He that is Not Against Us is for Us

Driving home: And I wonder at times, and I'm tempted to write in the margin of some of my commentaries, when will you learn your task is to bow reverently before the silences of God and labor to elucidate clearly the voice and the pro…

The sons of Sceva in Acts 19 are used to illustrate the difference between genuinely casting out demons in Jesus's name and merely using His name as a magical phrase, highlighting the authenticity of the man in Mark 9.

What they are saying to Jesus or what John is saying is that we saw one casting out demons and in this activity he was making it abundantly evident that that activity was directly related to the revelation you have made of yourself. He obviously was casting out demons in conjunction with what he had either personally seen and heard of you, Master, or what he had heard by way of report of you, which report he had embraced, believed, and believed to the extent that he waxed bold enough to confront demons and in the confidence of your mighty messianic power to conquer the powers of darkness, he w...

13:46 - 15:14 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And I wonder at times, and I'm tempted to write in the margin of some of my commentaries, when will you learn your task is to bow reverently before the silences of God and labor to elucidate clearly the voice and the pro…

Martin compares expounding God's silences (like the identity of the unnamed exorcist) to 'wasted printer's ink,' emphasizing that a preacher's task is to elucidate God's clear pronouncements, not speculate on what is unrevealed.

and the entire body of the twelve, or the entire body of the twelve, saw demons truly cast out and cast out in conjunction with the name of Christ. Now I'm sure if all the questions about this unnamed individual were recorded, and along with all of those questions, all of the conjectures about his origins, his identity, his possible relationship with John the Baptist or the Seventy, if all of that were recorded in one place, you've had an awful lot of wasted printer's ink. Paragraphs and pages are written trying to expound God's silences. And I wonder at times, and I'm tempted to write in the ...

15:14 - 16:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Have a gracious attitude to everyone who is truly serving Christ in circles other than our own.

Martin describes articulating and applying the principle of graciousness to those outside one's circle as living 'on the razor's edge,' indicating the delicate balance required to be true to the passage without falling into error.

to have a gracious attitude to those who are truly serving Christ in circles other than our own now I am conscious that I am on the razor's edge in articulating the principle I am even pressed down on that edge when I seek to apply the principle but live on the razor's edge I must to be true to the passage you see for the disciples themselves one of whom was John to attempt to serve Christ in any other context other than physical attachment to Christ was impossible Jesus had said to them literally follow me and they left their nets and their business and they followed him for them there was no...

33:25 - 34:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid being 'nasty Baptists' who unchurch all Paedobaptist congregations, recognizing them as brethren if they bear the marks of brotherhood.

This example illustrates the ungracious spirit of some Baptists who 'unchurch' all Paedobaptist congregations, failing to recognize them as brethren despite their shared commitment to Christ and holiness.

every paedo-baptist congregation I find it hard to believe that men who claim that grace is in their hearts are prepared to say that paedo-baptist churches that is churches where people are making confession of faith walking in a way of biblical obedience according to their light but who happen to regard their infant seed as included in a larger circle of the church and put water on their forehead they are prepared to say they are not even true churches they are prepared to unchurch every single paedo-baptist church would God that such nasty Baptists had understood this message are they preach...

40:45 - 42:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid being 'nasty Calvinists' who unchristianize Christ-loving, Christ-trusting people who may have defective views on some doctrines.

This example illustrates the ungracious spirit of some Calvinists who 'unchristianize' those who cannot articulate the five points of Calvinism, despite their evident love for Christ and advancement of His kingdom.

but we must regard them as our brethren if the marks of the brotherhood are upon them though they may have never joined our watery ways if this principle were understood there'd be no nasty Calvinists who are constantly unchristianizing anyone who cannot articulate the five points I have sat in meetings where I almost wanted to stand up and make a public display and say if anyone's sitting here not what you hear caricatured from that pulpit I've read and heard things that have embarrassed me as nasty Calvinists unchristianized Christ loving Christ trusting Christ kingdom advancing people who h...

42:14 - 43:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid being 'nasty Paedobaptists' who make all Baptists tyrants, and 'nasty Arminians' who caricature Calvinists.

These examples illustrate the ungracious spirit of some Paedobaptists who demonize Baptists for not sprinkling infants, and some Arminians who caricature Calvinists as gleefully discussing reprobation, highlighting the harm caused by such polemics.

but when they sing their hymns and pray their prayers dear people they are our brethren and for us to say we've forbidden they're not with us on the other hand there's a flip side to that there would be no nasty paedobaptists who would make all Baptists to be tyrants who had no compassion for their children would unchurch them and uncovenant them and leave them like poor raw pagans I've read paedobaptist polemic that I didn't know whether to laugh or smash my fist into the page nasty paedobaptists who would make every Baptist a tyrant because he won't sprinkle little Willy and say because he w...

43:42 - 44:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Show graciousness to those whom we have reason to believe are not against Christ but with Him, even if we don't understand their posture of understanding and service.

The story from Numbers 11 about Eldad and Medad prophesying outside the tent, and Joshua's desire to forbid them, is used as an Old Testament parallel to John's narrow-heartedness and Moses's gracious, open spirit.

and in a way in which we could never do them and keep a good conscience remember the disciples they could not do what this guy did and keep a good conscience as one of them had broken loose and started his own exercise exorcism ministry he'd have been a maverick he would not have been with Christ because for them to be with Christ meant to adhere to his word that called them into that peculiar fellowship with him but oh dear people may we by the grace of God show graciousness to those whom we have reason to believe are not against him but with him and though we may not be able to understand hi...

47:58 - 49:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Have a spirit that is always looking for God's surprises and His gracious work in ways unknown to us and through channels separate from our own.

The example of a church being born in Antioch through persecution, without an apostle present, illustrates God's surprising work through channels separate from established ones, encouraging an open spirit to His diverse workings.

and they think for sure Moses will just flip out over this Moses very calmly says are you jealous for my sake would that God would come upon the whole camp of Israel and they all prophesy get me jealous the only thing you get me jealous for is God will do it with some more people now you see when we have that spirit dear people that you see we are not the exclusive channel of God's gracious working in our generation then you've got eyes that are always looking for God's surprises and you come on a situation and the New Testament parallel I believe to this is what God did up in Antioch God sent...

52:22 - 53:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine your heart for unmortified pride and ambition that leads to a censorious, divisive, narrow-spirited mentality, and prioritize Christ's kingdom advancement over personal advancement.

The metaphor of being a 'little fish in a big big pot' illustrates how personal ambition and pride lead to a narrow-hearted spirit, as individuals prefer a smaller circle where they can be 'top dog' rather than getting 'lost in the sea' of God's larger work.

if not historically and temporally do you see the thematic connection between the twelve jockeying for positions in the kingdom and having a narrow heart to anyone else outside of their circle you see the connection on the way down to Capernaum they're arguing about who's going to be the greatest now what are the mathematical possibilities one in twelve but wait a minute if this guy is included with us now the mathematical possibilities are lessened it's one in thirteen we don't like this you see the spirit the spirit that has the horrible leavening effect of personal ambition is always a narr...

55:17 - 56:16 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon concludes with an inescapable reminder that there is no neutrality to Jesus; one is either for Him or against Him. Martin challenges every listener to honestly assess…

The metaphor of a 'spiritual DMZ' (demilitarized zone) is used to emphasize that there is no neutral ground in one's relationship with Jesus; one is either in the grip of the devil or united to Christ.

No such neutral ground exists. There is no spiritual DMZ, my friend. No spiritual demilitarized zone. You're either in the grip and power of the devil and a child of...

62:42 - 62:59 Read in full sermon