Dead Orthodoxy ― A Sermon on the Danger of Dead Orthodoxy (Remastered)

A sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Genesis 26:17-18 www.mljtrust.o...
"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
The church has an important duty to fulfill before she can truly benefit the kingdom of God. She must deal with the hindrances that keep away the truths of the gospel. In this sermon on Genesis 26:17-18 titled “Revival Sermon: Dead Orthodoxy,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones presents these dangerous obstacles and asks the listener to consider the lack of balance within the church. It is necessary to consider dead orthodoxy along with defective orthodoxy. He is convinced that out of all dangers threatening revival, this is the greatest danger confronting the church and any individual with an evangelical outlook. In the midst of dead orthodoxy, people are driven to contentment and to practice religion merely for safety and security. Is the Christian just content because they have the right beliefs? Do they come to God’s house just to listen to a sermon? Dr. Lloyd-Jones references 1 Thessalonians 5:19 which tells the Christian not to quench the Holy Spirit. He explains the different ways one can avoid this: recognizing a fear of enthusiasm, confusion, false excitement, emotionalism, and pseudo-intellectualism. He clarifies the difference between emotionalism and emotion. Christians may be so afraid of the false that they quench the true emotion: “We’ve forgotten how to weep my friends,” with joy and with sadness.
Sermon Breakdown
* The church today is in a similar position as Isaac when he searched for water in the wells dug by Abraham but found them stopped up by the Philistines. There are hindrances and obstacles to revival that must be cleared away.
* The first hindrance is error and apostasy, or a lack of orthodoxy. There can be no revival without belief in certain central doctrines of redemption and salvation.
* The second hindrance is defective orthodoxy, or an unbalanced orthodoxy. An orthodoxy that lacks balance and conformity to the Scriptural pattern can be useless.
* The third hindrance is dead orthodoxy, which is characterized by:
Contentment and smugness: Satisfaction with correct beliefs without life or power. Main concern is defending one's position.
* Being at ease in Zion: Wanting only enough religion to feel safe, with no interest in God himself.
* Dislike of being searched or disturbed: Wanting smooth, uplifting messages that do not convict of sin.
* Nothing vital in religion or worship: No expectation of meeting with or experiencing God. Mere formality.
* A second characteristic of dead orthodoxy is a dislike of enthusiasm, which quenches the Spirit. Charges of "enthusiasm" have always been leveled against revival. We must hold to "let all things be done decently and in order" but also "do not quench the Spirit."
"Let all things be done decently and in order" condemns:
* Confusion: All speaking or prophesying at once. God is not the author of confusion.
* Excitement or false joy: Animal excitement or emotion not based on truth.
Emotionalism: Emotions out of control or deliberately worked up. Direct appeals to emotion are false. Emotion should flow from the mind's apprehension of truth.
* "Do not quench the Spirit" means we can go to the opposite extreme of suppressing the Spirit's work in our reaction against excess. We fear:
Confusion, so we have overly rigid control, formality, and programs that leave no room for the Spirit.
* False joy, so we have no joy or emotion at all. We need to have truth and avoid falsehood, not suppress both.
* Emotionalism, so we have banished emotion and passion altogether. We need emotion in balance, not sentimentality. Lack of emotion is a hindrance to revival.
* We pride ourselves on intellect and respectability, thinking that is why we lack revival, unlike our "primitive" forebears. But men like Paul and Luther showed great intellect and passion. We need to recover a balance of mind and heart.

[@patrickc3419]

One of my favorite non-living pastors/theologians. The recording quality for a sermon this old is is terrific!

[@rodpryor2090]

AMEN

[@mabn8308]

The joy of the Lord is my strength! \o/

[@sunshinegirl1967]

It seems like he is trying to say without saying (at least not up til 18 minutes) "My people worship Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me." Wonder why he hasn't said that yet. Very interesting sermon. Will have to finish a little later and comment further.

[@sunshinegirl1967]

This reminds me of a true small revival that broke out at a Keith Green concert that happened at ORU. You can read about it in his wife's book No Compromise (Melody Green). It starts about page 290 and there's a pic on 299 showing students under conviction of their sin lying prostrate on the floor around Keith at the piano while this revival was you going on. The book goes on to say that the Holy Spirit had settled like a cloud on the students as they wept and repented of their sin. But He was grieved and withdrew when one of the administrative counselors stopped people from openly confessing their sins. Get the book!

[@sunshinegirl1967]

Wow what a sermon! He's saying the church is dead! That's why we need revival. He reminds me of what one of his contemporaries said - Leonard Ravenhill - that we invite the Holy Spirit to come at 10am on Sunday and be done by 12 when we lock the doors. The letter of the law kills but the Spirit gives life. But He won't break the door down where He isn't wanted. He stands at the door and knocks. Jesus was speaking to His church when He said that in Revelation. Did MLJ ever have revival? Or did he just tell us why we didn't?

[@sannotutamime-k3w]

Hall Edward Brown William Moore Scott

[@RuthLopez-z5u]

Thomas Margaret Walker George Thompson Laura

[@michaelfalsia6062]

The blessed name of Jesus can become blasphemed because of out sin however ultimately no one perishes in their sin and unbelief because of their own sin and that they are not chosen to salvation. An unpleasant truth of the gospel. Also Chrianity didnt change the ancient world of the first century. They saw the poweful work and reality of the sakvation of God's elect chosen in Christ. If I recall Jesus told us that relatively speaking few are ever saved. Also Joy is only one facet of true genuine Christian experience. There is also sadness and grief and great sorrow in the Christian life. One can not look at the wickedness of our age and not feel a deep sense of righteous anger and trial of soul. This message as good as it was needs several more studies to round out all of what Christianity is and ought to be. Thiis is why the way of salvation passes through a strait and narrow gate. Paul wept at the thought of wolved entering in among the sheep. Paul told Timothy of a falling away of the faith and that he was to endure hardships as a good soldier in the heart of the upcoming battle. Jesus himself was a man of sorrow abd grief. Then there is contending with our own remaining sin and failures. A single message can be a good thing but it also can leave us with an incomplete composite of the faith. Sadly the Doctor adopted an erroneous view of the Holy Spirit in his misinterpretation of Ephesians 1:13. Unfortunately it lead to the embrace of the charismatic heresy and delusion in some Reformed curcles.