The Person Who Speaks

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on Matthew 5:1, Martin emphasizes that the speaker is Jesus Christ, not only the historical person but also the vindicated Christ whose miraculous works gave authority…

Martin contrasts modern church advertising, which relies on advanced men and success stories, with God's scriptural pattern, where spiritual power and transformed lives are the true advertisement.

This is God's pattern of advertising in the church. The whole concept of broadening Christendom today, that before the preacher comes and before we have a chance to judge his ministry on the basis of what he is, he sends out his advanced man. And they flood the area with wonderful stories about success in other places and what a man of God he is and what a tremendous preacher. Oh, the church will send out all kinds of that.

8:49 - 9:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Come to this sermon expecting the Lord by His Spirit to instruct you as to the nature and standards of the kingdom in which you already are, and how to conduct yourselves as children of God.

Martin uses the example of crowds at Billy Graham's meetings to categorize the types of people found in any large religious gathering: curiosity seekers, honest seekers, and those seeking excitement.

Now, has that ever made up a religious crowd today? Made up that crowd then? Whenever you've got a big crowd, say like the crowds that come to Billy Graham's meetings. Or they come to some other well-known evangelist meetings.

16:18 - 16:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that the nature of the kingdom is not found in external activity, but in what God does in the realm of the heart.

To illustrate the startling nature of Jesus' statement about exceeding the righteousness of scribes and Pharisees, Martin rephrases it for a modern context: 'except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the preachers.'

If we were putting it in our day, it would be as though the Lord Jesus said, and except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the preachers, you'll never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21:33 - 21:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Cultivate the God-given ability of speaking distinctly and clearly, employing all faculties well for Christ's glory.

Martin humorously notes that he would be less tired if he preached sitting, contrasting his practice with the ancient custom of teachers sitting to deliver formal discourses.

You say Pastor you stand up to preach. If you're going to be scriptural why don't you sit? Well I'd be a lot less tired at the end of the Sunday especially a Sunday like today when I've got to preach five times. I'd like to preach maybe sitting.

25:51 - 26:09 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Authoritated teaching and preaching is that teaching and preaching to which God by the Holy Ghost says amen to your heart.

Martin describes watching a World Series game and becoming emotionally agitated, illustrating the psychological influence a great crowd can have and how easily emotions can be stirred.

Maybe you don't. But I know I went over to someone's house, and we don't have a TV in our home simply because I don't trust myself with one. I'm not condemning you if you do, but I wanted to see one of those World Series games, and I just watched the first one, got almost all of it. And just seeing that great crowd and seeing that ball game, suddenly I found myself all emotionally agendified, all teed up in my heart, pounding in my...

35:36 - 36:01 Read in full sermon