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Sermon #RV11

Revival Sermon: The Phenomena of Revival

A Sermon on Supernatural Phenomena during Revival from Acts 2:12-13

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Scripture

Acts 2:12-13 ESV KJV
And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (ESV)

Sermon Description

Great awakenings by God are often accompanied by great physical and mental phenomena. During revivals, men and women are described as being “struck”—falling to the ground and fainting. Supernatural knowledge about the future is given to ordinary people. What is to be made of these revival testimonies about prophesy and physical phenomena? Should such things as hysteria or brain washing be dismissed? In this sermon on Acts 2:12–13 titled “Revival Sermon: The Phenomena of Revival,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones pushes back against the Western tendency to describe these kinds of things in naturalistic terms. While acknowledging there can be mixture of false phenomena with the true, he cautions Christians not to merely dismiss these physical phenomena based upon a dry intellectualism. Such reasoning could result in Christians quenching the Holy Spirit. Instead, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that these kinds of phenomena are always accompanied by a response from bystanders. It is either a response of doubt, amazement, or mockery. This was the experience of the early Christians in Acts 2:12–13 and it has held true throughout the history of revivals as well. The Christian response, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, must test such things. Nevertheless the whole person can be impacted by a great movement from the sovereign Spirit. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones seeks a balanced approach in this controversial topic.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon examines the question of how revival affects those outside the church.
  2. Acts 2:12-13 describes the reaction of some who witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost: some were amazed, some doubted, and some mocked the disciples saying they were drunk.
  3. This reaction is common throughout church history during times of revival. Some disapprove of revival altogether.
  4. The reaction can be attributed to the phenomena that sometimes accompany revival. These include physical phenomena like falling, fainting, and trances as well as mental phenomena like gifts of speech, prophecy, knowledge, and discernment.
  5. These phenomena do not always occur during revival and revival can happen without them. But they are frequently present to some degree.
  6. There are several false explanations for these phenomena including:
  7. Brainwashing: But this fails to explain the spontaneous origin of revival or why it would happen simultaneously in different places. Revival also cannot be manufactured through human techniques.
  8. Mass hysteria: But again this fails to explain the origin of revival or why strong, rational individuals would be affected. The character and results of revival also do not match hysteria.
  9. Psychic phenomena: But this fails to explain why these gifts would suddenly appear in those without evidence of them before, why they would be so widespread, or why they would disappear. The results of revival also do not match psychic phenomena.
  10. The work of the devil: But the devil would not do something that brings glory to God, strengthens the church, and leads to salvation. Revival divides the devil's kingdom.
  11. The true explanation is the outpouring of the Spirit as described in Acts 2 and prophesied in Joel 2. This results in unusual phenomena as people react to God's power and presence.
  12. Differences of opinion exist even among godly leaders as to the exact explanation for these phenomena. We must approach the issue with caution, reverence, and humility.
  13. The Scriptures provide some guidance. The prophets experienced ecstatic states, trances, and visions as the Spirit came upon them. The disciples at Pentecost were accused of being drunk. Peter cited Joel's prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit resulting in visions, dreams, and prophecy. Peter and Paul both had visions and trances. 1 Corinthians describes various gifts and phenomena in the Corinthian church.
  14. Some conclusions:
  15. These phenomena call attention to God's work.
  16. The Holy Spirit impacts the whole person - body, soul, and spirit. Powerful spiritual experiences will impact the physical and emotional.
  17. Different people will react differently based on factors like age, temperament, etc.
  18. The phenomena themselves are not the focus or goal. They tend to decrease over time. Some may be due to physical weakness or breakdown.
  19. The devil will try to counterfeit or misuse these phenomena. We must test the spirits.
  20. The phenomena are not essential to or the definition of revival. Revival is about the outpouring of the Spirit. The phenomena are occasional concomitants.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Say About the Phenomena Associated with Revival?

What phenomena often accompany spiritual revivals according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, revivals are often accompanied by two categories of phenomena:

  1. Physical phenomena: People may "literally fall to the ground under conviction of sin" or "faint and remain perhaps for a considerable time in a state of unconsciousness." Some appear to go into trances, where they seem to be "seeing something with a spiritual eye which is not visible to others."

  2. Mental phenomena: People may demonstrate "a most extraordinary gift of speech," where those who were previously "halting and hesitant" suddenly speak with "amazing eloquence." Others receive "a gift of prophecy" or the ability to foretell the future. Some demonstrate knowledge that seems inexplicable, such as illiterate people suddenly finding specific passages in the Bible.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate between revival and evangelistic campaigns?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between revivals and evangelistic campaigns:

"I am concerned only to deal with revival. I am not concerned to deal with evangelistic campaigns. It's very important we should draw that distinction, and for this reason that in evangelistic campaigns techniques are used and used deliberately, but not in revival."

The key difference is that revival involves no techniques or human manipulation - it is purely the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. In contrast, evangelistic campaigns employ deliberate methods and strategies to bring people to faith.

What false explanations do people give for revival phenomena?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies four common false explanations people give for revival phenomena:

  1. Brainwashing: Some suggest revival is similar to communist brainwashing techniques, where minds are bombarded until they collapse and can be indoctrinated.

  2. Mass hysteria: Others claim it's simply a case of mass emotional contagion.

  3. Psychic explanations: Some attribute the phenomena to telepathy, thought transference, or other unexplained mental powers.

  4. Demonic activity: Some claim these phenomena are the work of the devil.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject the explanation that revival phenomena are demonic?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the explanation that revival phenomena are demonic for several key reasons:

  1. The results contradict this theory: "The main result of revival is that thousands of people are converted to the Lord Jesus Christ and become true believers." It makes no sense for the devil to do something that expands God's kingdom.

  2. Jesus's own words refute it: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation... If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?" (Luke 11:15-18).

  3. Biblical test of spirits: "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1 John 4:2-3). Since revival leads people to confess Christ, it cannot be of the devil.

  4. Logic: "If this is the work of the devil, well, then the devil is an unutterable fool. He's dividing his own kingdom."

What is the true explanation for revival phenomena according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that revival phenomena are primarily the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as described in the Bible. His explanation includes several key points:

  1. Biblical precedent: The phenomena resemble what happened to Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles, who experienced trances, visions, and ecstatic states under the influence of the Spirit.

  2. Fulfillment of prophecy: Peter explained the Pentecost phenomena by saying, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16).

  3. Whole-person impact: The Holy Spirit affects the whole person - body, soul, and spirit. "It is just folly to expect that he can react in the realm of the spiritual without anything at all happening to the rest of him."

  4. Epiphenomena: The phenomena are "epiphenomena" - incidental accompaniments rather than essential components of revival. They "should not be sought... should not be encouraged, they should not be bursted."

  5. Mixed elements: While primarily of the Spirit, there can be admixture of physical, psychic, and even demonic elements that must be discerned.

Revival 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.