Pledge of Paternal Provision

In the marriage ceremony the ring is given as a 'token and pledge' of the vows. Pastor Martin uses this familiar liturgy to explain what a divine pledge is.

And one of the terms that is used quite frequently in the exchange of the rings goes something like this. This ring I give in token and pledge of my vows or of the sincerity of my vows or of my love. Now when the man says to the woman, this ring I give in pledge of my vows, what does the word pledge mean? Well, it is a solemn assertion and promise and guarantee that he was not just mouthing empty words in a marriage liturgy.

4:06 - 4:46 Read in full sermon

When schoolchildren place their hand over their heart and pledge allegiance to the flag, they solemnly promise loyalty - the same gravity attaches to God's pledge to provide.

When you children in school stand and place your hand over your heart and you say, I pledge allegiance to the flag. What are you doing when you pledge allegiance? You are solemnly asserting your allegiance to your country, up to the point that that allegiance would involve disobedience to God, and then you have a higher allegiance. Well, the third great privilege of adoption is the pledge, that is, the solemn assertion and promise and guarantee of God's paternal provision for all whom he adopts into his family.

4:47 - 5:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God's provision for his own adopted children grows out of his true estimation of their worth in his eyes.

Christ commands us to behold the birds - they don't sow or reap, yet 'YOUR heavenly Father' (not 'their father') feeds them. The pronoun preaches God's particular care for His children.

Behold the birds of the heaven. They sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. And your, now notice, heavenly Father feedeth them. He doesn't say the Father, your heavenly Father.

16:35 - 16:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Reject prosperity teaching that promises Christians will never know hunger or poverty - Paul learned contentment in both abasing and abounding.

Pastor Martin notes that the Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head and had to send Peter to retrieve a coin from a fish's mouth - yet the Father provided every true need.

He had to send Peter to get a fish with a coin in its mouth. But the Father provided all of his needs. His true needs out of his perfect knowledge of his real need. And how clearly that came out in the temptation in the wilderness, you remember?

25:26 - 25:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Reject prosperity teaching that promises Christians will never know hunger or poverty - Paul learned contentment in both abasing and abounding.

Satan said Christ's real need after 40 days was a meal; Christ replied that man does not live by bread alone. Felt needs and real needs are not the same.

The devil says in essence to our Lord, Your real need after forty days of fasting, Your real need is for a good meal. On these conditions, we'll provide it. Prove that you're the Son of God. Command that these stones be turned into bread.

25:47 - 26:05 Read in full sermon

A father who loves his children may still establish house rules - wash your hands, decent table manners. These don't earn the meal but govern its enjoyment.

But he may establish certain conditions if you're going to eat at his table. One of them is you've got to wash your hands before you come to the table. Now, washing your hands doesn't earn your meal. You can't say, oh, I washed my hands.

30:40 - 30:53 Read in full sermon