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Sermon #2055

True Marks of the Spirits Work

A Sermon on Acts 5:38-39

Originally preached May 29, 1966

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Scripture

Acts 5:38-39 ESV KJV
So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing …

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Sermon Description

The most urgent and important thing in the world is to know exactly what the Christian message is. Listen to this sermon on Acts 5:38–39 titled “True Marks of the Spirit’s Work” as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones considers the question: “How can you tell whether a work is of God or of humanity?” What are the authentic marks of the work of the Spirit of God? First, this is not always easy. False saviors, prophets, and world religions use great deception in “helping” people. Dr. Lloyd-Jones shares what tests are inadequate in considering the distinctions between the work of God and that of humanity: what guarantees the work of God? Terminology? Zeal and enthusiasm? Offering people help? Lasting effects? There may be some truth in each of these, but Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones trains his listeners lest they be deceived, too. Ultimately, if one can understand and explain the works, it is the work of humanity. A miracle is supernatural. One starts with the human and their needs and desires, and then offers what they need; the other starts and ends with the glory, majesty, and honor of God.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon text is Acts 5:38-39 which discusses whether the apostles' work is of God or men.
  2. Gamaliel suggests that if it is of men, it will fail. But if it is of God, it cannot be overthrown.
  3. It can be hard to tell the difference between the work of God and men. False prophets can show signs and wonders. Success and popularity are not proof of God's work.
  4. Using Christian terms, helping people, or showing phenomena are not proof something is from God.
  5. The work of men can be understood and explained. It relies on human power, methods, and pressure. It is man-centered and superficial. The effects don't last.
  6. God's work is inexplicable and surprising. It relies on the Spirit, not human power or methods. It is God-centered and profound. The message starts with God, not man. It produces conviction of sin, exalts Christ, and changes lives.
  7. The sermon applies these principles to determine if the apostles' work was of God or men. The effects of Pentecost couldn't be explained by human means.
  8. The sermon warns us to examine ourselves to make sure our faith is from God, not men. True faith humbles us, shows us our sin, and exalts Christ.

Sermon Q&A

MLJ Sermon Analysis: Discerning God's Work vs Man's Work

What criteria does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give for distinguishing between a work of God and a work of man?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several clear distinctions between God's genuine work and human efforts. According to his sermon, the key criteria for discerning God's work include:

  1. Inexplicability: "A work of the Spirit of God is always inexplicable. You cannot explain it." True divine work happens "suddenly" without human preparation or conditioning.

  2. Not dependent on human methods: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." God's work doesn't rely on human organization, special techniques, or persuasive abilities.

  3. Truth-centered: God's work exhibits "greatness, glory, majesty" with truth in control, not human psychology or manipulation.

  4. God-centered message: "The true message is always a message that starts with God, not with men." It doesn't focus on human problems first but on God's glory and redemptive plan.

  5. Conviction of sin: "The true work always humbles men... it always convicts him of sin." There is what the church fathers called a "law work" that brings genuine repentance.

  6. Christ-exalting: It "glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ" rather than human teachers or experiences.

  7. Produces lasting change: It transforms the total personality and produces the fruit of the Spirit, not just temporary excitement.

What inadequate tests does Lloyd-Jones warn against when evaluating spiritual movements?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions against several common but inadequate tests that people often use:

  1. Christian terminology: "The fact that in a work, Christian phraseology and terminology is being used is not a guarantee that it is a work of the Spirit of God." False movements can use the right words but evacuate their true meaning.

  2. Success and popularity: "The fact that they gain adherents doesn't prove that it's of God." He cites Buddhism, Muhammadanism (Islam), and various cults as examples of successful but false movements.

  3. Apparent help to people: "The fact that a teaching or a method may give people help doesn't prove that it is a work of the Spirit of God." Cults can provide psychological help and make people feel better.

  4. Unusual phenomena: "The presence of phenomena, unusual phenomena, doesn't prove that a work is a genuine work of the Spirit of God." He mentions that spiritualists and Mormons can speak in tongues too.

  5. Zeal of followers: "Zeal and enthusiasm in the followers" is not proof of God's work, as cult members can be extremely zealous.

  6. Longevity (Gamaliel's test): "If a thing lasts, it must be of God." Lloyd-Jones says Gamaliel was wrong, as false religions have lasted for centuries.

How does Lloyd-Jones relate his message to Pentecost (Whitsunday)?

Lloyd-Jones connects his message about discerning God's work to Pentecost by explaining:

  1. Historical connection: He reminds his audience that Whitsunday commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, enabling them to speak in other languages and preach with power.

  2. Original Pentecost as prototype: "On that first Whitsunday in Jerusalem a very remarkable thing happened" that serves as the model of God's genuine work - it was sudden, powerful, and transformative.

  3. Pentecost as divine authentication: The events of Pentecost were God's confirmation of Jesus' ministry and resurrection: "This Jesus they'd crucified was the Son of God... now having risen and having gone back to heaven... he has sent down this which you see and hear."

  4. Continuing relevance: The same Spirit that came at Pentecost "is still operative and operating amongst us" and produces the same genuine spiritual work with the same characteristics.

  5. Whitsunday as reminder: The church festival serves to direct believers to examine what true spiritual work looks like against counterfeits: "May God give us grace to make certain that the work that has happened in us is the work of the Spirit of God. The Spirit that was poured upon the church on the day of Pentecost."

By focusing on Pentecost, Lloyd-Jones establishes a biblical standard for evaluating all spiritual movements and experiences against the genuine article recorded in Acts.

The Book of Acts

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.