The Plowman

 

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An exposition of Jonah 3:1-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 21, 2010.

Introduction
It is possible to be too familiar with truth, after all familiarity does breed contempt.  Because of our continuous emphasis on grace we can fall into the trap of thinking of grace as “commonplace.”  As something ordinary or pedestrian.  When the truth is grace is anything but common.  It is a most uncommon thing.  Grace is God’s favor.  It is unearned and undeserved.  It must never be taken for granted and must not be thought of as anything other than extraordinary.  But we speak of salvation by grace as though it is expected, worse, as if it is owed.  When the truth is grace is alway surprising.  One great example of God’s surprising grace is found in the Old Testament book of Jonah.

Jonah, a prophet from Galilee, was called to take God’s message to the capital city of the Assyrian empire.  He didn’t want to do that.  Not because they were a wicked and cruel people, though they were.  Not because he feared for his life, though he had every reason to fear.  But because he was afraid that God would be gracious with the Ninevites and forgive them!

So he tried to run away. He booked passage on a ship heading for Tarshish off the northern coast of Spain. He was determined to go as far away from his assignment as possible. But he couldn’t run away from God.
God hurled a great storm on the sea and threatened the ship and all those aboard. Eventually Jonah’s secret is discovered. And rather than go and do what God called him to do - he asked to be thrown overboard! He’d rather die than do the will of God. But God is gracious and spared Jonah. God graciously brought Jonah to repentance. Of course you remember how He did that - a great fish, 3 days and nights.

I guess 3 days and nights in a fish’s belly is a time for some serious reflection! Not much else to do than contemplate your life choices and consider the future. After Jonah repented and found salvation in the Lord - God gave the order and Jonah was delivered to dry land.  That’s were we pick up the story.

Text: Jonah 3:1-10
As we work our way through the third chapter we’ll note a surprising revelation, a definite reversal and an amazing revival.

1. A Surprising Revelation - 3:1-2
2. A Definite Reversal - 3:3-4
3. An Amazing Revival - 3:5-10

This chapter is the great miracle chapter of Jonah not chapter 2!  Because it is here we see the miracle working power of God’s grace.  And we behold the wonder of His grace in His changing the heart of His wayward prophet and transforming a wicked city.

 

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An exposition of Romans 12:1-2. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 28, 2010.

Introduction:
What is expected of me as a Christian?  What level of involvement does my faith demand?  Is it possible to give my heart to Jesus and be saved and then later commit to more?  Can I trust Jesus as Savior now and as Lord later?  Now you certainly wouldn’t expect the same from me as a lowly church member as you do the pastor?  Is there a chart that shows the various commitment levels?  It seems to me there is a lot of confusion about commitment and expectations within the church.  Part of that confusion is due to not understanding distinctions between assignments within the church and commitment.  Responsibilities and commitment are not synonymous.  The pastor may be expected to visit the sick and those in the hospital, prepare three sermons a week, do the counseling and oversee the administration of church business but that is a matter of assigned responsibility not commitment.  Due to the amount of time required to focus on those task he is paid to free him to concentrate on those responsibilities but all believers are to be as committed as the pastor.  Every Christian is to be committed to Christ and to His church with all of their being.  There is not a level for average member and then you step up to above average, then you enter the realm of exceptional member by being made a deacon or Sunday School teacher or youth worker and then, by God’s grace, you move to the exalted level of church staff,  with each level demanding more and more commitment.  Just what is required of you as a Christian?  That is the focus of our text this morning found in Romans chapter 12.

Text: Romans 12:1-2

We’ve come to a new section within Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians. We’re moving from the doctrine to duty. We’re moving from theology to practice. But don’t think the two are unrelated - they are not. The one flows from the other.
Duty is built on doctrine. Theology moves us to practice.

Just what is required of the believer?  What are responsibilities?  What is Christian commitment?

We are going to consider the basis, the demands, the requirements and the fruit of Christian commitment as we work our way through these 2 verses.

1. First, the basis: Christian commitment is in response to the mercies of God in Christ.  (12:1a)
2. Christian commitment demands your whole being.  (12:1b)
3. Christian commitment requires your saying no to the spirit of the age and yes to the transforming work of the Spirit of God.  (12:2a)
4. Christian commitment enables you to discern the will of God.  (12:2b)

 

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An exposition of Acts 5:17-42. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 21, 2010.

If we are to impact our community, city, state and the world it will demand a holy boldness.
Three characteristics of holy boldness

1. Holy Boldness is born in the call and commission of our God.  (5:17-21)
2. Holy Boldness refuses to be intimidated.  (5:21-33)
3. Holy Boldness emerges from tribulation renewed strength and determination.  (5:40-42)

 

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Jonah #2 - An exposition of Jonah 1:17-2:10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 14, 2010.

Introduction
It was the defining characteristic of the preaching on John the Baptist and it was the hallmark of the preaching of our Lord - “Repentance.”  Unfortunately repentance has fallen out of favor.  One might even get the impression it is on the “do not use” list.  Calls for repentance have come to be associated with more primitive times.  It congers up images of red-faced evangelists and protracted meetings.  We don’t have time for such nonsense anymore.  We’re busy people.  Places to go, people to see and that whole repentance thing is offensive.  We’re struggling to pay the bills and keep the doors open we can’t afford to run folks off.  The problem is without the message of repentance we have no Gospel.  Without repentance there is no salvation.  With no Gospel and no salvation we might as well close up shop because we have nothing to offer.  Jonah was called to take God’s message to Nineveh the capital city of the Assyrian Empire.  But Jonah didn’t want to go.  He didn’t want to preach to them because he knew if he came preaching God’s judgment they might repent and if they repented - God would forgive them and Jonah just couldn’t live with that.  So Jonah set his sights in the opposite direction.  He was determined to go as far away from God’s call as humanly possible.  He went down to Joppa, payed the fare and got in a boat heading for Tarshish.  But God’s severe grace hunted him down.  God hurled a great wind onto the sea and threatened to break up the ship.  After an intense struggle it was finally discovered that Jonah was the problem.  After some debate the sailors reluctantly tossed Jonah overboard.  That’s where we pick up the story and it is at this point Jonah learns about repentance.  Our text this evening is found in Jonah chapter 2.

Text: Jonah 1:17-2:10
Remember I said last week we can divide this book into 4 sections.

• Chapter 1 - Rebellion
• Chapter 2 - Repentance
• Chapter 3 - Revival
• Chapter 4 - Regret

This evening we deal with repentance.

Before we get into that though let’s deal with the controversy of this chapter and the book of Jonah.  There are those who believe this story is, at best, an allegory or a parable.  The problem is that it doesn’t read like that at all.  There is nothing in the text to indicate we should read it or understand it in anyway other than literal.  Others say it is purely myth.  Come on, a fish swallowing a man, the man lives for 3 days and nights in the belly of the fish and then is spit up on dray land?  That’s quite a tale!  That will put some fishermen to shame.

The truth is if you begin by saying, “Miracles do not happen because miracles cannot happen” it doesn’t matter what proof is set before you - you will not believe it.  If you start with a God who created the universe by the power of His word this is not a problem.  You don’t need an explanation.

The truth is there are whales and other sea creatures capable of swallowing a man.  For instance the average sperm whale might have a mouth 20 feet long, 15 feet high, and 9 feet wide.  It is know they feed mostly on squid, which are often larger than a man.  According to the Library Research Service of the Encyclopedia Britannica there are documented cases of whalers being swallowed by whales and later cut out of whales still alive.  One such case involved a whaling ship names The Star of the East sailing off the coast of the Falkland Islands in February of 1891. A large sperm whale was spotted and two boats were dispatched.  One of the boats was capsized in the process one sailor drowned, the other, James Bartley disappeared and could not be found.  In time the whale was killed and brought alongside the ship.   It was secured and its blubber removed.  The next day the stomach was hoisted onto the deck.  When opened the missing sailor was found inside.  He was unconscious but alive.  After some time he resumed his duties on board the whaling vessel.

Is it possible Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and survived as the Bible plainly teaches?  Yes, but the real issue is not what went on inside that great fish but rather what went on inside of Jonah? A great transformation took place and from it we learn about genuine repentance.

I want to point out 3 characteristics of genuine repentance from Jonah’s prayer.

1. Genuine repentance begins with an honest assessment of your circumstances.
2. Genuine repentance rightly assigns blame and demands nothing in return.
3. Genuine repentance gladly takes its place in the presence of the ungodly and turns from rebellion to trust in God alone.

This is genuine repentance and without it there is no Gospel, there is no salvation.  May God grant us hearts of genuine repentance continually.

 

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An exposition of Romans 11:1-36. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 14, 2010.

Introduction
It has been a theological battleground for centuries.  In more recent times it has been a point of heated debate, inflamed rhetoric and a test of orthodoxy.  What about Israel?  Are the Jews still God’s “chosen people” or has the church replaced Israel as the people of God?  Have the Jews “sinned” away their opportunity so that God has turned His back on them or is there a future glory?  It is an emotionally charged issue.  People tend to hold firm convictions on this.  Good and godly people have stood on both sides of the issue and both sides have their extremists.  On the side, of those who believe the Jews remain God’s chosen, are those who in essence believe that the church will be raptured out and God will pick up where He left off with Israel and they will reestablish temple worship and salvation will come through Old Testament means.  On the other hand are those extremists who believe there is no future whatsoever for the Jews, that they have been written off.  I can’t square either of these two views with what the Bible teaches.  I’ve stated before and I’ll restate it now, “I do not believe that God has two people.”  Historical, traditional dispensationalism teaches that the Jews and the church are two separate peoples.  Dispensationalism says the church is a parenthesis in God’s plan.  He set aside what He was doing, inserted the church, will take the church out of the picture and pick up where He left off.  The spiritual blessings and promises given to Abraham are given to the church but the earthly promises (the land, kingdoms etc) belong to the Jews.  As I read the Scripture God has a people all of whom are children of promise, heirs of Abraham by faith, Jews and Gentiles.  Now, does that mean I believe God is finished with the Jews?  You are going to have to stay tuned to find out.  Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 11.

Text: Romans 11:1-36
Paul is setting forth his gospel.
This is the message he is preaching on his travels and in his writings.

He spends the first 8 chapters showing we are sinners, God has made provision in Christ, we have to embrace that gift by faith, that gift transforms us, and we cannot lose it.

Then in chapters 9-11 he deals with the question of the Jews.
What about Israel?
Are they God’s people or not?
Has God failed in keeping them?
Has God been faithful?

These chapters are not without controversy and many choose to skip over them.  That would be a mistake.  There are important lessons for us in these chapters.  Lessons about God’s mercy and grace.  We must not approach these chapters only to answer the question of whether the Jews are “in” or “out” for to do so is to miss the greater issue.  To do so is to miss the beautiful portrait of God found in these chapters.

In fact here is what I want you to see in Romans 11…

Thesis: When responding to questions concerning Israel’s future, Paul’s answer causes us to look beyond the surface and stand in awe of God’s great and gracious work.

The real issue is not Israel - it is God.
The approach ought not to be, “What about Israel” but “What about God?”
If Israel is in - why are they in?
If Israel is out - why are they out?
If they are in is it because of Israel or because of God?
If they are out is it God’s fault or is Israel to blame?
This book is about God.

With that in mind allow me to point out three things we learn about God as we work our way through Romans 11.

1. God always remains faithful to His word and His people.  (11:1-6)
2. Even His judgment is ultimately for the good of His people.  (11:7-24)
3. God works in such a way that our only response is to stand in awe of His grace.  (11:25-36)

Paul began Romans 9 with a heartfelt lament for the state of his people.  By the time he ended his discussion of Israel’s future in Romans 11 and considered the glorious possibility that God was not finished with Israel, Paul’s heart was stirred to a glorious doxology - 11:33-36.

Is there a future for Israel?  You bet there is by God’s grace and for His glory.

 

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An exposition of Psalm 116:1-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 10, 2010. [We apologize in advance for the low volume/poor quality of this recording.]

 

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A Wednesday-eveining Bible study from Psalm 137:1-9, delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on March 3, 2010.

 

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An exposition of Jonah 1:1-16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 7, 2010.

Introduction
As the family set around the table following Sunday dinner, talk turned to Sunday School.  Little Johnny, the 7-year old, was asked what he had learned that day.  “We learned about the children of Israel fleeing Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea.”  Smiling approved dad said, “Why don’t you tell us the story son.”  Johnny took a deep breath and said, “Well, the children of Israel made it as far as the Red Sea when the Egyptian army was gaining on them.  Old Pharaoh had decided it was a mistake to let them go.  The people were real scared but Moses called in some engineers and they built these pontoon bridges that allowed the people to get across the Sea.  Moses made sure that the last group across were special forces soldiers and they planted explosives on the bridges and waited for the Egyptians.  When the Egyptians got on the bridges they set off the explosions and killed the entire Egyptian army!”  The whole family was stunned.  Mom finally said, “Is that what they taught you this morning in Sunday School?”  Johnny, bowing his head in shame, said, “No, but I knew you would never believer the whopper they told us!”

There are those stories that seem unbelievable.  Those biblical accounts that stand out as just too incredible to be true.  And I understand natural minds struggling to believe.  I understand people who begin by saying, “Miracles do not happen because miracles cannot happen” have difficulty accepting the miraculous.  But if you begin with a God who spoke and worlds came into being - then it’s not a problem.  A God who created everything that exists by the power of His word has no trouble parting the Red Sea.  He is not hinder in causing the walls of Jericho to come “tumbling down.”  And He has no problem causing a fish to swallow a man only to spit up on dry ground three days later.  This evening we begin a quick look at the book of Jonah.  The story of Jonah is a familiar tale.  If you’ve been around church awhile you’ve heard the story many times.  Jonah is one of the “Minor Prophets.”  So named not because they are unimportant but because their books are generally shorter than the other prophets.  Jonah, for instance, is just 4 chapters.  The story is told in a straightforward manner.  Through the years some have suggested that it be read as an allegory or a parable.  The problem with that view is that is doesn’t read like a parable.  There are too many details and historical references.  In addition there is nothing in the text to indicate that it should be read anyway other than literal.  In fact Jesus refers to it in a historical sense in Matthew 12:39-40.

We know from a reference in 2 Kings 14:25 that Jonah was from Gath-hepher, a small village 3 miles north of Nazareth in Galilee.  Further we know that he ministered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (782-753 B.C.).  Most likely the events recorded in the book of Jonah happened around 760 during a time of mild decline in the power of the Assyrian empire.  It was also following a time of earthquakes, drought and famine.  Looking at the book as a whole it could be broken down by 4 words - Rebellion (1), Repentance (2), Revival (3) and Regret (4).  It is an interesting tale of God’s sovereignty and mercy; of His judgment and His grace.  This evening we consider the drama of chapter 1.

Text: Jonah 1:1-16

As we work our way through the chapter keep your eye on…

The surprising, fearful and often severe grace of God.

I’ve chosen those words carefully.  I think they’re important because I fear we have a limited understanding of grace.  We tend to think simplistically - law = bad, grace = good.  We think of grace only in terms of “good things” rather than understanding grace is God’s working for our good.  And sometimes the gracious thing is a hard thing.  Sometimes the gracious thing is a painful thing.  Jonah is a great example of what I’m talking about.

There are four acts to the drama of chapter 1.

• Act 1 - A Sovereign and Gracious Call - (1:1-2)
• Act 2 - An Arrogant and Doomed Rebellion - (1:3)
• Act 3 - A Response of Severe Grace - (1:4-15)
• Act 4 - A Surprising Revival - (1:16)

Conclusion:
So what do we learn?  You can resist God’s will.  You can pay the fare and head your own direction but His surprising, fearful and often severe grace will track you down for your good and His glory.

 

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An exposition of Romans 10:1-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 6, 2010.

Introduction
I’ve learned through the years that balance is pretty important.  Due to surgery to remove an acoustic tumor in ’95 I’ve had difficulty with uneven surfaces.  If I get on even a slight incline I’m very unsteady.  I remember getting up on my roof taking a few steps and learning very quickly that was not a good idea.  It was then I gave up my dream of joining the circus as a tightrope artist.  At the same time, as I’ve grown older and hopefully a little wiser, I’ve learn the value of theological balance.  Anytime we emphasis one truth to the detriment of another we get into trouble.  For instance if we emphasize the love of God to the point we obscure the doctrine of God’s holiness we distort the nature of God.  The result is a warped understanding of God that leads to an abuse of His kindness by presuming upon His grace.  Such thinking excuses sin by saying, “God will forgive me.”  On the other hand if we focus on God’s wrath to the point we neglect His love we are left with a vengeful God who is the God of the great big stick.  The result is that we live in fear of retribution without knowing the joy of fellowship with a loving, gracious Father.  We need balance.  God is love and God is holy.  He is to be feared and yet He is to be trusted.  There is judgment but there is also love and forgiveness.  There is wrath and there is mercy.  These truths must be kept in balance if we are to faithfully live in His presence.  In Romans 9 we are confronted with some difficult truths.  Truths that often disturb and bother folks.  We are confronted by God’s sovereignty in election.  The fact that God chooses to save some but not all.  The fact that He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy and He will harden whom He will harden.  We may not like that or be comfortable with that but we must allow God to be God.  He doesn’t owe salvation to any of us.  It is by grace that we are saved through faith.  But the truths of Romans 9 must be balanced with the truths of Romans 10.  Romans 9 says salvation is God’s business.  Romans 10 says we’re responsible!  Which is it?  Is it God’s doing or our doing?  It is both.

This is part of the mystery of our faith.  Can I fully explain it?  No.  Do I believe it?  Yes.  Why?  Because this is what God has revealed.  This is where balance comes in.  Yes God is sovereign and I cannot, I would not come to salvation apart from the work of His grace and yet I still choose.  I must respond to His grace.  I must repent and believe.  It is not a contradiction it is a mystery.  Years ago a friend who had attended Moody Bible Institute in the 40s talked about Wilbur Smith lecturing for weeks on the doctrine of divine election.  When he finally reached the end of his lecture series and had managed to convince a bunch of students to reluctantly embrace this doctrine of sovereign election he said, “Now let’s stand and sing, Whosoever Will as we are dismissed.”  That’s it.  It’s mysterious.  I’ve yet to come across anyone who adequately explains how that can be.  I heard one try by saying, “God’s sovereign election and our freely choosing are two parallel lines that meet in eternity.”  That has a nice ring to it but parallel lines don’t meet in eternity or anywhere else.  If they do they are not parallel!

What is clear with an honest reading of Romans 10 is…
Thesis: The biblical doctrine of salvation demands personal accountability.

Our text this morning is found in the tenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians.
Text: Romans 10:1-21

Do you remember how this section began?
Romans 9:1-6 - Paul was burdened over the “lostness” of his kinsmen.
Which led to the question - “Has God failed?”
Is God to blame for their being lost?

• The first part of the answer is in chapter 9 - “No, God is not to blame - it is only by His grace anyone is saved.”
• The second part of the answer is in chapter 10 - “No, God is not to blame - Israel is without excuse.”

There are three things I want to point out as we work our way through this 10th chapter.

1. Zeal, passion and sincerity are sorry substitutes for truth.  (10:1-4)
2. Saving faith is profoundly simple.  (10:5-15)
3. Ultimately you are responsible for your accepting or rejecting the gospel.  (10:16-21)