Not in Word; but Power
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:20
Originally preached June 10, 1962
Scripture
20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Sermon Description
What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says that the kingdom of God consists not of word, but of power? This is the question that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones seeks to answer in this sermon from 1 Corinthians 4:20. He says that Paul was not like many of his contemporary wise men in that he did not have a great appearance, nor did he speak with power. For Paul was not concerned with these things because he trusted not in himself, but in the power of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones continues to show that the kingdom of God is not about clever words or gifted speakers, but the kingdom of God is about the power of God, namely Christ Jesus and His gospel. How is the power of God seen? If the Christian looks to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they will see men and women who were totally transformed by the power of God. This new power that they received was not their own doing, but it came from God empowering His people in order that they might serve Him. This God-given power is what enables Christians to fight sin, boldly proclaim the gospel, and live a life that seeks the kingdom of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon text is 1 Corinthians 4:20 - "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
- The sermon was given on Pentecost Sunday, reminding the congregation of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
- The early church turned the world upside down through the power of the Holy Spirit, not through human means.
- The church today is ineffective and powerless compared to the early church. We have many words but lack power.
- The kingdom of God is about God's power and activity, not human words or philosophy.
- The church talks much about the Holy Spirit but lacks His power. We must examine ourselves to see if we have received the Spirit's power.
- The power of the Spirit is seen in convicting people of sin, enabling people to live new lives, understand the truth, and live out the truth.
- The Spirit's power changed lives in the early church and throughout church history in times of reformation and revival.
- The power of the Spirit cannot be obtained through human organizations, institutions or learning but through recognizing our weakness, believing God's Word, and praying for the Spirit.
- We must pray for revival - an outpouring of the Spirit that brings conviction of sin, assurance of faith, and many coming to Christ.
- We must pray for the Spirit to come upon us and the church, not wait for some future event. We must come to church expectantly and hopefully, praying for the Spirit.
- We must give ourselves no rest until we know the Spirit's power in us and upon the church.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon Questions and Answers
What is the central message of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon about the kingdom of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones' central message is that "the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). He emphasizes that Christianity is not merely about intellectual knowledge, philosophical discussions, or eloquent words, but about the demonstrable power of God working through the Holy Spirit. This power transforms lives, convicts people of sin, and enables believers to live in a way that reflects God's kingdom. The church has often substituted talk, conferences, and intellectual debates for this genuine spiritual power.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the early church with the modern church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the early church as a small, seemingly insignificant group with "no influence, no great names among them, no money," yet they became so powerful that they were described as "people who are turning the world upside down." In contrast, the modern church has "many buildings, some of them very large and ornate," is well-known and publicized, but lacks genuine spiritual impact. He notes that today's church has "more words" than ever before—producing books, holding conferences—but shows little evidence of the transformative power that characterized the early church in the Book of Acts.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as evidence of the Holy Spirit's power?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, evidence of the Holy Spirit's power includes: - Conviction of sin (people crying out "what must I do to be saved?") - Changed lives (transforming people from their sinful states - "such were some of you, but ye are washed") - Power to understand spiritual truth that natural minds cannot grasp - Power to live a new life and overcome sin - Authority and certainty in preaching and witness - The ability to conquer the devil through "the power of His might"
What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' critique of ecumenism and church organization?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes the emphasis on institutional unity and organization that characterized the ecumenical movement of his time. He specifically mentions a statement from the British Council of Churches about an "ecumenical breakthrough" that made no reference to the Holy Spirit. He argues that "you'll never get [power] by organization" or "institutionalism," and that "adding church to church and institution to institution" won't create effectiveness. He states that "a Great World Church will be as powerless and as ineffective as the divided church of today" if it lacks the Holy Spirit's power.
How does one obtain the power of the Holy Spirit according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, to obtain the power of the Holy Spirit: 1. Realize your "emptiness, weakness, and utter ineffectiveness" 2. Acknowledge that "we can never produce power whatever we do" 3. Believe God's Word as it is, becoming "a fool" or "a little child" in the world's eyes 4. Pray specifically to be "filled with the Spirit" 5. Pray "unceasing, incessant prayers for revival" 6. Maintain an expectant attitude, praying that the Spirit might come "at any moment"
What historical examples does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to illustrate spiritual power?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones references several historical figures who demonstrated spiritual power: - John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness with power to convict even Pharisees - Martin Luther, who was "ineffective" as a Roman Catholic but powerful as a Reformer - John Calvin and the Protestant Reformers - John Knox, who made Mary Queen of Scots tremble with his preaching and prayers - Hugh Latimer preaching at St. Paul's Cross in London - George Whitefield and John Wesley, whose ministries sparked revival
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the problem with the Corinthian church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Corinthian church was "divided up into sects and groups" with some saying "I am of Paul," others "I am of Apollos," etc. They were arguing over spiritual gifts, with some considering themselves superior to others. They were primarily interested in eloquence, philosophy, and appearance rather than spiritual power. Despite their knowledge and words, they had moral problems including fornication. They were "carnal" believers who were "puffed up" with pride and knowledge but lacked the spiritual power that should characterize God's kingdom.
What is the relationship between preaching and the Holy Spirit according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that effective preaching must be empowered by the Holy Spirit, not merely intellectual or eloquent. He cites Paul who said his preaching "was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." He emphasizes that Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before preaching, even though they had all the facts about His life, death, and resurrection. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states he would prefer "an ignorant fisherman filled with the Spirit rather than a great giant brain who hasn't got the power of the Spirit" because true preaching is not about human ability but divine empowerment.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about revival and how it comes?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes revival as "the Spirit descending upon a church as He did on the day of Pentecost." It happens when "suddenly something happens. Suddenly a power descends. Suddenly they're aware of the presence of God." He emphasizes that revival comes through prayer, not through human planning or organization. It can come "at any moment" and results in conviction of sin, assurance of salvation, and large numbers of conversions. He urges his listeners to "pray without ceasing for a great outpouring of the Spirit of God" and to pray expectantly, believing that revival could come "any day, in any church, in any part of the world."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the Day of Pentecost to the Christian church today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents the Day of Pentecost as the foundational event that explains "the story and the history of the Christian Church." He teaches that Pentecost fulfilled Jesus' promise that the disciples would "receive power" to be witnesses. This power is the "prime mark of the church" and should characterize both the collective church and individual believers today. He urges his hearers to test themselves by asking, "Did you receive the Holy Ghost when you believed?" and to examine whether there is evidence of this same Pentecostal power in their lives and ministry. The contemporary church, he argues, should be experiencing the same power that transformed the early church.
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.