How to Avoid Spiritual Regression

The point: In public gatherings, ensure all things are done unto edification, focusing on God's truth rather than personal opinions.

Martin quotes Dr. A. W. Tozer's definition of a symposium as 'the pooling of our ignorance' to illustrate the danger of open forums becoming mere airing of personal opinions rather than edifying discussions based on truth.

who are with us over a long period, and for those who may be visiting with us, inform you that our goal in the class format is not the airing of personal opinions. The late Dr. A. W. Tozer, with tongue in cheek, defined a symposium as the pooling of our ignorance.

1:32 - 1:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Engage in sober reflection and honesty when examining personal spiritual tendencies, especially regarding regression during holidays.

Martin uses the example of God putting Elijah to sleep and feeding him to illustrate that rest and sleep are not inherently sinful, challenging the assumption that sleeping in on a day off is always wrong and prompting deeper thought on the connection between lateness in rising and spiritual regression.

Mr. Gergeles, contribute to spiritual regression? What is there about a change of schedule that is connected with spiritual regression? All right. So, one of the factors involved in this change of schedule or routine, you've mentioned one of the specifics, is lateness in rising. All right, is there anything wrong with sleeping in a little later? When you have a vacation or a day off, I mean, isn't that part of the purpose, to get some rest? Is God some kind of a cruel taskmaster who resents the fact that you get an extra hour or two of sleep in a vacation or a day off? What's the relationship ...

9:28 - 10:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Resist the temptation to rationalize weak substitutes for first-hand dealings with God, especially when a change of schedule makes it seem more credible.

Martin uses the metaphor of a 'crack' or 'crash' to describe the spiritual state of someone living on emotional highs during holidays, who then 'dives on the deck' and 'splatters' everyone around them when the emotional high subsides, contrasting this with communion with God in the Holy Spirit.

And, you know, there's like a shield that goes up when you're living with the Lord and you're communion with Him. Because you've been going around feeling the emotions through some of these times. And what happens to the person who lives on the crest of his emotions? Sooner or later, he's going to have a what?

24:00 - 24:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid unguarded and unselected media consumption, which can splatter the conscience with mud and necessitate renewed repentance.

Martin uses the example of watching excessive college football on New Year's Day to illustrate how special seasons can lead to immoderate consumption of entertainment, challenging the audience to consider the biblical doctrine of moderation.

Don't you? And some of us, who because of the pressure of responsibilities, can watch very little college football on Saturdays throughout the fall. When New Year's comes, we can get it up to our ears. From, what, about 12 noon on New Year's Day till the last game is over somewhere around 11 o'clock at night.

27:37 - 28:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not neglect gathering with God's people on the Lord's Day, even when traveling or experiencing disruptions to your normal routine.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about the challenges of long car trips with young children, contrasting his experience with 'rare exceptions' of calm children, to illustrate how family dynamics and travel can be draining and impact spiritual life, particularly for wives and mothers.

Yeah. All right, those of you who have families, you know that there's nothing relaxing about long trips in a car with little kids unless you have those rare exceptions. Now, I marvel. Some people have these kids.

30:28 - 30:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that there is no 'holiday' in the Christian life; spiritual vigilance is always required.

Martin uses the analogy of a bilateral truce between warring parties to explain that Satan, indwelling sin, and the world do not declare a 'truce' during holidays, emphasizing that spiritual warfare continues unabated.

When one of the two warring parties says, I put my arm between now and next Monday. A bilateral truce is one where the two parties meet at a conference table and they say, look, this fighting of each other and all the rest getting rough, let's declare for three days we stop fighting. We'll lay down arms, we'll agree to it. Now, if you can get the devil and the world to sit down and make a truce with you and say, let's come to an agreement that for between December 24th and January 2nd, the devil will leave you alone.

40:08 - 40:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Plan your time during holidays, vacations, and days off to reflect commitment to spiritual 'constants' and sensitivity to legitimate 'variables.'

Martin uses the metaphor of a surfer 'waiting for the perfect wave' to illustrate the folly of passively waiting for an impulse to engage in spiritual disciplines on a day off, warning that the first 'wave' might be aversion to prayer from indwelling corruption.

There's the key word. If you simply wake up on your day off saying, oh well, I want to feel like doing it. And you sort of wait for some impulse. You're waiting for something, like the guy waiting for the perfect wave and then he's going to get up on you.

47:09 - 47:25 Read in full sermon