1996 Boast Not Thyself of Tomorrow

Driving home: Therefore Solomon is likening every day to an opaque womb.

Solomon likens every day to an opaque womb, in which God has placed all the particulars that will come forth, emphasizing that humans do not know what will be 'birthed' from any given day.

to describe the day. And the word for bring forth is a much used Hebrew word, yalad, which in its several forms describes the birthing process or the act of birthing, both with respect to human beings and to animals. It is the most common word used when someone is said to give birth or to bring forth a person or animals even giving birth. Therefore Solomon is likening every day to an opaque womb.

7:10 - 7:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Therefore Solomon is likening every day to an opaque womb.

The genius with an IQ of 170 and the 'idiot' with an IQ of 60 have equal knowledge regarding tomorrow, illustrating the universality of human ignorance about the future.

to us. There is one which is universal in its application. The man or woman with an IQ of 170 considered a genius. The poor man or woman with an IQ of 60 considered an idiot.

8:40 - 8:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Therefore Solomon is likening every day to an opaque womb.

The filthy rich and dirt poor, the famous and the obscure, all stand on equal ground in not knowing what a day may bring forth, reinforcing the universal application of the truth.

In this they have equal knowledge. Neither one knows what a day may bring forth. The filthy rich and the dirt poor. In this they stand still.

8:57 - 9:14 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now only fools bent on self-destruction seek to live their lives ignoring the obvious facts of reality.

The unexpected bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995 serves as a stark reminder that no one could have predicted such a catastrophic event.

Think with me of some of the startling reminders of this. This fact, the things that have captured the attention not only of our nation, some instances our congregation, but in most the entire world that no one would have predicted, who was seeking to be a seer and a prophet on the threshold of 1995, who would have known on that given day early in the morning that an entire federal building in Oklahoma,

14:07 - 14:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now only fools bent on self-destruction seek to live their lives ignoring the obvious facts of reality.

The sudden accident that rendered Christopher Reeve a quadriplegic is used as an example of an unforeseen, life-altering event.

the city would have been rocked as though struck with a whole plane load of bombs. We knew not what that day would bring forth. Who could have predicted that Superman would fall from a bolting horse, and the strong, virile Christopher Reed rendered a quadriplegic in a moment of time? Who would have ever thought that Sergei Grinkov, who made people who loved skating sit breathless with his artistry with his wife?

14:43 - 15:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now only fools bent on self-destruction seek to live their lives ignoring the obvious facts of reality.

The unexpected death of young, virile figure skater Sergei Grinkov from a heart attack illustrates the unpredictability of life and health.

the city would have been rocked as though struck with a whole plane load of bombs. We knew not what that day would bring forth. Who could have predicted that Superman would fall from a bolting horse, and the strong, virile Christopher Reed rendered a quadriplegic in a moment of time? Who would have ever thought that Sergei Grinkov, who made people who loved skating sit breathless with his artistry with his wife?

14:43 - 15:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now only fools bent on self-destruction seek to live their lives ignoring the obvious facts of reality.

The story of Little Emma kissing her mummy goodbye at 15 and being in 'another world' by 24 highlights the suddenness and unpredictability of death.

Would die, a man in his twenties die of a massive heart attack? No one, in that little village in the north of Scotland, would have ever thought when Little Emma kissed her mummy goodbye at age 15 and hopped on her bike that at age 24, she would be in another world. You see dear people, this is indisputable. When Solomon asserts, you know not what a day may bring forth, it is a very countenance.

15:23 - 16:00 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now only fools bent on self-destruction seek to live their lives ignoring the obvious facts of reality.

The young person who thinks they can experiment with drugs without becoming a 'junkie' is a fool ignoring the reality of facts, analogous to those who ignore the reality of not knowing tomorrow.

why the young person who thinks he will beat the path from his first joint to his first tie on his coat to his first needle into his first pipe full of crack. I'm a junkie lying in an alley like a half-dead rat. Not me. He's a fool who will not face the reality of the facts. That the wicked should be held by the

16:36 - 17:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin defines 'boasting about tomorrow' as confidently thinking, speaking, and acting concerning future plans without realistic recognition of human lack of control. He…

Boasting about tomorrow is likened to having the power to fill up the 'womb of tomorrow' based on one's desires and then bringing forth everything put in it, which is a false assumption.

And having filled up the womb of tomorrow based on our desires, we have the power to bring forth everything that we've put in that womb. That is to boast about tomorrow. But two biblical pictures will be worth...

19:21 - 19:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: boast not thyself of tomorrow but thou knowest not what a day may bring forth

A child of God delaying confession of sin to their spouse due to fear of reaction (divorce, shame) is an example of boasting about tomorrow, assuming they will have a 'tomorrow' to deal with it.

and if God were to allow you to prosper while you knowingly cover that sin he'd have to come out of heaven and scrub that peck from his own holy word what is the sin you say if I confess that to God I know I know I'll have to confess it to my wife and I don't know how she'd react if I tell her this or that she might turn against me she might threaten to divorce me I know eventually I must confess it and I fully intend to some tomorrow

31:49 - 32:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: boast not thyself of tomorrow but thou knowest not what a day may bring forth

A Christian delaying confession of tax fraud due to fear of legal repercussions (IRS, court, losing home, family shame) is another example of boasting about tomorrow.

child of God get out of your dream world harden your heart one more day about that sin and the likelihood that you'll ever confess it is much less in the orbit of reality ah but if I confess that sin I know I'll have to make it right at other levels it may mean going to the IRS and acknowledging that I shaved the facts in order to favor myself and I didn't render to Caesar what belonged to Caesar I might be taken to court I might lose my home my whole family might be ashamed and you're covering that sin that you know was committed

32:33 - 33:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not boast of tomorrow with reference to the ruthless principled mortification of patterns of sin in your life.

David's adultery and murder, and the subsequent spiritual declension, illustrate that 'time does not heal' moral issues; only biblical dealing with sin rectifies them.

and a second word of exhortation to you the people of God do not boast of tomorrow with reference to the ruthless principled mortification of patterns of sin in your life see the difference between the two it is one thing to have a specific or specific unconfessed sins matters that have not been dealt with biblically time does not heal them time does not write them from David's adultery and murder to almost a year later all time did was bring him into such wretched spiritual declension

35:28 - 36:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not boast of tomorrow with reference to the ruthless principled mortification of patterns of sin in your life.

A believer's unmortified, inordinate attachment to TV and rented movies that feed the flesh and introduce unholy images is a specific example of a sin pattern deferred to 'tomorrow.'

tomorrow and God's word to you is don't boast about tomorrow you don't know what a day may bring forth leave those patterns of sin still entrenched as they are and they may be the very seedlings that will sprout into the full blown tree of apostasy what's the area conscience at work you came into 95 knowing you had an obsessive

39:03 - 39:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Men, assume the burden of loving, assertive, sensitive, Christ-like headship over your wives and over your families.

Men delaying their loving, assertive, sensitive, Christ-like headship in the home due to fear of their wife's 'pout' or children's resistance is an example of boasting about tomorrow.

sure purpose to tomorrow tomorrow out there something's going to happen in me and in my circumstances that are going to make it more acceptable and more welcoming to an established devotional life you're boasting of tomorrow you're living the life of a fool in that area Christian in the domestic area what more can be said to you men about assuming the burden of loving assertive sensitive Christ like headship over your

46:50 - 47:34 Read in full sermon

The point: In the workplace, do whatever your hand finds to do with all your might as unto the Lord, without murmuring and disputing.

The sudden bursting of a blood vessel in the brain or the discovery of a deadly tumor illustrates how quickly one's rational faculties or life priorities can change, making 'tomorrow' for dealing with sin impossible.

The ability to even rationally think about the unconfessed sin, the patterns of unmortified pockets of sin in your life, the areas of sloppiness with respect to your biblical duties. How do you know you're even going to have the rational faculties to think of those things tomorrow? One little blood vessel bursting in the brain, it could be rendered an idiot.

52:15 - 52:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not boast yourself of tomorrow for salvation; do not delay in seeking Christ.

The biblical word 'hypocrite' is explained etymologically as 'wearing a mask,' illustrating how some professing Christians knowingly project a false identity.

You make the profession, but you're a hypocrite. Hypocrite is a man. A man who knowingly wears a mask. The very biblical word hypocrite is the word that etymologically means the wearing of a mask.

54:14 - 54:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin then turns to the unconverted, categorizing them as those making no profession, hypocrites, and formalists. He challenges their intention to seek salvation 'tomorrow,'…

A hypocrite realizing the futility of fooling the world if they will be stripped naked before God on the last day, highlights the emptiness of a false profession.

I believe every unconverted man, woman, boy or girl here would say, yes, I do want to know that I'm saved. Those of you who make no profession, yes, I read my Bible and I listen to family worship and I hope someday that Christ will be mine and I'll be his. And I trust that some of you are his. Some of you are hypocrites, are feeling the wretched taste of the hypocrisy in your mouth, beginning to soberly realize, what does it matter if I fool the whole world?

56:39 - 57:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents 2 Corinthians 6:2, 'Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation,' as the divine antidote to procrastination. He emphasizes Paul's…

The unconverted hypocrite is described as getting weary of 'always looking over your shoulder to make sure you pick your mask up at the right time,' yearning to live without a mask.

You have no intention to go on rejecting Christ until you die and sink into hell. You have no intention going on being the hypocrite you've been. You're getting weary of it. You're getting tired of always looking over your shoulder to make sure you pick your mask up at the right time and in the right place and in the right circumstances.

62:57 - 63:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents 2 Corinthians 6:2, 'Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation,' as the divine antidote to procrastination. He emphasizes Paul's…

Paul's begging on behalf of Christ is likened to the pathos and passion of the incarnate God, who lamented over Jerusalem and cried out invitations in the temple.

Think of it. Paul said as an ambassador we not only draw alongside and entreat you. In the very stead of Christ we beg you. With all the pathos and the passion and the yearning of the incarnate God.

65:04 - 65:23 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents 2 Corinthians 6:2, 'Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation,' as the divine antidote to procrastination. He emphasizes Paul's…

God is depicted as having 'oversized ears' ready to hear the faintest whisper of a penitent cry and 'outstretched hands' ready to receive, emphasizing His present readiness to save.

God has told you today in the gospel, with an inviting face. God is toward you today in the gospel, may I say it reverently, with oversized ears, ready to pick up the faintest whisper of the sigh of a penitent cry.

70:06 - 70:25 Read in full sermon

The point: No longer play the fool; close with Christ and cry out for mercy today.

A poem describing the judgment morning, where moral men's self-righteousness is insufficient and those who put off salvation find no time for repentance, serves as a solemn warning to the unconverted.

I dreamed that the great judgment morning had come. The trumpet had blown. Man is speaking, thinking of the coming day of judgment. I dreamed that the nations had gathered to judgment before the white throne.

71:40 - 71:56 Read in full sermon