Life Between the First and Second Advents

In this part of the sermon: The second point is an encouragement not to be 'troubled' by wars, international tensions, and natural disasters. These events 'must needs come to pass' as the 'beginning of…

Martin uses his childhood fear of thunderstorms, both before and after conversion, to illustrate the 'inwardly disturbed or frightened' feeling Christ warns against, contrasting it with the peace found in knowing God controls all things.

It is a command not to be troubled. And this word troubled found only here and in the parallel passage in Matthew 24 and in Thessalonians 2 and verse 2 means to be inwardly disturbed or frightened. And as I sat at my desk trying to think of an illustration, because there are no other biblical illustrations, and even in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament scriptures called the Septuagint, there were no clear illustrations, my mind immediately went back to what I used to feel in a thunderstorm as a little boy. And even until the Lord saved me, I had a deep fear of the dark, which d...

28:05 - 29:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second point is an encouragement not to be 'troubled' by wars, international tensions, and natural disasters. These events 'must needs come to pass' as the 'beginning of…

His mother's explanation that God was 'just moving His furniture' is recalled to highlight how inadequate human explanations are to quell deep-seated fear without divine truth.

When our Lord says to His disciples, do not be troubled. Do not be inwardly disturbed or frightened like a little insecure boy in the midst of a rumbling thunderstorm. And all of my mother's words that God was just moving His furniture didn't quiet my spirit, because I knew God could move it a lot more efficiently and silently if that's all He were doing. Well, the essence of our Lord's word is that we should not be troubled.

29:48 - 30:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be inwardly unstrung or lose your bearing amidst these events.

Martin critiques the naive belief that diplomacy (like 'glasnost' and INF talks) can transform nations like the 'Russian bear' into a 'sweet little cooing dove,' arguing against utopian dreams of world governments.

It's a dream of a utopia ushered in by the combined action of world governments. I'm amazed at how naive people are. Because the present head of the USSR has gone to an excellent school for personal impression and for diplomacy. People are actually thinking, if we sit and talk long enough, the Russian bear, will turn into a sweet little cooing dove.

39:51 - 40:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Despite the opposition, Christ offers encouragement: such treatment will be an occasion for testimony, the gospel 'must first be preached unto all the nations,' and special help…

Paul's defenses before Herod and the Roman government are used as an example of how persecution becomes an occasion for testimony, preaching the gospel to the world in microcosm.

Verse 9b. You shall be delivered up before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony for my sake. Notice how important that got to the question which the testii of the gospel had to bring error into the world. Notice. Falbourg has the faith versus theDB you're watching, but you also have an gabbed deed which lends itself away so that there is no adagio for the reason that you will follow. The heavenly Lord also says.. You get up, lift your brows. If you witness too many visions and all kinds of ingenious invidiousncement, the divinity will definitely give you theetr., the man for whom t...

48:31 - 49:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Despite the opposition, Christ offers encouragement: such treatment will be an occasion for testimony, the gospel 'must first be preached unto all the nations,' and special help…

The 'empty mouthings' and 'unedifying bletherings' of preachers who claim the Holy Spirit will fill their mouths without study are used to illustrate the abuse of the promise of special help in Mark 13:11.

They need not labor over homiletics and how to lay out the truth clearly and simply and logically and orderly. Just stand up and the Holy Spirit will fill your mouth. Well, they're empty mouthings. They're a clear indication that the Holy Ghost isn't fulfilling his promise.

52:15 - 52:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Maintain calm, resolute trust in the faithfulness of God, and do not be anxious.

Examples of martyrdom, such as heads dropping into baskets from guillotines, being burned at stakes, or starving in pits, are used to illustrate the 'end' to which believers must endure in their attachment to Christ.

Verse 13, you should be hated of all men for My name's sake, but he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved. Verse 11. And hear the word. The end does not mean the end, but also for his Bacon. Verse 12. You, The word the end does not mean the end of time. He that endures to the end of his trial, the trial that has come in conjunction with confessing the gospel, for some the end would be the head dropping into the basket when the guillotine fell. For some the end would be tied up upon stakes, doused with pitch and set on fire to light Roman roads. The end for some would be dying of sta...

55:18 - 56:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Be committed to living the gospel, speaking the gospel, and pouring the energy of your prayers, gifts, and endeavors into seeing the gospel preached.

Christ's cry 'Tetelestai' and His death on the cross, appearing as ultimate defeat, are presented as the moment of God's greatest triumph, illustrating that the way of triumph is often through apparent weakness.

What could appear more like defeat than when it says, our Lord cried with a loud voice, Tetelestai, it is finished. And he yielded up his spirit, bowed his head in death. There he is,

64:23 - 64:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not let the Olivet Discourse become an occasion of eschatological debate, but lay its warnings and encouragements to heart.

A poem about the 'dangers of every shape and name' attending followers of the Lamb is quoted to summarize the themes of trials, God's guidance, and unwavering trust in His love and care.

I close with the words of one man who captured some of these thoughts. Dangers of every shape and name attend the followers of the Lamb who leave the world's deceitful shores and leave it to return no more. Oh, Lord, the pilot's part perform and guide and guard me through the storm. Defend me from each threatening ill.

67:51 - 68:17 Read in full sermon