The Plowman

Demands of Impactful Ministry [ 31:17 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (42)

Demands of Impactful Ministry: Nehemiah #4

This is an exposition of Nehemiah 3:1-32. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 8, 2015.

Intro:

We live in a increasingly competitive world.   A world in which only the fit will survive.  Businesses are seeing the need to sharpen their competitive edge.  They are discovering the need to demonstrate their relevance to a skeptical and increasingly selective public.  There is no such thing as “brand loyalty” in today’s world.  If you want my business you must guarantee me the best product at the best price.  Plain and simple, I want what is best for me and nothing else really matters.  I have to admit  I don’t like that attitude but it is becoming the mindset of the culture, like it or not.

We also need to recognize that this mindset is not limited to business or consumer concerns it is also true in the church.  “Brand name” has little meaning in today’s church.  It’s not about whether you’re Baptist, Assembly, Methodist, Presbyterian or non-denominational it is about what are you offering me?  How will you serve me?  What’s in this for me?  How will your church meet my needs better than that church down the street?  Or even more basic what will I get from your church that I can’t get somewhere else?  O more basic still, “Why do I need what you’re selling?”  Gone are the days of people seeking us out because they feel pressured to be part of the church.  Gone are the days of putting up a sign and people show up.  Fewer and fewer know anything about who or what we are.  They know very little about what we believe or what we are about.

If we are going to minister to this culture we have to understand this culture.  This is not your grandmother’s community.  This is not the community I grew up in.  Things are very different.  If we are to reach this lost culture we have to think and act differently than a generation ago.  Now, I’m not saying we need to do “whatever” it takes to reach the culture.  I’m not talking about lowering the standards in order to make the faith relative to folks today.  The Word of God is relevant we do not have to “make” it relevant.  Rather we must be faithful to declare the Word of God in its entirety.  I’m not suggesting that we have to make the gospel palatable.  I am saying we have to rethink some things and be willing to do some things differently if we are to impact this culture.  That is the goal.  To impact the culture, to make a difference.  To be salt and light.  To live in a way that displays the glory of God and demonstrates the transforming power of the Gospel.

From 1000 miles away God gave him a burden.
Nehemiah, living in the king’s palace, was burden for his countrymen.
They were in great trouble and disgrace.
He wasn’t – he was doing just fine.
But he chose to suffer with his people rather than live in luxury in the king’s palace.
After 4 months of mourning, praying and grieving God opened the door of opportunity.
Nehemiah swallowed hard, prayed a quick prayer and spoke to the king.
He asked for permission to go, for protection, and for provision.
God graciously worked in the heart of the pagan king and supplied everything needed for the job.

Upon arrival Nehemiah was met by opposition.
Add to that the task was overwhelming.
After being back in the land for 100 years the walls were still down and the gates still charred.
Nehemiah found a discouraged people.
Yet he pressed on.

He challenged the people then told them of all the LORD had spoken to him and what the LORD had already done and was doing.  As a result the people said, “Let us rise up and build!”  (2:8)
That brings us to Nehemiah 3.

Text: Nehemiah 3:1-32

It was time to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
This is what the book is about – building walls and restoring the gates.
You would think, since this is what the book is about, this chapter ought to be exciting.
Well, it’s not!

In fact, if Nehemiah 3 was your daily Bible reading and you tried to read it in bed you wouldn’t make it past Nehemiah 3:3.

It is interesting that most commentators skip it.
It’s again tempting to think Paul must have skip it before he wrote, “All Scripture is profitable…”
Yet I have to believe this is important or it wouldn’t be here.
It doesn’t really help to try and outline it because it won’t outline.
When you break it into smaller pieces it makes less sense.
What’s the point?
It is a list of names – most of which I can’t pronounce.
Then there are references to various gates.

Then I thought, the answer is not in breaking it down but in backing off.  Quit looking at the details and try seeing the big picture.  That’s when I began to see three things standing out in this chapter.  I’ve come to see them as three demands of effectively making a difference.  As we look at this ancient text I want us to note three demands for making a difference in our world.

1. Making a real difference in this community demands total participation.
2. Making a difference in this community demands a spirit of genuine cooperation.
3. Making a difference in this community demands proper affirmation.

Conclusion:

We must all participate
Doing what we can for the glory of God.
Whether that is through praying and giving.
Or teaching a class.
Making phone calls.
Writing letters.
Speaking an encouraging word.
Serving a meal.
Baking a cake.
Speaking to your neighbor.

There must be a genuine spirit of cooperation
One agenda – His
Lay aside our egos
Catch a vision for something larger, greater
Submit to the will of the body

Give the proper affirmation
Seek God’s glory above all else
Celebrate the accomplishments of others

Principles of Godly Leadership [ 45:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (56)

Principles of Godly Leadership: Nehemiah #3

This is an exposition of Nehemiah 2:11-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 1, 2015.

Intro:

Do you ever look at the world around us and think, “What kind of impact can I possibly have on this mess?”  Do you sometimes wonder if things have already gone too far; that we’ve crossed the line of no return?  I came across some notes I had from 20 years ago.  I had written down that I was watching television and there was a couple who had been happily married for 5 years.  One night the wife said to her husband, “I was born different.”  20 years ago that really got your attention!  She went on to explain, “I was born a man.”  The husband then explained that at first he was a “little” shocked but that he had come to understand that God had brought this wonderful “lady” into his life because he needed to expand his understanding and be more excepting.  The audience responded with tears and enthusiastic applause.  That was 20 years ago.  We know where we are now.  Bruce Jenner gets an award for courage as he “transitioned” into Caitlyn.  Just this week Glamour Magazine named Jenner 2015’s “Woman of the Year.”  One cannot help but think of Romans Nehemiah 1.  After all the discussion about exchanging the truth of God for a lie and God giving them over to depraved minds, the chapter ends with, “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”  I wonder have we gone too far?

Or consider the Planned Parenthood videos.  You have the medical director of Planned Parenthood talking about how they harvest various organs from the unborn for “reimbursement.”  There is talk of crushing the child above or below the desired organ or tissue so as not to damage.  Where is the outrage?  These atrocities read like the things done in Nazi extermination camps.  But the response is to yawn and turn over and catch the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars!  I wonder have we gone too far?

At times the task seems overwhelming but then I remember, our God is a mighty God.
God is not dead.
He’s not even sick!
Considering where we are, it would take a miracle to turn this thing around.
But of course, our God is a miracle working God.

He was cup bearer to king Artaxerxes.
Living in luxury 1000 miles away.

Yet he chose to be mistreated with the people God rather than live in luxury in the palace of the king.  For 4 months Nehemiah wept, mourned and prayed for the opportunity to return to Jerusalem.  Finally a door opened.  With courage and boldness he asked the king:

• For permission to return to Jerusalem
• For letters of protection
• For all the materials needed to rebuild the walls and to restore the gates.

God granted him favor and thus he was on his way to the holy city.
That is where we pick up the story.

Text: Nehemiah 2:9-20

Every year business and professional people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on leadership training, seminars, and books.  In recent years the church has jumped on the bandwagon.  Seminars and conferences are offered to lead church staff through the “latest” innovations on leadership.  Of course what the church is doing today is what the business community was doing yesterday!  It is sad because we’ve had at our figure tips a very effective course in leadership – it’s called the book of Nehemiah.

The first group of exiles returned in 536 BC.
It is now 444 BC – it’s been almost 100 years and the walls are still down, the gates still in ruin.
The name of God is being disgraced.
The character of God is being maligned.
Nehemiah is burdened.
He returns and in 52 days the job is done!

I think there are some lessons in leadership to be learned from this man.
Again – he’s not a super hero.
His an average man in the service of an extraordinary God.
His life serves to remind us that…

Thesis: Effective ministry, ministry that impacts the community, demands godly leadership.

Godly leadership is that which is born in the heart of God and is implemented through those who walk in obedience to commands, yielding to His Sovereignty.

As we work our way through this text I want to point out three (3) principles of godly leadership.

1. Godly leadership prayerfully plans while awaiting the Lord’s timing.  (2:11-16)
2. Godly leadership enthusiastically meets the challenge set before it.  (2:17-18)
3. Godly leadership refuses to bow at the whim of the critic.  (2:19-20)

Conclusion:
Before we close, are you an obstructionist or a constructionist?  When you have disagreement (notice I didn’t say “if” but “when”) are you constructive or destructive in what you say or do?  Are you actions motivated by love and concern for the work of God or is are you motivated by self interest?  Are you actions meant to help or to hurt?  I’m spending time here because God is at work and the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy that work.  It is critical that we, as a church, be united, committed to a common task and supportive of one another.

God has called us to an effective ministry.  One that makes a difference in this community.  To that end we must be willing to prayerful plan while awaiting the Lord’s timing; enthusiastically embrace the challenge and refuse to bow to the whim of our critics.

You Can Make a Difference [ 36:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (43)

You Can Make a Difference!: Nehemiah #2

An exposition of Nehemiah 2:1-8. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 25, 2015.

Intro:

You’ve no doubt heard the expression, “He is an impact player.”  That means this person is one whose ability profoundly effects the game.  His presence is felt.  I always wanted to be an impact player.  I wanted by presence to known on the field.  Unfortunately I was not an impact player…at least not in the way I wanted to impact the game.  My presence was felt.  I was voted most valuable player on 3 opposing teams!  In spite of my ability or lack thereof I desired to make a difference.  I dreamed of being that guy.  There is something within each of us that wants to leave a lasting impression on the world.  Even if we do not feel like an impact player we want to believe the world is different because of our having been here.

That desire is consistent with the call of God on our lives.  Those of us who possess life in Christ are called to be salt and light.  That means we are called to impact our community.  We are called to make a difference.  Salt seeks to slow dow the decaying process and light exposes evil and corruption.  If we are salt and light our community will be different.  Of course there are times when the task is overwhelming.  Times when making a difference seems out of reach.  There are times when we look at the world and say, “What difference can I make?  I’m just one person.  There’s only so much I can do.”  The Old Testament book of Nehemiah proves to be a source of great encouragement when it comes to making a difference.

The year was 445 BC.
Nehemiah who was cupbearer to king Artexerxes of Persia.
That meant he enjoyed a life of wealth, luxury, influence and power.
Yet his heart was in Jerusalem.
He was burdened about his homeland and the exiles who had gone home.

When some men returned to Susa from  Jerusalem Nehemiah made inquiries about Jerusalem and the status of those who had survived the exile.  The report was not good.  The people were, “in great trouble and disgrace.”

Nehemiah was devastated.
Though he was 1000 miles away and “unaffected” by their plight he wept, mourned and prayed.
During this time he assessed the damage, accepted responsibility, and sought the hand of God.
Nehemiah was a man of courage, conviction and perseverance.

His character is best summed up in Nehemiah 5 and Nehemiah 2:15.  There we learn that previous governors of Judah had placed undue burdens on the people but Nehemiah refused to do so because of his, “fear of God.”  Nehemiah was a man of God.  His life demonstrates for us the power of the individual, yielded to the hand of God, to make a difference in their world.  Our text this evening is found in Nehemiah Nehemiah 2.

Text: Nehemiah 2:1-8

As we explore the second chapter of Nehemiah a timeless principle emerges from the opening verses.  Here we discover that…

Thesis: When you submit to Christ, yield to His timing, understand the task assigned and trust His provision you can impact your world for the glory of God.

Nehemiah was a man of flesh and bone.
He was not a super hero.
He was  not unusually gifted.
He was an average man in the service of an extraordinary God.

A man called of God, equipped by God and used for the glory of God.  As we look at his life we will discover 3 characteristics of a person of impact.  Do you want to make a difference?  Do you want your life to count?  Consider the life of this servant.

1. For your life to count you must patiently yield to the LORD’s timing.  (2:1)
2. For your life to count you must possess a genuine sense of mission and purpose.  (2:2-3)
3. For your life to count you must proceed with absolute confidence in God’s gracious provision.  (2:4-8)

Conclusion:
Do you want to be an impact player?  Do you want to leave your mark?

You must yield to the LORD’s timing.
You must possess a genuine sense of mission and purpose.
You must trust in God’s gracious provision.