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Sermon #RV02

Revival Sermon: The Power and the Possibilities

A Sermon on Genesis 26:17-18

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Scripture

Genesis 26:17-18 ESV KJV
So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names …

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Sermon Description

What are the needs of the church today? Have the needs of the church changed since early Christianity? Does the church face the same issues as it did since it first began? In this sermon on Genesis 26:17–18 titled “Revival Sermon: The Power and the Possibilities,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers that as Isaac dug again the wells of his father Abraham, the church must also dig again the wells that have been filled by modern Philistines in order to rediscover the history of the church: “There is nothing so foolish as to ignore the past.” It is wise to study the pattern of revivals as they have taken place, so as to expose the one main issue that hinders the growth of the church. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes clear, “My dear friends, there is only one explanation of the state of the church today: it is the work of the Philistines.” He explains that the church doesn’t seem to see this, and instead puts the blame on false ideas such as the modern day or “new knowledge.” Christians must recognize that humanity’s problem is still the same, God is the same, and the solution of the problem is the same: Jesus Christ.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by highlighting the urgent need for life and power in the church today. Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses that minor adjustments or improvements will not address the fundamental issues at hand.
  2. The story of Isaac digging the old wells of Abraham is used as an analogy. Isaac faced a life or death situation and went back to the old wells that he knew contained water. Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests we should do the same by looking to church history and revivals of the past.
  3. The history of the church shows periods of revival and power as well as periods of deadness and apathy. Revivals of the past can teach us lessons for today.
  4. Every revival of the past seemed to involve a return to the teachings of the book of Acts and the early church. There are consistent patterns across revivals throughout history and geography.
  5. When Isaac's men returned to the old wells, they found that the Philistines had filled them with earth. Though the water was still there, it was blocked and unavailable. Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests the work of the Philistines is blocking the church today from the old wells of revival and power.
  6. The problems of the church today are not new circumstances like technology, education, or a divided church. The church has always faced opposition and excuses for avoiding the gospel. These arguments are irrelevant and the real issue is the work of the Philistines in blocking the wells.
  7. We must have the courage to face the real issues blocking the church today with honesty and conviction. We must clear out the work of the Philistines to open up the old wells of revival once again.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Lloyd-Jones Teach About Facing Spiritual Crises in the Church?

What urgent need did Isaac face when he moved to a new location, and how does Lloyd-Jones relate this to the church today?

Isaac faced the urgent need for water - something absolutely essential for life itself. Lloyd-Jones relates this to the church's current situation by arguing that the church today faces a similarly urgent and desperate need: "the need of life itself, the need of that fundamental power and vigor in every activity of the church which rarely can make an impact upon the world." He emphasizes that the church's problem isn't minor adjustments or organizational methods, but something fundamental and radical - the need for spiritual power and the Holy Spirit Himself.

What approach did Isaac take to solve his water crisis, and why does Lloyd-Jones believe this is significant for the modern church?

Isaac "digged again the wells of water which they had digged in the days of Abraham, his father" rather than calling in prospectors or water diviners. Lloyd-Jones sees this as significant because it shows that Isaac understood the urgency of his situation required certainty, not experimentation. He returned to proven sources rather than trying untested methods. Lloyd-Jones believes the modern church should similarly return to proven spiritual sources from the past rather than seeking entirely new approaches or messages for "this atomic age."

According to Lloyd-Jones, what has been the pattern of the church's history throughout the centuries?

Lloyd-Jones explains that church history has not been a straight line of progress but rather "a history of ups and downs." There have been periods when the church was "full of life and vigor and power" with many conversions, passionate prayer, and significant impact on society. These periods of revival have often followed "periods of great drought, great deadness, apathy and lifelessness." He points to examples like the Evangelical Awakening of 200 years before his sermon and the revival of 1859 as evidence of this pattern.

What did Isaac discover when he went back to the old wells, and how does Lloyd-Jones apply this to the church's situation?

Isaac discovered that "the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abram" and "filled them with earth." Though the water was still there, it wasn't visible or accessible. Lloyd-Jones applies this by arguing that spiritual power is still available to the church, but it has been blocked: "There is only one explanation of the state of the christian church today. It is the work of the Philistines. The water is there. Why don't we see it? Why are we not able to drink of it? The Philistines have been here and they filled the wells with the earth and the rubbish and the refuse."

What common explanations for the church's problems does Lloyd-Jones reject, and why?

Lloyd-Jones rejects several common explanations:

  1. Modern circumstances (TV, cars, entertainment) - He argues these are just new forms of old distractions; people have always found excuses not to attend church.

  2. New scientific knowledge - He contends that scientific advances don't affect the fundamental relationship between God and humanity, and that the church has faced similar intellectual challenges before.

  3. Church division - He points out that God has sent revival even during times of severe church division, and that revivals both create unity among those experiencing them and new divisions between those who accept and reject the revival.

Lloyd-Jones calls these explanations "the rubbish of the Philistines" that stand between people and God's blessings.

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.