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Sermon #1105

The Spirit Fell on the Church

A Sermon on John 1:26-33

Originally preached June 6, 1965

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Scripture

John 1:26-33 ESV KJV
John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he …

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Sermon Description

Does the Christian need power to live a Christ-filled life, and for evangelism and obedience in the face of persecution? Do they find that they lack boldness to share the gospel? In this sermon on John 1:26–33 titled “The Spirit Fell on the Church,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes how the disciples received power when the Spirit descended on them at various times throughout the book of Acts. He considers that their receiving of the Spirit was not limited to the regenerative work but instead was multifaceted and involved multiple fillings of the Spirit. He elaborates that this is the normal method that God uses to give power to the church and argues that a baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs with any true revival. He determines that revivals are not built on the church’s obedience, but by God sending His Spirit with power to the church. Therefore, the Christian should pray for revival in order that the church would be given great power by the Spirit in order to do the work of the kingdom of God on earth. In a time when the work of the Spirit is debated, listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones speaks clarity into the discussion and encourage prayer for the empowerment of the church.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon is focused on the meaning and significance of Pentecost for the church today.
  2. Pentecost was a real historical event, not just a teaching or philosophy. It was an act of God.

  3. There are two main views on the meaning of Pentecost:

  4. The first view is that Pentecost was a once-for-all event where the church was born and believers received the fullness of the Spirit. All we need now is to walk in obedience. This view leaves no room for revival.

  5. The second view is that Pentecost was when the already existing church received power for witness. This view allows for repetition of Pentecost throughout church history in the form of revivals.

  6. Evidence for the second view:

  7. In Acts 4, the disciples received a fresh filling of the Spirit with power. This shows Pentecost can be repeated.

  8. There were similar events in Acts 8, 10, and 19. The Spirit was poured out on new groups of believers.

  9. The history of the church shows cycles of decline and revival. Revivals are a repetition of Pentecost. Examples include Montanism, the Reformation, the Great Awakenings, the Welsh Revival, etc.

  10. Revivals are sovereign acts of God, not the result of men's efforts or obedience alone. They are a fresh outpouring of the Spirit on the church.

  11. The lesson for us is that we should pray for revival - a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. We must believe it is possible and trust in God's power, not our own efforts. Revivals have often started with a few faithful believers praying.

  12. The church today desperately needs revival - a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. Every revival is a repetition of Pentecost. This is the greatest need of the church today.

Sermon Q&A

What Does the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Mean According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

What is the significance of Pentecost according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Pentecost was a historical event as real as Christ's birth, miracles, death, and resurrection. It was not merely a teaching or philosophy but an actual occurrence in which "the early church was baptized with the Holy Ghost." He emphasizes that this event was a baptism with power and fire, where the Holy Spirit fell upon the church in an objective, demonstrable way. The significance is that this was not just a one-time historical event to be commemorated, but something that God continues to do throughout church history in the form of revivals.

What are the two main views on the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Lloyd-Jones discusses?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines two major views:

  1. The first view holds that Pentecost was when the church was formed or constituted as the body of Christ. This view teaches that Pentecost was a once-for-all event that is never repeated, and that now all believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit at the moment of regeneration. After conversion, Christians simply need to yield to and obey the Spirit they already fully possess.

  2. The second view (which Lloyd-Jones calls "the old evangelical view") teaches that the church was already formed before Pentecost (when Jesus breathed on the disciples). What happened at Pentecost was a baptism of power upon the already-formed church. This baptism was the first of many similar outpourings throughout church history in the form of revivals.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe revival is important to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit?

Lloyd-Jones considers this doctrine crucial because the first view he describes leaves no room for revival, while the second view sees revival as essential to church history. He points out that books on the Holy Spirit from the first perspective never mention revival, because they believe Christians already have everything they need at conversion.

Lloyd-Jones sees revival as God's method of preserving the church throughout history: "The Christian church would have been dead and finished centuries ago and many times over were it not for revival." He views revivals as repetitions of Pentecost where God objectively pours out His Spirit upon an assembled church when they are at the end of their human abilities. This keeps the church alive and powerful when it would otherwise become formal and lifeless.

What historical examples of revival does Lloyd-Jones provide in the sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones mentions numerous historical revivals throughout church history:

  1. Montanism in the second century
  2. The Donatist movement in North Africa in the third century
  3. Revivals in southern France during the Middle Ages
  4. The Waldensian movement in northern Italy
  5. The Brethren of the Common Life in Germany and Holland
  6. The Protestant Reformation
  7. Revivals in northern Ireland and Scotland in the 17th century
  8. The Great Awakening in 18th century America under Jonathan Edwards
  9. The Methodist revival under Whitefield and the Wesleys in Britain
  10. Revivals under Daniel Rowland and Howell Harris in Wales
  11. The 1857-59 revival that began in New York and spread to Ulster and Wales
  12. The Welsh Revival of 1904-05
  13. Revival in Korea in 1906
  14. Recent revivals in the Congo and the Isle of Lewis

How does Lloyd-Jones define revival based on this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines revival as God's objective, sovereign act of pouring out His Spirit upon believers who have already done everything they humanly can. Key elements of his definition include:

  1. Revival is always God's action, not man's: "God does something. God sends down his spirit. God visits them."
  2. It often comes when people are at the point of despair after much prayer
  3. It involves an awareness of God's presence and power that lifts believers "out of themselves and out of time"
  4. It results in joy, liberty in preaching, greater authority, and conviction of sin
  5. It revives believers who already have life but have lost power
  6. It authenticates the supernatural reality of God to a watching world
  7. It is a repetition of Pentecost, where God fills the church with fresh power
  8. It begins with individuals who pray persistently until God answers

Lloyd-Jones concludes that revival is "the greatest need of the Christian church at this present hour."

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.