Ye Became Followers and Suffered

The point: Seriously adhere to and regard the teaching of Holy Scripture, giving undivided attention to the word of God.

The analogy of a duck's oiled feathers shedding water illustrates how some people reject the word of God, contrasting with the initial reception of those on the way to life.

And we saw that it involved three things, as set forth in verse 13. We thank God that when you receive the word of God, there was an initial reception of the word. No one will ever be a Christian who throws off the word of God like the duck's oiled feathers throw off water. The first indication that a man or woman is in the way to life is when that person begins to seriously, adhere to the word of God, seriously regard the teaching of Holy Scripture.

2:01 - 2:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that 'followers' means 'mimics,' not through conscious imitation but as an inevitable result of the same gospel, Holy Spirit, and opposition, highlighting the…

This analogy explains how two contractors building houses from identical blueprints, even without knowing each other, will produce similar results, illustrating how the Thessalonians' imitation of Judean churches was an inevitable outcome of the same gospel and Spirit.

that was evidenced at Judea was also evidenced at Thessalonica. In other words their becoming imitators was not so much a conscious activity but an inevitable result of the same basic blueprint. If I give two architects identical blueprints maybe one is drawn up by the draftsman and I go and I have it copied under a copy machine and I give it to two architects and these two architects go out one to California and one down to the southernmost tip of Florida and they hire two contracting firms to take these plans and to build a house

7:37 - 8:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The lord has one you know what his test tube is you know what his laboratory is suffering

Suffering, opposition, and hardship are described as God's laboratory or test tube for analyzing and proving the genuineness of faith.

the vine to be held in the right way that the truth be brought to the flesh and to the life but what it is that yes we have to come to that with all that we are volunteer if you did and you walked up and said all right what would you put here how are we going to test your faith in what laboratory can we analyze your faith in what test tube can we put it the lord has one you know what his test tube is you know what his laboratory is suffering

29:44 - 30:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not look upon trials, opposition, or difficulty as a terrible thing, but as a means for God to test and purify faith.

The character of Pliable from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is used as an example of someone who easily turns away from the Christian faith when faced with opposition, contrasting with true perseverance.

i thank god i know you received the word not as the word of men but the word of god because when it was tested you were just little babes and great opposition came from your countrymen your dear friends your associates your work companions and instead of getting scared and pushing the panic bucking panic budding or being like pliable who took off with christian you remember but the minute he met in the opposition he said in essence putting it 20th century jargon look mac you've i've had it if this christian business is going to lead to this kind of involvement you go ahead and have it on going...

33:54 - 34:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin asserts that a true Christian's love for the gospel is demonstrated by their willingness to suffer for it, contrasting this with a contemporary report of 'secret disciples'…

An old saint's words about persecution are quoted to illustrate a deep love for the gospel that fears nothing men can do, as they cannot snatch away heavenly inheritance.

One of the old saints who lived at the time when the persecution broke out in the post-apostolic period said, Do they cast us out of the city?

37:16 - 37:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin asserts that a true Christian's love for the gospel is demonstrated by their willingness to suffer for it, contrasting this with a contemporary report of 'secret disciples'…

A quotation from an Asian evangelist, an associate of Billy Graham, is presented to illustrate and then refute the concept of 'secret discipleship' who do not confess Christ publicly to avoid persecution.

Listen. This man loved the gospel enough to suffer for it. I want to read something that got me so disturbed that I couldn't believe it until I read it over a few times that I'd read it rightly. In one of the largest religious periodicals of our day, translated into a number of different languages, an Asian evangelist, an associate of Billy Graham,

38:02 - 38:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: No, no. But though this will come prison tribulation death be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life

John Hus's statement, 'So and so is my friend, the truth is my friend, and both being my friends, it is my sacred duty to give the first honor to the truth,' illustrates a Christian's ultimate allegiance to truth over personal relationships, even unto suffering.

Beloved the word of God is clear that a true Christian who embraces the Lord Jesus with a God-given faith a man who truly loves Christ and the gospel is willing to suffer for that Christ and that gospel. John Hus one of the early martyrs prior to the Reformation said when the truth was leading him into a cleavage with a dear deep associate a fellow human being whom he loved deeply he said naming this man so and so is my friend the truth is my friend and both being my friends it is my sacred duty to give the first honor

44:19 - 45:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself if you have embraced God's word in such a way that your heart is set on allegiance to it, no matter the cost.

These analogies illustrate how suffering and opposition are essential and beneficial for the true children of God, just as these processes are necessary for perfume, wine, harvest, and fruitful vines.

What the crushing of flowers is in the production of perfume and the pressing of grapes in the making of wine and the plowing of soil to a fruitful harvest and pruning to a fruitful vine suffering and opposition are to the true children of God. As I close this morning I want to direct a very clear word to you sitting here this morning who are not in Christ Jesus. You've got a whole bunch of notions about Jesus Christ and the Bible and God floating around up here in your head but I want to ask you a very simple question this morning. Has that word come to you in such a way and have you embraced...

45:57 - 46:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not expect to suddenly become a different person in persecution if you are unwilling to deny yourself small comforts and confess Christ openly in present, limited trials.

The example of the Smothers Brothers being censored for 'off-hand slams' and 'underhanded digs' at the Christian faith is used to illustrate the subtle but growing overt opposition to Christianity in contemporary culture.

You who profess to be Christians I don't claim to be a prophet nor the son of a prophet but I believe the day is fast drawing to a close when we are going to live in this dream world of evangelical Christianity minus the bloodbath. I believe it's coming. The opposition to the Christian religion is getting more and more overt in subtle ways. I can see it as I try to read contemporary literature contemporary magazines a couple of so-called innocent clowns like the Smothers Brothers continually being censored by their off-hand slams at the Christian faith underhanded digs at the reality of Christ...

46:55 - 47:36 Read in full sermon