Martyn Lloyd-Jones was passionate about the subject of revival within the church. It is something he spoke about and preached on regularly. We can see the crux of his teaching in his sermon series published under the title, Revival. Lloyd-Jones preached this series in 1959 (breaking off from his extended series on Ephesians) to commemorate the 1859 revival.
Lloyd-Jones saw revival as an essential, extraordinary work of God, in which the Holy Spirit brings about a powerful reawakening of the church, leading to widespread transformation and spiritual renewal. He preached extensively on this topic and his views are widely esteemed within Reformed and evangelical circles. What follow are the key aspects of his views on this vital doctrine.
1) A sovereign act of God
Lloyd-Jones emphasised that revival is not something that can be manufactured by human effort, but rather it is a sovereign work of God. It is a time when God moves in a powerful and extraordinary way, pouring out his Spirit upon the church and the wider community.
According to him, revival is marked by an overwhelming sense of the presence of God that touches believers and unbelievers alike. He often drew on historical examples, such as the Great Awakening or the Welsh Revival, to illustrate how revival takes place when God chooses to act powerfully, transforming the spiritual landscape.
While human preparation, especially through prayer, is essential, Lloyd-Jones insists that only God can initiate true revival.
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