This sermon addresses the following points: • Defining the spiritual fruit of patience—“the ability to wait upon the Lord with the confidence that He providentially governs the course of history according to His eternal decree” • Explaining the definition of patience with a five-part and two-part outline • Diagraming the definition of patience according to the framework of sovereign grace • Showing the relationship between the eternal decree of God and His providential governance • Overlaying the framework of God’s eternal decree and providential governance, with a selection of texts—Psalm 33, 115, 135; Isaiah 46; Daniel 4; Acts 15; Ephesians 1; Romans 8; Ecclesiastes 3 • Connecting the framework of God’s eternal decree and providential governance with the ability to wait upon Him with confidence,…

This sermon addresses the following points: • Tracing the origin of tribulation to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 • Describing the nature of tribulation with reference to its many forms • Exploring the meaning of ‘afflictions’ in Psalm 34 • Connecting these ‘afflictions’ with the ‘evil’ mentioned in Matthew 6 • Connecting these ‘afflictions’ and the ‘evil’ with the ‘affliction’ mentioned in James 1 • Tying these ‘afflictions’ and the ‘evil’ together with the ‘persecution’ and ‘tribulation’ mentioned in Romans 8 • Affirming the security of the regenerate sinner’s salvation • Explaining the significance of a threefold cord with reference to eternal security (Ecclesiastes 4) • Explaining the significance of the Father’s hand, the Son’s hand and the Spirit’s hand, with reference to eternal…

This sermon addresses the following points: • The twofold nature of hardships encountered by regenerate sinners as they journey through this world as strangers and as pilgrims—persecution and tribulation • Tracing these hardships to the experience of Adam and Eve, recorded in Genesis 3 • Distinguishing between persecution and tribulation • Highlighting the fourfold strategy of Cain which led to the martyrdom of Abel • Vindicating Abel, when he conversed with Cain, by explaining the difference between separation and isolation • Showing the first, second and third “deaths” recorded in Scripture • Explaining why Abel was the first Christian martyr, rather than the Evangelist Stephen • Pointing out some of the similarities between the testimonies of Abel and Stephen • Highlighting the various types of…

This sermon addresses the following points: • Abel was one of God’s elect people, evidenced by his experience of the new birth, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, the exercise of saving faith in the redemptive work of Christ, living as a stranger and a pilgrim and encountering conflict with Cain • There are three aspects to Abel’s conflict with Cain—First, it implied he was in fellowship with God’s people; Second, it led to persecution for the testimony of Christ; Third, it was reflective of the enmity between the old and new natures • The essential promotion of social liberty among people with opposing views • The important principle of regenerate sinners separating themselves from the ungodly • The spiritual disposition of regenerate sinners…

This sermon addresses the following points: • Abel was one of God’s elect people • Abel knew he was one of God’s elect people because he had been born again • Abel knew he had been born again because the Spirit of God bore witness with his spirit that he was a child of God • Abel knew he had been born again because he exercised saving faith in the redemptive work of Christ • Abel knew he had been born again because he lived as a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth • Distinguishing between the career paths of Cain and Abel, showing how farming was linked with false religion, whereas shepherding was linked with true religion • Tracing these career paths to…