During the Sermon, Part 3

In this part of the sermon: The first directive is to hear with a 'resolute fixation of our minds,' defining 'resolute' and establishing the biblical basis from Matthew 22:37 to love God with all the mind.

Martin defines 'resolute' as set in purpose, tenacious, inflexible, unyielding, and unbending, to emphasize the intensity of mental focus required.

we must hear the word of God with a resolute fixation of our minds we must hear the word of God with a resolute fixation of our minds now why have I chosen the words resolute and fixation well to be resolute means to be set in one's purpose to be resolved to be tenacious to be inflexible to be unyielding and unbending consider the biblical basis for this directive turn to Matthew chapter 22 if you will please Matthew chapter 22 verse 35 and one of them a lawyer not a lawyer in the sense that we think of lawyers in our day but one who was well versed in the law of Moses and in rabbinic traditio...

5:23 - 6:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third biblical basis is Paul's directive to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7 to 'consider what I say,' which means to gather and focus all mental faculties with resolute fixation.

Paul's special affection for Timothy is used to illustrate that special affinities are innocent and Christ-like, countering the notion that one cannot show favoritism without sin.

Writing to his precious and favorite spiritual son. And he was that, and Paul was unashamed to make it known. If anybody got jealous that Timothy was, Paul's spiritual pet, that was their problem. So long as they could not charge him with being unrighteous in his dealings with others, he had every right to make it known.

11:46 - 12:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third biblical basis is Paul's directive to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7 to 'consider what I say,' which means to gather and focus all mental faculties with resolute fixation.

The special place of Peter, James, and John, and John leaning on Jesus' bosom, is used to further illustrate that special friendships are not inherently sinful.

Timothy had a special place in his heart. The same way the Lord Jesus made it known that Peter, James, and John had a special place. And among Peter, James, and John, John was the only one that leaned upon his bosom. So this notion that you can't have special friends and make it known because others may get jealous, the jealousy is their problem.

12:09 - 12:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third biblical basis is Paul's directive to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7 to 'consider what I say,' which means to gather and focus all mental faculties with resolute fixation.

The instruction to 'gather up the faculties of your mind and focus them like a laser beam' illustrates the intense, concentrated attention required for considering God's Word.

Sinful favoritism is to be condemned. But special affinity based upon spiritual and intangible chemistry that makes for intimate friendships is a purely innocent Christ-like reality of human relationships. And after writing some directives to Timothy, calling him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, giving him the task of passing on the legacy of the apostolic tradition to faithful men, calling him to say, I suffer hardship, reminding him that he labors in the gospel not only as an athlete, but as a soldier. Then he says in verse 7 of 2 Timothy chapter 2, this very interesting th...

12:29 - 13:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He said, Timothy, you think, you consider, you take all of your cognitive mental faculties and with resolute fixation of mind give yourself to the contemplation of what I've said and as you do in the midst of and through…

Martin contrasts the idea of passively waiting for 'heavenly zapping' or 'Lord, flip the switches' with the necessity of active mental labor in receiving understanding from God.

Well, wait a minute. If the Lord gives the understanding, if knowing truth in its saving, sanctifying power is a matter of the Lord giving understanding, then don't I just sit back and wait for the heavenly zapping? Lord, bring the light. Put the light on.

14:04 - 14:21 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He said, Timothy, you think, you consider, you take all of your cognitive mental faculties and with resolute fixation of mind give yourself to the contemplation of what I've said and as you do in the midst of and through…

The preacher's 'pathetic efforts' are used to illustrate that the Holy Spirit works through human instrumentality, not in place of it, making the preacher's diligent work effectual.

The Holy Ghost was never given to put a premium upon any form of laziness. He was not given so that preachers can just amble up in neutral in the pulpit and begin to talk and hope that somehow the Holy Ghost will pick them up and just carry them out and the truth will do its work. No! He was given that as the preacher gives himself to his task with all of the faculties of his redeemed, humanity, God might be pleased to take his pathetic efforts and make them the instrument of spiritual light and life and energy to the souls of men.

15:05 - 15:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Be prepared to say before Almighty God that you are worthy of all the loops attaching to the hooks of resolute fixation of the mind when His word is preached.

The analogy of a 'road from the head into the heart' illustrates that truth must first engage the mind before it can transform the affections, and then the life.

God's saving and sanctifying work, I say it reverently, begins not between your ribs but between your ears. The truth must fasten itself upon the mind. Now it must go beyond the mind and lay hold of the heart. But there is no direct avenue to the heart.

17:26 - 17:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Parents, ensure your children are paying attention during the sermon.

A parent nudging a wandering child with an elbow illustrates the external pressure sometimes needed to bring a child's attention back to the sermon, contrasting it with the internal, deliberate resistance of the unconverted.

You may feel their elbow in your ribs sitting here. I see that sometimes. I see a kid starting to wander and I see a parent and the boy's face is right up there again. Good for you parents.

19:21 - 19:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not shut out the truth by mental gymnastics and mental trips around the world; think upon God's word and lay it to heart.

The story of a shipbuilder who could not lay a single plank under Whitfield's preaching illustrates the powerful, extraordinary work of the Spirit that compels listening, even against one's will, contrasting it with God's ordinary way.

The story is told of one man who said that under any preacher he was a ship builder he said he could lay the keel in every plank from stern to stern from the port to the starboard side that's left to right in the non-nautical depot stern to stern from the back port to starboard he said he could lay the keel in every plank under most preachers he said when we got under Whitfield he couldn't lay one plank he couldn't lay one plank what he meant was that the spirit of God so rested upon Whitfield when he preached with such power that he found himself listening in spite of himself thank God for su...

21:23 - 22:31 Read in full sermon