Christ Is my Life and Strength

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon as the fourth in a series, 'Ballast for the Soul,' focusing on biblical truths that provide stability in life's storms. He reviews previous messages…

The analogy of a ship needing ballast in its hull to be seaworthy is used to describe biblical truths that provide stability to the soul of a child of God, preventing capsizing in life's storms.

Our communion meditation tonight will be comprised of the fourth message in a very brief series, which I began to preach on December 31st in the year 2000. We were snowed out, I believe, on that morning, and when we gathered for that New Year's Eve service, we began to consider what I have entitled, Ballast for the Soul, using the analogy of a ship that must have sufficient ballast in its hull if it is to be a seaworthy vessel. We've been looking at those particular biblical truths which act as ballast in the soul of a child of God,

0:04 - 0:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin addresses common misinterpretations of Christ's indwelling, arguing it is not a call to passivity or an unbiblical mysticism that waits for impulses. He uses Paul's active…

Martin recounts his experience under teaching that advocated for a passive approach to Christ's indwelling, where one puts mind, affections, and will in neutral, like a funnel. He tried to preach without excitement, mimicking his reserved teachers, but found himself 'backsliding' into passionate preaching, illustrating the error of passivity.

have taken this truth of Christ dwelling in us, Christ living in us, and they say, if that's so, then I must be just like a funnel. I put my mind in neutral. I put my affections in neutral. I put my will in neutral. And I just sort of get adjusted and I let Christ live his life through me. I was

26:56 - 27:18 Read in full sermon

Driving home: This truth is not revealed to constitute a ground for passivity.

Continuing his personal story, Martin describes how the passive teaching led him to an inability to make rational decisions, waiting for 'impulses of his mind upon my mind,' which brought sincere souls into tremendous bondage, highlighting the danger of unbiblical mysticism.

then I found my voice roaring. And then I thought, and you know, we laugh. And the laughter was innocent and legitimate. But I'd go back to my room and say, Lord, when, when, when will I get so used that Christ will preach through me? Christ will live through me? I got to the place where I

28:03 - 28:23 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second positive implication is a call to continually expect and draw strength from Christ. Martin illustrates this with Paul's contentment in Philippians 4:13, attributing his…

Martin uses Paul's experience in Philippians 4:13, being hungry or full, in want or abundance, yet always content and singing, as an example of drawing strength from the indwelling Christ, demonstrating that Christ's power enables contentment in all circumstances.

Philippians 1.11. Philippians 4.13. You remember the context? Paul said, there are times when I know what it is to have my tummy play a tune on my backbone. I know what it is to be in want, not to have the basic necessities of food and earthly comforts.

34:05 - 34:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin applies the truth of Christ's strength in weakness to personal experience, using the example of a child walking away from faith or his wife's endurance through…

The scenario of a beloved son or daughter walking away from faith is used as an example of a 'grave' circumstance where God puts believers to death, so that only resurrection life, the power of Jesus, can explain their sanity and cheerfulness.

It's in the midst of weakness that his strength is made manifest. It's a call, dear people, this truth, and I know I've gone on longer than I'm supposed to in the communion meditation. It's called to a believing submission to Christ and to the circumstances in which he's going to teach us this truth experimentally, that we get pressed beyond ourselves. I think of some sitting here, never knew what that was, till the darling of your heart, that son or daughter, walked away from everything you've paid and labored to see them become.

45:50 - 46:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Respond to trials in such a way that the only explanation is Christ lives in you, allowing His life to be manifested in your mortal flesh.

Martin shares a personal story of his wife's endurance through 11 chemotherapy treatments, noting her lack of complaint, wounded pride, or grousing despite losing her hair and suffering indignity. He uses this as a concrete example of Christ living in her, as her responses defied natural explanation.

Christ lives in him. My dear wife is not here tonight. She's out in Michigan with her grandson and her daughter, my son-in-law. I can rarely say anything about her publicly, but I have to go home and live with her.

46:53 - 47:07 Read in full sermon

The point: As you take the symbols of Christ's body and blood in communion, pray afresh, 'Lord Jesus, take me beyond sparing myself, taxing myself, being myself, and do in me whatever must be done, that there'll be no explanation f…

Martin uses the metaphor of trying to thread a needle with boxing gloves on to describe his feeling of clumsiness and felt ignorance when trying to speak of the high and marvelous mysteries of the faith, expressing humility before God's truth.

No cute little packaged outline of the gospel can give you that. That comes out of the crucible of your dealings with God in Christ committed, that you too will be handed over to death again and again, that the life of Jesus be manifested in your mortal flesh. Our Father, Amen. We confess that when we seek to speak of these high and marvelous mysteries of the faith, we feel as clumsy as someone trying to thread a needle with boxing gloves on.

53:50 - 54:35 Read in full sermon