Anatomy of a Man of God: His Backbone #1

The point: Seek the face of God that each of our hearts may be fertile soil for the word and that the Spirit will take that word and so implant it that those fruits that God alone can produce will be produced in each of our hearts.

The parable is used to illustrate that the effectiveness of the preached Word depends on the condition of the hearer's heart, underscoring the need for fertile soil.

This sermon was preached on Sunday morning, October 9th, 1988, at the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey. As we sang that hymn together, you who have any acquaintance with what we commonly call the parable of the sower,

0:00 - 0:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that backbone is essential because a man of God must faithfully expound and apply offensive truths in his public ministry. He explains that the gospel is a deposit…

An Australian cleric's humorous but pointed observation that bishops seem to extract a man's backbone during ordination is used to highlight the widespread lack of this quality in ministry.

But without this element in his spiritual anatomy, he cannot in any sense of the word be called a man of God. Now, I don't mean to be humorous when I say this, but it was reported to me by one of my Australian friends that a young leading cleric in Australia had the courage to say in his own Anglican communion and fellowship that while he did not believe there was any magical power in the hands of the bishops to convey any special grace when they laid their hands upon men and ordained them,

22:16 - 22:59 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But his heart was not smitten till the prophet turned and said thou art the man it was in his pointed application of the truth that the arrow came home to his breast and so it is

The story of Nathan confronting David with the parable of the ewe lamb is used to illustrate that objective exposition is insufficient; personal, pointed application is necessary to smite the conscience.

and take people through large blocks of scripture they would not tolerate him but they will allow him to say anything in the way of objective exposition of scripture but oh the trouble comes when seeing the principles in the text the preacher begins to say therefore and begins to make personal pointed tailor made application to the circumstances of that congregation that's when people begin to bristle because what happens is this you see as long as David stood before Nathan and was telling stories all it did was all it did was give David a vicarious emotional outlet

42:18 - 43:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He that rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he that flatters with his tongue but it's that interim between the rebuke and the afterward where you run the risk of the distance and it breaks your heart you s…

Martin describes how children who once eagerly sought hugs begin to avoid him when the demands of the gospel become clear, illustrating the personal cost and emotional pain of applying unwanted truths.

and you sense when that person looks at you there isn't that look of delight used to be when their eyes went halfway across the parking lot immediately their eyes would light up now your eyes meet theirs and suddenly they glance away you feel that you say pastor you notice those things mm-hmm just like when the little kids who run up week after week and get in line for their hugs when they start getting old enough to know that all that they've heard in the preaching is beginning to make demands upon them and it's beginning to be lost and they know they can't have Christ and the gospel

52:33 - 53:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Finally, backbone is essential for implementing unpopular truths in the administration of God's house. Martin explains that elders have administrative authority to ensure God's…

Jesus' vigorous cleansing of the temple is used as a vivid example of implementing unpopular truths and God's zeal for the purity of His house, demonstrating that backbone is consistent with meekness.

are recognized and obeyed in God's house and this whole subject as we trace it through the scriptures is one that breaks our hearts to see that again and again it was the defilement of the people and the Lord Jesus did not in any way neutralize the disposition of the prophets but rather in that vivid description of the first cleansing of the temple we see the gentle one the one who said I am meek and lowly in heart making a scourge of cords and then with unusually vigorous verbs

57:00 - 57:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You will see how much you need spiritual backbone to determine that God's word will obtain rule in God's house.

The story of a small Baptist church in Louisiana facing slander and opposition after implementing church discipline to ensure membership meant something illustrates the real-world challenges and necessity of spiritual backbone in church administration.

in that little Baptist church in that little town in Louisiana that has rocked along for 125 years in that community. And for at least the past 50 years, he's been a member of the church. And I think of my dear friend in that little Baptist church in that little town in Louisiana that has rocked along for 125 years in that community. And for at least the past 50 years, it has had no impact on the community. It's caused no problems. No one's bothered it. It's

62:04 - 62:22 Read in full sermon