The Spirit Fell on 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
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
- The sermon is focused on the meaning and significance of Pentecost for the church today.
- Pentecost was a real historical event, not just a teaching or philosophy. It was an act of God.
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There are two main views on the meaning of Pentecost:
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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.
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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.
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Evidence for the second view:
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In Acts 4, the disciples received a fresh filling of the Spirit with power. This shows Pentecost can be repeated.
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There were similar events in Acts 8, 10, and 19. The Spirit was poured out on new groups of believers.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.