Seeking the Spirit
A Sermon on Romans 8:16
Originally preached March 3, 1961
Scripture
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Sermon Description
In his sermon on Romans 8:16 titled “Seeking the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expands upon an important Christian phenomenon: spiritual confirmation. Reading from Romans 8:16, he reminds how “the Spirit Himself” testifies with the believer’s spirit after being saved, inducting him or her into God’s family. However, should that believer then seek additional spiritual confirmation or more of the Spirit? In short, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says they should seek but a person should be careful of the methods in asking for more of the Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns Christians to avoid groups that claim they can administer the Spirit by staying in a room until He comes or laying hands on an individual. This is not how Scripture describes receiving more of the Spirit, and only apostles could give the Spirit by laying on hands, he says. God distributes the Spirit in a more Biblical way. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to Christ’s encouraging descriptions of God as a loving father; if knocked on, the door will be opened; and if asking for bread, a father would not give his child a stone. In closing, Dr. Lloyd-Jones tracks Christian figures across the centuries, reading their accounts of how much of the Spirit they received, and how much more is in store for those who call upon Him.
Sermon Breakdown
- The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. This is the highest form of assurance and the highest point a human can reach in this life.
- This assurance should be sought. Love demands certainty and it is unnatural for a child not to desire assurance of their Father's love.
- This assurance cannot be taken by faith. It is given by the Spirit and experienced. Faith leads us to pray for it, not claim we have it.
- This assurance is not received by attending meetings or having hands laid on us. There is no evidence the apostles' power to impart the Spirit is possessed today.
- We should not hold "tarrying meetings" waiting for this assurance. This denies the Spirit's sovereignty and opens us to deception.
- We should understand the nature of this assurance. It is knowing and rejoicing in Christ's love, not seeking experiences or manifestations.
- We should seek holiness and God's glory, not comfortable feelings. We cannot witness without this assurance.
- We should seek this assurance through: understanding its nature; seeking the right thing (God's glory); pleasing God; reading Scripture; importunate prayer; and persevering.
- Many saints (Goodwin, Whitefield, Spurgeon) have taught we should seek this assurance through prayer, obedience, and perseverance. We should not rest without it.
- We should pray for greater faith, assurance, full assurance, enjoyment, and glory. We should ask Christ to tell us we are His and grant us assurance.
Sermon Q&A
How Does the Holy Spirit Witness to Believers According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides comprehensive teaching on the witness of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:16. Here are some key questions and answers from his sermon:
What is the highest form of assurance available to Christians?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "There is nothing which is more urgently important for all Christian people to understand and to grasp than this particular teaching. It is the highest form of assurance. There is nothing, as Thomas Goodwin puts it, there is nothing beyond this except heaven itself." This witness of the Spirit is the highest point any believer can reach in this world - God Himself revealing His love to us as individuals.
Should Christians seek this witness of the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically states: "Certainly. Obviously, it must be sought." He provides several reasons: 1. Every Christian should always seek the best and highest experiences available 2. We should never be content with less than what Scripture describes as possible 3. Love demands certainty - it's unnatural for a child not to desire absolute assurance of the Father's love
What about the argument that Scripture doesn't tell us to pray for this experience?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes this argument by explaining: 1. The New Testament period was itself a time of revival when this experience was common 2. Luke 11:13 explicitly states: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" 3. This promise applies to believers today just as much as when Jesus first spoke it
How should Christians NOT seek this witness of the Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against three incorrect approaches: 1. "Take it by faith" - You cannot simply claim to have this experience without actually experiencing it 2. Seeking it through special meetings or people laying hands on you - This power was limited to the apostles 3. "Tarrying meetings" where people wait indefinitely until they receive it - This denies the sovereignty of the Spirit
How should Christians properly seek this witness of the Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides these positive directions: 1. Get clear about what you're seeking - understand the nature of this experience 2. Seek the right thing - not just an experience but knowledge of God and Christ's love 3. Do everything to please God - mortify sin and pursue holiness 4. Study God's Word diligently 5. Pray importunately - ask, seek, knock persistently without giving up
What historical Christian leaders taught about seeking this witness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes: 1. Thomas Goodwin: "Wait for it by faith... serve God day and night in all humility to obtain it" 2. George Whitefield: "It is a dreadful mistake to deny the doctrine of assurances... They ask it not because they are taught that it does not belong to Christians of these last days" 3. Charles Spurgeon: "These operations of the Spirit of God are easily to be obtained by the Lord's children" and "No man ever desired Christ in his heart with a living and longing desire who did not find him sooner or later"
Why is this witness of the Spirit so important for Christians?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes that without this assurance, believers will be poor witnesses for Christ. "The best witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ the world has ever known have always been men who've had full assurance." This experience produces joy unspeakable, absolute certainty, and makes believers effective ambassadors for Christ.
The Book of Romans
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.