The Plowman

The Touch of Grace [ 36:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (61)

The Touch of Grace

The Parables of Jesus

The Parables of Jesus #11: an exposition of Luke 7:36-50. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 21, 2015.

Intro:

It is the mark of a great book or movie.  You figure it all out early in the story.  You know who did it and you know why they did it.  You are putting all the pieces together as the story unfolds.  You are feeling smug and confident as the story reaches it’s climax – then it happens.  Your suspect dies.  It wasn’t him after all.  But wait, how can that be?  The ending shocks you.  You are amazed and yet now it all makes sense.  “Of course!”  Why couldn’t you see that before?  It is the last thing you would have ever suspected and yet it is the only way that makes sense.  You were caught completely off guard.  The storyteller exploited your bias and made his point.

Luke the physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, took events, teachings and encounters from the life and ministry of Jesus and wove them together in a fascinating tale for his friend Theophilus.  His purpose in writing was to demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the Messiah of the Jews and the Savor of the world.  His goal was to bring his friend to faith in Jesus as the Christ.  Luke, with the skill of an artist and the depth of a master storyteller, creates a powerful account of the life of Jesus.

In the seventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel we find the account of a dinner party.  This was no ordinary dinner party.  Especially when you consider it took place in the home of a Pharisee.  Here a Pharisee was entertaining a rebel rousing itinerate preacher and in walks the town prostitute!  It makes for an interesting evening and more importantly; it reveals a profound truth.

Text: Luke 7:36-50

The story is simple.
In fact its simplicity is the secret to its beauty.
Luke, through an economy of words, tells a powerful story.
Two different people.
Two very different lifestyles.
One extremely religious the other a notorious sinner.
Both were exposed to the teaching ministry of Jesus.
And as you might expect – there were two different responses.
One was gloriously transformed.
The other was hardened in their sin and driven further from salvation.
But which was which?  That is the surprising part.
Let’s look at our text.

Their story is central to Luke’s purpose.
For from his account we learn that:

The sovereign touch of grace radically transforms the most ardent sinner.

And we are reminded of its parallel truth:

Apart from the sovereign touch of grace the most righteous person is held captive by his own self-righteousness.

This passage is about the heart of the Gospel – for it is about grace.
God’s unmerited favor.  God granting to us what we do not deserve.
In fact it is more than that – it is granting us life and hope and peace when we are deserving of the exact opposite!

And that is precisely what Simon and his fellow religious leaders could not see.  They failed to grasp the heart of His message.  They couldn’t get past their rules to see His grace.  Their problem was they didn’t understand the depth of their own sin – they were unaware of their own depravity.  Oh, they knew God was Holy.  They knew they were not holy.  They understood the need for ritual cleansing and sacrifice – but they were so caught up in the symbolism they failed to understand the substance.  Ritual they understood.  Rules they obeyed.  It is the reality of their predicament they failed to recognize.  Keep that in mind as we watch the evening unfold.

Let’s examine first the life of Simon as we discover:

1. The heart untouched by grace is filled with arrogance and contempt.
2. The heart touched by the grace of God overflows with love and devotion.

Conclusion:
This woman, in contrast to Simon, saw only her great need, and therefore was overwhelmed with love for him who could supply her need.  And this is in evidence that she knows forgiveness.

Jesus sought to drive the point home to Simon by telling this parable 7:41-43.

Simon patronizingly answered Jesus’ questions – but he failed to understand its message.

The sovereign touch of grace radically transforms the most ardent sinner.

This text serves as a solemn warning and a wonderful promise.
Self-righteousness hardens the heart and drives you away from God’s only provision.
A deep awareness of sin and genuine repentance enables forgiveness and life.

The Folly of Materialism [ 34:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (54)

The Folly of Materialism

The Parables of Jesus

The Parables of Jesus #10: an exposition of Luke 12:13-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 14, 2015.

Intro:

You do know don’t you, that we are a spoiled bunch?  We in America possess most of the world’s wealth.  When it comes to per capita income we are by far the “richest nation on earth.”  Yet most of us are far from satisfied.  We are driven in an endless pursuit of stuff.  We have more than we could ever use.  Yet we can always justify more.  Do you know what one of the fastest growing industries in the United States is?  Storage facilities.  That’s a facility were you rent space to store the stuff you don’t have room to store at home!  When you are looking for a new home – what do you look for?  Closet space.  Why?  You’ve got to have room for your stuff.  We’ve got two large walk-in closets, two hall closets and a long closet in the boys’ room.  They are stuffed with stuff.  We have a garage full; a shed full in the backyard and the attic is more than full.  We’ve got boxes in the attic that we’ve not opened since 1980.  Now in that time we’ve moved from Tulsa to Shawnee, to Fort Worth, to Pawnee, to Ponca City and back to Tulsa.  Each time we moved those boxes – we still haven’t opened them!  But we had to take them with us because they have our stuff in them!

Materialism is a problem in the American culture.  One financial expert has said that our financial woes are do, in large part, to the fact our neighbors keep buying things we can’t afford!  Advertising is big business.  One cynic has suggested that, “Advertising is the art of getting people to buy what they don’t need by describing it in ways they know are not true.”  We see and advertisement and think, “Oh, I’ve got to have one of those.”  It is a universal problem and those of us in the church are certainly not immune.

The sad reality is that multitudes are seeking meaning in fulfillment in the “things” they possess.  If they can just get that house – then they’ll be happy.  If I had that car.  If I just had this much in the bank.  They spend their days in the endless pursuit of a dream only to learn it was a nightmare.  How many have sacrificed their families, their health, and their souls in the pursuit of things only to learn it was all an illusion?  R.G. Lee said in his masterful sermon, Payday Someday, “The Devil always pays with counterfeit bills.”

But being consumed with the material is nothing new.  Man has always struggled with a desire to have.  It’s as old as life in the Garden.  Covetousness and greed have poisoned the souls of men throughout the ages.  In fact it was a desire to possess that drove a man to interrupt the Lord Jesus in the midst of a sermon.  We read about it in the 12th chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

Text: Luke 12:13-21

The purpose and background of Luke’s Gospel.
The immediate context of 12:13-21
Jesus was teaching about authentic faith.
The need to focus on central issues – transparent honest, reverential fear of God, God’s providential care and the Spirit’s enabling.

Someone in the crowd had an issue they wanted settled.  So when there was a pause in the message, he interrupted . . .

I have to say this interruption sounds very familiar.  Jesus is discussing core issues.  This is the essence of life and this man is interested only in himself.  He cannot look beyond his own wants and desires to see what Jesus has to say.  His attitude seems to be “that’s all well and good – but I’ve got a real problem here.”  He is so consumed with greed he is incapable of hearing what the Lord Jesus has to say.  Jesus knew this man’s heart.  He saw past his complaint to the driving motive of his heart.  Thus Jesus’ answer is rather curt.  And He took the opportunity to teach us a valuable lesson about life.

Thesis: The wise man seeks meaning and fulfillment along the God-ordained path.

Somewhere along the way we’ve gotten a little to smart for our own good.  We got the idea that we know what’s best for us.  We know what will make us happy.  It just isn’t so.  Our maker knows better than we do.  He knows what best fulfills us.  He knows what we were created for!

It has been suggested that when you buy a refrigerator – you get a book.  The book says, “read this before you use.”  The maker, manufacturer wants to make sure you understand how to use their product for maximum benefit and efficiency.  You buy a refrigerator, get a book.

You buy a stereo – you get a book.
Buy a washer – get a book.
A car – get a book.
You get life – you get a book!

God reveals Himself in His book.  He reveals His person.  He reveals His purpose in creating you.  He reveals how you can best function.  And in the book you can find the way to true, lasting fulfillment and purpose.

There are two things I want us to note in our text this morning.

1. The fool expects to find meaning and fulfillment in the accumulation of things.  (12:13-20)
2. The wise man knows true meaning and fulfillment are not found in things but in a person.  (12:21)

Conclusion:
How does one become rich toward God?

Two things are essential:

• Desire to serve God first and foremost.
  Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot serve both God and money (mammon).
• You must empty yourself of anything that would take the place of God in your life.
  Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poverty-stricken of spirit…”

This is the issue: are you in relationship with the God who is through the person of His son the Lord Jesus?

Lifes Big Question [ 31:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (103)

Lifes Big Question

The Parables of Jesus #09: an exposition of Luke 18:9-14. this message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 7, 2015.

The Parables of Jesus

Intro:

It is a natural response.  It is perfectly understandable.  It is what anyone would do.  You found out that you have greatly offended someone and you immediately begin to think of how you can make it right.  Surely there is something you can say or do that will appease them.  Some gesture on your part that adequately demonstrates that you are truly sorry and that you’re sincere when you say you will never do it again.  We’ve all been there and done that.  It makes perfect sense.  Now, what if it is really bad?  I mean really, really bad.  I mean the worst possible kind of bad?  What do you do when the one offended is God?  How do you make it right with God?  That is what our text is about this morning.  As we consider life’s big question while we explore Luke 18:9-14.

Text: Luke 18:9-14

Luke the physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul is writing to his friend Theophilus about the life and ministry of Jesus.  Luke wants his friend to have an accurate account of the life of Jesus.  His goal is that his friend would come to see Jesus not just as the Jewish Messiah but as the Savior of the world.  His purpose is evangelistic.  Throughout his gospel Luke has been showing the growing hostility toward Jesus from the religious establishment.  That hostility is reaching fever pitch and is about to explode in the cross.

In the preceding passage Jesus drew a sharp contrast between the character of God and that of a corrupt civil official.  Demonstrating that our confidence and persistence in prayer is based on the character and strength of God.  We are reminded that we are to pray and never give up.  Prayer again is involved in the parable that is before us.  However, the issue in this parable is the larger question behind the prayers of two very different men.

Thesis: At issue in this parable is life’s most important question – “How is a man justified in the eyes of God?”

How is a man justified?
How is he made right with God?
How does a sinful man stand in the presence of a holy and righteous God?
That is life’s most important question.
That is the question everyone in this room must deal with.

We are all sinful – for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  We are all less than what God created us to be.  We all fail to live according to God’s commands.  We are sinners.  What was said of the people in Noah’s day could certainly be said of us today, “Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”  That’s who we are.  That is an accurate accounting of human nature.  Now set that along side God’s standard of “Be perfect even as I am perfect.”  “Be holy because I am holy.”  We don’t measure up.  We fall short.  How do we remedy that?  How do we make that right?  That is the focus of Jesus’ parable.

Our first clue as to where this is heading is found in the opening verse.  Luke informs us that Jesus told this parable to some folks who where confident in their own righteousness.  The words used mean that they were fully persuaded that they were upright and virtuous.  These folks saw themselves as faultless and as pure as the driven snow.  We have to add to this sense of self-righteousness a hostility toward everyone else.  They not only trusted in themselves – they despised everyone else.  They viewed the rest of the word with contempt!  Jesus is about to upset their apple cart.  He does so by telling them a story about two men.  Two men who went to the temple to pray.  Two men who were very different.  One well thought of and admired by all.  The other hated and despised by everyone.  One went home “justified” the other went away condemned.  Who was justified and who was condemned?  The answer may surprise you.

Two men – two prayers – a very surprising response.
Two things I want us to glean from this text.

1. The example of the Pharisee serves to remind us that God in holiness rejects the pious claims of the self-righteous.  (18:9-12)
2. The prayer of the tax collector reminds us that God in grace responds to the humble cry of the repentant sinner.  (18:13-14)

Conclusion:

How is a man made right with God?  How do you deal with your sin?  It is not a matter of cleaning yourself up.  It is not a matter of your performing certain acts.  You can’t make it right.  You cannot fix this problem.  All you can do is throw yourself on the mercy of God.  That’s the Gospel.  That is why Jesus came.

God in his holiness rejects the pious claims of the self-righteous but in grace He response to the humble cry of the repentant sinner.

The Biblical Gospel [ 38:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (59)

The Biblical Gospel

The Parables of Jesus

The Parables of Jesus #08: an exposition of Luke 13:22-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 31, 2015.

Intro:

Choices, have you ever seen so many choices?  In everything.  Some of you remember if you wanted a car – you had a choice of color.  You could have a black one or if you prefer – you could get a one that was black.  Ice cream?  Did you want vanilla or chocolate?  Now?  You name it – including onion flavored, which goes great with a slice of cheeseburger pie.  Television – we now have the expanded basic which means we have 50 channels with nothing on.  It seemed a lot simpler when we lived in Masham.  If we wanted to go out to eat we just had to decide if we were going to Click’s Steakhouse or the Sonic.  Now, by the time we decide where we are going to eat – they’re closed!  Ours is a consumer-oriented age.  An age in which the customer is always right.  Our motto is, “give’m what they want.”  Unfortunately that mentality has found its way into the church.  Where we are compelled to cater to the kinds of folks we desire to reach.  Have you watch religious programming lately?  You will see everything from “high church” to “low church” to “no church.”  Everything from robes and pipe organs to rock bands and blue jeans.  To be honest with you – I’m not worried about the style of dress.  I’m not all that concern with the style of worship or the type of music.  I am very concerned about the attitude and the message!  I am concerned about an attitude in worship that sets man and his wants above God and His glory.  I am concerned about an attitude that says, “God this had better be good – I’ve given up my morning to be here.”  I am concerned about a message that has strayed from the core issues of the Gospel.

Now, I’m all for seeking to meet people where they are.  I’m all for becoming all things to all men so that by all means we may save some.  I understand that.  I agree with that.  What I’m concerned about is that in the mad dash to compete with the world around us, we become so focused on “felt needs” we forget about “genuine needs.”  Do you remember the crippled man who was brought to Jesus in Capernaum?  His friends lowered him from the ceiling until he rested at the feet of Jesus.  That man and the whole crowd knew his need – he needed to be healed.  Jesus spoke to his genuine need, “my son, your sins are forgiven.”  Meeting felt needs is fine.  Binding up the broken is essential to the work God has given us.  But what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet loose his own soul?  The primary call of the church is to preach the Gospel.  Not just any Gospel but the biblical Gospel.  That is at the heart of our text this morning found in the 13th chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

Text for “The Biblical Gospel”: Luke 13:22-30

The opening verse of our text takes us back to Luke 9 Luke 13:51.
Our Lord is determined to go to Jerusalem.
Why?  The time has come.  The time sovereignly determined by the Father.
The work of redemption is about to take place.
It is in that context that these words are spoken.

With these words we are reminded that:

Thesis for “The Biblical Gospel”: We, in keeping with the ministry of the Lord Jesus, are called to faithfully, uncompromisingly preach the biblical doctrine of salvation.

Our Lord is on His way to Jerusalem.  Along the way He is preaching and teaching in the towns and villages.  Someone from the crowd approaches Him and asks a question.  It is a good, honest and certainly an understandable question.  In responding to the question our Lord turned to the crowd – reflected in the plural “you” – and rather than answer a speculative question dealt with the nature of salvation itself.  In His response we find three profound truths related to the heart and soul of biblical salvation.  What is biblical salvation about?  What is the nature of this salvation?  Who will be saved?  These are the issues dealt with in our Lord’s response.

3 things I want us to note.

1. First of all, note salvation’s intensely personal nature.  (13:22-24)
2. Second, note salvation’s sobering realities.  (13:25-28)
3. Note salvation’s universal flavor.  (13:29-30)

Conclusion for “The Biblical Gospel”:

The message of Jesus is that salvation is the narrow way.  But the good news is that the narrow way is wide open!

“Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”