Serious Use of Means of Perseverance

In this part of the sermon: The sermon explores why saints persevere from two standpoints: divinely, due to God's covenant blessings and the work of the Triune God; and humanly, because they are convinced…

Martin quotes from Pilgrim's Progress, where Christian encounters Timorous and Mistrust running down the Hill Difficulty. Christian's resolve to go forward despite fear of death, because going back is certain death and life is beyond, illustrates the conviction that saints must persevere.

God's purposes come to light in their practices. God's keeping power comes to light in their persevering grace and we said last Lord's Day evening that the saints of God persevere from the human standpoint first of all because they are convinced they must. They are convinced they must and we looked at a number of scriptures which indicate that Paul indicates it here he says if you people don't continue as far as I'm concerned we've lived and ministered in vain no matter what glowing evidences you've had in the past if there isn't present tense evidence of grace our hearts are broken our minist...

10:43 - 12:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be careless about preserving spiritual life, assuming God's sovereignty means you can do as you please; this is sinful presumption.

Martin uses the analogy of God's sovereignly appointed day of death. Despite this fixed decree, people still use seatbelts, obey speed laws, and care for their health. This illustrates how God's sovereignty over perseverance does not negate the necessity of using means to preserve spiritual life.

for Timothy and lo and behold no fog at Newark airport that morning all the money came in he made it so I just have to accept the direction of the Lord and let Timothy be my representative at this time that's what I mean by a serious use of the means that God has ordained for the perseverance of his people now immediately anyone who's thinking carefully not anyone but I would imagine most everyone comes up with this problem this is where I mentioned in the men's class that Jerry stole some of the thunder this morning someone says but wait a minute now if God has purposed that everyone who's tr...

16:31 - 17:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be careless about preserving spiritual life, assuming God's sovereignty means you can do as you please; this is sinful presumption.

Christian pulling out his 'roll' (assurance) from his bosom is used to show that assurance is not for taking it easy, but for gaining strength to face difficulties and use the means of grace.

of the means that God has ordained for his perseverance see it? and you see that in Pilgrim's Progress in fact Pilgrim's Progress really is an exposition of the doctrine of perseverance and when he'd get weary along the way he'd pull his roll out of his bosom what was that roll? that was his assurance that he was going to go to heaven now what did he pull it out for? did he pull out his roll his assurance his assurance his assurance his assurance his assurance his assurance his assurance his assurance in order that he could take it easy?

20:54 - 21:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, understanding that God is working in you.

The saying 'trust the Lord and keep your powder dry' is quoted to encapsulate the biblical concept of combining trust in God's sovereignty with diligent human effort in using means.

no to get strength to go up hill difficulty then he'd say he'd look at his shining robe he'd think about being justified why? to build a case for his shining robe? no to get fresh strength to face Apollyon face the devil you see he looked at the promises of God's keeping power and the privileges of grace to give him strength to use the means that God had ordained for his preservation who was it that said trust the Lord and keep your powder dry that captures the thought trust the Lord and keep your powder dry Nehemiah building the wall they had the trowel in one hand and the sword in the other ...

21:23 - 22:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be absent from the worship of God's people, as it helps lift your eyes to eternal things and brings spiritual focus.

The analogy of a camera lens going out of focus is used to describe how daily life can blur spiritual realities. Corporate worship, with others' worshiping voices, helps bring eternal things back into sharp focus, aiding perseverance.

them there is the matter of the corporate worship of the people of God the people of God how does this help us to persevere well you see we live in a world of sense and of time you and I move in the work a day world you students you fellows and girls at school you're moving with people whose whole portion and interest is temporal this world the now generation and what happens well let's liken it this way after a Lord's day when your heart has been full of the reality of spiritual things you've tasted of that eternal soul you've tasted of Sabbath when you'll gaze upon his face with no veil of s...

37:38 - 39:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not jeopardize your soul by absenting yourself from the stated assembly of God's people.

A story of a young lady from the hospital who chose to attend church over a special event because she 'desperately needed a word from God' illustrates the true saint's hunger for corporate exhortation and the preached word as a means of grace.

of the young ladies from the hospital came to me last Sunday and said you know pastor I was invited to go somewhere else today they're having a special affair for international students but she said I told them I'm not going to go I fear to go because I desperately need a word from God today and I believe God is going to do it and I believe God is going to do it to me and I'm so glad I came because I've heard from God in the area of my need she's not even six weeks old at least in a fresh experience of the Lord if not having just been born again and she knows more than some of you people who p...

42:02 - 43:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not jeopardize your soul by absenting yourself from the stated assembly of God's people.

An anecdote about brethren confessing their struggles to one another between services illustrates the strengthening effect of mutual confession and encouragement in the Christian walk.

pray all the time and pray all the time get a good relationship with one another we had a wonderful illustration of that just this morning in between services one of the brethren complaining it's such a battle such a battle I asked one of the other well how about you you said I got a battle to it how about you I've got a battle too and we were strengthened just confessing our sins long to another and we're encouraged to press up the hill difficulty because somebody else is getting a few scrapes in his knees we don't feel so bad if we got a few bumps and bruises and we encourage one another whe...

43:28 - 44:08 Read in full sermon