He That Is Not with Me Is Against Me

Driving home: He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Describes a man unable to speak, then suddenly speaking after Christ casts out a demon, illustrating the immediate and visible power of Christ's work.

And when this demon was cast out of him, the text says, verse 14, that the multitudes marveled. So get the picture. In the midst of a vast throng of people, here is a man who seems to have all of the faculties with which to fall, to perform words. But when he would open his mouth to speak, and try as he would, nothing would come out.

2:38 - 3:10 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Used by those tempting Jesus, demanding a spectacular sign from heaven, to illustrate their skepticism and desire for conclusive, undeniable proof beyond the demon casting.

And so they put into the test and say, if you will now make the moon play hopscotch, not hopscotch, but leapfrog with the sun, and if we see something, if we see some of the heavenly bodies jumping around at your word, then we believe we'll have sufficient evidence to believe that you are the Messiah. Well, our Lord reads their thoughts in all of this, according to verse 17, but he knowing their thoughts said unto them, and the first thing he does is to expose the fallacy of the first crowd, and in verses 17 and 18 he says, no, it is impossible that I should be casting out demons by the power ...

4:50 - 6:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces Luke 11:23 as terse and searching words from Christ, then details the immediate context: Christ casting out a demon, the crowd's divided reactions (some accusing…

Christ's parable of a strong man guarding his house until a stronger man comes to conquer him, illustrating Christ's victory over Satan and the spoiling of his goods.

and the kingdom of Satan, between God himself and between Satan himself, and his language comes to a climax in this description of a strong man who is armed to the teeth, and he is guarding his house, and all of his goods are safe until a man stronger than he and more powerful than he can come and conquer him and spoil his goods. And in that story our Lord is saying that what you have seen in the casting out of this demon is the activity of God's strong man, the Lord Jesus. And he says, I have come as the one stronger than the devil, and I have bound the strong man, I have spoiled his goods. I...

6:19 - 7:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The plain meaning of Christ's words is that wherever he comes in grace, a great divide is erected: those who are with him and gather, and those who are against him and scatter…

The picture of Christ as the great shepherd gathering his sheep, illustrating the 'gathering' aspect of being 'with Christ'.

And the plain and obvious meaning is right there on the face of the text. Wherever and whenever Christ comes in grace, by his word and his power, a great divide is erected. And on the one hand of that divide, there are those who are with him, and who gather with him, probably the picture of Christ as the great shepherd gathering his sheep. Other sheep I have that are not of this fold, them also I must bring.

8:13 - 8:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The plain meaning of Christ's words is that wherever he comes in grace, a great divide is erected: those who are with him and gather, and those who are against him and scatter…

Martin uses the physical layout of the church congregation, divided by an aisle, to visually represent the spiritual divide Christ creates, emphasizing there is no middle ground.

And therefore, in this building tonight, as surely as every single person, but one mother who is sitting a little bit right of center of the center aisle at the back of the house, with that one exception, everyone in this building is found in this right hand section, right to me and left to you. Right to you and left to me, every person in this building, barring that one woman and this preacher, are found neatly divided into the left and to the right segment. So this text says, look at it, he that is not with him, he that is not with him, he that is not with me, he that is not on the left side...

9:37 - 11:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But what they hear from a gospel pulpit makes its way into shoe leather, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and up to the next Sunday.

Illustrates 'keeping the word of God' by showing how it impacts daily life, from Monday activities to TV choices and spending habits, demonstrating practical obedience.

But what they hear from a gospel pulpit makes its way into shoe leather, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and up to the next Sunday. It makes its way into fingertips in terms of what channel is tuned in and when and for how long on the TV. It makes its way into fingertips that dispense money for what commodities, for what ends. Keeping the word of God, the word of God is something that touches every faculty of our redeemed humanity.

20:45 - 21:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Have you embraced his word demanding total abnegation of all desire to rule your own life? And have you joyfully capitulated the government of all that you are to him?

References Dr. Ferguson's sermon imagery of a woman from a pagan land seeking shelter under the Almighty, illustrating staking one's soul on Christ's promises and embracing total surrender.

In the beautiful imagery Dr. Ferguson set before us this morning, have you, like that woman that came from a pagan land, have you sought shelter under the shadow of the Almighty? Have you embraced his word demanding total abnegation of all desire to rule your own life? And have you joyfully capitulated the government of all that you are to him?

22:07 - 22:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Press the words of Luke 11:24-26 on your conscience, considering if your change is merely external or a true possession by the Holy Spirit.

Describes people whose external lives show no progress in tenderness of conscience, hatred of the world, or conformity to Christ, illustrating the danger of superficial change without true spiritual growth.

he was dumb he couldn't talk words wouldn't come out suddenly there is a torrent of words there are those whose transformation seems to be as much is his time real use that the spirit never came to inhabit them for where he comes he in plants of principle of internal holiness hop Ziploc lightness to christ of principle of obedience supper of ansep first antes to this present age, and I fear that sitting here in Trinity Church are people who fit this description. For if I have any discernment in at least observing the patterns of your external life, you're right where you were five and ten year...

27:16 - 28:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Children, if you're not with him, flee to him and lay hold of him in his promise, believing he died for sinners like you.

Martin states there is no 'kiddie hell' in the Bible, using the concept of 'kiddie parks' and 'kiddie rides' to emphasize that children face the same eternal judgment as adults if they are not with Christ.

Jesus but give myself to you oh dear children are you with him with him with him with him not near him but with him if not you're against him you're his enemy he said it I didn't I didn't draw that line he did he drew it if you're not with him you're against him and dear children if you're against him then if he cuts you off in your present state you go to the same hell that the Hitler's and the Mussolini's go there's nothing in the Bible that says God's got a kiddie hell there may be kiddie parks and kiddie rides and kiddie schools but there's no kiddie hell and some of you children need to f...

31:02 - 32:30 Read in full sermon