Psalm 37:23-24

Driving home: I'll never change the ground of my confidence it's Christ at the gate Christ in the first step Christ in the last step and with our dying it will be your presence for the sake of the righteousness of your son

Martin uses the analogy of a father holding a child's hand as they learn to walk. When the child stumbles, the father tightens his grip, preventing a full fall and helping the child regain balance. This illustrates how God upholds the believer who falls, preventing them from being 'utterly cast down'.

in terms of the analogy of scripture to add the words but to let the text speak as it speaks what is the explanation provided for the fact that this man falls he is not utterly cast down the answer is Jehovah confessing his grace in the economy of redemptive provision in Christ and by the Holy Spirit he holds the hand G-d of that fallen believer and trying to think of a picture that would convey this accurately at least somewhat accurately I thought of the experience that has been part of my life for many many years being the second oldest of ten children I had the joy of being like second dad...

45:19 - 46:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn how to use God's promises as 'sharps of the spirit' to fight against temptation, despair, and the accusations of the devil.

Martin extensively quotes and references Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, specifically Christian's battle with Apollyon, to illustrate how the devil reminds believers of their past falls and how Christian uses God's promises to fight back and ultimately triumph.

dear children of God as you go on in the restricted way learn how to use these promises of God I deeply appreciate and I tell people wherever I preach there's no group of people that I find more joy in preaching to than you dear people here any place else is away this is home but you see it's not enough that you listen eagerly some of you take careful notes and even use the notes as part of your devotions you've got to take what you hear and learn how to turn into sharps of the spirit with which to fight a plian you remember and I went back in my preparation to that incident in Bunyan's Pilgri...

58:36 - 60:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn how to use God's promises as 'sharps of the spirit' to fight against temptation, despair, and the accusations of the devil.

Martin again draws from Pilgrim's Progress, recounting Christian and Hopeful's imprisonment in Doubting Castle by Giant Despair. This illustrates how believers can fall into deep spiritual trouble through sin, but are ultimately freed by the 'key of promise' (God's promises).

724 my hand and he illustrates it again very powerfully in the whole when we find Christian and companion had indeed gotten in a situation because of their sin Christian and hopeful got into the Doubting Castle why they were looking for an easier way than the straight and narrow way and they saw a way that seemed to run parallel and they went through the turn style they said it seems to keep close by this other way but it looks so much easier what's Bunyan saying when you start trying to turn the restricted constricted compressed straightened pressured way into an easier way you're going to be...

64:31 - 66:00 Read in full sermon