Seeking Baptism in the Spirit (2)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Originally preached May 2, 1965
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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."
-
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.
-
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.
-
If the church were filled with people passionately seeking God this way, revival would come. We must become such people.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
What is the difference between regeneration and the baptism with the Holy Spirit according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, there is a vital distinction between regeneration and the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Regeneration is when a person becomes a Christian and receives the Spirit within them ("If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"). The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a subsequent experience that not all Christians have received. He emphasizes that "there is nothing that is more harmful than to say that all people at the moment of their regeneration are baptized with the Holy Ghost." The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience that brings power, joy, and effectiveness to Christian life and witness, going beyond the initial salvation experience.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the proper motives for seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit for wrong motives. He cautions against seeking it merely for experiences, power, or spiritual gifts. Instead, the proper motive should be to know and love Christ more deeply: "What we should be seeking is to know him and to know his love and to be witnesses for him and to minister to his glory." He emphasizes that our primary focus should be on the Lord Jesus Christ himself, not on the gifts or experiences that might come with the baptism. He quotes the Apostle Paul's desire "that I might know him and the power of his resurrection," showing that relationship with Christ should be central.
What role does obedience play in receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that obedience is central to receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit. He references Acts 5:32 which states that God gives the Holy Spirit "to them that obey him." He explains that our obedience demonstrates the depth of our desire for this blessing. Lloyd-Jones advises believers to avoid both "grieving" and "quenching" the Spirit. Grieving refers to disobeying the Spirit's promptings in daily details, while quenching refers to resisting the Spirit's more general movement upon our spirit. He emphasizes that complete surrender is necessary: "you put yourself as you are and all your affairs and concerns and interests into God's hands."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the way to pray for the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes prayer for the baptism with the Holy Spirit as persistent, pleading prayer rather than casual "little telegrams to God." He quotes Thomas Goodwin's phrase "sue him for it" to describe this kind of urgent, persistent prayer. Lloyd-Jones advises believers to "plead the promises" of God regarding the Holy Spirit, citing how the great revivalists like Whitfield, Wesley, and Moody had to persist in prayer for months before receiving this blessing. He rejects the idea that one can simply "claim" or "take" this blessing by faith on demand, emphasizing instead a posture of humble supplication: "I'm dependent solely upon the grace, the free grace of God and his mercy and his love and his compassion."
What evidence does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a reality for all Christians to seek?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several lines of evidence that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is something all Christians should seek. He points to Scripture passages like 1 Peter 1:8 ("rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory") and Romans 8:15 (the "spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father"). He also references historical evidence from church history, noting that the church's history is "not one of a dead level" but shows periods of decline followed by "reformation and revival, when the church again seems to go back into the book of the Acts of the Apostles." He quotes testimonies of great Christian leaders like Charles Simeon, George Whitefield, John Wesley, and D.L. Moody who all experienced this blessing after their conversion. Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to examine themselves and ask if they know the fullness of love and joy described in Scripture.
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.