The Plowman

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Hebrews #35: an exposition of Hebrews 12:1-3. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 28, 2014.

Intro:
The year was 1981.  The place Omaha, Nebraska at the Pepsi Challenge, a 10,000 meter race.  The thing that made this race unique was one of its participants.  Ten years earlier Bill Broadhurst had surgery for an aneurysm in his brain.  The surgery left him paralyzed on his left side.  But on that misty July morning he was one of the 1,200 runners straining at the starting line anticipating the start of the race.  The gun sounded and the crowd surged forward.  Bill threw his stiff left leg forward and began his slow plop, plop, plop rhythm as the pack disappeared over the horizon.  Most of the runners had finished within the first hour.  Two hours and twenty nine minutes later Bill reached the finish line.  One lone figure approached Bill.  Bill recognized him from his picture in the paper.  It was Bill Rodgers, the world famous marathon runner.  Bill Rodgers removed his newly won medal and placed it around the neck of Bill Broadhurst.  The real victory that day did not belong to the world class athlete but to the “plodder.”  The one who overcame through dogged determination and endurance.

The Christian life is not a sprint it is a distance event.  It is not about how you start it is about how you finish.  It is easy to begin the race but difficult to see it through.  “Flash in the pan” is the way we refer to those who start off with a bang – full of promise – but soon fade.  Those who have no staying power, no endurance.  The writer of Hebrews is addressing those struggling saints who want to throw in the towel and walk away.  The race has become too difficult.  Their legs are quivering and their hearts are faint.  The writer reminds them, they are not alone.  They are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, “Now, run!”

Our text this morning is found in the opening words of the 12th chapter.

Text: Hebrews 12:1-3

I said a few weeks ago, in regards to the book of Hebrews, that it is a balanced book.  In chapter 11 we are told of the great examples of men and women of faith.  Men and women who overcame incredible odds and thus inspire us to continue.  But the writer also spoke of those who were tortured, sawn in two, who were afflicted and mistreated.  They too were approved of God because of their faith.  Sometimes God delivers us and sometimes faithfulness leads to martyrdom.  The promise is not your best life now but the grace and presence of God to endure and a future glory beyond compare!

In chapter 12 we find more “survival” truth.  Truth we need to face what lies ahead.  From this section we are reminded that the life of faith is a demanding life.  Somethings are required of us if we are to be faithful to the life to which we’ve been called.

Thesis: The life of faith is a motivated, focused and determined life.

There are 3 demands set out for us in our text.  Now, these are not things we are to accomplish on our own by our own means but 3 things required of us that will be accomplished by the grace of God.

1. The life of faith demands an appropriate motivation and a steadfast endurance.  (12:1)
2. The life of faith demands a singular focus.  (12:2)
3. The life of faith demands an informed determination.  (12:3)

Conclusion:

The life of faith is not a stroll in the park.  It is no sprint.  It is a long, difficult, endurance event.  You need sufficient motivation, fueled by a singular focus resulting in an informed determination.  The life of faith is a motivated, focused and determined life.

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Hebrews #34: an exposition of Hebrews 11:32-40. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 14, 2014.

Intro:
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see.”  That’s the description of faith given by the writer of Hebrews to a group of people who are struggling to survive.  Their world is crashing around them.  They are on the verge of giving up and giving in.  They are seriously considering walking away from their new found faith in Christ.  The writer pleads with them to hold on.  Continue to believe.  Continue to trust, for Christ is better than the best that Judaism and the world has to offer.  In chapter 11 he sets before them a catalogue of the faithful.  Men and women of faith who overcame overwhelming odds.  These are not “super saints” or people with unusual gifts or abilities but rather ordinary people made extraordinary by the grace of God.  It is also important to note that chapter 11 is not given as entertaining stories intended to inspire confidence.  This is “survival truth.”  This is essential teaching aimed at equipping these struggling saints for even more difficult times to come.  Soon these same believers will endure the pains of widespread and wholesale persecution.  The book of Hebrews is intended to give them the necessary tools for survival.  This chapter is helpful not just because it gives inspiring examples but because it is so balanced.  Too often we have a warped understanding of the life of faith.  If you just have faith it will be all sunshine and no rain.  If you just trust Jesus everything will always turn out right – meaning you will be happy, healthy and prosperous.  That is not the case in this sin-cursed world.  The life of faith assures us of future glory but not necessarily the good life now.

We’ve been encouraged by the examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses.  We’ve been inspired by Joshua and Israel’s great victory at Jericho and Rahab’s faithfulness and God’s subsequent blessing.  Now the writer piles on example after example in rapid fashion but not all of them are what we expect.  For this section contains both triumph and tragedy.  Our text this morning is Hebrews 11:32-40.

Text: Hebrews 11:32-40

As we work our way through this text we are going to find some clarification about the life of faith.  From this text we learn that…

Thesis: The life of faith gladly yields to the will of God and trusts wholly in the truthfulness and certainty of God’s Word.
The life of faith is the life that trusts God.
The life that refuses to lean on its own understanding but rather yields to the will of God.

The life that faces hardship and adversity assured that God does not lie, that He will do what He said He would do.

There are 3 things I want to point out along the way.

1. Sometimes God, through the working of miracles and acts of Divine providence leads His people in triumph.  (11:32-35a)
2. Sometimes God grants courage and grace to enable His people to persevere despite persecution, deprivation and death.  (11:35b-38)
3. In all things the people of God, whether they triumph, persevere or perish, live by faith for eternal glory.  (11:39-40)

Conclusion:

The word to that struggling first century church was hold on.  Continue to believe.  Walk in faith.

Yield to the will of God and trust wholly in the truthfulness and certainty of His Word.

The same must be said to us.  We too must gladly yield to His will trusting the truthfulness and the certainty of His Word.  The dark clouds are gathering.  A storm is on the horizon.  Dark forces are at work to the extent we find our culture calling evil good and good evil.  It is not only possible it is probable that the church once pampered will become the church persecuted.  Does that mean it’s hopeless?  No.  The message of Hebrews 11 makes it clear that the people who are sure of God and of His Word live in great hope of a glorious future.

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Hebrews #33: an exposition of Hebrews 11:30-31. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 7, 2014.

Intro:
Sometimes you are put in impossible circumstances.  It came around every year.  It was ridiculous.  There was no point to it.  It was the same every year but we had to go through the motions.  It was called, “The President’s Physical Fitness Test.”  I don’t think the president ever look at the things!  Push-ups, sit-ups, running and the dreaded pull-up.  Every year Mr. Robinson called me up in front of the class and forced me to hang on that bar trying to pull myself up.  Every year I’d hang there a few seconds before dropping to the floor.  He would say, “Oh I thought you were going to make it this time.  You were so close.”  He was a good man.  Trying to be encouraging.  It wasn’t close.  It was always humiliating.  It’s one things to be the “fat kid” who gets embarrassed once a year in gym class in the face of an impossible task – it’s quite another to lead troops into battle against overwhelming odds.

Joshua and the people of Israel where on the outskirts of Jericho.  Israel had crossed the Jordan in miraculous fashion and war was just hours away.  Just ahead of the encamped Israelites towered the great city of Jericho.  Most of the Israelites had never seen a walled city.  Joshua was restless.  I’m sure he would have loved to talked to Moses but Moses was dead.  The mantle of leadership now rested on Joshua.  Joshua slipped out of camp to talk with God in the quiet of the night.  Something flashed before him.  There stood a warrior in full battle dress.  His sword drawn.  A less courageous man would have run but not Joshua.  Instead he asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

This encounter would become a milestone in the life of Joshua and the people of God.  It also forms the backdrop for a portion or our text this morning.

Text: Hebrews 11:30-31

The writer is seeking to encourage these struggling believers by giving them examples of those who have gone before.  Those who overcame overwhelming odds by the grace of God.  Men and women of genuine faith.  This morning we come to two examples.  One of faith overcoming by unusual means the other of faith through an unlikely person.  Our text is just two verses but we will spend time in the Old Testament book of Joshua to understand the context.

This text serves to remind us that…

Thesis: Biblical faith accomplishes remarkable things through unlikely people and by unlikely means.

2 things

1. Courageous faith overcomes incredible odds in a most unlikely way.  (11:30)
2. Real, courageous, genuine faith is often found in the most unlikely person.  (11:31)

Conclusion:
This struggling band of believers found themselves up against overwhelming odds.  They needed to know God is about to deliver.  They needed to know that even though they were no match for the mighty Roman Empire God is more than able.  This is the life of faith.  “If God be fore us who can possibly stand against us?”  The struggling believers needed to know faith is not the possession of the spiritually elite.  It can be found in a Canaanite prostitute.

The good news for them and for us is that Biblical faith accomplishes remarkable things through unlikely people and by unlikely means.

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Hebrews #32: an exposition of Hebrews 11:23-29. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 30, 2014.

Intro:
The apostle Paul told the Romans, “The righteous will live by faith.”  He told the Galatian believers, “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Repeatedly the message of the writer of Hebrews is that we must live by faith.  How are we saved?  By grace through faith.  How do we walk in obedience to the call and command of Christ?  By faith.  We know that.  We understand that.  We know that to accomplish great things we must be men and women of faith.  You must also understand you must lived by faith in the ordinary and the mundane.  It takes faith to stop and listen to your child when you’re late for the office and you’ve got a thousand things to do today.  It takes faith to believe that being at home changing diapers, doing laundry and raising your kids is just as much a calling of God as “losing your life in some Muslim country for the sake of the Gospel.”  Both callings demand faith to stay where God has put you and accomplish the task He has assigned.  Too often we think faith is necessary for the “really big” things, the rest we are just to handle ourselves.  “I’ve got this one Lord.  I’ll let you know if and when I need help.”  No, you need faith for every task assigned.  You are to exercise faith in all matters.  To some degree it is easier to give your life away in some distant land than it is to set in an office crunching numbers and wondering if you are really sold out for Jesus or if you’ve just sold out?  Whether you are called to serve Christ on the mission field in some distant land or called to live a normal, ordinary life were you go to work, love and provide for your family and serve your local church it demands the same faith.  It demands the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.

What does that faith look like?
That is the focus of Hebrews chapter 11.
Our text this morning is found in Hebrews 11 beginning with verse 23.

Text: Hebrews 11:23-29

The biblical writer describes faith for us in 11:1.
Then, beginning with verse 4 he sets before us a catalogue of the faithful.
Here are men and women who live out that faith.
Here are examples for us to follow.

There is Abel with his more acceptable sacrifice.  Then Enoch who was well pleasing to God.  Well pleasing because he walked by faith for without faith it is impossible to please God.  Noah is a shining example of persistent faith.  Verses 8-22 give us the example of Father Abraham.  Now we come to Moses.

You knew Moses would have to be included in this list.
If ancient Israel had trading cards – Moses’ rookie card would be worth a fortune.
He was Israel’s greatest prophet.
He was their deliverer.
Their lawgiver.
Their historian.
He was the friend of God.

Listen to his epitaph:
And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.  (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)

Consider Numbers 12:6-8:
And he said, Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD…

Yet:
Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.  (Numbers 12:3)

(Read the text)

Thesis: Biblical faith defies paralyzing fear, choses the things of God over the pleasures of this world and assures a profound deliverance.

There are three (3) things I want to point out along the way.

1. Biblical faith produces risk-taking courage and profound love.  (11:23)
2. Biblical faith chooses identification with the things of God over the pleasures of this world.  (11:24-27)
3. Biblical faith assures a profound deliverance. (11:28,29)

Conclusion:

The life of faith is not an easy life.  You will regularly find yourself at a crossroad.  Will you act in faith?  Trusting His grace and power?  Or will you surrender to your fear?  Throw it all away for a moment of fleeting pleasure?

Biblical faith defies paralyzing fear, chooses the things of God over the pleasures of this world and assures a profound deliverance.

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Hebrews #31: an exposition of Hebrews 11:17-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 23, 2014.

Intro:
It was crazy.  How would you react?  You’re 99 years old and God says, “You and your 90 year-old bride are going to have a baby!”  Abraham laughed.  Sarah laughed.  God had the last laugh because one year later they had a bouncing baby boy.  Talk about your dotting parents.  They must have been a sight at the little league picnic.  The boy’s name was Isaac.  An appropriate name if there ever was one – Isaac means laughter.  Can you imagine, Abraham was 102 and Sarah was 93 when the kid hit the “terrible twos.”  He was the apple of their eye, their pride and joy.  That’s what makes the events of Genesis chapter 22 so extraordinary.  God came to Abraham and said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  No.  It doesn’t make any sense.  Why would God do that?  This was the child of promise.  Through him would come great blessing.  Yet, in faith, Abraham obeyed.

Life in this sin-sick, fallen world is filled with heartache and suffering.  The life is faith is not easy.  It regularly requires more of us than we have to give.  But we are not left to ourselves.  We are not on our own.  It is not up to you to gather enough courage or to muster enough faith.  By God’s grace you are given the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.  That’s the message to those struggling believers in Rome and to us.  When life comes crashing down around you.  When you are burdened beyond what you can bear.  When you feel like throwing in the towel and walking away – look to those who’ve gone before.  Look to that catalogue of the faithful found in the 11th chapter of Hebrews.  Our text this morning begins with verse 17 of Hebrews 11.

Text: Hebrews 11:17-22

The background for this text is the story I referenced at the beginning.  God’s call to Abraham found in Genesis 22.  This story, more than any other, displays the wonder of genuine, biblical faith.  It is a fascinating story.  A story filled with drama, suspense, courage and faith.  From Abraham’s example we learn that…

Thesis: Genuine, biblical faith is marked by a determined obedience and an assured confidence.

There are 2 things I want to point out along the way.

1. The life of faith obeys in spite of overwhelming objections. (11:17-19)
2. The life of faith comes to the end of days still trusting God’s gracious promise. (11:20-22)

Conclusion:

Faith says God’s Word never fails and God’s Word must be obeyed thus…

Genuine, biblical faith is marked by a determined obedience and an assured confidence.

Abraham: Obedient, Resilient Faith [ 34:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (64)

Hebrews #30: an exposition of Hebrews 11:8-16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 16, 2014.

Intro:
He is known as the “father of the Jews” and the friend of God.  His name is synonymous with faith.  Small wonder that when the writer of Hebrews wanted to encourage that struggling band of Hebrew believers in Rome he would set before the the example of “Father Abraham.”  The great patriarch’s story is recorded for us in Genesis chapters 12 through 25.  He is revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims as a man of faith.  If faith had a poster child – it would be Abraham.  He was not a perfect man.  In fact there are some glaring faults in his character but his life is a shining example of what God can do in the life of a flawed man who yields to God’s sovereign call.  The life of faith is not an easy life.  It’s not always neat and clean.  It is often filled with heartache but it is well worth the trouble as it is the only life that leads to glory.  Many in the church had already abandoned the Way.  The struggle was too much.  The pain unbearable.  Others were on the verge of giving up when the writer took pen in hand to plead with them to continue in the faith.  He assured them Christ was better than the best that Judaism or the world has to offer.  He reminded them of Christ’s entering the sanctuary not made with hands as He enter the very presence of God and atoned for their sin guaranteeing a future glory.  He pled with them to not throw all that away for momentary relief.  Now, in chapter 11, he is setting before them a catalogue of the faithful.  Men and women who exhibit the faith described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

There was Abel who offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.  Then there was Enoch who was well pleasing to God and thus was taken up so that he should not see death.  Then there was Noah, who had been graced by God and thus walked with Him in persevering obedience.  All of these reminding us that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Faith is the essential ingredient for a life pleasing to God.  Now we turn our attention to Father Abraham.  Our text is found in Hebrews chapter 11 beginning with verse 8.

Text: Hebrews 11:8-16

As we reflect on the life of Abraham we are reminded that…

Thesis: Genuine, biblical faith is an obedient, undaunted and resilient faith.

I want to point out 3 things along the way.

1. The life of faith produces uncommon obedience.  (11:8-10)
2. The life of faith dares to believe the impossible.  (11:11-12)
3. The life of faith enables one to finish well.  (11:13-16)