... the Place was Shaken
A Sermon on Acts 4:31
Originally preached May 25, 1958
Scripture
31¶ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Sermon Description
What happened on that day when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost? Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones unfolds the teaching of Christ in this sermon from Acts 4:31 and the power of the Spirit that came upon the early church. This event, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, began the supernatural and Spirit-filled ministry of the early church led by the Apostles. This was the source of their success, not programs that catered to what fallen sinners wanted. This is a message that the church in modern times needs to hear, as it is not the entertainment value of the gospel that brings people to faith and repentance in the name of Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit works in the lives of fallen men and women, they become new creatures with new desires and inclinations. This is the source of the Christian’s strength in life, and it is the Holy Spirit that prompts them to pray and seek God. This is not the mere effort of people, but it is part of being a new person in Christ Jesus. Once the church understands this, they will see the futility of appealing to the appetites of fallen people. They will cease to accommodate the gospel to the standards of minds that do not know the light and have suppressed the knowledge of God. The church must imitate the examples of the Apostles who relied on the power of God and not on humanity.
Sermon Breakdown
- The church today faces a similar situation as the early church - it is a minority facing a hostile world.
- Peter and John were arrested for healing a paralyzed man and preaching about Jesus. They were ordered not to preach in Jesus' name.
- Peter and John did not decide to go slow, modify their message or try to entice the world. They did the opposite.
- Peter and John reported the situation to the whole church. The early church felt a burden for the situation.
- The church prayed to God with one accord, acknowledging their weakness and inability. They knew only God could deal with the situation.
- Their prayer started with worship of God, not focusing on the problem. They acknowledged God as the all-powerful creator.
- They saw the situation as part of the great fight between God and the devil, not their personal problem.
- Their only request in prayer was for boldness to speak God's word and for signs and wonders to be done.
- God answered their prayer - the place was shaken, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke boldly.
- The filling of the Holy Spirit gives a sense of God's presence and assurance of belonging to Him.
- When filled with the Spirit, they spoke boldly and had unity of heart.
- Great power and grace was upon them all.
Sermon Q&A
Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions on Acts 4:31
What was the key verse that Lloyd-Jones focused on in this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones focused on Acts 4:31: "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." This verse describes what happened after the early Christians prayed when facing opposition from authorities who tried to stop them from preaching about Jesus.
According to Lloyd-Jones, what similarities exist between the early church and the modern church?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the modern church finds itself in a similar position to the early church - being a minority facing a hostile world. He stated, "More and more, the church becomes but a minority, but a remnant in this and in other lands." Just as the early believers were "ignorant and unlearned men" facing persecution, today's church is becoming smaller with declining membership statistics while facing various forms of opposition and hostility.
What did Lloyd-Jones identify as things the early Christians did NOT do when faced with opposition?
Lloyd-Jones emphasized that when faced with opposition, the early Christians: 1. Did not "decide to go slow" or use diplomacy 2. Did not modify or compromise their message to make it less offensive 3. Did not hold conferences to plan how to entice the world 4. Did not try to attract people through entertainment or by meeting them "on their own level"
How did the early Christians begin their prayer according to Lloyd-Jones?
The early Christians began their prayer with worship and adoration, not by focusing on their problems. Lloyd-Jones points out that "they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, 'Lord, thou art God, which made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is.'" They acknowledged God's sovereignty and power before mentioning their difficulties. As Lloyd-Jones explained, "True prayer always starts with worship."
What was the only petition the early Christians made in their prayer?
The only petition they made was for boldness to continue speaking God's word despite threats. Lloyd-Jones quoted their prayer: "Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak the word." They didn't ask for relief from persecution or for God to remove their difficulties - they only asked for courage to continue their witness.
What were the results of the early Christians' prayer according to Acts 4:31?
The results were: 1. "The place was shaken where they were assembled together" - a physical manifestation 2. "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost" - spiritual empowerment 3. "They spake the word of God with boldness" - courage to continue their witness Lloyd-Jones adds that they also experienced unity: "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul."
What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Ghost" according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, being filled with the Holy Ghost means: 1. God becomes a reality to us - "We feel that he's near. We sense his glory." 2. Christ is made more real to us - not someone remote but someone whose presence we feel 3. We receive assurance that we belong to God - "The Holy Spirit seals us. It gives us a guarantee." 4. We gain certainty that nothing can separate us from God's love 5. We experience great joy and love for God
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the main reason for the church's current state?
Lloyd-Jones attributes the state of the church to compromise: "I have no hesitation in asserting from this pulpit that the state of the christian church today is mainly to be attributed to the fact that our grandfathers and fathers did the very thing that these people didn't do last century." He specifically mentions how previous generations "soft peddled" miracles, the resurrection, and the virgin birth to placate scientific opposition instead of boldly proclaiming the full gospel message.
What does Lloyd-Jones say is the real problem the church faces?
Lloyd-Jones states that the real problem is not about reconciling science, philosophy and religion, but is "the problem of the devil who hates God and the natural man who hates God." He describes it as "the antagonism of the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light" and says this principle remains the same whether it manifests as ancient rulers, modern science, or communism.
What final call to action does Lloyd-Jones give his listeners?
Lloyd-Jones calls his listeners to: 1. Be concerned about the glory of God rather than church attendance or self-preservation 2. Pray for God to "rise and scatter his enemies" 3. Believe in the possibility of revival even in the "sophisticated 20th century" 4. Cease from "feverish, foolish activities" and pray together "with one voice and one accord" 5. Seek to be filled with the Spirit 6. Make their central purpose to "know, to glorify, and to witness to the Lord Jesus Christ"
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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.