Duty and Privilege of the Christian to Himself

The point: You ought to ask why the Bible contains so much history and biography, as it is crucial for understanding God's revelation.

To emphasize the reality of the Fall, Martin describes Eve biting a 'real piece of fruit' with a 'snap' and 'juice' and 'specific weight,' making the historical event tangible.

The Bible records a real creation by the word and power of God in Genesis 1 and 2. The Bible records a real fall when a real man named Adam and a real woman named Mary, and a real woman named Eve, in disobedience to God, ate of a real piece of fruit. It doesn't say it was an apple, but a real piece of fruit. If it were an apple and had a tight skin, when Eve put her teeth into it, you could have heard the snap that you hear when you bite a nice, firm, Macintosh apple.

2:22 - 2:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't ever say you're a New Testament Christian; you're a whole Bible Christian, living up to God's standards.

Jesus' reference to Noah's days illustrates how Old Testament history provides principles of God's activity in redemption and judgment for later generations.

As God is working out his purposes of redemption and judgment, in human history, he's constantly illustrating the principles of his own kingdom. As that history unfolds, and we read of the events of nations, and of tribes, and of individuals, God is illustrating again and again the principles that inhere in his gracious work, and also in his work of judgment. So when we come to the New Testament, it should not surprise us to find the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28, 24, 37 and following saying this, speaking of those events surrounding his second coming in glory and in power, that's the focus in that...

4:24 - 5:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't ever say you're a New Testament Christian; you're a whole Bible Christian, living up to God's standards.

Paul's use of Israel's wilderness wanderings as an admonition for New Covenant believers demonstrates the ongoing relevance of historical accounts for illustrating God's displeasure and judgment.

on the swelling waves of the ark into safety, while judging others, that illustrates a principle of God's activity in redemption, and in judgment. Likewise in 1 Corinthians 10-11, after speaking of events of the children of Israel wandering through the wilderness, Paul says, these things were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come. In other words, that history has relevance for the people of God in the New Covenant. It contains principles of the things that God is displeasing, pleased with, and the things that God will judge, even among His people. And in that sett...

5:52 - 6:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't ever say you're a New Testament Christian; you're a whole Bible Christian, living up to God's standards.

James's call to take the prophets as an example of suffering is illustrated by Jeremiah's experience, showing that such history sets forth principles for faithfulness in a hostile world.

You mean when I read the history of Jeremiah and his being thrown down in a slime pit, that's not just a history of Jeremiah. It is the history of God. It is setting forth an example to all of the people of God of the principles that will be operative when they seek to be faithful to God in a hostile and in an unbelieving world. And we could multiply passages.

6:54 - 7:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details David's flight from Saul, his period of unbelief leading him to the Philistines, and the events that led him and his men back to Ziklag, setting the stage for the…

Martin recounts David's initial favor with Saul, alternating between harp and sword, to contrast with Saul's later jealousy and David's subsequent distress.

And what I want you to note with me first of all is the historical setting of this incident in the life of David. What is the historical setting of this incident in which David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God? Well this portion that I read in your hearing describes the most distressful period in David's life prior to his ascension to the throne in Judah. David had many distressful periods but if you read through the book of 1 Samuel and up into 2 Samuel chapter 2 when he becomes king in Hebron over Judah you will come to the conviction that there was no point that was lower, more inten...

10:59 - 12:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But contrary to all natural expectation, contrary to everything that we would excuse in a good man in these circumstances, but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.

The destruction of Ziklag is compared to Atlanta after Sherman's march, vividly conveying the extent of the desolation David and his men found.

Now having looked at the historical setting of this incident in the life of David notice with me now the immediate situation described in verses 1 to 3 of chapter 30. And it came to pass when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day the Amalekites had made a raid had burned it with fire taken captive the women and all that were therein carried them off went their way David and his men came to the city and behold it was burned with fire and their wives and their sons and their daughters were taken captive. This was like Atlanta after Sherman and his troops went through in the Civi...

16:21 - 17:48 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But contrary to all natural expectation, contrary to everything that we would excuse in a good man in these circumstances, but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.

Martin describes the anticipation of returning home to loved ones after a trip to help the audience imagine the emotional state of David's men envisioning their wives and children.

Now having looked at the historical setting of this incident in the life of David notice with me now the immediate situation described in verses 1 to 3 of chapter 30. And it came to pass when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day the Amalekites had made a raid had burned it with fire taken captive the women and all that were therein carried them off went their way David and his men came to the city and behold it was burned with fire and their wives and their sons and their daughters were taken captive. This was like Atlanta after Sherman and his troops went through in the Civi...

16:21 - 17:48 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But contrary to all natural expectation, contrary to everything that we would excuse in a good man in these circumstances, but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.

This metaphor is used to urge the audience to feel the real emotions and passions of David and his men, rather than reading the account as detached history.

what will my wife's face look like when I see her after a time away how will the children greet me as they jump up into my arms these were real men dear people don't read this stuff as though they were wooden soldiers and drug store Indians they had real feelings real emotions real passions men envisioning themselves embracing their wives and hugging their children and as they begin to draw near to the city they begin to see the curl of smoke and their noses pick up an acrid pungent smell and then they move from a brisk walk to a breakneck run and they come to the gate and they look and they s...

17:48 - 19:16 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But contrary to all natural expectation, contrary to everything that we would excuse in a good man in these circumstances, but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.

The intense, audible weeping of David and his men is compared to the Wailing Wall, emphasizing the depth of their collective grief.

lifted up their voice and wept they sobbed and wailed this was the wailing wall created long before it was raised up there in modern Palestine they wept they wailed until the fountain of their tears were dried and they had no more strength even to convulse with sobbing and with the brokenness of their heart and David's two wives were taken captive Ahinoam the dead Jezreelite and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite and David was greatly distressed sometimes you've got to use a couple of English words to translate one Hebrew or Greek word but here you have two words in the Hebrew the one the...

20:43 - 22:11 Read in full sermon

The point: If you don't learn to act and not be acted upon by circumstances, you'll be bullied by them until you go to your grave without spiritual stability.

The analogy of being 'bullied by our circumstances' is used to warn against letting external events dictate one's spiritual stability, contrasting with David's active strengthening in God.

he wasn't paralyzed by his circumstances he did something David did it consciously deliberately engaged in an activity he didn't let his circumstances dictate to him he dictated to his circumstances he determined that looking straight in the eyeball of every real circumstance that said David you've had it you ought to curse God and die he looked straight through the circumstances to the realities of the unseen world and he strengthened himself in God now why do I press the fact that it was a conscious deliberate activity of the man David because David said to himself I will act and not be acte...

26:31 - 27:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not strengthen yourself in yourself or in the false notion that you can be anything you want to be; this is heresy.

Martin uses the personal example of wanting to be a bird to debunk the 'you can be anything you want to be' heresy, highlighting the limits of human self-actualization.

I'm just excited you'll have to forgive me when I get excited my eyes pop out the truth of this dear people you don't lie down and let your circumstances bury you in despair despondency dejection and unbelief to realities that will result as it did with David to you strengthening yourself in the Lord it was a conscious deliberate activity of the man David secondly it was an activity that was focused upon Jehovah look at the text but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God it doesn't say he strengthened himself in himself don't you get nauseous with all of this chuck yourself under the ch...

27:59 - 29:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not strengthen yourself in yourself or in the false notion that you can be anything you want to be; this is heresy.

The Psalms are presented as David's inspired commentary on what it means to strengthen oneself in Jehovah, providing a lifetime guide to this spiritual discipline.

I can be anything I want to be and jump out my study window maybe visiting me in a hospital or in the morgue I can't be anything I want to be that's nonsense and yet that's been pummeled into this generation of self-actualization and self-realization and self-expression thankfully David knew nothing of that heresy it doesn't say he strengthened himself in himself nor does it say he strengthened himself in his 600 warriors at this point wasn't much comfort they were looking at stones I'm not going to look for help for people to pick enough stones to kill me it doesn't say that he looked forward...

29:27 - 30:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Remind yourself of the past dealings of Jehovah, looking back at His footprints in your life to know He is no fair-weather God.

Martin shares his personal experience of looking back at God's faithfulness over 46 years, from his teenage conversion, to affirm God's unchanging nature in times of crisis.

he is with us he is with us you want to be strengthened in God? you remind yourself of the changeless being of Jehovah he is the eternal changeless I am remind yourself of the presence of Jehovah he is with us reminds himself of the past dealings of Jehovah you see David doing this when he goes out to meet the Philistine when they wonder how in the world David are you going to be a match for him you remember what he does? he says look I remember when I was a shepherd when the lion came and the bear came they were no match for me I took them on with my bare hands who is this uncircumcised Phili...

33:05 - 34:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not stand and weep by the ash pile, but strengthen yourself in Jehovah, go to the throne of grace, and come away invigorated to do the will of God.

Flavel's quote explains how troubles awaken God's people to more frequent, spiritual, and fervent prayer, comparing prayer to 'sweetest melody... upon the deep waters of affliction.'

but seeking the face of God for guidance and David in chapter 23 it's the last time we read that he inquired of the Lord that's why many commentators believe this period David was in a period of a backslidden state he did some very questionable things but be that as it may what we know is marked out by the Holy Spirit as the first fruit of his being strengthened in Jehovah his God is that he gives himself anew to prayer and I found a wonderful statement in John Flavel with respect to what God does in the midst of trial in order to renew our prayers listen to Flavel by these troubles and distre...

43:12 - 44:41 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are very low and greatly distressed, encourage yourself in the abundant faithfulness of God, knowing that trials often bring the richest freight of His grace.

Spurgeon's personal testimony and encouragement regarding affliction, describing 'worst days' as 'best days' and 'black clouds' as 'big with mercy,' reinforces the sermon's theme of finding strength in God during distress.

standing amidst the smoke and the rubble and the heartbreak of his wives and the children of his warriors taken captive and he strengthens himself in the Lord his God he inquires of the Lord he goes forth with the directions of the Lord in the strength and in the power of the Lord and he soon will be brought to the place which the Lord himself had said would be his place of service and responsibility I want to close by telling you how Spurgeon affirmed this truth in his own life he has a sermon on this passage that I read after I prepared my own sermon and I said well got to stick this in ther...

49:04 - 50:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Get real: if you are saved by the blood of incarnate deity, do not be tempted to weigh human relationships against loyalty to Christ.

Martin recounts his father turning against him after his conversion and subsequent broken friendships due to his faith, illustrating the cost of loyalty to Christ and the sufficiency of communion with God.

Jesus he went through the path of suffering to glory but he brought you in his train and he brought me God's purpose for all of his own is marked out by the pattern of his son suffering and glory to follow and frankly I've been a bit disappointed with some who thought they even had to think is it worth the fracturing of a few friendships to remain loyal to Christ what in the world would you do if you were thrown in a hot box and beat and starved for days the history of my life has been the fracturing and the betrayal of friends I hadn't been converted three months when the father who prayed me...

52:04 - 53:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Strengthen yourself in Jehovah your God, even when the pain is real and deep, without turning away from God or your post of duty.

The story of Martin Luther's wife wearing a black suit to remind him that God lives, despite his despair, serves as a powerful parable for strengthening oneself in the living God.

the Holy eliminating river if he didn't water he didn't use the water for the Zuschauer Gee Who's died? Haven't you heard the tragic news? No, no. Who's died?

56:27 - 56:51 Read in full sermon