Explore Sermons By Dr. Lloyd-Jones
Showing 10 results for Genesis (out of 80)
Revival Sermon: Defective Orthodoxy
Is revival possible without the teaching and preaching of doctrinal truths? Can there be a revival in the presence of defective orthodoxy? In this sermon on Genesis 26:17–18 titled “Revival Sermon: Defective Orthodoxy,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones denies any possibility of revival without the presence of right doctrine. Listen as he expounds upon the hindrances and obstacles of revival, the failure expected without respect of doctrines such as the Holy Spirit, justification by faith alone, regeneration, the church, and the sovereignty of God. “These doctrines are bare essentials, and without them I see that we have no right at all to pray for or expect the influence and the demonstration of the Holy Spirit of God.” Christians must remember that one can be orthodox but dead if they believe doctrine is an end to itself. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also points out the increase of entertainment, programs, and advertisements among the church that should not be there. He even addresses the overemphasis put on singing that is permeating many churches today. The church must also beware of being right in doctrine and orthodoxy, but wrong in the Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches here about the behaviors and actions that must be thrown out in order to avoid this.
Revival Sermon: The Power and the Possibilities
What are the needs of the church today? Have the needs of the church changed since early Christianity? Does the church face the same issues as it did since it first began? In this sermon on Genesis 26:17–18 titled “Revival Sermon: The Power and the Possibilities,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers that as Isaac dug again the wells of his father Abraham, the church must also dig again the wells that have been filled by modern Philistines in order to rediscover the history of the church: “There is nothing so foolish as to ignore the past.” It is wise to study the pattern of revivals as they have taken place, so as to expose the one main issue that hinders the growth of the church. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes clear, “My dear friends, there is only one explanation of the state of the church today: it is the work of the Philistines.” He explains that the church doesn’t seem to see this, and instead puts the blame on false ideas such as the modern day or “new knowledge.” Christians must recognize that humanity’s problem is still the same, God is the same, and the solution of the problem is the same: Jesus Christ.
Revival Sermon: To Know Him
Christians should pray Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16–19 for themselves and for the church. In this sermon on Genesis 26:17–18 titled “Revival Sermon: To Know Him,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how today’s church is like the Laodicean church, thinking they are rich when they are poor. All are blind to their true spiritual state. But, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones states, “we must have a true concern for the glory of God.” Preliminary to revival is a thirst for God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reveals the church’s need for vital living water, much like the need of water Isaac had from the wells of Abraham. The church must be careful of serious hindrances to that flow of water such as dead orthodoxy, and the failure to seek God, to know God, and to apply the truth. Christians must also examine themselves in light of Scripture. There is a right and a wrong way of self-examination and one’s orthodoxy determines which way they will go. The Christian should never be depressed or miserable, but some Christians are because of a wrong self-examination. When a person truly knows Christ, their sins will drive them to Him, not further from Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes that this comes with a desperate need for prayer, for a person who is burdened is one who prays.
The Seed of Abraham
In this sermon on Genesis 12:1–4 titled “The Seed of Abraham,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows how all humanity’s troubles throughout history have arisen from its rebellion against God. Before this pagan backdrop, the life of Abraham shines as an example of what it looks like to live a life of faith. The Lord called Abram out of his old way of life, offering him His friendship and untold blessing. Abram responded, leaving everything, and becoming a sojourner in this world. Do today’s Christians have the same confidence in the word of God? Abram’s world was exactly the same as today, and God requires the same response to His call—a call to repentance, seeing that the life one lives is against God, and doesn't have a foundation. There is a glorious type of life possible, not based on uncertainties or works, but a life based on the Son of God who gives peace with God. That was the offer made to Abram and it is the offer made to today. Come out of the old life and follow the call of God, through life and death, and even into the everlasting bliss of His kingdom.
They Were Naked
In the garden of Eden, humanity tried to recover from what was lost at the fall. Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with leaves and hid from God. Ever since, humanity has never ceased to run from God and cover the results of the fall with intellect, politics, and medicine, ignoring the reality that no politician or medicine can address the guilt-ridden conscience. In this sermon on Genesis 3:7–8 titled “They Were Naked,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out that humanity has been trying to ignore the reality of God and of guilt ever since the garden. He illustrates this idea by calling out to the individual conscience and showing that fear of death and a guilt-ridden life have a God-given conscience in common. Christians must fight the temptation to convince themselves that everything is just fine as it is but instead recognize that without a Savior, this whole world is upside down and their own soul is torn with sin and guilt. Listen and hear about the God who is both just and merciful. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages Christians not to cover over inadequacies with false hopes that cannot fix a guilt-stained conscience but to look to Christ who forgives sin and makes filthy consciences clean.
The Man Who Wrestled with God
How do we experience God? Chaos and confusion results among Christians as religious movements emerge based upon unique experiences. In this sermon on Genesis 32:24 entitled "The Man Who Wrestled With God", Dr. Marytn Lloyd-Jones desires to counter this confusion by discerning the essence of true Christian experience. He seeks to do this by looking at the great turning point in the life of Jacob in Genesis 32. While he acknowledges that any standardized Christian experience is unhelpful, Lloyd-Jones affirms there are broad elements which can be used to authenticate our experience. True Christian experience will penetrate the heart of the individual and therefore disrupt the person’s entire life. With true Christin experience the attitude of the person moves beyond general interest in religion to being dominated with the one thing that matters: knowing their Creator. All these things result in a changed person or a new man. They become someone who knows they have peace with God. Someone who is humbled by the presence of God. Hear this challenging sermon from Genesis 32:24 as you consider your own Christian experience.
Where Art Thou?
No one is wise, clever, or powerful enough to escape the corruption of sin. In this sermon on Genesis 3:9 titled “Where Are Thou?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that the power of sin over the world can be seen in the garden when Adam and Eve rejected God’s commands, lived by their own desires, and plunged the world into disastrous sin. Ever since, people reject the truth of Christianity by claiming that it is irrational, intellectually inadequate, and foolish. In its sinful pride and arrogance, humanity seeks to judge God’s word using the intellect and mind. But according to Scripture, all are slaves to sin and are born wholly corrupt. Only by God’s grace can those born in Adam receive new eyes and a new mind to see and know God rightly. It is not up to humanity and its reasoning, but to God and His infinite grace that He grants to those whom He has given to Christ Jesus. This is the heart of the gospel that God promised to Adam and Eve when He said that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent once and for all. Christ was born of a woman and died upon the cross so that all who repent and believe upon His name will be saved and made inheritors of life everlasting.
The Fall of Man
What is at the root of all of humanity’s problems? In this sermon on the fall of man from Genesis 3:22–24 titled “Man Ate of the Fruit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the fall and the first transgression of Adam and Eve. He says the reason the first parents sinned is because they refused to acknowledge their own creature-hood and ignorance. They sought to become like God Himself. This is still the fundamental problem of sin and evil: people do not accept that they are God’s creatures and subject to his law. In their pride, people seek to understand and explain the world by their own reason and standards. This is utter folly because apart from God, no one can truly know themselves or the world. True understanding only comes when one accepts that they are not God, but His creatures. All must put their faith in God and in what He has done on the cross in Jesus Christ. Only by repenting and believing in Jesus Christ can one return to true fellowship with God and be freed from the curse of sin. This sermon calls all to ask, “do I believe? Have I forsaken any chance of understanding the world without Christ?” There is no more important question one can ask because it concerns not only their good in this life, but their eternal salvation.
God Must Punish Sin
The story of the flood as found in Genesis tells of something very important about who God is and who humanity is. In this sermon on Genesis 6:7–8 titled “God Must Punish Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the justice of God will not tolerate sin and His holiness demands the punishment of evil. This is exactly what He did in sending the flood upon the whole earth, wiping out all the inhabitants for their iniquities. He spares only Noah and his family because Noah found favor with God. Furthermore, just as God judged the world in the time of Noah, He will also come again to judge the world and punish all evildoers who do not repent and believe in Christ Jesus. Despite this clear warning, many live as if God never judges the earth. Just as those in the time of Noah scoffed at the idea that God was going to flood the earth, so today many laugh at the belief that Christ Jesus will return and bring judgment on the last day. The Bible warns that God is just and holy, and because of sin the whole world lies under the condemnation of God. It is only by believing in the gospel that any will be saved.
True History?
Without the facts of biblical history there is no gospel. From a Christian perspective, this becomes most important in approaching the book of Genesis. While the first book of the Bible is full of historical facts, it is also much more than this. It is where the great biblical drama begins—the drama of what God is doing in salvation. In this sermon on Genesis 3:15 titled “True History?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls the listener to see the big picture of the biblical message. He teaches literal historical facts but he also notes the beginning drama of deliverance as God pronounces a great conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. In order to understand secular history that is marked by sin, evil, war, pride, and hopelessness, people must come to grips with the biblical history of God initiating liberation of humanity from the bondage of Satan. Genesis 3:15 reminds that humanity’s problems run much deeper than morality or mere happiness. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones says in this compelling sermon, Genesis 3:15 recalls the utter helpless condition that only the cross of Christ can fix. Listen as he traces biblical history from the beginning to the end where Christ returns in glory and subdues the devil fully and finally.