Be Ye Doers of the Word

The point: Do not merely hear the word of God, but implement it, lest you stand under the condemnation of the living God.

Martin describes the scenario in Ezekiel 33 where people eagerly talk about the prophet, come to hear him, and sit attentively, yet fail to obey his words. This illustrates that outward religious observance and even enthusiasm are meaningless without practical implementation of God's commands.

In Ezekiel chapter 33, we have the account beginning in verse 30 of the experience of God's professing people under the ministry of Ezekiel. Verse 30 of Ezekiel 33. And as for thee, son of man, the children of thy people talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that comes forth from Jehovah. And they come unto you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your word. They come, they sit before you, and...

4:49 - 5:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second negative example comes from Luke 6:46-49, where Jesus questions those who call Him 'Lord, Lord' but do not do what He says. Martin explains that this address signifies…

Jesus' parable of the wise man building his house on rock and the foolish man building on sand illustrates that only those who hear and do His words will withstand the trials of life and judgment, while hearers only will face great ruin.

In a section that has many parallels to what we commonly identify as the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapter 5, 6, and 7, toward the close of our Lord preaching similar themes, we read in verse 46, and why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Every one that comes unto me and hears my words and is doing them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man building a house who digged and went deep and laid a foundation upon the rock. And when a flood arose and the stream broke against that house and could not shake it because, it had been well built, bu...

8:33 - 9:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Prior to hearing the Word, engage in renewed acts of repentance, putting away all filthiness and wickedness that would hinder proper digestion and assimilation of the Word.

Martin uses a humorous personal anecdote of claiming to be the long-lost heir to the British throne to illustrate self-delusion. He argues that just as such a claim would be seen as deluded, so too is a person who hears God's Word but does not do it.

that directive in terms of a common illustration of a man looking into a mirror and beholding his countenance, etc. But I want us to focus upon verse 22, which comes in a form that unmistakably lays before us the positive command to be implemented and implemented by the followers of the word that we have received with meekness in a prepared heart. And the first thing we note in the text is that it is possible, it is perfectly possible to be a hearer, not a doer, and in some ways to make myself a deluded person. I can engage in activities which put me in the path of self-delusion so that my ass...

18:19 - 19:38 Read in full sermon

The point: When you see a discrepancy between God's ways and your ways, make a beeline to get your feet into God's ways without delay.

Martin uses the metaphor of remaining sin 'pumping smoke and fog up into his moral consciousness' to explain why the psalmist delayed not to observe God's commandments. This illustrates the corrupting influence of delay on one's ability to discern and obey God's will.

I to observe thy testimonies. Once he saw the discrepancy between the ways of God and his ways, he said, I made a beeline to get my feet into God's ways without delay. Why? Because he knew that every moment of delay gave opportunity for his remaining sin to pump smoke and fog up into his moral consciousness.

22:11 - 22:47 Read in full sermon