Thy Will be Done

The point: Pause before praying to consciously recognize who God is and your relationship to Him.

Compares the heathen's concept of God, who is coerced by 'much speaking' or counting beads, to a transactional view of prayer that misunderstands God's nature.

Our Lord said, When ye pray, be not as the heathen, for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. They have a wrong concept of God. This is the basic problem. This is the problem with everyone who says his prayers thumbing through some beads.

1:31 - 1:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin defines God's will as 'the embodiment of what He wishes or purposes to do.' He then begins to explain how God's will is done in heaven, starting with the concept of…

Recounts Lucifer's attempt to overthrow God's government in heaven, illustrating that heaven is a place where God's will is done exclusively and rebellion is not tolerated.

There is one place in God's moral universe where He's never allowed rebellion. That's in heaven. Remember what happened when someone tried to start a political upheaval in heaven? Wanted to challenge the existing government?

11:44 - 11:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details four characteristics of how God's will is done in heaven by angels: universally (they do whatever errand they are sent on), immediately (they respond at the…

Describes how angels perform any duty, high or low, for any person, good or vile, illustrating their universal obedience to God's will.

Let me explain what I mean by that. I quote, You would do well to notice that it matters not to an angel what he is given to do. It may be a ministry for obeying, a labor for a king, a prophet, or for a whole country. He may be called upon to perform a ministry for an individual or for multitudes, for the holiest or for the vilest of men.

13:34 - 13:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details four characteristics of how God's will is done in heaven by angels: universally (they do whatever errand they are sent on), immediately (they respond at the…

Cites examples like Hagar, Paul in a storm, and Jesus in the wilderness and Gethsemane, where angels appeared at the precise moment of need, demonstrating their immediate obedience.

You'll notice in the ministry of angels through the scriptures that many times they came at the precise moment when they were needed. There that woman was about to die out there in the wilderness with her little son and the angel came at the precise moment.

15:54 - 16:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details four characteristics of how God's will is done in heaven by angels: universally (they do whatever errand they are sent on), immediately (they respond at the…

A story of a boy who outwardly obeys his mother but inwardly resists, illustrating grudging obedience versus the delightful obedience of angels.

Have you heard the little story about the little Quaker boy? I told some of you men about this and some of you know I hadn't particularly looked forward to going out to council and the men of the board felt for a number of reasons if he was wise and I said well I'll be subject to you and I'll go but I told him a little story and I'm glad I went. God's put his seal on the trip and I'm glad he revealed his will through the board. I didn't have sense enough to proceed so I preached my message of guidance of a few weeks ago.

18:07 - 18:35 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek exclusive obedience in every area of life, even in unpleasant or inconvenient 'errands' God calls you to.

Martin contrasts the joy of counseling a hungry-hearted preacher with the difficulty of confronting someone about their spiritual state or addressing irreverence, illustrating the challenge of universal obedience in ministry.

It's an easy thing for a pastor when he's called on an errand such as I was called on at council when a hungry hearted preacher comes and says look I'm desperate can you help me? What a joy to sit down and open the book for two or three hours as it was my privilege to do with several two or three men out at council. What a blessed errand.

22:56 - 23:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for continual obedience, even when God withdraws the sensibility of His presence and you feel dryness or deadness.

The servants at the wedding feast of Cana immediately obeyed Mary's instruction to do 'whatsoever he saith unto you,' illustrating the blessing of immediate obedience.

Whatsoever you say it. Do it. When? Suppose the servants had said when Mary said whatsoever you say it do it.

25:40 - 25:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for continual obedience, even when God withdraws the sensibility of His presence and you feel dryness or deadness.

Compares obeying when 'glory bells are ringing' to obeying when God withdraws His presence and one feels 'dryness and deadness,' illustrating the need for continual obedience even in difficult spiritual seasons.

Oh when we pray thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven we're asking God for the grace of immediate obedience. We're asking God for the grace of continual obedience. Isn't it easy to obey when you're conscious of the smile of God? Oh that's easy.

26:07 - 26:22 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reveals the profound reason for angelic obedience: they continually behold God's face, ravished by His beauty and perfection. He argues that for believers to pray 'Thy will…

Quotes a hymn to express how life loses its sweetness when Jesus is not seen, reinforcing the idea that beholding God's face fuels delight in His will.

Isn't that it? Hmm? But oh, how tedious and tasteless the hours when Jesus no longer I see. Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers have all lost their sweetness to me.

35:59 - 36:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Praying 'Thy will be done' brings fresh surrender each day, impacting how husbands treat their wives, students approach honesty, and all believers obey civil laws and avoid evil.

Compares a son wanting something harmful, which the father allows for a lesson, to God granting requests that bring 'leanness to the soul,' illustrating that not all granted prayers are good for us.

And remember, God will give you some things that you better off if He never gave you. It says in Psalm that He granted them their requests but sent leanness to the soul.

41:07 - 41:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Sanctify your home and media consumption, turning from unrighteousness and fleeing youthful lusts.

Challenges listeners about watching inappropriate television programs, suggesting they wouldn't watch them if the pastor were present, to illustrate the need for consistent obedience to God's will in private life.

Can you sit and watch the garbage that comes over your television set? I know there are people here that you would not want me in your home one evening to watch some of the television programs you want. You wouldn't put them on if I was there.

42:54 - 43:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin uses an analogy of a servant and a master's notebook to emphasize that truly desiring to do God's will necessitates diligently searching His Word, the 'order book,' to…

An extended analogy of a servant who claims to love his master and want to do his will but neglects to read the master's written instructions, illustrating that true love for God necessitates searching His Word.

May I just mention, just give them out. I don't have time to expound. It will force you to search the Word. What would you think of a servant who came to his master?

44:21 - 44:30 Read in full sermon