Gleanings from the Olivet Discourse, Part 2

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin opens by setting the context of the sermon as a 'gleaning' from his previous exposition of Mark 13, the Olivet Discourse. He explains the need to revisit the chapter…

The sermon is framed as returning to a field (Olivet Discourse) that has already undergone its main harvesting (major exposition) to pick up 'gleanings' (vital principles not fully explored initially).

to underscore and highlight several very vital principles of the Bible. Of the Christian life, vital principles of saving truth as revealed in the Scriptures, and so under the imagery of going back to a field already having undergone its main harvesting, we are now returning to pick up the gleanings. We sought to harvest the major structure and emphasis of this discourse in which our Lord focuses upon two, great events in the history of redemption, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.,

4:10 - 4:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Find tremendous comfort in knowing that if one of God's elect is present when you preach, nothing will hinder them from hearing Christ's voice.

Jesus' words 'Other sheep I have that are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice' are quoted to illustrate the certainty of God's elect being called and the comfort this brings to ministers.

God was committed to keep them in the way of truth and in the way of holiness. And then what confidence this should give the servants of God in their ministry. None of us is sent on a fool's errand. Jesus said, Other sheep I have that are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

12:50 - 13:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin elaborates on the Holy Spirit's role as the personal mediator and applier of God's grace, providing discernment to sort truth from error and moral courage to stand for…

Martin uses the example of a naturally timid person who fears creaking boards or thunder to illustrate how believers might feel incapable of martyrdom, setting up the point that the Holy Spirit provides such courage.

How are we natively cowardly, flimsy, weak, vacillating creatures to have the kind of courage that will stand for the truth of Christ and for the gospel of Christ, if necessary, even unto death? Verse 12. There shall be this horrible disruption and overthrowing of even natural affection, children rising up against parents and causing them to be put to death. You sit there today and say, Pastor, that's one thing I could never be.

25:17 - 25:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin elaborates on the Holy Spirit's role as the personal mediator and applier of God's grace, providing discernment to sort truth from error and moral courage to stand for…

The story of Peter denying Christ before a maid, then later boldly confronting the Sanhedrin and sleeping soundly in prison, illustrates the Holy Spirit's power to transform natural cowardice into moral courage.

He took a Peter who, before a little maid, who said, Hey, you're one of them. Your speech betrays you. And his speech was then filled with his old sailor's language. He cursed and he swore and said, I don't know the man.

26:47 - 27:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin elaborates on the Holy Spirit's role as the personal mediator and applier of God's grace, providing discernment to sort truth from error and moral courage to stand for…

An example of a believer willing to resign their job over dishonesty is used to show that the Holy Spirit provides courage for present demands, and will provide for greater ones like laying down one's life.

You haven't been asked to do it yet. But have you been willing to put your job on the line for the sake of the gospel? You say, Yes, Pastor. There have been times when I've said to my boss, If I must be party to this dishonesty, you'll have my resignation.

28:15 - 28:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Get all the grace needed to be ready for the Lord's return, to be kept in holiness, responsible stewardship, and a heart permeated with the gospel, at the throne of grace.

The analogy of a cold lump of charcoal igniting on a bed of glowing coals, versus a hot coal losing its fire in a pile of cold ones, illustrates the contagion of spiritual coldness and the need for prayer to keep a 'white-hot heart' for God.

All the grace needed to be kept in the way of spiritual alertness, all the grace needed to be kept in the way of a burning heart when Matthew's parallel account says, Because iniquity shall abound, the love of the many shall wax cold. Well, in a day when the love of the many waxes cold and parallel with 2 Timothy, in the latter days when men shall have a form of godliness denying the power, where can I keep it? Where can I keep the burning heart? We know, those of us who've tried our hand at backyard cooking, that if you take one utterly lifeless,

37:18 - 38:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not give off praying, as it is the first sure step to apostasy.

John Bunyan's depiction of the man in the iron cage, who first 'left off to watch and to pray' before laying 'the reins upon the neck of my lusts,' illustrates that neglecting prayer is the first step to apostasy.

He may have taken no steps to a whorehouse, to a magazine shop, may have taken no steps into positive error, but he whose steps are not moving daily to the secret place has taken his first steps to apostasy. John Bunyan saw this as a pastor. And in that picture of the man in the iron cage, whoever he was, whatever his condition was, when he was asked, how did you come to this condition? You remember what the first part of his response was?

41:04 - 41:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Embrace no doctrine of the second coming that gives any hope beyond that coming for any sinner; there is no second chance.

Martin mentions a book from a bookseller's convention where an author claims to have narrowed Christ's return to two specific days, illustrating the widespread and dangerous practice of date-setting despite Christ's clear teaching.

Our brother Rob came back from the recent bookseller's confession with a book in which a man's got it narrowed down to two days later on this year. Though the Son of God said, The day or the hour even the Son of man does not know. They've got it nailed down. And he's got it all laid out.

47:35 - 47:51 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He delivers a passionate plea to the unconverted, reminding them they will see Christ with either joy or terror. He uses the lyrics of an old song to illustrate the weeping and…

Martin quotes lyrics from an old song he used to sing, describing the judgment morning, the weeping and wailing of the lost, and the futility of their prayers, to underscore the solemnity of the final judgment and the danger of delaying salvation.

I didn't do it for show. I did it for when I felt it would clinch the message. And an old song that I sang came back to me. And these are its words.

57:02 - 57:16 Read in full sermon