The Spirits Power in The Church
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 the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Is it a saving experience? In Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s exposition of John 1:26–33 titled “The Spirit’s Power in the Church,” he expounds on the outward biblical markers of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and argues for its essential (but not salvific) need in the church. He notes this need because the only true knowledge of God comes through the Holy Spirit. After discussing the internal markers of being baptized by the Holy Spirit (such as a sense of God’s holiness, humility, assurance of the love of God, etc.) in the previous sermon, he moves on to address the outward. First, he argues that a Biblical marker is often a physical phenomenon, such as a shining face. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones notes stories such as Stephen and Moses, and also recounts stories in church history. Second, he argues that baptism can be seen through the power dispensed to men and women in private conversations and preaching. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones bemoans the academic preaching that surrounds the church and notes that the disciples had all the facts when Jesus ascended, but Jesus knew they needed the Holy Spirit. He ends with asking the listener: “do you know anything of this power?”
Sermon Breakdown
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit is primarily for witness and testimony, not sanctification.
- There has been confusion about the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is not for sanctification but for empowering believers to be witnesses.
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives believers an unusual sense of God and His glory, a sense of awe and humility.
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives believers assurance of salvation, loss of fear of death, and confidence in eternity.
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives believers joy, love for God, and a desire to glorify Him.
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual light, knowledge, and understanding.
- Facial appearance is affected by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are accounts of people's faces shining after being in God's presence.
- Speech is affected by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, giving power, liberty, and boldness. This is seen in both private and public speaking.
- The disciples were told to wait for the Holy Spirit before witnessing, even though they had been with Jesus for 3 years. Academic learning is not enough.
- The prophets and John the Baptist are examples of those empowered to speak by the Holy Spirit before Pentecost.
- After Pentecost, Peter and Paul spoke with power and authority from the Holy Spirit.
- Throughout church history, the Holy Spirit has empowered ordinary people to speak powerfully, resulting in revival. Examples were given of various preachers.
- An account was given of David Morgan, an ordinary preacher empowered to preach powerfully for 2 years. The Holy Spirit's power is sovereign.
- D.L. Moody and A.B. Simpson are examples of leaders empowered for ministry by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- An account was given of an ordinary man praying powerfully in a prayer meeting, demonstrating the Holy Spirit's empowerment.
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.