How God's Power Works in Us

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin begins by setting the sermon within the context of Trinity Baptist Church's 25th-anniversary articulation of its 'party platform,' specifically the ninth tenet on…

Martin uses the analogy of a presidential election year, where parties articulate their platforms, to describe Trinity Baptist Church's 25th-anniversary articulation of its biblical convictions. This helps clarify the purpose of the sermon series as setting forth the church's 'spiritual platform' for clarification, reaffirmation, and commitment.

Come then and visit our needy and waiting hearts, we plead in Jesus' name. Amen. Now even though I have been away from the clamor, of the American political arena for a little over two weeks, I with you am very conscious that this year is marked by a presidential election, and whenever such an event is in the calendar year, we hear much. We are veritably bombarded by the so-called party platforms,

2:25 - 3:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: To mortify a sin is not utterly to kill it, to root it out, and to destroy it, that it should have no more hold at all, nor residence in our hearts. It is true that this is the thing aimed at, but this is not in this lif…

Martin quotes John Owen's definition of mortifying sin, clarifying that it aims at utter destruction, though never fully accomplished in this life. This quotation reinforces the sermon's point about the ultimate goal of warfare against sin.

but only the partial restraint of some sins, we are strangers to converting grace. Listen to John. John Owen, as I conclude our review, to mortify a sin is not utterly to kill it, to root it out, and to destroy it, that it should have no more hold at all, nor residence in our hearts. It is true that this is the thing aimed at, but this is not in this life to be accomplished.

8:51 - 9:24 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But once we are quickened by the grace of God and become new men and women in Christ... now we are indeed co-actors with God. We are operative in our profession.

Martin uses the analogy of a drowning man who is utterly passive in his rescue but then must actively cooperate with those helping him recover. This illustrates the contrast between the believer's passivity in initial conversion and active cooperation in ongoing sanctification and warfare against sin.

We are creating the true lebenings in self, the true, well-being vegetarian, kind-hearted, faithful,

33:13 - 33:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin transitions to the method by which God's power becomes operative in believers, contrasting it with the initial work of conversion where humans are passive. He argues that…

To explain the devil's logic of 'continuing in sin that grace may abound,' Martin uses the metaphor of sin raising a 5,000-foot mountain and grace raising a 10,000-foot mountain to bury it. This vivid image helps the listener understand the false reasoning that more sin could somehow magnify grace.

Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? May it never be, God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Someone has taken the devil's logic and added it to God's glorious proclamation of the previous chapter where sin abounds, grace super abounds.

36:39 - 37:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Flee fornication; if you struggle with pornographic literature, run from it, don't store it, and avoid situations that lead to it.

Martin provides a concrete example for men struggling with pornography, urging them to 'flee fornication' by actively avoiding situations like going to a 7-Eleven late at night if it's a known temptation. This illustrates the active effort required in using means instituted by Christ.

Then say fast and pray for a week says flee. Do something on your knees says do something with your feet from Pornia. That means for you men did have a struggle with pornographic literature run from Pornia run from fornication. Don't store you say it's late and I need milk for my cereal eat dried bread won't kill you for a day.

57:44 - 58:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Deliver yourselves from being spiritual sluggards by actively using the means ordained by Christ, rather than seeking more counseling or books.

Martin alludes to the 'field of the sluggard' from Proverbs, overgrown with weeds and broken walls, to describe the life of a believer who is spiritually lazy and not using the means ordained by Christ. This metaphor vividly portrays the consequences of inactivity in spiritual warfare.

Maybe your life looks like the field of the sluggard grown over with metals and the walls broken down. Why you're simply not using the means. Ordained by Christ and you don't need any more counseling sessions. You don't need any more books.

66:35 - 66:50 Read in full sermon