Summons to Godly Practice

The point: When God calls us to believe something, it is our wisdom to believe; when He calls us to do, it is our wisdom to do.

The progression from godly thinking to godly practice is likened to the wise builder in Matthew 7 who hears, understands, and acts on the word, building on a rock.

As one has said, the progression out of verse 8 into verse 9 is the progression seen in our Lord's parable of the man who builds upon the rock in Matthew chapter 7. True believers, first of all, hear the word of God. Then they meditate upon it until they come to understanding. Then having come to understanding, they act upon it in the realm of consistent and constant practice.

9:33 - 10:05 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The guidelines for godly practice are identified as 'the things learned and received' from Paul's instruction and 'the things heard and seen' in his exemplary lifestyle…

The Philippians' need for concrete examples of virtue is expressed as 'one example is worth a thousand words,' leading to Paul's self-exemplification.

You have called upon us to think in terms of these two broad general categories. If there be anything virtuous, anything praiseworthy, think upon these things. But Paul, one example is worth a thousand words. We're simple, humble, ordinary people.

11:34 - 11:53 Read in full sermon

The point: If the promise of God's presence doesn't excite you, it's an indication you are yet dead in trespasses and sins, alienated from God.

Martin contrasts the excitement over increased bank accounts or sensuous pleasure with a lack of excitement over the promise 'the God of peace shall be with you,' using it as an index of spiritual deadness.

If we were to say, in this given course of action, there will be an increase of your bank account, your popularity, your sensuous pleasure, the number and the prestigiousness of your friends, would that excite you? You say, sure would. But to say the God of peace shall be with you doesn't strike any notes of joy, expectancy, holy excitement, does it? My friend, that's an indication that you are yet dead in your trespasses and sins, alienated from God, estranged from the life of God, outside the experience of that communion which is only known

20:19 - 21:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Every parent should be able to say to their children, 'the things you have learned and received from me, the things you have heard and seen in me, do.'

A parent who says 'do as I say, but don't do as I do' is used to illustrate the curse of children hearing godly instruction but seeing ungodly patterns, leading to cynicism.

And practical godliness generally increases most powerfully in a context in which there are many valid models of what it is. For instance, in a very real sense, every single parent in this building seeking to instruct his children in the way of truth and righteousness should be able to say to his children, the things, dear children, that you have learned and received from me, the things you have heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you. Cursed is that child who is reared by a parent

35:04 - 35:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Every Sunday school teacher should be able to say to their pupils, 'the things you've learned and received and seen and heard in me, do them.'

Martin recounts a conversation with a young convert who found it an 'inestimable privilege' to be immersed in a family and church where consistent, valid godliness was lived out, providing an 'interpretive classroom' for what was preached.

to have a church full of people who are valid models of what practical godliness is. And as I look back over the 15 years of my experience with you as a people, I can say to the praise of God that that has been the overall pattern of your life and I thank God for it. Just yesterday I was talking with someone who's a relative babe in Christ and I was reflecting upon the inestimable privilege that was his because he had hardly been out of the womb spiritually when he was immersed into a family where there is consistent, valid godliness in its details.

38:01 - 38:44 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have little enjoyment of God, it may be as simple as not doing what you know you ought to do.

The 'blinding light of the mystery that surrounds truth' is used to describe complex theological truths (like God's sovereign election and general love), arguing that those who cannot stand this light are consigned to the 'darkness and mists of error.'

We try to trace the glorious mystery of God as far as Scripture forces us to trace them. And I was thinking today, if I may give a little aside, that he who is so offended by the blinding light of the mystery that surrounds truth must be forever consigned to the darkness and the mists of error. There is a blinding light that is the mystery surrounding all truth. And anyone who can't stand that light of mystery that surrounds all truth is condemned to dwell in the midst and the shades of error.

43:21 - 44:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't just bury your hand in the dish (hear the Word); masticate and absorb it into your spiritual life.

The sluggard turning on his bed is compared to a door turning on its hinges—it moves a lot but 'ain't gone nowhere,' illustrating unproductive spiritual activity without real progress.

As the door turns upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed. The sluggard buries his hands in the dish, and it wearies him to bring it again to his mouth. You see, the door that turns on its hinges back there, if we were to measure the four-foot arc that those doors make every Sunday, the edge of that door has traveled a long way, but it ain't gone nowhere. Traveled a long way, but it ain't gone nowhere.

50:37 - 51:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't just bury your hand in the dish (hear the Word); masticate and absorb it into your spiritual life.

The sluggard burying his hand in the dish but being too lazy to bring it to his mouth is used to illustrate believers who hear the Word (bury hand in dish) but fail to apply it (bring to mouth), thus starving spiritually.

He's hungry. There's food. He's so hungry, he literally buries his hand in the dish. He doesn't daintily reach out with good manners and just take a nice little piece, you see.

51:51 - 52:01 Read in full sermon