The Plowman

 

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An exposition of Revelation 17:1-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered a Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 31, 2008.

Introduction:
It is one of the things that draw us to the book of Revelation. Those strange, exotic images. In chapter 6 the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride forth unto the world stage bringing triumph and terror. We stand in awe of the glory of the Gospel and the horror of God’s coming judgment. When you read the book you can feel a bit like walking through a dark room with flashing strobe lights and images coming and going. It
can be overwhelming. It can leave you dazed and confused. I remember reading an article about end times a few years ago and the title of the article was “Last Daze” that’s D-A-Z-E. And I certainly understand that response. When dealing with the book of Revelation I think it is important to keep the context always before you. John had been exiled. He was called by the Lord to write to the shaken and struggling saints of Asia Minor. The purpose was to encourage those troubled saints. They were fighting for their lives. Persecution was fierce and faith cost them dearly. How do you stand when the world is “out of control?” How do you remain faithful when all hell breaks loose in your life? This book meant something to those who first received it. Yes it speaks of the end of all things and what will happen as Christ establishes His kingdom but the focus is not all on the future. The Christian in every age finds strength and comfort in his struggles from the words of John as he recorded what he saw and heard. Our text this morning is found in Revelation chapter 7.
Text: Revelation 7:1-17
You remember that moment in chapter 5 when no one worthy was found to open the scroll. You remember how John wept uncontrollably. Is there no one with enough authority and power to unleash God’s sovereign will? “Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Hope began to stir in John’s heart and he turned to find a lamb standing though slaughtered. That glorious image of the Lord Jesus – slain yet alive. A lamb yet powerful and mighty. Worship then exploded around the throne. A new song rang out. Then in chapter 6 the seals were opened. The Gospel went forth conquering and to conquer. Then war rode out followed by famine and then death and Hades. A judgment was unleashed that struck terror in the hearts of those who witnessed it. Kings and leaders; rich and poor; slaves and free men cried out for the rocks to crush them. They preferred death to facing the one seated on the throne and the Lamb. John ends chapter 6 by asking, “Who can stand?” Meaning who can possibly survive this coming judgment? Keep in mind the book of Revelation would have been read to a congregation. It would not have been analyzed and taken apart as we are doing. The pastor of the church would have said to the church gathered, “We have a letter from bishop John and I would like to read it to you.” Their beloved bishop was exiled for the faith. Others were dying. I think they would have been reeling a bit from chapters 2 and 3. Then the scene in chapter 4 would have taken their breath away. They would have wept with John in chapter 5 and been overwhelmed by chapter 6. And before moving on to the 7th seal, John paused to encourage them.
In chapter 7 John is answering the question at the end of chapter 6 – “who can stand in the great day of wrath?” Who will survive God’s sovereign judgment?
As we walk through chapter 7 what is clear to me is…
Thesis: In the midst of great turmoil, tragedy and strife God graciously preserves a
people to the praise of His glorious grace.

1. God sovereignly preserves a people. (7:1-8)
2. God graciously preserves a great multitude. (7:9-14)
3. God preserves a people upon whom He will lavish His grace. (7:15-17)

To a troubled, shaken people burdened by relentless persecution, frightened by an uncertain future the Lord of the church says, “Fear not. God has a people. A people He sovereignly preserves; a people to numerous to count; upon whom He will lavish His
grace.

 

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No. 2 in the Series “What Is a Healthy Church?” from the book by the same name by Mark Dever. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 27, 2008.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 29:1-32. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 24, 2008.
Introduction:
Do you ever find yourself feeling “out of place” in this world? Those moments when you think, “Are these people from another planet? What’s wrong with them?” I find myself thinking like that more and more. Most of my time is spent dealing with Christian people. I’m dealing with church members or other pastors and granted, some of them can be strange, but I find myself scratching my head wondering why some folks just don’t get it. As a police chaplain I come across people whom I’m convinced are from somewhere else. I don’t live like they live. I don’t think like they think. Their whole world is radically different from mine and like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’m not proud of that – in fact I’m a little ashamed of it. That means that I’m not doing a good job of rubbing elbows with those who desperately need the gospel. And understand me – I’m not talking about radical, weird lifestyles – I’m talking about ordinary people who are nice, descent and loving who are just totally clueless about the gospel and the things of God. And because of that our perspectives are totally at odds. I don’t get them and they don’t get me. When that happens we are experiencing the fruit of what Augustine, the 4th century North African monk referred to as the “Two Cities.” Augustine taught that there are two cities: the city of man and the city of God. The city of man is of this world. It is about power and influence. Nations, armies and kingdoms. The city of God is the church. Now as the people of God we live in both cities. We are citizens of the kingdom of God by the new birth. And yet we live in the city of man. We are part of this world’s system. How do we live in both worlds? Are we to shun the city of man? Are we to seek to distance ourselves from things political? I know there are Christians who think participating in politics at any level is a bit like polishing the brass on the Titanic – the ships going down, don’t waste your time or energy. But is that biblical? Granted we are aliens and strangers in this life but how are we to live? I think we find some insight in Jeremiah 29.

Text: Jeremiah 29:1-32

For years Jeremiah had prophesied the coming judgment. The nation dismissed him as some wild, over zealous fanatic. But judgment did come. The Babylonians moved, exported the best and brightest, burned the rest. Jeremiah was left in Jerusalem and now he is instructed by the Lord to write to the exiles. What you would say in the letter? I’m afraid I’d be tempted to say, “Ha! I told you so!” In this letter there are some principles for living in exile.

1. Bloom where you are planted. (29:1-7)
2. We turn a deaf ear to the voice of the lying prophets. (29:8-9, 15-32)
3. We are to tune our hearts to God’s good and gracious promise. (29:10-14)

How are we to live in this fallen, broken, increasingly hostile world? Bloom where we are planted, turn a deaf ear to the voice of the lying prophets, and tune our heart to God’s gracious promise.

 

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An exposition of Revelation 6:1-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 24, 2008.

Intro:
I’m sure none of you struggle with my bad habits but I tend to be impatient. I don’t like to wait. I like for things to be done yesterday. Now, don’t get me wrong I understand the need for patience and in fact I can lecture you on your need to wait in God’s timing – but I shouldn’t have to wait. Add to that the fact that I don’t like tension. I like for things to be settled. Things ought to be one way or the other none of this “both and” stuff. That’s why the life of faith is often difficult for me. Things happen in this life that frankly, I don’t like. I see good people suffer and, from my perspective, they suffer needlessly. I see wicked people profit and I’m not happy about it. I hear God mocked and His Holy character slandered and I want to see a little smoke and fire! And at times my most cherished doctrines give me the most grief. I believe God is sovereign over all things. That means people, nations, nature, world events are all under His sovereign control. So why do babies suffer and die? Why do godly people get cancer? Why do wicked people get rich and live lives of ease and comfort? I understand the skeptic who reasons, “If God is good He is not all powerful and if He is all powerful, He is not good.” I understand how a person can think that. From a human perspective it makes sense. Why wouldn’t a good and powerful God always see to it that good triumphs and evil suffers? As the people of God we long for the return of our Lord. Our hope is in the blessed appearance of our Lord at the end of the age. And yet we understand that when that day comes, it comes with great terror. What is a glorious and wonderful thing for us will be a living hell for others. It is one of the things about the book of Revelation that we find fascinating. The struggle between good and evil; light and darkness; the sharp contrast between worship and judgment. With chapter 6 we move into the main section of the book. Now we come to all of those strange and wonderful visions as the seals are broken, the trumpet judgments are sounded and the bowls of wrath are poured out. As we seek to walk through the book together we must keep in mind the context. This book meant something to those who first received it. They were being persecuted without mercy – a great number were being martyred, John is writing to lift their sagging faith to encourage their fainting hearts. We must not lose sight of that if we are to rightly understand the book. Our text this morning is found in the sixth chapter of Revelation.

Text: Revelation 6:1-17
As the people of God we find ourselves swimming upstream. Our lives are lived against
the current of culture. The church near the end of the first century found themselves in a
fight for their very existence. Persecution was rampant and violent. To confess faith in
Christ cost you dearly and the martyr’s fate was to be expected. How do you live in that environment? How do you stand your ground and remain faithful? That is the context
for the book of Revelation. John, inspired by the Spirit, wrote to assure shaken saints that
God was still on His throne; that Caesar was no god; and that history was on track.
As we explore this chapter there is something I want us to keep in mind…
Thesis: The life of faith does not eliminate doubt and heartache but rather finds grace to live triumphantly in the face of overwhelming tragedy.
Our faith is not a fairytale.
It is not a matter of, “I believe in Jesus and then I live happily ever after.” Faith in Christ does not grant me immunity from life’s hardships and genuine pain. In fact, often my faith will cause me pain in this life. But in my believing I will find grace not just to survive but to triumph through Christ.

1. Believers find great comfort in the triumph of the Gospel while at the same time burdened by the terror of God’s coming judgment. (6:1-8)
   White = the Gospel – 6:1-2
   Red horse = war – 6:3-4
   Black horse = famine – 6:5-6
   Pale horse = death followed by Hades – 6:7-8
2. Believers remain anxious about the injustice that abounds while they are assured that justice will prevail. (6:9-11)
3. tempered by the terror of that day. (6:12-17)The believer joyfully anticipates the coming “Day of the Lord” but his joy in

Every child of God is to long for our Lord’s blessed appearing. We joyfully anticipate that day when the trumpet shall sound and we’ll be gathered home. But what is clear in this text is the terror surrounding that day. A glorious day is coming. In the meantime we are comforted by the triumph of the Gospel while burdened by the terror of the Lord’s sovereign judgment. We are anxious about the injustice we see yet assured that justice will prevail. We joyfully anticipate the coming day of the Lord, yet our joy is tempered by the terror of that day.

 

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No. 1 in the Series “What Is a Healthy Church?” from the book by the same name by Mark Dever. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 20, 2008.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 28:1-14. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 17, 2008.

Intro:
How do you handle confrontation? Do you enjoy it? How many of you like for someone to tell you, in front of other people, you’re dead wrong about something? Do any of you enjoy that? If you say you do…you probably lie about other stuff too. No one likes to be put on the spot in front of others – in particularly preachers don’t like it! Now let’s add to the drama of this situation. You’ve just preached a message at the church and another preacher stands up in front of the congregation and says that you are all wet. You don’t know what you’re talking about. And then precedes to preach a message that is the exact opposite of what you just preached. How would you handle that? I have to admit I don’t think I would react by saying, “Thanks brother. That was so kind of you to point out my mistake.” I wouldn’t say, “Gee, what else have I been wrong about?” Jeremiah was God’s faithful messenger delivering and increasingly difficult truth. Day after day; week after week; month after month and year after year – judgment, judgment and judgment. He was getting tired of it and the nation of Judah was growing weary of hearing this broken record. A prophet by the name of Hananiah was tired of hearing it so he took matters into his own hands and confronted Jeremiah in the temple and preceded to bring an entirely different message “from the Lord.” Our text this evening is found in the 28th chapter of Jeremiah. What is clear in the text is that this was not merely a difference of interpretation or a different way of looking at things – it was a different message and it got personal. One spoke for God the other spoke from his own, fertile imagination. How should you, as God’s spokesman, respond to lying prophecies and personal attacks?

Thesis:
Responding biblically to open hostility and confrontation demands humility, honesty, self-control and truth-inspired boldness. Let’s look at how these four characteristics are displayed in our text.

Outline:

1. A biblical response demands genuine humility. (28:1-6) This follows on the heels of Jeremiah’s “yoke sermon.” Hananiah is prophesying lies – how does Jeremiah respond? …and the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. This is not sarcasm as some have suggested. This is a sincere statement/prayer. I hope you are right. I’d be happy if what I’ve said is not true. Jeremiah’s concern was the well being of the nation – not his reputation.
2. A biblical response requires honesty. (28:7-9) He doesn’t roll over and play dead. Rather he says, in the presence of those gathered, time will tell if you are a liar. If it comes to pass – you are a true prophet…if not…you are a liar.
3. A biblical response demands self-control. (28:10-11) Now things get personal. He takes the yoke off Jeremiah and breaks it. “This is what God is doing with that yoke.” He walked away! It takes spiritual wisdom/discernment to know when to confront and when to walk.
4. A biblical response demands truth-inspired boldness. (28:12-14) It was one thing for Hananiah to break Jeremiah’s yoke – another to take on God. God takes it personally when we put words in His mouth. Note – “Thus says the Lord…” God is commanding Jeremiah to deliver this message. And look at verse 17 – Hananiah was dead within 2 months! We live in a fallen world. We find ourselves at odds with the world around us. There will be those times when we are confronted by lying prophets. We are to respond with humility, honesty, self-control and truth-inspired boldness.

 

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An exposition of Revelation 5:1-14. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 17, 2008.

Introduction:
The persecution increases daily. Arrest, confiscation of property, torture and executions are commonplace. The strain is unbearable. Daily you are called upon to deny your faith and declare Caesar Lord. What do you do? How do you respond? There is a genuine clash of culture and religion but it is not merely in the realm of ideas. Your faith has cost you dearly. Your family disowned you. Your friends shunned you. Your job is gone. Now your life is being threatened. Then you are told you can have it back, all of it, if you’ll just bow and confess, “Caesar is Lord.” What do you do?
Such was the conflict then and now. The forces of light and darkness have always been
at odds. Truth and error have forever been in conflict. The Kingdom of God and the
kingdom of Satan are at war. And you are a foot soldier in that conflict. What will you
do? How will you stand? What will be your inspiration? Our text this morning is found
in the 5th chapter of Revelation.

Thesis:
Perseverance is the fruit of a Christ-centered vision and impassioned worship.

Outline:

1. Hopelessness brings bitter disappointment and despair. (5:1-4) Are you burdened by hopelessness? Do the cares of this life overwhelm you to the point you’ve giving up or are on the verge of giving in? John’s weeping is sincere. It is certainly understandable. It is worth weeping over. But it is premature!
2. Disappointment and despair vanish at the glorious revelation of the Lamb of God. (5:5-10. In the face of conflict, heartache and despair you need a clear, unimpeded vision of the person and work of Christ. You need to see Him for who He is and understand what He has done. Once you catch a glimpse of that or better yet once this truth takes hold of you – disappointment and despair vanish.
3. Perseverance and hope find their voice in Christ-centered, heaven rattling worship. (5:11-14) When life is at its worst. When turmoil reigns – those with the clearest vision and the most accurate knowledge lose themselves in glorious, profound, explosive worship! This is not fanaticism this is the natural response to the vision of God.

 

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An exposition of Ephesians 6:18-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 13, 2008.

 

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An exposition of Revelation 4:1-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 10, 2008.

How do you take the infinite and make it understandable to the church? That is the task of John in today’s passage. The church was experiencing extreme persecution, and John was exiled far away on the island of Patmos.The Lord has something to say to the church in the midst of the storm, and it is this: God is bigger than anything in the universe that might be troubling you presently, and nothing is able to snatch you out of his loving hands.

1. Confidence is born out of a vision of God’s unequaled power, glory, and majesty (verses 2-6). Jesus is telling John that the sovereign judge of the universe is still in control, and all who are persecuting the church will give an account, and the church will be vindicated. This message is for believers today too. We are not alone. God is with us and for us; who will never leave us or forsake us, and nothing in this world can harm us.
2. Courage is established through an awareness of God’s sovereign power. There is a door opened to heaven (verse 1), and it will never be shut. This means that we can see it, we have access to God sitting there, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Such confidence and courage inspires profound worship and joyful submission. Even when everything is falling apart, God is still in control. He is worthy of all praise and worship.

This is what we need: to know that God is in charge and we are not. The question is: Are you in the midst of a storm? If so, come to Jesus. Come to Jesus now.

 

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An exposition of Ephesians 6:10-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 6, 2008.