Seeking Baptism in the Spirit (2)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Scripture
26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where …
Sermon Description
What is baptism by the Spirit? In this sermon titled “Seeking Baptism in the Spirit (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that baptism by the Spirit is something that the Lord Himself must grant upon a person. Through an exposition of John 1:26–33, Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches that baptism by the Spirit was not something that stopped in the early church; rather, it has continued throughout history and has been made evident in revivals of the church. He prescribes the prayer of 1 Peter 1:8 every morning and that the Christian should be seeking joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory in the awaiting of our Savior. Dr. Lloyd-Jones, though enthusiastic about baptism by the Spirit, is careful to distinguish modern Christians from the apostles. He explains that the apostles had a God-given mandate and blessing upon being baptized by the Spirit, but the Christian does not know whether or not they have been baptized by the Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones is also careful to explain that the “laying on of hands” does not and has not baptized people in the Spirit, and that many who have been influential in revivals have been so through patient and earnest prayer.
Sermon Breakdown
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Realize the possibility of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians do not believe this is possible or available today. We must recognize our need for this power and experience.
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Watch your motive. Do not seek experiences, power or gifts for their own sake. Seek to know Christ and be witnesses for Him. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, not Himself.
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Obey God. God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. We must avoid grieving the Spirit through disobedience. We must abandon ourselves to God's will. Obedience shows the depth of our desire.
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Pray persistently. We cannot demand or claim this blessing. We must plead with God for it, praying urgently and persistently. Plead the promises of Scripture. Imitate Jacob's prayer: "I will not let Thee go."
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Many great servants of God had to seek this blessing for a long time through prayer before receiving it, e.g. Wesley, Moody, etc. God answers in His timing.
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Pray for God's love to fill you. Pray for assurance of His love. Pray for Him to banish your doubts and fears. Pray for the Spirit to rest upon your heart.
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If the church were filled with people passionately seeking God this way, revival would come. We must become such people.
The Book of John
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.