Not by Might ...
A Sermon on Acts 2:1-47
Originally preached May 20, 1956
Scripture
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them …
Sermon Description
What is the grounding of the Christian faith? In this sermon on Acts 7:1-47, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the great reality that the Christian faith is anchored in time and history. God sent His Son into the world at a specific time and place to die and rise for sinners so that they would be redeemed. After Jesus ascended, He sent His Holy Spirit to empower His disciples to spread the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. This supernatural power is what made the Church what it was in the time of the apostles, and the Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church today so that it can reach the world. The Church can be bold because it has a message that is grounded in history. The Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church so that the whole world can hear of what God has done in His Son. But, "what does Jesus dying upon the cross have to do with me?" someone may ask. The answer is simple: Jesus died and rose from the grave so that all who believe in Him might be saved and made children of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The chapter describes the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This event marked the beginning of the Christian church as we know it today.
- The events described in Acts 2 provide the only explanation for how Christianity spread so rapidly in a hostile world. The power of the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples and gave them courage and authority to preach the gospel.
- The pattern seen in Acts 2, where God uses small, seemingly insignificant groups of people to powerfully advance His kingdom through the Holy Spirit, has been repeated throughout history in revivals and awakenings.
- For revival and renewal to happen today, the church must seek the power and filling of the Holy Spirit. This starts with individual believers coming to know the love and joy of Christ in a deeper way through the Holy Spirit.
- When the Holy Spirit comes upon the church, conviction of sin and desire for salvation will spread even to those most antagonistic toward the gospel. The church will have authority and power to preach the word, and people will come seeking the truth.
- The duty of Christians today is to seek a deeper knowledge of Christ through the Holy Spirit, pray for revival in the church, and rely on the power of the Spirit rather than human ability or effort. When we are filled with the Spirit, we cannot help but speak of Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Significance of Pentecost According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the main message of Acts chapter 2 according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Acts chapter 2 is one of the most thrilling chapters in the Bible that shows the historical beginning of the Christian church as we know it. He emphasizes that it provides "the only explanation as to how Christianity ever spread in the world and became the power that it did." The chapter demonstrates that the church began not through human ability, influence, or organization, but through the power of the Holy Spirit descending upon ordinary, fearful disciples, transforming them into bold witnesses who spoke with authority.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we need to remember that Christianity consists of two parts?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses that our faith consists of two essential parts: "First of all, there is the history, and secondly, there is the truth, the doctrine that is derived from the history." He warns that we are constantly in danger of focusing exclusively on either the facts or the doctrine while neglecting the other. The Pentecost event is a historical fact that happened at a specific time and place, and this factual basis is "the great watershed that divides the Christian faith from all other religions and philosophies."
How does Acts 2 explain the pattern of revival according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that the pattern established in Acts 2 is the same pattern seen in every subsequent revival throughout church history. This pattern includes: 1. Revival begins within the church, not outside it 2. Believers wait in prayer and dependence on God 3. The Holy Spirit fills believers with power and joy 4. This empowers bold, authoritative preaching 5. The Spirit convicts hearers of sin 6. People respond by crying out for salvation
He points to the Puritan awakening, the 18th-century evangelical revival under Wesley and Whitfield, and others as following this exact pattern - all starting from positions of apparent hopelessness and weakness.
What was the condition of the disciples before Pentecost?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the disciples before Pentecost as: - Ordinary men with no outstanding abilities or learning - People of no social influence or position - Utterly disconsolate and bewildered after Christ's death - Filled with fear ("all the doors and windows were shut for fear of the Jews") - Still confused despite witnessing the resurrection - Facing hostile opposition from both religious and secular authorities - Having no resources, finances, or worldly advantages
How does the Holy Spirit transform believers according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Holy Spirit transforms believers by: 1. Giving them a greater certainty about Christ ("they knew him better on this day of Pentecost than they'd known him even when he was with them") 2. Filling them with joy and love ("the ecstasy and the joy of the love of Christ shed abroad in their hearts") 3. Providing understanding of the Scriptures that they never had before 4. Granting boldness and fearlessness to witness 5. Empowering them with authority in their preaching 6. Enabling them to convict others of sin through their testimony
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe is the church's greatest need today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes the church's greatest need is to "believe again in the Holy Ghost" and to seek revival rather than merely focusing on methods, organizations, or evangelistic strategies. He laments that "people are not praying for revival" but instead "praying for blessings on movements and organizations." He urges believers to: 1. Experience Christ in a manner even more real than if we had been with Him physically 2. Know His love shed abroad in our hearts 3. Pray specifically for revival, not just human programs 4. Recognize that "without Him we can do nothing" 5. Return to complete dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit 6. Realize that when God comes upon the church, the world will respond without artificial pressure
Other Sermons
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.