of the universe.