Remembering "Papaw" Everett William Severs

April 13, 1928- February 26, 2015

Everett William Severs, 86, of Knoxville, went home to be with his Lord and Savior February 26, 2015, following extended illness. He was a member of Willow Springs Baptist Church. Gifted with a brilliant mind, Everett worked to ensure Tennesseans enjoyed clean drinking water for many years. After his retirement from Tennessee Association of Utility Districts the “Everett Severs Award” was created and given annually to members who represented excellence in the field of water treatment. Everett was an avid fisherman, rook player, and cook. He loved to prepare a feast for his family and friends. His holiday hams and big fish fries were always a favorite! As he told you his jokes, he laughed harder than anyone in the room while he slapped his knee. As much as Everett loved many things about life and living, he loved his Lord and Savior above all!

Mr. Severs was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Georgia Severs; three brothers C.W. Severs, Clyde Severs, and Floyd Severs; wife Norma Sue Severs of Andersonville, and daughter Karen Beeler of Fall Branch. He is survived by his brother Ray and wife Ellen Severs of Knoxville;  his daughter Debbie and her husband Jack Tyler of Fall Branch, Tennessee; Son, Chris and wife Lisa Severs of Karns; Son, Jeff and wife Linda Severs of Powell; and Grandchildren Travis and Becki Tyler of Elizabethton, Tiffiney Tyler of Kingsport, Keyla Beeler of Knoxville, Christopher Severs of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Ryan Severs of Knoxville, Jessica Severs and Luke Severs of Powell. He is also survived by several great grandchildren, great nieces and nephews.


The family will receive friends from 12-1:30 pm Monday, March 2, 2015 at Mynatt Funeral Home, 2829 Rennoc Rd, Knoxville, TN 37918, Fountain City Chapel with a funeral service to follow, Rev. Travis Tyler officiating. Family and friends will then proceed to Greenwood cemetery for interment.

"The dead who die in the Lord from now on are blessed."" Yes," says the Spirit, "let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them!" -Revelation 14:13

Is The Church Indestructible?

In a conversation Jesus had with several disciples in Matthew 16, he makes an amazing comment about the church.  Jesus calls the Church “His Church” and gives her a promise of indestructibility.  Jesus says,

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).

Fast forward to present day, and it is difficult to see this promise kept.  With 80 percent of established churches in the United States either on a plateau or in decline,   it appears that most churches in North America are in various places on a death spiral.  In addition to the churches in plateau and decline, 3500 to 4000 churches die every year in the United States alone.   Dr. Thom Rainer points out that as many as 90 percent of churches across America are showing symptoms of sickness with some close to dying.   With local church experts giving grim statistics as stated above, it appears that the local church is dying across America.  However, Matthew 16:18 tells us things are not what they appear to be.

Jesus made a bold amazing statement in Matthew 16:18 which forever holds true because of the confessional foundation on which the church is built, the fact that the promise is made to the church universal not local churches, and the defense against the tactics of Satan and death.  Satan attacks the church in two ways from the inside and the outside.  We are pressured to conform to external secular standards of gender identity, sexuality, and worldly ethics.  It is difficult to bring a tank down from the outside, so I believe that Satan is most effective from the inside.  He uses people to flood the church with false teaching from false prophets (Matthew 7:15; 7:16), false brothers who cause division in the body (Galatians 2:4), and authority hating wolves who seek only to ravage the church (Acts 20:29).

As I think about the local churches dying, I am reminded that we will lose some battles here, but we do win the war!  As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 6, we (the church) are constantly dying and yet we live on!  We are regarded by the world as false and yet we are true!  We should also be encouraged that surprisingly large and widespread impact comes from humble, small, and unexpected beginnings like the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-33.  The local church should be most encouraged by the fact that Jesus Christ holds the keys to the enemy’s house of death and destruction in Revelation 1:18.  Satan’s house of death will always seek to overcome and destroy the house of God, but God always WINS!  Yes, the Church Universal is Indestructible!

Should I “put out the fleece” When Making Difficult Decisions?

It was my first mission trip ever! I went to Philadelphia, PA with my home church, and I was witnessing to a guy at a hot dog stand. He told me he wasn't sure about God. He said, “If only God give more signs, more people would believe.” I never forgot him saying that to me. Today’s topic is within the realm of decision making, and it has to do with asking for/looking for signs when we try to make good decisions.

Gideon, who is numbed among the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, asked for a sign and got a sign from God in Judges chapter six. Whenever we read a narrative like this, there is usually something to either mimic or avoid. The question is what do we do with this story? Let’s consider the circumstances for a moment, first of all we find Gideon threshing wheat in a valley. This is interesting considering that in ancient Israel; one would usually thresh on a hill top. So why is Gideon down in a valley? He is afraid of being seen by the enemies of Israel. Basically Gideon is a coward in the opening chapter six. When he asks the Angel for another sign, he is showing the extent of his lack of faith/trust in the LORD. It appears that by the end of the chapter he has:

1. Heard instruction from an angel but doubts it.

2. Heard from God and seen a sign from an angel of the Lord and doubts it.

3. After seeing/hearing the first two asks to “put out the fleece”.

While it may be understandable why he would struggle to trust God with the situation, we must not overlook the fact that Old Testament law prohibited one from putting God to the test (Deut. 6:16). This principle was confirmed in the New Testament by Jesus when he was tempted by Satan in Luke 4:12. In 1 Corinthians 10:9, the apostle Paul pointed to severe consequences that resulted from such doubt ( Numbers 21:6 ), and Luke describes how the father of John the Baptist was struck mute ( Luke 1:18-20 ) for doubting the message of an angel. Jesus also said that “a wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign…” in Matthew 16:4.

We should pause here and think about what a person means when they say that they are "putting out the fleece.” If one means that time is being taken to carefully study their situation, collect wisdom, and look at what biblical commands and/or principles apply, they are doing what they should. But if one is demanding, like Gideon, that God give immediate guidance by fulfilling a specific "sign" that they impose on Him, this is an example of God being put to the test in a way that is forbidden.

Some of you would say, “No pastor, I have seen it work!” Remember an experience never dictates doctrine! And in God’s sovereignty the LORD can and does use anything he pleases to bring about his secret will, this includes the devil and demons!

Like pagans, sorcerers and occultists who try to control supernatural forces through spells and incantations, Christians may think we can control God with such demands. But consider that the LORD is not interest in making His supernatural power accessible to our emotional/carnal whims. His goal is for us to know Him personally through the word of God, in a relationship founded and dependent upon faith ( Proverbs 3:5-8 ). The Word of God is sufficient for all decision making then and now!

Why Should I Be Baptized?

"Having been buried with Him  in baptism, you were also raised with Him  through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." - Colossians 2:12

The above verse is speaking about what happens to a believer when they are baptized by the Holy Spirit.  From what we can tell, this passage deals with what is happening in a spiritual sense.  There is no division of salvation and later receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  The above verse in Colossians shows the baptism by the Holy Spirit and saving faith happening at the same time.  So then why are we baptized if it happens spiritually by the work of the Holy Spirit?  I would like to spring board into a few reasons why you should be baptized if you have confessed your sins and placed your full trust in Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation.

1.  Baptism has been commanded by Jesus.

When we read the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20, we see plainly that baptism is commanded by Jesus to his disciples.  It is not a suggestion or an option,  baptism is a command!  Jesus not only commanded, but he modeled it when he was baptized in Matthew 3:13-17.

2.  Baptism publicly declares one's faith to a lost and dying world.

Matthew 10:32-33 gives a sobering warning about what happens, if or when we deny Jesus publicly before those who don't believe or follow him.  Remember we approach God on his terms, and he has selected baptism in water as the means to publicly identify with Christ and salvation.  Just like when we go to a wedding, the ceremony does not create the commitment between a man and a women, but it does identify them with each other in a very public manner.

3.  Baptism was received by all who professed Jesus in the New Testament.

In Acts 2:37-38 & 2:41, clearly indicate that new believers followed Jesus by being baptized.  In Acts 2 it says that after hearing Peter's message, 3,000 received the message and were baptized.  Can you imagine how long it would take to baptize 3,000 people in a day? The apostles must have been helping Peter do the Lord's work in this passage.  Don't forget about the Ethiopian who believed and was baptized in Acts 8:35-38.

4.  Baptism is an expression of your love though obedience to Him.

John 14:21 tells us that if we love Jesus we will keep his commands.  Have you ever had someone help you in a way that you could never have helped yourself, nor pay them back?  In  a situation like this our hearts ask, "what can we do to show our gratitude?"  Not only did Jesus do for us what we could not do ourselves, but he also tells us what we can do to show him genuine gratitude.  He has asked us to praise and worship of him through obedience.  Baptism is an act of worship to God, demonstrating in front of others our love, commitment, and gratitude for Jesus Christ.

Who Is Melchizedek?

7 For this Melchizedek— 

King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, 

who met Abraham and blessed him 

as he returned from defeating the kings, 

2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything; 

first, his name means king of righteousness, 

then also, king of Salem, 

meaning king of peace; 

3 without father, mother, or genealogy, 

having neither beginning of days nor end of life, 

but resembling the Son of God — 

remains a priest forever. (Hebrews 7:1-3)

Just before Sunday School a few weeks back, I was asked my opinion on Melchizedek. The story goes that Abram was returning from a great battle in Genius 14, and as Abram is returning he is met by this mysterious priest who is also called king of Salam. A priest is someone who stands before God on behalf of the people, but a prophet stands on behalf of God before the people. Many explanations of who Melchizedek have varied and included the following: He is the Holy Spirit, or an angel, or simply a man who is a typology of the coming Christ. The priesthood that Melchizedek holds is a special one because it is the only one that has the role of king as well. In many ways the Melchizedek priesthood surpasses the Levitical priesthood, because he came before Levi and Levi’s forefather paid Melchizdek a tithe. In addition please note that the Levite priest had a narrow window in which they could serve usually between ages 30 to 50 (see Numbers 8:25,26).

I think the description from Hebrews gives him away as he is without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God — remains a priest forever. It appears that only one could hold this position, namely Jesus Christ. It would appear to me that the author Hebrews is pointing out that Melchizdek is a greater priesthood than Levi; therefore, Melchizdek is pointing to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Since no death is recorded for Melchizdek, it would appear that Melchizdek is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.

Are All Bible Interpretations Equal?

“First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” -2 Peter 1:20-21

It happened again. I was in a heated bible discussion with someone, and this individual got pinned down that their view was not in keeping with the rest of Scripture. When they realized they could not defend their position, boom they played what they viewed as the ultimate trump card: “Well there are many interpretations of the Bible.” In their mind they had won the debate, but in my mind I was concerned for their soul.

One reason why so many people seem to have trouble understanding the Bible is that they try to “interpret” it to fit their private opinions. The key passage above warns us against any exposition of Scripture which is based on an individual's pet doctrinal or behavioral prejudices. A reader or hearer of the Word of God whose “heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing” will be unable to “understand” (Matthew 13:15 because such a person comes with his or her mind and heart already bound to his or her own opinions.

When we are seeking after the meaning of a passage, we must seek after the meaning the author of the passage intended. For example if I gave you directions to my former residence in Indiana, you must decide if you will follow what you think I wrote or what you want it says to you. If you don’t seek after what I was intending to say, you could end up in Canada. 

My point is simple this, we cannot superimpose our own views on what was written 2,000 plus years ago. We must let scripture stand. In every other New Testament reference to “interpretation,” except the one in our text which means “explanation” or “exposition." Most of the time the word interpretation  is simply means “translation.” The Bible does need correct translation into English and other national languages, but that is all God needs to communicate His will to mankind.

So in conclusion, NO, not all Bible interpretations are equal. Sure some passages are tricky, but Mark Twain said it best when he wrote, 

"It's not what I don't understand about the Bible that bothers me; it's what i do understand!" 

I struggle most with what is plain and clear in the word, because my flesh and sin nature constantly desire rebellion.

15 Questions to Ask Yourself In 2015

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless you fail the test." -Corinthians 13:5 (HCSB)

The New Year celebration is a time of reflection.  I would encourage you to set some goals for your walk with Christ this year.  Here is a list of excellent questions to reflect on in 2015.  Please note that Don Whitney is to be given credit for writing these questions, and I couldn’t think of a better way to phrase them. 

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

Happy New Year!