The Plowman

The Willfully Immature [ 35:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (94)

Hebrews #12: an exposition of Hebrews 5:11-14. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 29, 2014.

Intro:

It is the universal desire of every child.  The desire to grow up.  “When I get big I’m going to     .”  You can fill in the blank.  “Be a fireman,” “a professional baseball player,” “teacher” or “ride that really big roller coaster at the fair!”  Whatever that child sees as the sign that they have achieved adulthood.  There is a joy, an excitement, a longing to grow up.  “I’m going to go to that school when I get big.”  When you are young it feels as if that time will never come.  When something happens to arrest or halt that growth it is universally considered a tragedy.  Most tragic of all is the one who just refuses to grow up.  It’s sad when you run into someone from high school and though it has been 20 years or 30 years they have not moved on.  They’ve not taken on adult responsibilities.  They’ve not learned to act like a grown up.  Isn’t it sad to see a 50-something throw a temper tantrum?  More tragic, is the “Peter Pan” Christian.  The believer who refuses to grow up.  The one who has never grown beyond those early days in Christ.  They have known Christ for decades but have never grown beyond those first struggling steps of faith.  They do not know anymore about Christ or the things of God today than they learned as a 10 year-old in Vacation Bible School.  Yes, we are called to a childlike faith but not a childish faith.  It is the willfully immature the writer of Hebrews addresses in this next section.  Our text this morning is found at the end of chapter 5 beginning with verse 11.

Text: Hebrews 5:11-14

The writer has just demonstrated the superiority of Jesus in his priestly function.
He our Great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
One who identifies with sinful humanity.
One who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
One divinely appoint as priest and king.
He pointed to Jesus as High Priest to inspire those who are struggling.
Weighed down by persecution and rejection they are on the verge of giving up.

His solution?  Look to Christ!  Take your eyes off of your struggles and burdens and look to the one who is able to deliver you.  Look to him who has walked this path; who has felt this sting; who emerged victorious.  Look to Him and find mercy and grace.  The writer knows this congregation.  He knows there are those who do not understand.  Here he expresses his frustration.  In love he rebukes them.  He rebukes them and instructs them out of love because he knows their souls are in danger.  To abandon Christ is no small thing.  To walk away from the gospel is to walk away from your only hope.  Yes, in their distress they need encouragement and hope but they also need to be warned that their souls are in danger!  Assurance in times of danger is not love.  Thus he rather bluntly addresses their willful immaturity.

As we work through this brief passage we discover that…

Thesis: God sovereignly rebukes the willfully immature.

The language in this passage is stern.
It is direct – you would have to “work” to misunderstand what he is saying.
Does this language bother you?
Does it seem “out of place” to you?
There is a time to encourage and a time to rebuke.

I want to point out 3 things along the way.

1. The willfully immature believer stubbornly refuses to grow up.  (5:11-12)
2. Such immaturity stems from a neglect of both doctrine and practical holiness.  (5:12b-13)
3. Spiritual maturity is demonstrated by the ability to consistently discern good and evil and thus live righteously.  (5:14)

Conclusion:
We have been called to a child like faith.  A faith that believes and trusts wholly in the truth and authority of God’s Word.  May God grant us a passion for spiritual growth and development.  A longing to move beyond the elementary things of the faith and launch out into the deep.

A Hope-Inspiring Vision [ 44:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (95)

Hebrews #11: an exposition of Hebrews 5:1-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 22, 2014.

Intro:
There is nothing worse, nothing more depressing or soul-crushing than the loss of hope.  If there is hope then you can endure most anything.  As long as there is a light at the end of the tunnel you can press on.  The small struggling band of believers in Rome where huddled around the dying embers of their once vibrant hope.  They came to faith with great enthusiasm believing that Jesus was indeed the Christ and that a new day was dawning.  After multiple setbacks, after the sting of family rejection and state sponsored persecution hope was all but gone.  Many had in fact walked away from the faith.  Others were close to doing the same.  Maybe they were wrong.  Maybe Jesus wasn’t the Christ.  Maybe the rabbi was right.  All they knew for certain was this is not what they thought it would be.  In the rush of new-found faith they flourished.  Their hearts were full, their confidence undaunted; but, over time confidence waned.  Their hearts became burdened and their faith was failing.  With love, patience and yet firmness the writer of Hebrews pleaded with them to remain faithful.  Having warned them of the peril of unbelief and the need for whole-hearted trust the writer pointed them again to Jesus, God’s final and ultimate revelation.  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews chapter 5 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Hebrews 5:1-10

Life in this fallen, broken world is a struggle.
Being a child of God doesn’t change that.
There are times of great struggle and intense trial.
Yes, there are days of sunshine and joy but also periods of dark clouds and heartache.
This world is not our home.
This is an alien environment.
We are pilgrims here our home is elsewhere!

The biblical writer, steeped in Old Testament theology and symbols, pointed the struggling congregation toward a very familiar image.  He pointed them to the High Priest.  It was an impressive sight.  Once a year, the Day of Atonement, the High Priest in all his finery with great pomp and ceremony took the blood of the lamb and entered behind the veil into the presence of God.  There he stood as the people’s representative and offered sacrifice for the sins of the nation.  Through that act the sins of the people were “covered” for one year.  It was a high and holy day.

Exodus 28 prescribes the garments to be worn by the Priest.  Garments filled with spiritual significance.  He first donned a linen tunic.  Over this was placed a blue robe.  At the bottom of this robe were pomegranates woven from blue, purple and scarlet yarn.  Intermittently there were golden bells that rang with his every move.  A richly woven multicolored sash held the robe in place.  Next came the apron-like ephod, woven of golden threads, finely twisted linen, and blue, purple and scarlet yarns.  The shoulder pieces of the ephod each bore a large onyx stone, set in gold.  The names of the 12 tribes were engraved on the stones, 6 on one and 6 on the other.  Then fastened to the front of the ephod with golden chains was the breastplate.  The breastplate was a 9 inch square tapestry of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and linen that bore 4 rows of 3 stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel.  Finally the Priest was crowned with a turban of linen, bearing a plate of pure gold with the Hebrew inscription, “Holy to the LORD.”

More impressive than the sight of these priestly garments is the spiritual significance they declared.  The Priest entered the presence of God bearing the weight of Israel on his shoulders and carrying them near to his heart.  It was an inspiring sight.  A sight that buoyed and inspired the heart of every Jew but the writer of Hebrews points beyond that mere shadow to the reality behind it all.  He pointed to Christ, our great High Priest!

As we work our way through this text we are reminded of the fact that…

Thesis:  Hope, in times of great testing and severe trial, is found in Christ our sympathetic, delivering, uniquely qualified High Priest.

There are 2 things I want to call to your attention.

1. In times of great stress you need a vision that inspires hope.  (5:1-4)
2. The glory of Christ provides the ultimate hope-inspiring vision.  (5:5-10)

Conclusion:

• Troubled, burdened, hope gone?  Look to Christ!
• You faith almost gone?
• You want to turn back?
• Look to Christ your sympathetic, delivering, uniquely qualified High Priest.

Remaining Faithful in Difficult Times [ 35:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (100)

Hebrews #10: an exposition of Hebrews 4:14-16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 15, 2014.

Intro:
Do you ever wonder if anyone cares?  Do you wonder if anybody knows what you’re going through?  Are there times when you wonder if God really has knows and if He does, does He care?  He spoke and the world came into being.  He is powerful, majestic, awesome why would He care about what goes on in your life?  Why would He care how you feel?  He has a universe to run.  He’s concerned with the orbit of planets and the placement of stars.  He is focused on fine tuning galaxies who are you to merit His attention?  If by some strange fate He did look your direction how could He possibly understand how you feel?  How could He possibly know what it’s like to have a rotten day?  How could He know what it is like to stand in line forever in the express lane because some idiot, three people in front of you, can’t read, “10 items or less?”  How can He understand and relate to everything from a child’s broken toy to a spouse’s bitter sorrow and loneliness?  He can because in all honesty He can say, “I’ve been there.”  That is the focus of our text this morning found in the fourth chapter of Hebrews.

Text: Hebrew 4:14-16

The biblical writer is concerned about a small, struggling congregation in Rome.  These blessed saints have been buffeted by all kinds of trials and temptations.  They have been ostracized by their families.  These are Jews who have come to trust in Jesus as the Messiah.  They have put their faith and trust in Christ.  As a result their families want nothing to do with them.  In addition they have faced the wrath of the Roman.  They’ve experienced the first waves of persecution from the Empire.  Everything in their world says to them, “Abandon your faith!”  There is that part of them that is wondering if it is worth it to continue in belief.  Maybe they should just turn back.  Surely that would bring some relief.  Many have done just that.  With a pastoral love the biblical writer pleads with them to continue in belief.  Continue to trust.  Having heard the voice of God don’t harden your heart.  Don’t turn back.  He has warned them of the peril of unbelief.  He’s told them there is a Sabbath rest for those who believe.  For those who trust wholeheartedly in Christ.  He began his letter with an argument declaring the superiority of Christ.  Now he returns to the subject demonstrating that Jesus is a superior High Priest.

Our take away from this text is that…

Thesis: Faithfulness in difficult times demands a confident confession based on a biblical understanding, fueled by effectual prayer.

There are three things to note as this argument unfolds.

1.  Faithfulness in difficult times demands that you hold fast to your confession of Christ as great high priest.  (4:14)
2.  Holding fast to your confession demands a clear, biblical understanding of Christ as your sympathetic, gracious, merciful high priest.  (4:15)
3.  Such an understanding enables bold, honest and candid prayer laying hold of God’s grace.  (4:16)

Conclusion:
Dear saint are you struggling?  Beleaguered believer are you battle-worn?  Child of God have you fallen?  Look to Christ.  Lay hold of your confession of Christ as apostle and high priest.  Come with confident, honest candid prayer and find grace and mercy from the hand of your sympathetic high priest.

The Bible at Rest [ 35:52 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (80)

Hebrews #09; an exposition of Hebrews 4:12-13. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 8, 2014.

Intro:
Our statement of faith declares, The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man.  It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction.  It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.  Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy.  It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.  All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.  (Article I The Baptist Faith and Message 2000)

We confess the authority, the truth and the inspiration of this book, it is the Word of God.  We are in the minority.  The Bible, once believed and cherished by most in our culture, has lost its luster  as far as most Americans are concerned.  The culture in general reflects more of the attitude of Mark Twain than our Baptist forefathers.  Twain said, “It (the Bible) is full of interest.  It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.”  As far as most are concerned it is one of any number of “holy books.”  None more valid than another.  Interesting, perhaps, but of little or no relevance today.  Yet the writer of Hebrews makes it clear the Bible is key to entering into God’s rest.  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews the fourth chapter verses 12 and 13.

Text: Hebrew 4:12-13

The writer began a warning back in chapter 3.  “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me…therefore I was provoked with that generation and said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways.’  So I swore in My anger, ‘They will not enter My rest.’”  600,000 men left Egypt only 2 entered the land of promise.  Why?  Unbelief.  Failure to believe and embrace God’s word, His promise.  Chapter 4 continues that warning.  Reminding us there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God and that rest demands an attitude of whole-hearted commitment to the truth.  It is belief in the fact related to the word and promise of God plus trust in those words.  To trust is to rely upon or give yourself to.  Verse 11 says, “Let us strive to enter that rest.”  Verse 12 then says, “For the Word of God is living and active…”

There is the call to strive to enter followed immediately by an affirmation of the power and authority of the Word of God.  The message from the biblical writer to us is that…

Thesis: You enter God’s rest when you believe and submit to His living, effectual, exposing and humbling Word.

There are three things I want to point out as we work our way through this very important text.
These believers are hard pressed.

Everything in their world says, “Abandon your faith.”
“It’s just not worth it.  Turn back.”
The writer pleads with them, “Don’t harden your heart.”
“Don’t ignore His voice.”
“Embrace His promise.”

4:12-13 brings to a conclusion the warning started in 3:7.

1. God’s Word pulsates with life.  (4:12)
2. This living Word actively, effectually exposes the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (4:12-13)
3.  This humbling exposure leads to a quiet submission.

Entering His Rest [ 43:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (72)

Hebrews #08: an exposition of Hebrews 4:1-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 1, 2014.

Intro:

It is as old as creation – the promise of rest.  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  After each days’ work He said, “that’s good.”  We also note the formula, “and there was evening and there was morning the first day.”  In chapter 2 of Genesis we read, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  And on the seven day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from the work he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”  In Exodus 20:8-11 we learn this is the basis upon which the Jewish Sabbath is established.  It also becomes clear that this “rest” is a picture of something greater.  It is a sign pointing beyond itself.  That is made clear in the passage that serves as our text this morning, in Hebrews chapter 4.  Note the absence of the “day formula” concerning the seventh day.  It is a day that does not end.  There is no end to this rest.  What is this rest foreshadowed in creation and memorialized in the law?  It is a reference to our ultimate rest in Our Savior.

As the people of God we understand there is no rest for the soul apart from Christ.  St. Augustine, in the fourth century, expressed this truth beautifully in his Confessions.  “You move us to delight in praising You; for You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You.”  (Confessions Book I.1.1)

Blaise Pascal wrote about man’s futile attempt to fill the emptiness of his life with anything and everything.  He concluded by writing, “But these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God himself.”  (Penseese VII, para. 425)

There is no rest apart from Christ.  Yet every believer will have to confess that the initial experience of rest is not always constant or abiding.  It is often buffeted by trials and tribulations.  It is present but sometimes obscured by heartache in this fallen, sin-cursed world.  We have entered into rest yet there is a greater rest yet to come.  That small, stormed tossed band of believers in Rome are struggling because their experience of Christ was not living up to expectations.  Instead of rest they are experiencing turmoil.  They had given up so much to believe and now that initial experience of rest seems a cruel delusion.  Now the biblical writer exhorts and encourages them on entering into God’s rest.  Our text is found in Hebrews chapter 4.

Text: Hebrews 4:1-11

This text is as relevant today as it was in the first century.
The church is once again an alien culture at odds with the world around.
Thus “rest” seems in short supply.

With a firm yet loving pastoral hand the writer make it clear that…

Thesis: Entering into God’s rest demands wholehearted trust in God’s sure and certain promise and is accompanied by a shared responsibility.

I want to point out three things from our text.

1. An urgent warning.  (4:1-2)
2. A Comforting Assurance.  (4:3-10)
3. A Shared Responsibility.  (4:11)

Finishing Welll [ 40:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (75)

Hebrews #07: an exposition of Hebrews 3:7-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 18, 2014.

Intro:
It was an unforgettable night.  As all Israel slept snug in their beds with the aroma of roasted lamb lingering throughout the house, lamb’s blood smeared above the door and on either side – the angel of death passed through the land.  There was wailing across the land as the destroyer struck down the firstborn of both man and beast throughout all of Egypt.  It was the end of 430 years of bondage.  Pharaoh summoned Moses and demanded that Israel leave immediately.  600,000 men on foot, plus women and children (about 1,500,00 souls), began an orderly exodus.  Ephraim led the way carrying the bones of Joseph fulfilling his dying wish to have his bones returned to the land of his father.  Israel left unexpectedly rich as the Egyptians, “gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians” (Ex. 12:36).  As the Israelites entered the wilderness an immense pillar of cloud formed in the sky before them leading the way.  At sunset that cloud became a pillar of fire, so that every night Israel was lighted by its swirling orange glow (13:20-22).  It must have been an incredible sight.

In a dramatic change of heart the army of Egypt pursed the Israelites.  Israel was trapped between the approaching army and the Red Sea.  The pillar of cloud moved behind Israel and became a shield of protection.  Moses stretch forth his hand and the great Sea parted.  A dry path appeared and the children of Israel crossed safely to the other side.  When the army tried to pursue the waters were released and came crashing down and the army of Egypt was destroyed.  There was no doubt, God was with them!  What an extraordinary beginning.  What hopes and dreams were inspired by such events.  Soon they would be in the land of Promise.  It began so well and yet it end so poorly.  There were 600,000 men who marched out of Egypt only 2 over the age of twenty ever made it to the Promise Land…and that was 40 years later.  The rest were buried in graves of sand throughout the wilderness.  The lesson is both plain and terrifying – it is possible to begin well and end poorly.

It is that thought burning in the mind and heart of the writer of Hebrews that caused him to write with such urgency to that struggling house church in the heart of Rome.  There is no doubt he knew and loved this congregation.  He knew their stories of exodus from death to life.  From sin to salvation.  His burden was that they finish well.  So many had already abandoned the way.  He is pleading with those who remain, “stay faithful.  Continue in belief.  Don’t turn back.”  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews chapter 3 beginning with verse 7.

Text: Hebrews 3:7-19
Living for Christ in a Christless world is difficult.  We would be lying to suggest otherwise.  Jesus told his followers, “In this life you will have tribulation.  But take heart I have overcome the world.”  The life we’ve been called to is no walk in the park.  It is not a leisurely stroll through golden fields drench in sunlight.  It requires daily death and the road of often dark and dreary.

“You know pastor, numbers are down and we could use some extra folks.  Not exactly the kind of preaching that draws a crowd.”  When you are fighting for your life, struggling to survive, smiling and assuring, “you can have your best life now” just doesn’t cut it.  There is, of course, a place for encouragement but there is also a place for warning.  Assurance in a time of danger is treachery.  When one is in danger of losing their faith the loving thing to do is to warn them of that danger.

With great love and from deep pastoral care the biblical writer says to us…

Thesis: Biblical faithfulness demands that we give careful attention to the condition of our soul and to the cultivation of continued belief.

There are three things from this text I want us to carefully consider.

1.  Starting well does not guarantee finishing well.  (3:7-11)
2.  Finishing well demands personal diligence and corporate accountability.  (3:12-15)
3.  Finishing well demands that you doggedly cling to the hope with which you began.  (3:14, 16-19)

Sustaining Faith [ 34:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (69)

Hebrews #06: an exposition of Hebrews 3:1-6. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 11, 2014.

Intro:

In was a Tuesday evening about this time of year.  I was carrying the police pager and was called to an address on South Delaware.  In route I realized it was on or near the campus of the University of Tulsa.  I pulled up in front of the door and there was a crowd of students, a fire truck, ambulance and 3 or 4 patrol cars.  I was taken upstairs to a dorm room.  A 22 year-old student had hung himself in his dorm room closet the week of graduation.  22 years old.  A degree from the University of Tulsa.  A bright future ahead of him but in a dark moment, overwhelmed by discouragement he took his own life.  A few weeks later I was called to the Center Plaza Apartments downtown.  An 80 year-old man had jumped from the 14th floor.  Alone, fearful, frustrated he saw no need to continue.  The loss of hope is devastating whether you are 22 or 80.  Despair is no respecter of persons.  It doesn’t matter whether you are young or old; rich or poor.  When hope is gone and your life closes in on you it is hard to see beyond the moment.

Shunned by their families, scorned by their friends and the object of governmental persecution the small struggling band of Hebrew believers were having difficulty seeing beyond their current circumstances.  The quest for immediate relief consumed them.  It’s just not “worth” believing.  Some had gotten relief by abandoning their new faith others were thinking of joining them.  The writer of Hebrews is pleading with them, “Hang on.  Continue to believe.  Jesus Christ is better than the best that Judaism and the world has to offer you.”  Having shown them the glory and wonder of their salvation through Jesus their merciful high priest and now calls on them to “consider Jesus.”  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews chapter 3 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Hebrews 3:1-6

We’ve seen that Jesus is God’s ultimate and final Word.
He is the shinning forth of God’s glory.
He is the exact imprint of God’s nature.
He is superior to angels.
We’ve been warned of the danger of spiritual neglect.
We’ve been reminded of God’s intent for us and Christ’s restoring and securing that intent.
Now we are given some insight into how we can find stability in the midst of great uncertainty.

These few verses inform us that…
Thesis: Stability in the midst of great uncertainty demands a determined focus and a settled conviction.

The Christian life is not a walk in the park.  Neither is it a sprint.  It is a marathon.  It is a grueling, lifelong journey into holiness.  “Well, thanks pastor.  There is nothing like coming to church and getting a cheerful uplifting message.”  Cheerful, uplifting, feel good messages that aren’t true are of little value when all hell breaks loose!  In the midst of crisis and uncertainty you need a true, robust faith.  That is what the writer of Hebrews delivers.

Chapter 3:1 begins a major section in which the writer points to the superiority of Christ over Moses and the mosaic law.  You have to understand Moses and the law was the heart and soul of Jewish religion.  It is almost impossible to overestimate the importance of Moses in the heart and mind of the Jewish people.

1. Sustaining faith demands a determined focus on Christ as our apostle and merciful high priest.  (3:1)
2. Sustaining faith demands a settled conviction regarding the superiority of Jesus Christ.  (3:2-6)

Conclusion:
He is our apostle and high priest.
What does he require of us?

That we continually fix our thoughts on him.

• Desire
• Concentrate
• Discipline
• Time

We must faithfully persevere.
Perseverance is the test of real faith.

Let me ask, Are you persevering?  Is Christ as dear to you today as the day you first believed?  Are you holding onto your courage?  Are you trusting Christ your apostle and high priest?