The Plowman

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 33:1-9. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 2, 2008.

Introduction:
Do you like secrets? I remember when our kids were little I use to love to say, “Come here I need to tell you something.” And then whisper something in their ear. And I would say, “Now don’t tell anyone.” Of course they couldn’t wait to tell anyone who would listen! I don’t think we ever grow out of that. If there is anything better than hearing a secret – it’s telling a secret! “Now I’m going to tell you this but you can’t say anything about this to anyone because I promised so and so that I wouldn’t tell anyone.” Now then, that ought to get me out of any further pastoral counseling. I’m kidding I know how to keep a confidence but you know what I’m talking about. There is just something about us – secrets like to be told. And the greater the secret the greater the need to tell. Jeremiah the prophet found himself in jail. He was there because his sermon really got him in some hot water. He really upset the king with that sermon about Babylon destroying Jerusalem and carrying off the king. Oh yeah and the king was going to die down in Babylon. The king was not thrilled with that particular sermon. Then Jeremiah got involved in that land deal. The one where he bought the old family farm that was currently occupied by the enemy. There went 17 shekels down the drain. He had second thoughts the minute he made the deal. Yes God told him to do it but it just seemed silly. Maybe he misunderstood. What was God’s response? “Oh I’m sorry Jeremiah do you think that’s out of my league? Are you worried that obeying me might be stupid?” Jeremiah decided that God could be trusted and that he probably did need to question Him any further. Now he is still in jail and the Lord comes to him a second time. You know I think every time Jeremiah heard God’s voice he got a knot in his stomach. Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 33.

You see the context? He is still shut up in the court of the guard. The Babylonians have the city surrounded. Jerusalem is under siege.

Jeremiah’s prophecies are coming to pass but that is of little comfort. He was not interested in being vindicated at this point. His homeland, his country was on the verge of destruction. His countrymen will be exiled to Babylon. 70 years of judgment await them. This is not a moment of rejoicing. Jeremiah was not jumping up and down in his cell saying, “I was right. I was right.” He is in mourning. Further he is in jail with the threat of death hanging over him when his only crime was being faithful. He had all kinds of questions. That’s when God showed up. As we make our way through these opening verses of chapter 33 I want us to note…

Thesis: When weighed down by worry, doubt and fear God’s servant finds peace and rest in God’s troubling yet comforting revelation.

Follow along as we learn three things from Jeremiah’s experience.

I. The Sovereign Lord welcomes the questioning heart in pursuit of answers. (33:1-3)

Wait a minute pastor – are you contradicting what you said a couple of weeks ago about Jeremiah second-guessing? No not at all. The problem back in chapter 32 was not one of misunderstanding or uncertainty it was a matter of doubt. Jeremiah knew what God said. He knew what he was supposed to do but he began to doubt. God simply reminded him that nothing was impossible for God.

In this instance Jeremiah is confused. There are things he does not know. And God comes to him and says, “Ask me!” “Call to me and I will answer you.”

The point is you don’t have to hide your fears or your questions before God. He welcomes the questioning heart. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you is the promise of the Lord Jesus. Our Lord commands us to come when we are weak and heavy burdened. When we are overwhelmed with cares. We are assured that we will find rest for our souls. He bids you come. But let me be honest with you…

II. God’s answer may be uncomfortable and unsettling. (33:4-5)

One of the great and unsearchable truths that God reveals to Jeremiah is that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed and he does not sugarcoat the message it is vivid and ugly! He paints the picture of a gruesome sight. Look at it in verses 4-5.

Not a pretty sight. But a reminder even the strongest city cannot withstand the judgment of God. Further an assumed relationship with God is not guarantee of safety. There is a fine line between faith in God and presumption upon God. “We are God’s chosen people – we are safe.”

What was God’s assessment of the city? “I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil.” 33:5

We need to be careful – if we ask God – He may answer! And the answer may not be what you are expecting or what you want to hear.

But mark this down – it is worth hearing. God’s wrath against sin is great and unsearchable. God’s holiness demands sin be dealt with. God’s wrath is merely the outworking of His holiness with regards to sin and rebellion.

Here is the bottom line – there are only two things you can do with your sin.
You can hold onto it and face God and suffer the punishment yourself. Or you can take them to the cross. You can acknowledge the Lord Jesus as your substitute. Who drank the cup of God’s divine wrath on your behalf.

Those are your only options. God’s justice is going to be preserved one way or the other.Your sin must be dealt with. Either by you or by Christ.

III. God’s answer may just shock and amaze you. (33:6-9)

Here is another example of that “new math.”
You know were things do not seem to add up. Look carefully again at verses 4 and 5. Got that in mind? Now look at verse 6.

God promises to restore, renew and rebuilt Jerusalem.
He promises peace and pardon. This is remarkable given Jeremiah spent 40 years preaching God’s judgment. He warned against those who kept saying, “Peace. Peace. When there was no peace.” Now Babylon is knocking on the door and Jeremiah is promising God is going to bring peace!

But wait it is more glorious still – 33:8-9 - 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. 9 And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

1 John1:7 – “…the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Ephesians 1:7 – “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…”

What is the end result of all this?
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

What do you do when you have questions, fears and frustrations? You go to the Lord your God who welcomes your questioning heart. Be prepared when you do His answers may cause you some unrest but then again, His answer may just shock and amaze you.

Oh yeah, one more thing – this is a secret don’t you dare tell anyone!

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 32:26-46. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 26, 2008.

Introduction:
Are you ever troubled, burdened or confused about God’s will or God’s timing? Do you ever find yourself wondering if God is paying attention? Thought maybe He is just distracted and so hasn’t noticed what’s been happening in your world? Do you ever just want to say, “Lord are you sure about this?” That’s where Jeremiah was. Sure God had made it clear. God said to him, “Your cousin is going to come and offer you a piece of land. When he does you need to buy it.” Now this wasn’t a “coded” message. It was not a puzzle that he had to figure out. God plainly told him what to do. The cousin came. Made the offer and Jeremiah bought the old family farm. So what was the problem? Jeremiah had second thoughts. He obeyed without a moment’s hesitation but after the deal he thought, “what have I done?” Do you remember the circumstance?

1. Jeremiah was in jail for his preaching. He really upset the king.
2. He could die any day should the king decide to execute.
3. It was a time of war.
4. The Babylonian army already had the city surrounded.
5. Oh, and the farm was in enemy occupied territory!

According to “the book” this was not a good time to invest in real estate. Can you imagine going to the Babylonians and saying, “Ah, excuse me. I just bought this land so you’re going to need to move along.” No wonder he had second thoughts. No wonder he was struggling. Let’s see how he works through this struggle. Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 32.

Text: Jeremiah 32:26-46
This just might go down as one of the worst real estate investments in the history of the Middle East. But to make matters worse – it was God’s idea! Thus Jeremiah prays: 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, Buy the field for money and get witnesses—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans. (32:24-25) It is not really a request. It is not a question. It is kind of a statement but it is as if he stopped himself or maybe just wasn’t sure where to take it. It just hangs there. I think it is safe to read it as, “Am I right? Is this really what you want me to do?” Jeremiah cannot bring himself to say, “This is crazy” but that is what he is thinking. What do you do when you   God is crazy? How do you respond when you are confused and bewildered about things? When your stomach is in knots and your head is spinning where do you find peace? I think our text makes it clear that…

Thesis: At the end of the day, the troubled heart finds peace when standing in awe of the power, glory and grace of God.
Let’s look quickly at three things:

1. God responds to the questioning heart with a gentle yet firm reminder that He alone is God. (32:26-27)
   In affect Jeremiah is saying in that prayer recorded in 24-25 – “Lord do you know what you’re doing to my life?” Have you ever been there? Are you there now? “Lord is this really your answer? Are you kidding me?” How does God respond to that? He responds to Jeremiah’s question with a question of his own. “I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” I’m sorry Jeremiah are you saying this is too big a job for me? Are you saying this is out of my league? There is only one possible answer to this question – “NO!” The point of the question in Jeremiah 32:27 is that God is the almighty. This is to acknowledge that God is God. There are times you have nothing else to stand on. But you must understand – it is enough!
2. God reminds struggling saints of His just and righteous judgment. (32:28- 35)
   After God reminded Jeremiah that He alone is God He then reveals what he plans to do about it. The first thing He makes plain is that He is going to punish sin. This was something Jeremiah was very aware of. Already the Babylonians are pounding on the door. The nation is about to enter at time of severe judgment involving 70 years of exile. It may sound harsh but remember what brought this on. It is not like they were not warned. Repeatedly God sent his messengers. Jeremiah preached for 40 years. No one is going to be able to say, “We just didn’t know.” No one is going to be able to say, “It wasn’t me” – that’s the whole point of Romans 1-3. God is holy, righteous and just in his judgment. Romans 3:23; 6:23a. This is where our text gets very interesting. It takes a sudden and dramatic turn. Look at 32:36-37. What? “Therefore?” It is not logical. What follows doesn’t fit with what went before.
3. God reassures shaken saints of the wonder of His grace. (32:36-44)
   It just doesn’t fit. It isn’t logical. Donald Grey Barnhouse was exaggerating a bit but was right when he said the only logical doctrine in the Bible is the doctrine of hell. That one makes perfect sense. That a holy righteous God must punish sin. But the doctrine of grace defies logic. It seems fantastic even impossible – but is anything too hard for Him? Philip Ryken says this section reads like a “to do” list.

Here is what God promises to do by His grace.

• He promises to bring His people home – 32:37
• He promises to make His people His own – 32:38
• He promises to give His people a new heart – 32:39
• He promises to make an everlasting covenant with them – 32:40a
• He promises to make them secure – 32:40b
• He promises to rejoice over them – 32:41

Do you ever doubt God? Do you struggle with understanding His will? Are there times when you just don’t know? You obey but you have a nagging doubt? Go stand in His presence and be reminded that He alone is God. Remember His judgment is right and true. Then stand in awe of the wonder of His grace and find peace.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 32:1-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 19, 2008.

Introduction:
It was not the first time he’d been put into an awkward situation. In fact you might think he’d be use to it by now. But the truth is one never gets “use” to it. After awhile people begin to wonder if there is something seriously wrong with you. Yes he felt really silly making that long trip the Euphrates to bury his new belt. But what was worse was making the same trip months later to dig it up! And he was still catching grief over the garbage dump sermon. That’s the one where he gathered the city leaders and took them on a field trip. They went by the potter’s shop so he could buy a nice decorative bottle. Then they went down to the local dump and he started preaching about the judgment of God. In the middle of the sermon he smashed his new bottle and said, “that’s what God is about to do to this nation.” And do you remember when he made that yoke and wore it around town? Now when a guy walks around town wearing farm implements, people tend to talk. Just when you think it can’t get any weirder – Jeremiah is in jail and his long-lost cousin shows up with a “deal of a lifetime.” Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 32.

Text: Jeremiah 32:1-27
Do you ever find obedience to be difficult? Do you ever find yourself wondering why God wants you to do something that causes you to stand out from the crowd? Do you ever find yourself just wanting to “fit in” and be part of the gang rather than the odd man out? You can be honest. It is just us. We’re family. The path of discipleship is often narrow and difficult. We are regularly called outside of our comfort zone. We are called to do things that seem foolish to others and, to be honest, foolish to us. How do you obey when obedience seems unreasonable? How do you remain faithful when your faithfulness seems counter productive? As we walk through our text together we are going to find that…

Thesis: Obedience is ultimately a simple matter of trust.
Granted circumstances are often complex. There may be multiple issues involved. There may be a myriad of perspectives that give insight or nuance our decisions but at the end of the day it comes down to trust. Do we trust God or not? Are we willing to submit our judgment to His?

Let me point out two things as we work our way through this text.

1. Believers, by the grace of God, find the courage to obey even if the command appears to be utterly foolish and wasteful. (32:1-15)
   Now think for a minute. Was this a time for buying real estate? Was this a buyer’s market? Was this a wise investment for Jeremiah? He is in jail by order of the king. He could be executed any day should the king command it. It is a time of war. The enemy occupies the property in question! Can you imagine going to the bank to get a loan under those conditions? Further, Jeremiah knows what is going to happen and knows that the exile will last 70 years. He’ll never live to see the land or enjoy it. Every thing says, “Don’t do this.”
   —Jeremiah may “buy the farm” before he can buy the farm!
   —He is purchasing land that is now occupied by the enemy.
   —Property values are about to plummet.
   There was only one reason to purchase the property - God told him to do it. And that was enough of a reason for the prophet. He took God’s judgment over his own. The people of God regularly do things the world thinks are foolish.
   —Christians marry in spite of divorce rates.
   —Christians raise families while the world considers children a nuisance.
   — Christians leave home and family to sever as missionaries in distant lands. And they do it for one reason – because God commands it.
   At the first opportunity Jeremiah obeyed the call of God. But after the decision he began to wonder. He was haunted by the question of whether or not he had done the right thing. Have you ever been there? Have you ever struggled? Ever doubted? Ever been confused? Do you lie about other things too? That brings us to the second thing I want you to note from this text.
2. Believers, when overwhelmed by doubt and bewilderment brought on by their obedience find peace at the feet of their Sovereign. (32:16-27)
   What did Jeremiah do with his doubt? How did he respond to his questioning heart? He fled to God in prayer – 32:16. Phillip Ryken gives a helpful outline dealing with Jeremiah’s prayer. He points out four parts to Jeremiah’s prayer.
   —First, Jeremiah’s prayer began with a groan – “Ah, Lord God…”
   Whenever Jeremiah was in crisis his soul cried out to God. This is an example of Romans 8:26-27 - Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
   —Second, Jeremiah praises God for mighty acts. 32:17-19 He praises God as the creator (17-19) This places God in his rightful place as sovereign of the universe. The problem with naturalism/evolution it says man is an accident and God is the creation of man’s feeble imagination. Then he praises God as the redeemer (20-22)
   —Third, Jeremiah worships God for his glorious attributes.
   God is omnipotent – 32:17
   He is the God of covenant love – 32:18
   He is the God of justice – 32:18
   God is omniscient – 32:19
   —Finally, Jeremiah presents his problem. 32:25
   Did you notice this is not really a request? It is not a question. It is not always easy to follow the Lord. The path of discipleship is narrow, rocky and steep. It is not for the faint of heart. But it is well worth the climb. In the end it comes down to one simple thing. It is a matter of trust.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 31:31-40. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered a Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 5, 2008

Intro:
Confused by the events of recent days they sat around the table trying to make sense of it all. Their heads were spinning. Just when they thought they knew what was going on something happened that altered everything. They were thrilled and frightened. This could be the end of everything or it could be a glorious new beginning. They just weren’t sure what to make of it all when it happened. He took the cup and said, “This is the new covenant in my blood.” New covenant? It was a reference to a prophecy given 600 years before by the prophet Jeremiah to a group of exiles down in Babylon. It was a prophecy of a “new day.” A day that would change everything. Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 31.

Text: Jeremiah 31:31-40
Jeremiah was told, on the front end, that his would be a ministry of plucking up, breaking down, destroying and overthrowing. But there would be a time to build and to plant (1:10). For 40 years he plucked up, broke down, destroyed and overthrew at last he was getting a chance to build and plant. It was his unenviable task to preach God’s judgment during the final days of Judah before her fall to Babylon in 587 b.c. He spent 28 chapters laying out the case that they had violated the covenant. That God was holy and just in bringing judgment upon them. But in chapters 30-33 he brings them hope. He speaks words of grace, mercy and healing. And our text this evening is a marvelous promise of grace and glory. God’s grace is powerfully revealed in that…

Thesis: While Judah was staggering under the weight of divine judgment God promised to cure her backsliding and restore hope through a new covenant.

God has always dealt with man through a covenant. We are familiar with the language throughout Scripture. We know of the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and so forth. But what is a covenant? We often think of it in terms of a contract and while there is some truth in that analogy that does not quite cover it. Perhaps it is more like a treaty? Well, not really. O. Palmer Robertson describes a biblical covenant as, “a bond in blood sovereignly administered.” John Murray – “a sovereign administration of grace and promise.” I think those of both on the right track but they neglect the notion of a response of the part of those involved. I like Philip Ryken’s definition: A biblical covenant is a binding relationship of eternal consequence in which God promises to bless and his people promise to obey.

1. Jeremiah promises a superior covenant. (31:31-34)
   This covenant brings a great reconciliation – 31:31. It will be different that the covenant with Moses and Israel – 31:32-34.
   1. This new covenant will involve regeneration and the law written on the heart.
   2. It will reconcile men to God (I will be their God, they will be my people)
   3. It will bring forgiveness of sin.

   Jonathan Edwards the great pastor/theologian of the 1st Great Awakening describe the difference in this way. The difference between the Old and New Covenants is that in the Old God promised to be their God upon condition of a hearty obedience. In the New God promises a hearty obedience.

2. Jeremiah gives assurance that this is an everlasting covenant. (31:35-37)The God of creation is also the God of salvation. Therefore the new covenant is Christ is a reliable as the fixed laws of nature, if not more so. It is irrevocable. The likelihood of this new covenant failing is as likely as the universe grinding to a halt. How is it this is an eternal covenant? Because it is secure in Christ – he keeps the terms of the covenant perfectly. We are included because we are in Christ.
3. This new covenant guarantees a future glory. (31:38-40)The restoration of the city of course is partially fulfilled in Nehemiah but ultimately it awaits the coming of the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. This is glorious good news for all those who struggle under the weight of divine judgment whether that be the temporal judgment experienced down in Babylon or the judgment of sin. Our hope is in the God of the new covenant who desires us to enter into life abundant with him.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 31:7-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 28, 2008.

Introduction:
The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church we are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). What does that mean? It means we live according to what God has said rather than by what we can see or how we feel. Let’s be honest – that is a tough assignment. That is very demanding. Especially during times of great distress or difficulty. When times are dark and hope is gone faith flounders. When your loved one dies or your job is taken away or you’re not sure how you are going to provided for your family or the diagnosis is not good - faith can be in short supply. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen but in times of crisis that sounds like, “wishful thinking and blatant denial” and that usually doesn’t put food on the table. I’m not trying to be flippant I’m trying to be honest about the struggle of faith. You may find courage to face that momentary sit back but what happens when the sit back becomes a crippling disability? What happens when that detour turns out to be a total rerouting of your journey? Jerusalem was in ruins. The temple burned. Israel’s best and brightest are captives in a foreign land. And God has made it clear this is not short-term thing. This is not summer camp this is for the long haul. Some of those now in Babylon will never see their home again. Dreams have died. Hopes have been crushed. Joy and laughter have departed and sorrow and mourning have become constant companions. How do you go on? What are you to do?

Rachel was the wife of Jacob. While traveling from Bethel to Bethlehem she stopped near Ramah. There Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty (Genesis 35:16). She delivered a son in anguish and named him with her dying breath – “Ben-Oni” – “son of my trouble” later his father Jacob renamed him Benjamin. She was also the mother of Ephraim and Manasseh. She represents in Jeremiah 31 all those mothers who have lost their children as well as the nation of Judah weeping over the loss of her sons. Ramah was a transit camp for refugees (40:1). The Babylonians dragged their prisoners 5 miles from Jerusalem to a staging area in Ramah were they were chained together in preparation for the long march to Babylon. It must have been a place of great distress and grief. Mother’s wailed over the loss of their children. Some had starved during the siege, others died by the sword during the sacking of the city still others were ripped from their mother’s breasts never to be seen again. This was a place of national mourning. Of course Rachel wept. In her misery she cried out to God and God answered. Thus says the LORD:

Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the LORD,
and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
There is hope for your future,
declares the LORD,
and your children shall come back to their own country.
I have heard Ephraim grieving… Jeremiah 31:16-18a; ESV

When God came to comfort Rachel He did not come and say, “There now. Everything is okay. Don’t cry.” He came with a promise of doing something about her pain and her circumstance. He came promising to make things right. He promised their sufferings would not last forever. He promised to turn their mourning into gladness and to give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. And His promises had to be received by faith because there were years of heartache and struggle between the promise made and the
promise fulfilled. Our text is found in Jeremiah 31.

Text: Jeremiah 31:7-26
How do we suffer in faith? That is what this text is about. How is it we exhibit our faith in Christ and God’s grace in the face of great difficulty? Jeremiah reminds us…

Thesis: When faced with overwhelming circumstances and great hardship believers cling tenaciously to the Sovereign God who promises grace, provision, peace and ultimately deliverance.

1. God promises to restore the heart through worship. (31:7, 12, 13, 23)
2. God promises to answer their prayer. (31:7-8)
3. Closely associated with this is the promise of preservation. (31:8)
4. God promises to return and restore the captives. (31:9, 18-19)
5. God promises forgiveness. (31:9, 20)
6. God promises guidance. (31:9, 21)
7. God promises to shepherd His people. (31:10)
8. God promises to ransom and redeem His people. (31:11)
9. God promises to provide for His people. (31:12, 14, 24)

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” As the people of God we have no assurance of a life free from heartache and struggle – quite the contrary. But we have assurance of the presence, the grace and the promise of our God. How do we respond to life’s struggles? We don’t give in. We walk by faith. And joy will come in mourning.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 30:18-31:6. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 21, 2008.

Intro:
Have you noticed certain people just have a way of putting you at ease? Have you found that when things are really bad there are one or two folks that if you talk to them you are going to feel a whole lot better about things? They know you and you trust their judgment and you welcome their input. I have some friends like that. When I find myself struggling or frustrated I call them up and when I hang up the phone I feel better about things. When they assure me that life is going to go on and the sun will come up tomorrow – I tend to believe them. When they tell me I need to make some changes or adjust a few things I heed their advice. It comes down to trust. In the same way there are folks who make promises and I’m willing to go to the bank on their promise. There are other folks who can assure me until they are blue in the face and I’m never going to act upon it because I don’t trust them and they’ve proven their word is no good. You know as well as I do a promise is only as good as the person who makes it. The people of Judah had turned a deaf ear to Jeremiah the prophet. He told them for years that God was coming in judgment. They didn’t listen. As far as they could tell nothing had changed and besides “respected” religious leaders assured them all was well. But after decades of repeated warnings and mocking responses God did come in judgment. Babylon sacked Jerusalem and carried away Judah’s best and brightest. The temple was destroyed and God told the people to “settle in” down in Babylon because they would not see home for some time. In fact they were to build houses, plant vineyards, marry, have children, find spouses for their children because it would be 7 decades before they would be allowed to return to the Land of Promise. They began to look at Jeremiah in a new light. When he came declaring that God had spoken they were a little more inclined to listen. After years of “plucking up and breaking down; of destroying and overthrowing; it was finally time to do a little planting and building” (Jeremiah 1:10). In chapters 30-33 Jeremiah gets to bring the exiles some hope. He brought to them what one scholar called, “the grand hymn of Israel’s deliverance.” He brought them the Gospel, the good news that God delivers His people. Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 30, beginning at verse 18.

Text: Jeremiah 30:18-31:6
Last time we look at the first 17 verses of chapter 30. We discovered that 6 centuries before Christ Jeremiah revealed the glory of the Gospel to a bunch of stubborn, stiffnecked exiles. We continue along that same line this evening as we learn that…

Thesis: God’s people have always found courage and strength for troublesome times by resting in His promise of deliverance and blessing.

When I say, “resting” I mean trusting in or relying upon. It is an active rest. It means to embrace the promise of God and allow that promise to shape and mold your life. It impacts your daily decisions. It informs your response to the world around you. It becomes part of you. It is not just some information you file away and say, “Well some day that will mean something.” It means something now. It affects things now. It sooths your doubts and calms your fears now.

I want to briefly and quickly point out three things.

1. God promises to bring glory out of the ashes. (30:18-20)
2. God promises a gracious kingly priest. (30:21)
3. God promises a glorious transformation. (30:22-31:6)

This is the hope of the people of God. Regardless of our circumstances – God is faithful to His promise. He promises to bring glory from ashes. He promises a gracious kingly priest. He promises a glorious transformation.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 30:1-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 7, 2008.

Introduction:
We are a “Gospel People.” A people given life and identity by the good news of life through the person of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the glorious good news that God has dealt with our sin and rebellion and offers us life through the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are all less than what we were created to be. But because God is loving, merciful and kind – He chose to save us rather than destroy us. He chose to give us life rather than death. The problem was how could He do that without denying His own character and nature? How does He remain holy and yet forgive? How can righteousness and justice prevail without handing down the just and right sentence? Our problem is huge. We’ve sinned against the king of the universe. Each act of treason is a violation of His imminent person. And it is not a matter we did one thing – we’ve done hundreds if not thousands! If you got by with only three sins a day (not bad) that is over 1000 a year. Multiply your age by 1000 and what do you come up with? Now stand before a judge and say, “Your honor, I’m no criminal. I’m not a bad person. I’ve only got (45,000, 57,000, 70,000) violations.” What do you think a judge would say? And the problem is not just with what we’ve done – it’s with who we are. At the time of the flood man is describe in the following manner: “…every intention of the thoughts of his heart, was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Jeremiah describes man’s heart as, “…deceitful above all things, and desperately sick…” (Jeremiah 17:9). In the New Testament we read, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When we put the biblical account together we find that man is beyond hope in himself. His condition is incurable. There is nothing he can do. In fact man is described as being “dead in trespass and sin.” Man’s condition is universal and hopeless. Unless of course God does the impossible. And that is the good news. Our text this evening is found in the 30th chapter of Jeremiah.

Text: Jeremiah 30:1-17

Jeremiah has been called to deliver a very difficult message. A message of judgment and wrath. And yet throughout there is a hint of hope. Even in judgment God is merciful. When I said, at the beginning, that we are a “Gospel People” I was not just referring to the Church – but all the people of God starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden. God’s people have always been a Gospel people. Our hope has always rested in the promise of a deliverer. No one has ever been saved or ever will be saved by some other method. It has always been, is and forever will be, by the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the Gospel is not relegated to the pages of the New Testament rather it is a biblical doctrine found throughout the Scriptures. In fact what I want you to see in our text this evening is that…

Thesis: Six centuries before Christ, Jeremiah the prophet revealed the glory of the Gospel too a bunch of stubborn, stiff-necked exiles.

I just want to point out two things in our text.

1. Jeremiah reveals the pain of bondage and the debt of sin. (30:4-7; 10b; 12-15; 17b)
   There is a glorious promise of deliverance and we’ll look at that next but what is made clear in this passage is something the exiles already knew – they were captives. This is the starting point for the Gospel. You cannot appreciate God’s grace until you genuinely understand what it means to be in the grip of sin.
2. Jeremiah reveals the promise of God’s gracious deliverance. (30:1-3; 8-11; 16-17)
   This is the Gospel – you are a sinner. Your heart is corrupted. Your condition is incurable. There is nothing you can do but God offers you life by doing the impossible.

Do you know Him? If so rejoice. If not come to Christ now!

 

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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 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 Jeremiah 27:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 3, 2008.