Opposition Leading to Boldness

The point: Examine whether your concept of a true minister is a projection of biblical concepts or merely your own ideas.

A woman's concept of witnessing was 'thou must not offend,' which Martin uses as an example of a non-biblical understanding of ministry, contrasting it with true biblical boldness.

I heard just yesterday a woman who was talking, talked with a woman who was talking with someone else in that church who professes to be a Christian and is rather zealous and active and they were talking about witnessing to one's neighbors and I talked to my neighbors, they have their religion and I wouldn't dare offend them. You see, her concept of a true witness was this, above all things, thou must not offend. That's the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, tenth commandment of being a true minister, a true witness, thou must not offend. Now where'd she ev...

9:21 - 9:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin identifies the first mark: suffering and shameful treatment, referencing Paul's experience in Philippi from Acts 16. He explains that this opposition is promised to all…

Paul's mission to Philippi was solely to do good by bringing the gospel, illustrating the pure motives of a true servant of Christ before he faced opposition.

We will turn back very briefly to Acts chapter 16 and God has recorded for us what he is talking about. ... have come to the city of Ephesus, I mean of Philippi, I am sorry, with no motive, the poor sons of Adam from that terrible plight, liberty and possessions of the sons of God. Can anyone ever have a more noble mission than that? He wasn't coming to stick his hand out and get a nickel from them. He wasn't coming to drum up votes so he could be prime minister.

14:16 - 15:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin identifies the first mark: suffering and shameful treatment, referencing Paul's experience in Philippi from Acts 16. He explains that this opposition is promised to all…

The masters' disregard for the demon-possessed girl's deliverance, motivated by love of money, illustrates the perversity of the human heart that opposes the gospel.

Having cast the demon out of this demon-possessed girl who was an instrument of money-making to some of her masters, when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone they caught Silas and moved them into the marketplace better trance than if they dragged them into the marketplace unto the ruins. Get the picture. Here is a poor girl so possessed with the devil that she has these unusual powers of telling the future, of fortune telling, a medium. These people didn't care that the image of God was an instrument upon which the devil played his tune and through which he accomplished his p...

15:22 - 16:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But true Christian just like the sun upon a true living plant that has roots the same sun that withers the plant that has no root nourishes the plant that has root. And so all persecution could do to the apostle because …

The sun withering seed on stony ground but nourishing rooted plants is used to illustrate how persecution causes false professors to wither but strengthens true Christians, leading to boldness.

in the parable of the sower. The Lord said some seed that falls on stony ground it springs up but when the sun arises it withers and it dies. In the interpretation he said the sun is like persecution. When persecution arises because of the word what happens?

21:30 - 21:48 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But true Christian just like the sun upon a true living plant that has roots the same sun that withers the plant that has no root nourishes the plant that has root. And so all persecution could do to the apostle because …

This metaphor describes bombastic speech as lacking substance, contrasting it with true biblical boldness which has content.

That's not the boldness Paul is speaking about. Neither is it what we call bombastic. Bombastic is when a person doesn't have too much worth listening to so he tries to make it up by noise. He doesn't have much content so he sort of pads it with noise. As someone said it's the empty cart that makes the loudest noise. And this is often true. When we see someone who blusters about and is always we say maybe witnessing or talking about the Lord when if you really just take away all that flash and fire and get down to what they're actually saying you realize what it is is a lot of fraud. There jus...

23:14 - 23:52 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But true Christian just like the sun upon a true living plant that has roots the same sun that withers the plant that has no root nourishes the plant that has root. And so all persecution could do to the apostle because …

Spun sugar, which looks substantial but has little content, is used to illustrate bombastic, unsubstantial speech, contrasting it with true biblical boldness.

It's sort of like the spun sugar you know. And you get that big cone and you say boy isn't this going to be wonderful? And when you're all done there just ain't much left to it is there? You take a big wad of that and put it in your mouth and you can hardly wet your molars with it.

23:52 - 24:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He introduces the second mark: boldness, explaining that suffering either withers or nourishes a true Christian. He defines biblical boldness as speaking openly, plainly, freely…

Paul's experience of having his reputation ruined in Philippi meant he had 'nothing to lose,' which paradoxically freed him to be bold.

To speak of suffering in Philippi we were unfettered by the fear of our reputation. We had no reputation left. Well Paul had to end up in jail as usual. Reputation amongst the people. I'm nothing but a rabble rouser. They give you the key of the he said yeah they inscribed it on my back look at my stripes. So he had no reputation left. He had nothing to lose.

25:22 - 25:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Aspiring ministers must be free from the fear of man to minister effectively, recognizing that all that matters is God's glory and truth.

A preacher avoiding a passage because it might offend specific congregants illustrates how the 'fear of man bringeth a snare' and hinders faithful ministry.

Bringeth a snare. And in his study, he comes to a passage and he says, Oh, no, I can't. I can't. That'll devastate the sister so-and-so.

28:29 - 28:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Parents must be bold in giving counsel, instruction, and commands to their children, even when met with opposition.

The reality that children often dislike parental advice and commands is used to illustrate the opposition parents face, requiring boldness to enforce Christian standards.

It's a rare case where God so works by his spirit and has worked in terms of the genes that he put together and the temperament that he gave the children that from the time they're born to the time they take their place in society, they love the counsel and teaching and instruction and direction you give them as a parent. Now, this might have happened a few times in the history of the human race. But it's the rare exception. Now, as a parent, face it.

29:17 - 29:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Parents must be bold in giving counsel, instruction, and commands to their children, even when met with opposition.

Martin recounts a personal story of his father's firm command to eat what was served, illustrating parental authority and the need for boldness in setting standards.

Under this roof, you eat what's put before you and do what there's not a short order cook. When you're old enough to go and sit at a room, go to a restaurant and pick through a menu and pay for it fine. Until then, get that look off your face and eat cheerfully what God has provided and your mother has set before you.

30:41 - 30:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Be bold in witnessing to your neighbors, even if it leads to coolness or discomfort.

Martin describes detecting coolness from neighbors after including gospel tracts in Christmas cards, illustrating the opposition faced when witnessing to neighbors.

I detect even an added coolness with one or two of the neighbors since I put several goods in the Christmas cards because they couldn't read those trash without getting the impression, you know, neighbor Martin thinks we're lost and need to get saved. That's exactly right. I do. You got the message.

32:09 - 32:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be ensnared by the fear of man when speaking to work companions about Christ.

A quote from William Gurnall comparing a minister without boldness to a 'smooth file' or 'knife without an edge' is used to emphasize the necessity of boldness.

minister without boldness, is, like a smooth file, a knife without an edge, and a sentinel afraid to shoot his gun. And I say a Christian, a Christian without boldness as he seeks to witness to his neighbor is like a smooth file, a knife, and a sentinel afraid to shoot his gun. Opportunities for you to speak has been ensnared. I'm going to say if ministers be bold.

33:11 - 33:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Be equally bold in public settings (like a barber shop) to speak God's truth, even if it creates silence or discomfort.

Martin recounts an experience in a barber shop where he boldly confronted someone about the third commandment, illustrating how to overcome fear of man in everyday witnessing.

You're sitting in that barber's chair and the guy next to you, you'll be equally bold to say, hey Mac, did you ever hear the third commandment? God hears every word you're saying and one day he'll hold you into account for it. Well, things may get deathly silent in the barber shop like they have on a few occasions for me. But so what?

33:52 - 34:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Overcome shame and fear when openly engaging with your Bible or Christian materials in public.

Martin's shame at pulling out his Bible in public, contrasted with others' boldness in smoking, illustrates the internal struggle against the fear of man.

When I reached down to get my Bible to do a little study, that fear of man came on me and I got so ashamed of myself. I said, what in the world is wrong with you? They're not ashamed to blow their smoke in your face. And turn off with their liquor.

34:25 - 34:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Be honest about the true reason for your silence in witnessing: the fear of man, not lack of knowledge or experience.

Moses' argument 'Lord, I can't speak' is used as an example of excusing silence due to perceived inability, contrasting it with the true source of boldness.

Lord, I can't speak. Remember, Moses? Here am I.

35:32 - 35:35 Read in full sermon

The point: Be honest about the true reason for your silence in witnessing: the fear of man, not lack of knowledge or experience.

The illogical argument of waiting for experience before driving or cooking is used to expose the fallacy of waiting for more experience before being bold in witnessing.

Boldness, knowledge, boldness, ability. Others would say, well, if I just had more experience. Well, pray tell, how are you going to get it? Moses says, well, you know, I'd love to learn to drive, but I have so little experience.

36:23 - 36:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not wait for more experience to be bold; start speaking the gospel now.

The analogy of stars silently witnessing to God's glory versus waves making noise is used to counter the excuse that one's temperament prevents verbal witnessing.

Where is it going to come? That was the root of his content. Well, others would say, well, you know, I think just like stars never say anything, they witness to the glory by just sort of being out there silently speaking. I'm silent.

37:11 - 37:32 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I testify to the God the boldness coming out of the sense that He has commissioned me that I shall stand before Him as my judge, and I dare you under the smiles of men to believe. To affect my faithfulness to their souls…

Martin shares his personal experience of being unusually sensitive and desiring acceptance, yet being bold in preaching, to illustrate that his boldness is spiritual, not temperamental.

When I go out in meetings, it happened even these past two days, almost generally, someone will say something to indicate, well, you've just got a special gift of being bold and not fearing the face of people and all the rest. And I resent that, if I may use the word resent. Apparently, I think there's sometimes you ought to resent things. If not resent, I reject.

39:21 - 39:43 Read in full sermon

The point: As parents, your faithfulness to your children's souls must not be affected by your desire for their continual smile.

Martin recounts his childhood fear of the dark, where a twitching leaf or his own footsteps caused alarm, illustrating the 'wicked flees when no man pursues' from Proverbs 28:1.

You can remember what it was like as a child taking a walk at night and afraid of the dark. And I can appreciate it. Any of you kiddies afraid of the dark? Problems with fear of the dark.

42:33 - 42:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin shares a personal testimony about his own sensitivity and how his boldness in preaching comes from a spiritual conviction, not natural temperament. He uses Proverbs 28:1 to…

The image of a lion lumbering out and roaring, trembling other creatures, illustrates the boldness of the righteous who are shut up with God and fear Him alone.

It says, The righteous are what? Bold and twitch. Oh, he did a little lumbers out of the corner of his den and looks out over the situation and bellers out in a row and trembles all the other creatures in the jungle. The king of the beast has come out.

43:37 - 43:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Overcome natural timidity in witnessing by recognizing that you are speaking the Word of God, not just your opinion.

Martin describes his initial shame and fear of pulling out a large Bible on a crowded plane, illustrating the natural timidity believers face when witnessing.

And if somehow this can get hold of us dear ones when you go to witness to that neighbor and there is that natural timidity that's why I fessed up to you as many times as I've witnessed to strangers. When I sat on that plane and it came to reaching in my suitcase and when you're riding coach you don't do anything privately. I mean those seats are barely wide enough to get someone my size into it and even then you've got to kind of hunch your shoulders this way if you're eating because you're stacked in so close and there was that initial shame and fear of reaching in. Well, these people think ...

45:31 - 46:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that a true minister will deal with issues that bring personal indictment, not just remote inferences of guilt.

Paul starting 'another riot' in Thessalonica after being released from prison in Philippi illustrates that boldness leads to more conflict, not less.

He gets beat and he gets out of prison to do what? Start another riot at Thessalonica. He hasn't preached long when the people gathered together and caused a storm and they say to one of the friends there was taking care of Paul and his friends if those people don't get out of town we're going to hold you as hostages and there he was started a riot again. Out of the frying pan into the fire.

47:51 - 48:15 Read in full sermon