1989 Concerns at the Threshold of a New Year

The point: Allow the preacher in love to press the vital concerns of your soul's relationship to God upon your consciousness, rather than shutting him out.

Martin recounts how he and his wife would gently cup their daughter Heidi's face to ensure she was paying attention to important directions. This illustrates his earnest desire to capture the listener's full attention for the vital question of their salvation.

consciousness? Will you let me do, as it were, with the hands of my soul, what my wife and I used to do with our physical hands with our daughter, Heidi Cook, who's now 24, almost 25 years of age when she was a little girl? She had a tendency to look off to the right or to the left or up or down when you were seeking to give her directions, and we often wondered if the directions were registering and, therefore, if it were something important, we'd cup her little face in our hands and we'd say, now, Heidi, look at Mommy or Daddy's eyes, and those two little brown chocolate drops would come up ...

6:54 - 7:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Allow the preacher in love to press the vital concerns of your soul's relationship to God upon your consciousness, rather than shutting him out.

As an alternative to cupping the face, Martin suggests the imagery of placing hands on a man's shoulder or clasping a woman's wrist. This metaphor conveys the seriousness and directness of his pastoral appeal to different audiences.

But we'd gently cup her face, turn it upward and say, look into my eyes. Will you allow me the luxury of my love for your soul? To take the hands of my soul and to cup your face and say, look me in the eyes while I ask you the question, do you enter 1989 in saving union with the Lord Jesus Christ? And if there are some of you men that feel a bit uncomfortable with the imagery of having another man cup your face in his hands, perhaps the more appropriate way to do it would be appropriate imagery is that of placing my hands upon your shoulder, as men often do when they have a serious message to ...

7:48 - 9:09 Read in full sermon

Driving home: as it is appointed unto men once to die. And after this, judgment, there it is, death followed inevitably. Death is followed in every case without exception by judgment.

Martin uses the metaphor of God's appointment book to explain that God has predetermined the death of every individual, whether through ordinary means or sudden, unexpected events.

and under what circumstances we shall keep it. The year passed, for some of us held the unfolding of certain pages of God's appointment book. God has revealed that in his appointment book, he had marked the book of judgment. He had marked the book of judgment. He had marked the book of judgment. He had marked the book of judgment. He had marked the book of judgment. He had marked the down the death of a certain loved one, a death that came in what we might say rather ordinary ways, a degenerative disease that over a period of months took them down to their graves.

15:51 - 16:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: as it is appointed unto men once to die. And after this, judgment, there it is, death followed inevitably. Death is followed in every case without exception by judgment.

He cites the recent death of an elderly sister, Grace Albert, as an example of God's predetermined appointment with death, illustrating that God's plan unfolds in time.

This past year, death's appointment book was opened up to us with regard to one of our dear elderly sisters, Grace Albert, for whom her three-scoring ten were lived and almost her bonus ten, and the general erosion and degeneration of old age took her down to her grave, thereby revealing that in God's appointment book on the threshold of 1988, He had determined that Grace Albert should die. He had determined that others should be taken from our ranks by death. He had determined that multitudes in the world would be taken by more ordinary means of death. But I remind you that Almighty God has u...

16:29 - 17:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: as it is appointed unto men once to die. And after this, judgment, there it is, death followed inevitably. Death is followed in every case without exception by judgment.

Martin references the recent Armenian earthquake where 50,000 people died unexpectedly on the same day. This illustrates God's sovereign power to take life suddenly and in multitudes, underscoring the unpredictability of death.

This past year, death's appointment book was opened up to us with regard to one of our dear elderly sisters, Grace Albert, for whom her three-scoring ten were lived and almost her bonus ten, and the general erosion and degeneration of old age took her down to her grave, thereby revealing that in God's appointment book on the threshold of 1988, He had determined that Grace Albert should die. He had determined that others should be taken from our ranks by death. He had determined that multitudes in the world would be taken by more ordinary means of death. But I remind you that Almighty God has u...

16:29 - 17:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: As death leaves you, the judgment will find you, and as judgment finds you, eternity will hold you.

He refers to the bombing of Flight 103, where 250 people met sudden death while engaged in normal activities. This further emphasizes the unexpected nature of death and the lack of opportunity for preparation once it arrives.

Laughing. Laughing. Joke. Telling, and no doubt if it's like most international flights, booze-drinking people anticipating a marvelous, wonderful communion, and having done considerable travel across the Atlantic, that very route that was taken by Flight 103, I have no reason to think that the internal activity of that flight was any different from the dozens I have witnessed personally.

18:09 - 18:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Be ready for the Son of Man's coming, as readiness must precede His arrival, and there will be no opportunity after.

Martin uses Shirley MacLaine as an example of those who popularize the 'silly pagan lie' of reincarnation, which he refutes as a satanic deception that denies the finality of this life for preparation.

and first day of the new year? Because it is only while we're alive in this present life that we can prepare for death and for the coming of the Lord Jesus and the only part of 1989 you are certain to enjoy is the part that is presently yours. Not even one more hour is guaranteed by God. You see, in our day, people like Shirley MacLaine have popularized the silly pagan lie of the devil, of the so-called incarnation, reincarnation of the soul.

23:44 - 24:31 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And that thread is held in the hand of a sovereign God with one hand. And he holds the scissors in the other. And all he needs to do is exercise his sovereign right to stretch out the scissors, clip the thread, and I sha…

Martin shares a personal reflection on the fragility of life, noting that he could choke on his own spittle and die while preaching. This vivid image underscores the tenuousness of human existence.

How fragile is human life? How tenuous is human existence? How uncertain is it that I shall live even through the day? I tell you, it's a sobering thing to realize in the midst of preaching at times when my own soul is caught up with the truth and my mouth is dry and I take a drink of water that I could choke upon my own spittle and die in front of you.

31:51 - 32:25 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And that thread is held in the hand of a sovereign God with one hand. And he holds the scissors in the other. And all he needs to do is exercise his sovereign right to stretch out the scissors, clip the thread, and I sha…

He describes his life as hanging on a thread, making a spider's web look thick, held by God with scissors in the other hand. This metaphor powerfully conveys God's absolute sovereignty over life and death.

I feel that. I don't have a death wish. I don't have a premonition. But I realize that my life hangs on a thread that makes a spider's web look as thick as a spider's web.

32:31 - 32:46 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And that thread is held in the hand of a sovereign God with one hand. And he holds the scissors in the other. And all he needs to do is exercise his sovereign right to stretch out the scissors, clip the thread, and I sha…

Martin describes pagan philosophers as men who think their 'little mass of gray matter' can interpret all reality. This analogy highlights the arrogance and futility of human reason apart from divine revelation.

Look at Acts chapter 17. It underscores this so powerfully. Paul is standing in a place where the learned ones gather to spew out their latest insights as to reality. You see, a philosopher is a man who thinks that unaided by outside illumination, a pagan philosopher that is, that he can take the stuff of his own gray matter and with that little mass of gray matter he can take the stuff of his own gray matter and interpret all reality.

33:20 - 33:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider the question: Am I, as I enter 1989, savingly united to Christ?

He recounts a letter from a man in Tasmania whose 16-year-old daughter died unexpectedly the day after her conversion. This story powerfully illustrates that God controls life and death, even for young believers, and that life can be taken at any moment.

Not only because the Bible teaches, that it's only while you're alive and present in this world that you can prepare for death or the second coming. But how long you will be in this present world is not determined by you but by a sovereign God. I had a moving letter recently from a man in his sixties from a place many of you perhaps wouldn't even know where it was. If I said Tasmania and said here's a thousand bucks if you can tell me where it is, would you be able to tell me?

40:04 - 40:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Live life acknowledging God's sovereignty, saying 'If the Lord wills, we shall both live and do this or that,' rather than glorying in presumptuous plans.

Martin uses the example of the ant storing up for winter to show that prudent planning is commended by God, but contrasts it with the sin of presumptuous planning that ignores God's sovereignty.

Nothing wrong whatsoever with being prudent and wise and using sanctified forethought. God commends it in the very example of the ant who anticipates winter and stores up in summer against that emergency. What is God concerned about in this passage? Follow on.

43:04 - 43:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Live life acknowledging God's sovereignty, saying 'If the Lord wills, we shall both live and do this or that,' rather than glorying in presumptuous plans.

He poses a hypothetical scenario of locking oneself in a lead-walled shelter to prove one can predict tomorrow's events, only to be struck by illness or choke on water. This illustrates the utter unpredictability of life, even in controlled circumstances.

You that say we will go into this city and spend a year and trade and get gain whereas you do not know what shall be on the morrow. And that's the truth. Who among us would dare stand on his feet and say I will give an accurate and comprehensive description of every detail of my life tomorrow. Even if to prove yourself true you should lock yourself in a lead walled shelter three feet thick.

43:23 - 43:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Live life acknowledging God's sovereignty, saying 'If the Lord wills, we shall both live and do this or that,' rather than glorying in presumptuous plans.

Martin refers to a man who published booklets predicting Christ's return in 1988, now having to explain his failed prophecy. This example underscores the folly of setting dates for Christ's return and the importance of heeding Mark 13:32.

And what is true with respect to living is also true with respect to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Just as we do not control the extent, the duration of our days nor the events in them with reference to the second coming of Christ I give you this one text only from the chapter we expounded several months ago Mark chapter 13. The man who sent out his thousands of booklets proving Christ was coming in 1988 now must sit with his pencil and red face and try to with sophistry explain why his predictions were right though they didn't come to pass when the scripture tells us in Mark 13.22 but ...

46:41 - 48:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Dear children, learn your sin, the grace of God, repentance, and faith so that your youthful soul is washed in the blood of Jesus and ready for heaven.

He contrasts the litigious society of his day with the time of Jesus, where people sought a teacher of righteousness for legal matters. This sets up the context for Jesus' refusal to be a judge and divider, and his subsequent teaching against covetousness.

in an attitude of derision and an angry mean spirited abusiveness it is of the very essence of the spirit of murder and he says whosoever shall say to another thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire and so our Lord does not use the term fool lightly nor carelessly now we read in Luke chapter 12 this very interesting story could well be a true story because in verse 13 there is the record of one who cried out of the multitude teacher bid my brother divide the inheritance with me unlike our own day we got a lawyer on every corner begging you to take on the case of litigation one lawyer for eve...

51:04 - 52:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Dear children, learn your sin, the grace of God, repentance, and faith so that your youthful soul is washed in the blood of Jesus and ready for heaven.

Martin compares the rich fool's desire to live off his gains to the fantasies of lottery players. This analogy highlights the common human tendency to find life's meaning in material possessions rather than in God.

that's current terminology put it in current economic terminology that's what he said he'd do make some capital investments in order to secure his capital goods I'll pull down my barns build greater capital investment there I will bestow all my grain and my goods capital goods now notice all this has this end in view and I will say to my soul soul you have much goods laid up for many years take your ease eat drink and be merry he said I got it all figured out I'm going to secure my gains and then I'm going to live off those gains and I'm going to live the life that all of the people who play t...

53:56 - 55:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Be wise unto salvation and ready for Jesus to come, as this is far more important than academic achievements.

Martin shares his personal experience of struggling with math despite excelling in other subjects. This personal anecdote helps him connect with young people who may feel inadequate in certain areas, emphasizing that spiritual wisdom is far more important than academic prowess.

and five were wise and when you read down through the parable you know what makes the difference between the wise and the foolish not their New Jersey scores on their school tests not their IQ quotient you know what makes them wise or foolish five were ready when the bridegroom came five were not ready and the thing that made them wise or foolish was one issue readiness for the coming of the bridegroom and some of you kids may struggle and be on the bottom of the heap in your class not because you're lazy God just didn't give you the mental furniture to be a math whiz oh you do alright in soci...

59:38 - 61:06 Read in full sermon