The Plowman

 

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Galatians #13—An exposition of Galatians 6:6-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 26, 2009.

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Galatians #12 - An exposition of Galatians 6:1-5. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 19, 2009.

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An exposition of Galatians 5:16-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 29, 2009.

Introduction:
We really are shaped by our experiences.  Where we grew up.  Where we attended school.  The church we were raised in.  All of these have a profound impact on why we are like we are.  The fact that we are Americans determines, to a greater extent than we realize, how we interpret Scripture and frame our doctrines.  We are an independent lot and so you find a great emphasis in the American Church on my “personal Lord and Savior.”  We talk about what “my” Bible says.  And we tend to think of the church as a necessary evil.  “I love Jesus and me and Jesus are fine - but those folks down at the church…” as if you can think of loving Jesus and the folks down at church as having little or nothing to do with one another.  The fact is when you came to faith in Christ you were made part of the family of God.  It was a package deal.  You don’t get one without the other.  The expression of that family is found in a local group of believers seeking to live their faith together in the church.  That is why the church matters.  That is why the church is essential to your being what God intends you to be.  Can you be a Christian without being a church member?  Yes.  Can you be the Christian God intends you to be without the church?  No!  We must acknowledge up front the church is imperfect.  It is often a mess.  But do you know why that is the case?  Because the church is made up of people like you and me!  Frail, flawed, broken sinful people stumbling towards perfection by the grace of God.  The church is not an institution.  It is not an organization.  It is a family, a body, a living organism.  Yes it is “institutional” in that there is a structure with leaders and officers and programs but that is not what the church is essentially.  Not at its essence.  At its essence the church is a family.  It is a family and not an organization.  It is a group of people who are in covenant relationship seeking to grown in our understanding of God and His Word and seeking to live for His glory.  I am becoming increasingly convinced that this is the key to the church being what God intends it to be.  We have to quit thinking of the church in terms of an organization or institution.  It is not a bout power.  It is not about titles.  It is not about programing or product it is about relationship first with God then each other and then the world around us.  That is what I want you to keep in mind as we explore our text this morning found in Galatians chapter 5.

Text: Galatians 5:16-26

The churches of the Roman province of Galatia were troubled. They were troubled by a false teaching that wreaked havoc with these young believers. The message of grace was being lost in an emphasis on law.
Gone was the freedom of life in Christ and in it place was a religion of rules. In the early chapters Paul lays down a theological base. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. Beginning with chapter 5 he applies that truth to life. What does this theology look like when it is lived out? How do I live the doctrine of salvation by grace alone?

The immediate context for our passage today is found in 5:15 - “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”  That this is the focus is further reflected in 5:26 - “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Our text is about freedom and fellowship (remember 5:1).

Thesis: Genuine Gospel freedom is evidenced by a united, loving fellowship.
I want to point out three things quickly.

1. Peace within the body of Christ demands that we recognize the source of conflict.  (5:16-18)
2. Peace demands that we resist the intoxicating draw of our sinful nature.  (5:19-21)
3. Peace demands that we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit.  (5:22-26)

 

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Galatians #10 - An exposition of Galatians 5:13-15. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 15, 2009.

Introduction:
It just didn’t make sense to me.  I know that everybody said the same thing.  I know that was the conventional wisdom but it just sounded so dumb!  I didn’t just ride into town on a turnip truck you know.  So when my pickup hit that ice and started into a skid - I wasn’t “dumb enough” to turn into the skid…I turned it hard away from it.  Turn into a skid?  Oh, and I suppose you lean into a left hook!  The next few seconds were a blur, literally.  When the truck stopped I was sitting between a telephone pole and a bridge rail.  Not a scratch on me or the truck.  I remember thinking, “Maybe you do turn into a skid.”  Life is often paradoxical.  A paradox is a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is true.  Often in the Scripture we find paradoxical statements.  Jesus said if you want to lose your life hold on to it tightly.  If you want to find it - give it away.  He also said the way up is down.  If you want to be great become the servant of all.  That doesn’t make sense.  It is contrary to our way of thinking.  But then the writer of Proverbs warns that there is a way that seems right to man but the end thereof is destruction.  We find one of those paradoxical passages in the 5th chapter of Galatians.

Paul is writing to the churches of the Roman Province of Galatia, the churches visited on the first missionary journey.  He is writing because false teachers have come into the fellowship and perverted the true gospel.  These “legalists” were preaching a “Jesus plus” theology.  Belief in Jesus was necessary but not enough.  You need to follow the rules of Judaism - the dietary laws, the days and festivals and of course circumcision.  It was a system of rules and regulations.  It is was faith of dos and don’ts that enslaved rather than liberated those who believed.  Paul said, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free don’t be enslaved again to rules.”  We are saved by grace and we grow in holiness by that same grace.  The Christian faith is about grace and relationship.  The whole purpose in Christ’s coming was to set you free so don’t be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  The dominant note throughout the book of Galatians is freedom.  Paul has referenced freedom several times but it isn’t until chapter 5:13 and following that he defines what he means by freedom.  Most of us, when thinking about freedom, think about ourselves and what we are able to do.  “I’m free, nobody is going to tell me what to do.  I can do as I please.”  That is not liberty that is license.  That is not enjoying the grace of God, that is presuming upon God’s grace.  Genuine freedom always comes with a corresponding responsibility.  That is what Paul deals with in our text this morning.

Text: Galatians 5:13-15
Paul with the skill and passion of an artist paints a portrait of genuine Christian freedom in these three verses.  I would suggest that it looks very different fro the world’s picture of freedom.  Because from Paul’s perspective…

Thesis: Genuine freedom releases you to a life of service to others.

Rather than self-centered, it is other-centered.  Rather than emphasizing rights it focuses on responsibilities.  There are three things to note in our text.

1. Genuine freedom clears the way for total surrender.  (5:13)
2. Genuine freedom enables fulfillment of the law.  (5:14)
3. Genuine freedom results in honest concern for others.  (5:15)

A divided church has nothing to say to a fragmented society.  If we evidence more of the world’s power to divide than the gospel’s power to make whole we have nothing of value to say.  Our message has lost its power and authority.  Genuine freedom, biblical freedom is not about rights it is about responsibility.  It is not about being served it is about serving.

Child of God is it for the sake of freedom that Christ set you free.  Stand firm in that freedom.  Do not be burdened or bound by rules.  But understand that freedom releases you to a life of service to others.  It clears the way for total surrender.  It enables fulfillment of the law and results in honest concern for others.  Are you free?  Are you walking in biblical freedom today?

 

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Galatians #09 - An exposition of Galatians 5:1-12. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 8, 2009.

Introduction:
It just didn’t make any sense.  For centuries they longed for freedom.  Not days, weeks, years or even decades but for centuries - they longed to be free and yet at the first sign of trouble they were ready to go back!  Things did not progress as quickly as they had hoped and so they were ready to return to the familiar.  It’s not that they liked slavery or wanted to return to harsh treatment but at least they knew what to expect.  When faced with the hard choices Israel longed for Egypt.  Getting free was one thing…remaining free was something else.  We know that from our own experience.  What teenager doesn’t rail against the restraints of home?  What young person doesn’t yearn for the day they will be “free of the unreasonable restraints” of mom and dad?  Yet soon after the initial taste of freedom when bills and responsibility come due - they long to return to  Egypt!  The dream of freedom is sweet the responsibility of freedom is often troubling.  Most of us like order.  We like to know what is expected and how to get it accomplished.  It seems our default setting “rules oriented.”  Nowhere is that more evident than in religion.  When it comes to matters of faith a list is always comforting.  Even if I don’t agree with everything on the list at least I know how the game is played.  At least I know if I want to achieve a certain level this is what I must do.  But if there is no list, if it is about getting in there and rubbing elbows with others and trying to figure it out together…well that can get messy.  I could make some mistakes.  I might upset some folks and they might not agree with me.  I certainly understand the desire for order.  I understand the longing for rules.  But we must understand, rules lead to conformity and eventually enslavement.  Don’t misunderstand me - there are rules.  There is order.  We could not function without them.  But we do not live to obey the rules.  Rules are not the means to right standing before God.  God’s love for us does not rise and fall based on our scorecard.  I am loved and accepted by God because of Christ - his life, his obedience, his death for me.  The law of Christ then guides me in my expression of love and devotion to the one who has lavished his grace upon me.  And that is what is behind Paul’s statement in Galatians 5:1 - “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”  Our text this morning is found in Galatians chapter 5.

Text: Galatians 5:1-12

The message of Paul in the opening words of chapter 5 are clear:
Thesis: The call of grace is a call to resist the subtle voice of conformity that leads to a religion that enslaves.

Paul is saying, “Being set free is one thing, remaining free is something else.”
Let me point out 2 principles that work to secure freedom.

1. Gospel freedom flees the iron clutches of a legalistic faith.  (5:1-6)
2. Gospel freedom resists the siren call of compromise.  (5:7-12)

Here in is the danger of the siren call of compromise.  An adjustment here, a tweaking of doctrine there leads to distortion and corruption.  Before long the message is lost.  Beware those who would rob you of your freedom and resist the subtle call voice of conformity that leads to a religion of enslavement.

 

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Galatians #08  - An exposition of Galatians 4:21-31. this message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 1, 2009.

Introduction:
What do you do when you see people you love heading for disaster?  How do you respond when you see a once vibrant faith grow cold?  How do you root out false teaching without destroying young, tender faith?  These were the issues swirling around in Paul’s mind as he wrote to the churches of the Roman Province of Galatia.  At the heart of it all was a distortion or perversion of the gospel. On the one hand Paul was concerned the gospel would be lost if he did not act. On the other he did not want to shipwreck the faith of these young believers.  He needed to address, in very strong terms, those who were preaching a false gospel.  At the same time he needed to encourage and gently correct the wavering faith of these spiritual toddlers.  That is not an easy thing to do.  They are at that point where they are easily influenced by those who have some authority.  They are hungry and eager to learn thus when someone comes along who has knowledge and experience they tend to go along.  They tend to accept what they are told.  After all these are leaders in the church.  They know the apostles.  And so Paul with a firm hand and tender heart seeks to guide them through these troubled waters.  He begins by denouncing those who dared preach another gospel.  In the strongest of terms he pronounced judgment upon them. Then he set forth a sound biblical argument for salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone.  He then ask the Galatian believers how it was that he became their enemy?  Was it because he preached the truth?  He called them to remember the joys and passions of their gospel experience.  He warned of the dangers and consequences of a legalistic faith.  And he spoke of his longing for them to look and act like Jesus.  “I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,” he said in 4:19.  Now beginning with verse 21 he speaks directly to the Gentile believers in Galatia and walks them through an analogy that would no doubt encourage them while enraging the “Judaizers” in their midst.

Text: Galatians 4:21-31

You have to like Paul - he knew how to rattle their cage. He knew how to anger the old guard - that was his crowd. The issue he is addressing is stated clearly in 5:1 - “freedom.” This text is about living in gospel freedom.  It is about what is necessary for us to be free and remain free.  As we walk through this text together here is what we will find…

Thesis: Living in gospel freedom demands clarity of doctrine and a firm resolve.

Freedom demands that we know what we believe and we stand on our convictions.  I’m not talking about an “angry” faith.  I’m not talking about a biting, judgmental or critical faith.  I’m talking about knowing what we believe and not compromising.  Believing in both the authority and sufficiency of the Scripture and standing our ground. There are three things I want you to note in our text.

1. Gospel freedom demands that we deal consistently with Scripture.  (4:21-23)
2. Gospel freedom demands that you clearly define issues, positions and doctrine.  (4:24-28)
3. Gospel freedom demands that you reject that which is false while clinging tenaciously to that which is true.  (4:29-31)

Conclusions from the Text:

• We must know the gospel.
• We must understand the gospel.
• We must be convinced of the sufficiency of the gospel.
• We must stand on the gospel.

Living in gospel freedom demands clarity of doctrine and a firm resolve.

 

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Galatians #7 - An exposition of Galatians 4:12-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 22, 2009.
Introduction:
What are we doing here?  What is this all about?  Why do we gather Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday nights?  Why do we have Sunday School and youth services?  Why Vacation Bible School and youth camp?  What’s the purpose of mission trips and community involvement?  Is it because we need something to do?  Is it because we need to build a resume?  These are important questions.  From time to time it is good for us to remember our purpose.  It is healthy for us to remind ourselves why we do what we do.  Now we might be quick to say, “We do this in order to reach the world for Christ.”  Our purpose is to spread the name and the fame of our God.  And I would say that is certainly part of it but that is not the whole story.  We certainly do want as many people as possible to come to a saving knowledge of Christ but is that enough?  Is our purpose merely evangelistic?  Is our goal just to introduce them to Jesus or is there more?

The apostle Paul was writing the churches of Galatia because a problem had developed.  Another teaching had come to town a teaching that contradicted Paul’s message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone.  This teaching said that to become a child of God you must first become a child of Judaism.  You must believe in Jesus but you must also follow the rules.  You must observe the days and seasons.  You must obey the dietary commands.  You must perform the rituals.  If you are faithful in these things and you believe in Jesus you will be part of God’s family.  Paul’s response is often strong and harsh as in chapter 1 verses 6-10 where he pronounced anathema on the false teachers and their teaching.  He then lays out a sound theological argument refuting their claims.  But in chapter 4 verses 12-20 Paul’s tone changes.  He speaks as a pastor passionate about his congregation.  He speaks with tenderness revealing how he feels and what he is thinking.  It is in this section we find something that I believe is critical to our task, something that is often missing in the church’s understanding of ministry.  Our text is found in Galatians chapter 4 beginning with verse 12.

Text: Galatians 4:12-20
Outline:

1. Gospel ministry seeks to remind believers of the original joys and passions of gospel experience.  (4:12-15)
2. Gospel ministry is faithful to warn of the dangers and consequences of a legalistic faith.  (4:16-18)
3. Gospel ministry cannot rest until the fruit of the gospel is borne out in the gospel community.  (4:19-20)

This is the goal of our working, planning and gathering - to see the gospel lived out in the context of Christian community.  A group of people who believe and live the gospel together.

 

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Galatians #06 - An exposition of Galatians 4:1-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 15, 2009.

Introduction
Many years ago there was a “Christian” comedy group called Isaac Air Freight.  They were popular in the 70’s and early 80s.  On one of their albums they did a routine called The Saving Game.  It was patterned after The Dating Game.  The contest sat on one side of a screen while he was introduced to three prospective saviors.  After questioning each he would then have the opportunity to choose his very own savior.  The contestant, whose name was Buck Weizer asked, “Savior number one, what must I do to be saved?”  The response was, “Oh, I don’t know.  I wouldn’t really worry about it.”  Number two, same question.  “Ya gotta earn it doi’n religious tings.  Go to church.  Eat twinkies and always wear blue.”  Not finding much comfort and a bit nervous Buck asked, “Number three – same question.  “A calm, comforting voice responded, “Believe on Me and you will have everlasting life.”  Not too surprisingly Buck chose savior #3.  The tragedy is that life is not a game show.  While contestants hear the voices of various saviors an alarming number are opting for savior #2!  A great number of people are listing to the voice that says, “You gotta earn it.”  The gospel as revealed to us in Scripture seems too good to be true.  Wherever it is preached it is questioned.  It just doesn’t seem right that we can receive life eternal and abundant without “doing” something.  The notion of salvation by grace alone through faith alone is too difficult for some to believe.  In addition it says, “No one is good enough.  You are hopeless and helpless apart from God’s grace.  That means you have to swallow your pride.  We want to take some credit for our salvation.  The gospel says, “No.  It is all of God.”

This is not a new problem it has been an issue since the dawn of the church.  Paul was dealing with it in the churches of the Roman province of Galatia in the mid first century.  False brethren had come into the church and had perverted the gospel.  They perverted it by adding to it.  Faith in Jesus was necessary but not enough.  You must embrace Judaism.  You must follow the law, perform the ritual, and observe the Sabbath and then you can become a member of God’s family.  Paul’s strong and at times harsh response is preserved for us in the book of Galatians.  His basic message is that it is for freedom’s sake that Christ has set us free so do not allow yourself to be enslaved all over again to a system of rules and regulations.  Paul goes to great pains to show that the law is good.  God gave it and it has a specific purpose.  That purpose is to reveal our sin.  To make clear to us our need of a savior.  The purpose of the law was not, is not now, nor ever will be, to save anyone.  Its purpose is to drive us to Christ.  Its purpose is to bring us to the end of ourselves.  To cause of to “despair” of ever being good enough on our own so that we throw ourselves on the mercy of God in Christ.  Our text this morning is from the 4th chapter of Galatians the first 11 verses.

Text: Galatians 4:1-11

Thesis: Joy, life and freedom are not known through a meticulous, slavish devotion to religion but in knowing and being known by the true and living God.

Outline:

1. Religion while promising life and freedom enslaves and binds the soul where as grace genuinely and radically alters the believer’s status before God.  (4:1-7)
2. To abandon grace in order to embrace religion is to reject the gospel, deny God’s redeeming work and to in fact reject God himself.  (4:8-11)

Paul does an amazing thing – he places Judaism on the same level as paganism as those “elementary principles of the world.”  Why?  Because to embrace the shadows/pictures once reality has arrived is to move from life to death!

 

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Galatians #05 - An exposition of Galatians 3:23-29. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 8, 2009.

Introduction:
Are you ever dissatisfied with your life?  Do ever wish things were different?  Do you find yourself daydreaming about a different life with different circumstances?  Let’s face it we are a society of discontents.  Our culture makes us that way.  You’ve seen the television commercials.  If you were to sit down and watch two hours of television commercials you would walk away convinced that nothing in your life is right!  You do not wear the right clothes; use the right toothpaste, the right deodorant or drive the right car.  You don’t even use the right kitty litter.  Your life stinks.  You can’t do anything right.  Of course the announcer is quick to point out that you can start down the right path by buying their product.  “Buy this book, this tape – take this course and you are on your way to a bright and happy future.”  Better yet, “use our toothpaste and you’ll be the toast of the town.”  Want to loose weight?  Drink this.  I bought some of those pills that help improve your memory…I can’t remember where I put them!

The problem with all these solutions is that they are not solutions.  They do not address the problems – they merely rearrange the problems.  If you really want things to be different you need an encounter with the living God.  You need a transformation from the inside out.  You need to discover Paul’s secret to a new you.  And it is found in Galatians chapter three beginning with verse twenty-three.

Text: Galatians 3:23-29

Thesis: The liberating power of the gospel grants the believer a new lease on life.

Sermon Outline

1. The liberating power of the gospel enables a new and living relationship with God.  (3:26-27)
2. The liberating power of the gospel shatters the barriers that separate us.  (3:28)
3. The liberating power of the gospel guarantees a glorious inheritance.  (3:29)

Conclusion:
Do you wish your life was different?  Do you wish you had the chance to start over?  In Christ you will find a new lease on life.

• Through a new relationship with God.
• One that shatters all the barriers that separate us.
• One that guarantees a glorious inheritance.
• It is all found in the gospel and it is yours by faith.

 

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Galatians #04 - An exposition of Galatians 3:1-29. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 1, 2009.

Introduction:
Without a doubt there is no greater joy than the joy of being set free.  Set free form bondage.  Liberated from the clutches of a tyrannical force.  But don’t take my word for it.  Ask anyone who has been freed from a P.O.W camp or one who has been held captive behind the iron curtain or been the slave of alcohol or drugs.   Ask any poor soul who has been a victim of endless demonic oppression who is now free of that awful, frightening influence.  But these are dramatic examples.  They bear little or no relation to where most of you are or have ever been.  There is another type of bondage.  A more subtle enemy that is every bit as deadly.  One that can choke the life out of you without your realizing it until it is too late.  The reason it is so dangerous is because it is disguised.  It presents itself as being spiritual.  But rather than being God-centered it is self-centered.  Rather than focusing on God it focuses on self.  It is the system of legalism.  A “faith” that says right standing before God demands meticulous adherence to a rigid set of rules and regulations.  A system that says you get salvation the old fashion way…you earn it!

Paul, in writing the Galatians hammers home the message of freedom and grace.  The over all message of the book is our freedom in Christ.  “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free,” Paul declares.  Paul, with the skill of a surgeon, cuts to the heart of the matter.  He waste no time with diplomacy.   From the opening verse he hammered away at the opposition.  In chapter one he establishes the fact that the gospel he preached was of divine origin.  It was no man-made fairytale; it was a revelation from God.  In chapter two he reminded us that we have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of that message.  We must maintain the truth, the wholeness and purity of the message of salvation by grace alone!  In chapter three Paul gets to the heart of the matter.  Paul presents a three-pronged argument to prove that salvation is by grace through faith.  I will grant you that Paul deals with some weighty matters in this chapter.  It is heavy in theology but stay with me.  This is the essence of the gospel.

Text: Galatians 3:1-25

Thesis: Right standing before God comes by faith in Christ alone.

Outline:

1. Your own experience of grace proves that faith is the basis.  (3:1-5)
2. The example of Abraham proves faith is the basis.  (3:6-18)
3. The purpose of the law proves the fact that faith is the basis.  (3:19-25)

Do you desire right standing before God?  Do you want to be right with God?  You will not find it in a set of rules and regulations.  You will not find it by working hard.  You will find it when you come to the end of yourself and graciously accept the free gift of salvation by faith.