The Plowman

Certainty in Uncertain Times [ 45:48 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (100)

Daniel # 08: an exposition of Daniel 8:1-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 10, 2013.

Intro:

Do you ever have bad days?  Sometimes I feel like Alexander and I have a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day.

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair when I got up this morning.  I tripped on the skateboard and dropped my sweater in the sink when the water was running, and I could tell it was going to be a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day….

In the carpool, Mrs. Gibson let Becky have the seat by the window and Audrey and Elliot got seats by the window too.  I said I was scrunched.  I said I was smushed.  I said, “If I don’t get a seat by the window I am going to get carsick.”  Nobody even answered me.  I could tell it was going to be a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day…

There were two cupcakes in Philip Baker’s lunch bag and Howard got a Hershey bar with almonds, and Paul’s mother gave him a jelly roll-up that had little coconut sprinkles on top, guess whose mother forgot to put dessert in his lunch.  It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day…

There were lima beans for dinner.  I hate lima beans.  There was kissing on TV.  I hate kissing.  My bath was too hot, I got soap in my eyes, my marble went down the drain, and I had to wear my railroad train pajamas.  I hate my railroad train pajamas…it was a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.   

(Judith Viorst, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)

I’ve had those terrible, horrible, no good very bad days like Alexander.  Those days when nothing goes right.  I’ve also had those terrible, horrible, no good very bad days when the doctor said, “It is a tumor.  I’m calling the neurosurgeon and we’ll schedule surgery as soon as possible.”  I remember being on my way to lunch after church one Sunday afternoon when my phone rang.  My dad was crying on the other end saying, “Mom’s gone.”  Life in this fallen world is filled with heartache and disappointment.  Being a Christian does not make you immune.  In fact, because we believe the Bible, we know there are dark, troubling days on the horizon.  According to Scripture there are terrible, horrible, no good very bad days to come.  Daniel chapter 8 records a vision, given to Daniel in the 2^nd year of Belshazzar’s reign, that offers hope to the people of God.  The vision reminds us to look to God in faith when times get difficult because He is in control of all things.  Our text this morning is found in the 8^th chapter of Daniel.

Text: Daniel 8:1-27

The doctrine of the sovereignty of God is not a coffee table doctrine.  Something attractive for people to look at and admire.  It is an everyday doctrine intended to inform every decision and guide every step.

• This vision comes two years after the vision of chapter 7.
• Daniel was informed about the coming kingdoms.
• How each would come to power and have its day.
• But that each would fail and none would be autonomous.
• There is someone else running the show.
• The Ancient of Days who alone is eternal and who reigns supreme over all.

Through this vision we learn…

Thesis: In the midst of the darkest storm, in the face of your greatest challenge look to the Sovereign God enthroned above and find peace and rest for your soul.

While it is helpful to know “what” it is more comforting to know “who.”  While it is beneficial to have some understanding of how things are going to unfold it is more valuable to know the One who controls all things.  As we work our way through the text we are going to consider the vision, its interpretation and then draw some lessons from it.

1. The Vision – 8:1-14
2. The Interpretation – 8:15-27
3.  What do we learn?

• God controls all things.
• God graciously prepares His people for days of trouble.
• God righteously disposes of His enemies while mercifully delivering His people.

Who's Running This Show, Anyway? [ 38:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (71)

Daniel #07: an exposition of Daniel 7:1-28. This message by pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 3, 2013.

Intro:

I used to be a “news junkie.”  I watched all the news programs, listened to talk radio, watched the Sunday news shows.  Not any more.  My blood pressure can’t take it!  I just got too frustrated listening to politicians skirt issues.  This side attacking that side and no one doing anything about the problems.  I look at what’s happening around the world and it’s depressing.  “Oh, but wait that’s what makes it so exciting.”  “We are living in the last days.”  “Don’t you understand? Prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes?”  That’s another thing.  Prophecy experts disagree about as much as politicians do.  Don’t misunderstand me.  It’s not that I don’t care.  I care very much.  In fact I’m praying, “Even so come Lord Jesus!”  Yes, I believe we are to watch and pray.  We are to discern the times in which we live.  I believe the Lord Jesus is coming again,  visibly, physically to this earth.  I believe that the time of His appearing is at hand.  He is at the door.  But honestly date setting and fingering the antichrist gives me a headache.  Too often we come to great prophetic passages and get so involved in understanding the details we lose sight of the glory of the big picture.  In trying to work out the details we miss out on the comfort the passage intended.  As a teenage boy he was taken from the comfort of his home, transported to a distant land, forced into the service of a pagan king.  He had a front row seat to the great power struggles of his age.  As a high ranking official he saw first hand the back room deals brokered by power hungry men.  He witnessed how the lust for power consumed otherwise reasonable men and blinded their judgment.  At times he must have thought, “God, where are you?”  When unrighteous men conquered nation after nation while the temple of God lay in ruins he must have thought, “How long O Lord?”

In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar Daniel was given a vision.  A vision that would comfort and yet trouble him.  He learned things are not as they seem but also learned more pain and suffering was to come.  Yet I’m convinced that peace and comfort come from understanding the message of Daniel’s vision.  Our text this morning is found in the seventh chapter of Daniel.

Text: Daniel 7:1-28

Most people love the book of Daniel but seldom move beyond chapter 6.

• They love the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
• They love the handwriting on the wall.
• Daniel and the lion’s den.

But the visions of the second half of the book while interesting, are best left to the experts.

• They are disturbing and confusing.
• Scholars don’t agree on their interpretation.
• They are too hard.

There are some things to keep in mind when dealing with these prophecies:

• We are dealing with apocalyptic works.
• Cartoon pictures/language.
• Tell a story through pictures.
• They are meant to leave you with an impression.
• The story is intended to impact you.
• We are not expected to trace down every detail (to do so would distort the message).
• Understand these visions are not given in a vacuum.
• While they may address issues for the distant future they also meant something to the original recipients.

Daniel and the people of Israel were in captivity.  Unable to sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land.  They were discouraged and depressed.  They wondered if they would ever see their home again.  They wondered if they would ever worship again in the temple.  It seemed the kingdom of God has ended the kingdom of man has prevailed.  God is about to tell them otherwise.

The message of Daniel 7 is…

Thesis: God, through Christ, subdues all kingdoms and reigns supremely over all the earth.

How do we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?  How do we keep going in the face of uncertainty, doubt and confusion?  We fix our eyes of the Sovereign Lord enthroned in heaven above.  Understanding that He raises up nations and disposes of them as He wishes.

There are two things I want to point out in our text.

1. The kingdoms of this world come to power and exercise their brutal, beastly force with varying degrees of success but they all eventually fail.  (7:1-8, 15-20, 23-26)
2. In contrast to the vacillating, chaotic nature of the kingdoms of this world, God’s sovereign rule has, does, and always will prevail.  (7:9-14, 21-22, 27-28)

Conclusion:

What do we learn from this vision?

• We must not be naive about the reality, the strength and durability of evil.
• Suffering is a reality in this life.
• We must look beyond the events of history to the One seated on heaven’s throne.
• Our great hope is not found in the power centers of this world.
• Our hope is found in the glory and splendor of our King!

Our God, through Christ, subdues all kingdoms and reigns supremely over all the earth.

Faithfulness [ 44:52 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (101)

Daniel #06: an exposition of Daniel 6:1-28. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 24, 2013.

Intro:

I thought it would get easier.  It just makes sense.  The longer you do something the better you know and understand it and it gets easier.  Right?  Do you remember learning to drive?  Everything was so strange.  You had to concentrate.  Keep your eyes on the road.  Check your mirrors.  Don’t touch the radio – every time you reach for the radio you steer in that direction!  Now I’m driving down the road and have no idea how I got where I am.  And, it’s not because I’m having issues and need medication.  It is because driving has become second nature.  It has gotten easier and requires less concentration.  I’m not exactly a handyman.  I remember changing the porch light.  It is not difficult.  Undo the ground and two wires.  Wire the new one.  Attach it to the wall.  Done.  The first time, it took me an hour and a half.  Now?  I can do it in an hour!  My point is, with repetition, with experience, things get easier.  So why isn’t that true when it comes to living our faith?  Abram responded to the call of God and left Ur of the Chaldea’s to follow the unknown God.  Throughout his pilgrimage his faith was tested again and again.  Each time building spiritual muscle that would be needed for the next great test.  Finally, after years of walking with God he faced his ultimate challenge.  “Abraham.  Take your son, the one you love,  Isaac and offer him in sacrifice to Me.”  At first light he sat out with the boy, the wood and the fire.  His son asked, “Father, where is the lamb?”  “God will provide,” Abraham answered.  His greatest challenge came late in life.  Each victory was preparation for that great test.  The apostle Paul was faithful to the call of God.  For his faithfulness he was stoned, beaten with rods, shipwrecked, falsely accused, imprisoned and ultimately was executed.  But he was able to say at the end, “I’ve finished the course.  I’ve kept the faith.”  As a teenage boy Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians.  He was transported to Babylon, trained in the way of the Babylonians and served pagan kings for seven decades.  Now in his 80’s he faces his greatest challenge.  Our text this morning is found in the sixth chapter of Daniel.

Text: Daniel 6:1-28

• Daniel’s name means, “God is my judge.”
• He certainly lived up to his name.
• You member he refused the king’s food and stood his ground to honor his God.
• His three friends refused to bow before the image of gold and God was glorified.
• Now, after 70 years Daniel’s faith is again tested.

If Daniel’s name was part of a word association game the most common response would be, “lion’s den.”  It is the story Daniel is most associated with and one of the most recognizable stories in the Bible.  It would be easy to read this story and come to the conclusion that if you are faithful to God, He will be faithful to you.  The problem with that interpretation is that it gives a false promise.  I say false because we too often equate faithful with deliverance.  Yes, Daniel was delivered but we are not promise that we will be delivered.

In Hebrews 11:33 we do find that Daniel’s faith “stopped (shut) the mouths of lions.”  However if you continue reading you find others who suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated…(Hebrews 11:36-37).

To understand the message of Daniel 6 we need to remember the message of the book as a whole – God is sovereign.  He rules over men and nations.  He raise them up and disposes of them as He wills.  Daniel’s motivation for faithfulness is not reward oriented.  He doesn’t serve God because of what he gets out of it.  The message of Daniel 6 is…

Thesis: The love, mercy, grace and glory of our God demand our faithfulness no matter what our circumstance and regardless of the cost.

We are faithful.  We serve Him because He is worthy!

There are three things I want to point out from our text.

1. Our lives are to continually reflect the character and nature of our God.  (6:1-9)
2. Our lives are to remain consistent despite our ever-changing culture.  (6:10-17)
3. Our deepest desire is that our lives bring glory to our God.  (6:18-28)

Conclusion:

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but there are many who do not end well.  Of those who begin the race with great excitement and promise few cross the finish line with the same zeal and passion.  After a lifetime of ups and downs, victories and defeats most are just grateful it is over.  My prayer is that you will live a life of faithfulness that leads to even greater faithfulness that ensures when you face your greatest test you will stand tall.  Blameless before God and blameless before men to the praise of God’s glory and grace.