The Concluding Doxology

The point: Go out of ourselves and seek God's gracious aid and help for spiritual illumination.

Paul's prayer for internal illumination for the Ephesians, despite his inspired writings, illustrates the need for the Holy Spirit's ministry beyond mere words, even for ordinary preachers.

Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ. Now let us again look to God, that he would, by his Spirit, do for us what only he can do, as Paul was conscious all of his apostolic ministry could not secure ongoing spiritual illumination for the Ephesians. He simply didn't write a letter and set forth the exceeding greatness of God's power in Christ, the riches of God's inheritance in his saints, and the power manifested.

2:20 - 2:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: one of the most vital principles of the Christian life, as well as of the Christian ministry, is that grace makes no war with nature, while engaging in a relentless warfare against sin.

The principle that grace makes no war with nature but wars against sin is introduced, explaining that grace refines and elevates nature rather than obliterating it.

May your Spirit so come and illuminate every mind, and so empower the one who seeks to open up the word, that together we may be conscious that you are here, ministering to us in the way that only you can minister. Come, we pray, oh God, as we wait in the expectation of faith, and in the posture of utter dependence. Amen. The man who for several years, sat in my lectures in the Trinity Ministerial Academy, will recognize what I'm going to say at the outset of our study in the scriptures this morning, and it is this, that one of the most vital principles of the Christian life, as well as of the...

4:07 - 5:30 Read in full sermon

Driving home: one of the most vital principles of the Christian life, as well as of the Christian ministry, is that grace makes no war with nature, while engaging in a relentless warfare against sin.

Peter's letter concluding with a doxology and postscript, following the pattern of first-century Greco-Roman letters, illustrates how the Holy Spirit works within natural human forms rather than bizarrely.

And we see this principle very clearly manifested in the way in which the Apostle Peter brings this letter to a conclusion. Here he is writing, under the unique influence of the Holy Spirit that was present with the biblical authors, so that what they wrote are the very words of God, and yet, this letter is brought to a conclusion in the way that any formal letter written by any reasonably educated person in that part of the world, in that point of history, would have concluded his letter. And the reason I read the remainder of the chapter is because it's very evident that the letter itself co...

5:30 - 6:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He reviews the previous sermon's exposition of 1 Peter 5:10, highlighting God as the author and executor of the promise, the context of suffering, and the substance of the promise…

A quote from Hebert is used to explain the distinct meanings of 'perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle,' showing they are not redundant but represent an orderly development of God's work in believers.

And then we looked at the substance of the promise itself. God Himself will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. And I read the brief quote from Hebert as I did at the conclusion of our study last Lord's Day. These four verbs are not to be regarded as redundant rhetoric.

9:45 - 10:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: There is no laid back doxology and there is no reluctant doxology. No laid back, no reluctant.

Martin's personal practice of reviewing important letters before sending them illustrates how Peter, though inspired, likely reflected on the content of his letter before concluding it.

It gripped his own soul afresh and feeling the heat of the very things he has said about God and what God will do, he wants to ascribe to this God dominion or power forever and forever. It could be that prior to writing verse 10, Peter himself fought back through the entire letter. Don't you do that when you're bringing letters to a conclusion that has some significance in them? They're not just a little chit-chat running commentary on what you did yesterday and the day before.

22:17 - 22:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself what is your reflexive response to passionate doxology when you read it in the Bible, to know where your heart is.

The rivalry between Red Sox and Yankee fans is used to illustrate how a person's 'reflexive response' to enthusiasm for an opposing team reveals the true, underlying state of their heart and loyalties.

Anyone who knows anything about the Northeast, and knows anything about sports in general, you know that for decades, Red Sox and Yankee fans ain't the closest of kissing buddies. For you who don't know it, Red Sox and Yankee fans are notoriously budding heads. Sometimes, it's a real budding head. I can remember as a little boy, and that's a long, long time ago, getting on the train and going in from Stanford, Connecticut to Yankee Stadium with my dad and sitting in the right field bleachers.

43:01 - 43:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not use the word 'awesome' for people and things; reserve it for God alone.

The comfort people feel praising celebrities at award shows, contrasted with discomfort praising God, illustrates the idolatry of the human heart.

You will doxologize God. You will doxologize and eulogize people and things. You're not uncomfortable in these banal, God-dishonoring award shows. And I watched two or three minutes of them just to keep in touch with this generation.

46:36 - 46:51 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that one's instinctive reaction to passionate praise of God is an 'incisive indication' of their spiritual condition, distinguishing between true worshipers and…

The excitement children (and adults) would feel at the prospect of meeting famous sports stars is contrasted with the potential lack of excitement for praising God, to reveal where true affections lie.

And I'd name the top five rock stars and popular singers that are your world. And so you're gonna have half an hour to be with them. Shake their hand, get their autograph, ask them any questions you want. Does that excite you?

49:38 - 49:57 Read in full sermon

The point: When led in worship, let your heart be like a spark on dry tinder, yearning for and enthused about God, even internally clapping hands at His sovereignty.

A quote from Bishop Leighton is used to describe how spiritual minds are inflamed by doxology like 'a spark on some matter that readily takes fire,' while backslidden hearts are like 'a puddle of water' or 'green lumber' that resists kindling.

What a marvelous insight he has. It can reveal a backslidden heart. Commenting on the doxology, parallel doxology in 4.11 of this letter.

51:27 - 51:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Never talk as though keen, perceptive, spirit-grasped rich theology is a matter of indifference; it must be a passion with us.

Martin recounts being asked if he lost his fire when he became Reformed, using it to argue that a 'big God' of sovereignty inspires greater worship than a 'little bitty God' who needs man's permission.

I love it when people ask me that question.

57:32 - 57:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin elaborates on the 'Amen' as God's divinely appointed means for personal, corporate affirmation of truth, urging believers to vocalize it with conviction, and contrasting a…

Jerome's description of the united 'Amen' sounding like a 'waterfall or a clap of thunder' is used to contrast with the often subdued 'Amen' in modern churches, emphasizing the desired vigor of corporate affirmation.

Jerome, one of the church fathers could say at the conclusion of the public prayer, the united amen of the people sounded like a waterfall or a clap of thunder.

60:20 - 60:29 Read in full sermon

The point: If you know what has been said in prayer, say your 'Amen,' regardless of temperament.

Martin's personal experience of learning new things about communication in his marriage, even at age 66, illustrates that one should always be pliable to God's Word and willing to change patterns, regardless of age or temperament.

There's no one here who can say that whenever they came with the Bible to help me know God's way better, that you found me anything other than pliable before this book. You come. But if the principles that we've been seeking to articulate have validity, then I don't care what we're used to. I'm all the time learning to do things, living with my wife, according to knowledge that I ain't never done before.

65:44 - 66:10 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin elaborates on the 'Amen' as God's divinely appointed means for personal, corporate affirmation of truth, urging believers to vocalize it with conviction, and contrasting a…

A quote from William Cowper's hymn 'God Moves in a Mysterious Way' is used to encourage believers to affirm the truths they sing with a hearty 'Amen,' appealing to judgment rather than mere emotion.

Do I believe what I sang? God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. Plants His footstep in the sea and rides upon the storm. You fearful saints, fresh courage take.

68:03 - 68:16 Read in full sermon