Peter in Prison

Acts 12:5 — The world is increasingly hostile to Christian beliefs. With all the difficulties facing the church today, how will it withstand the forces against it? In this sermon on Acts 12:5, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws from the biblical account of Peter’s miraculous release from prison and encourages believers to unite together in prayer in order to see God’s work in the world and His church. “A characteristic of the church we must never forget,” Dr Lloyd-Jones says, “is that we are one.” When Peter was put in jail, the entire church came together to pray for him. If the Christian has become discouraged with prayers because they do not see them being answered, they are not alone. The early church endured similar tests of faith. Although they did not recognize it at the time, God was working behind the scenes to answer their prayers for Peter and when they were told by their servant girl that he had been miraculously released and was at the front door, they did not believe her. Listen as Dr Lloyd-Jones helps the listener understand why prayer in the community of a church is so important, and how they can trust God when they don’t see Him acting.

In this sermon titled “Discussion on Healing,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones leads a conversation of the topic of healing. As the session begins, questions and various reflections are given that explore healing in the Bible, along with questions that arise out of the modern-day charismatic movement. The miracle of healing, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, could simply be understood as God acting in a different way than usual. Miraculous healing, therefore, should not be explained on natural terms. Miraculous healing is something only God can do, not something people can conjure. As the discussion leads to a brief lecture on the subject, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that humanity has been witnessing things not seen for a long time. The rising evidence of demonic possession and witchcraft is a sign that the Christian church’s witness is waning. God may be permitting some of this in order to remind humanity of the supernatural. Christians must never take the supernatural for granted, but instead pray for the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit. While they may be rightly concerned about the spiritual excesses of the Pentecostal movement, might they be in danger of quenching the Holy Spirit? As the world is demonstrating proofs of demonic influence, there must be proofs of the Holy Spirit’s influence.

Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones recounts the history of Westminster Chapel and its pastors. In this sermon preached in 1965 titled “Centenary of the Opening of Westminster Chapel,” he shares the love he has in celebrating the anniversary of this church that he pastored for nearly 30 years. Learn more about cathedrals, church buildings, and the danger to externalize religion—whether in building, art, or music. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones boldly declares that such externalization is inverse to spirituality—as one increases, the other simultaneously decreases. Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims his abhorrence for “non-conformist cathedrals” and analyzes the movements throughout the generations. What does it mean to say “there is a church within the church”? Learn about the story of Samuel Martin and the formation of Westminster Chapel on the old site of the Westminster Hospital. The remarkable survival story of this chapel amidst the bombings is recounted and told in a personal way by Dr. Lloyd-Jones. Hear of his confidence in its safety and his long history ever since.

Revelation 21:5 — What is the only hope for this world? Humankind puts its hope in all kinds of different things, from politicians to wise people. The world is always looking for a cure to its many ills. However, try as it may, the world has never found an answer to its many problems over the hundreds of years it has searched. Why is this? In this sermon on Revelation 21:5 titled “A False Hope,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the answer is really quite simple: the world does not know God. For this reason, it always looks to the wrong places for hope. The world looks to itself, but this is vain and hopeless because only God can take this broken world and make it right. He is doing just this in His Son, Jesus Christ. By dying on the cross Jesus has vanquished not only sin and death, but He has destroyed Satan and broken his hold on this world. Jesus will return and put all things under His feet, He will make all things new and finally vanquish sin and evil once and for all. In the new heaven and earth, creation will be remade and freed from all pollution. All those who believe in Jesus will be made partakers of this new creation by grace and faith in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21:1 — The idea of Christian hope is criticized by the world as a mere fantasy. It seems foolish to many because of the proliferation of wars, chaos, and political tension across the globe. In this sermon on Revelation 21:1 titled “A New Heaven and a New Earth,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that hope is a main characteristic of the gospel itself and is the message of the Bible. Hope is an anchor for souls in the midst of chaos, not a reason for cynicism and disbelief. It is both optimistic and pessimistic at the same time. It is pessimistic as it reveals to the truth of the human condition. In stark and realistic terms, the Bible gives the diagnosis of the human heart as sinful and separated from God. This condition is true of every leader in the world. This is true but this is not where believers are left. The Bible gives an explanation for the human condition and also gives the hope of a new heaven and new earth where sorrow and sin are no more. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages hearts in this sermon with the reminder that the gospel is immediately pessimistic but ultimately, and gloriously, optimistic. Listeners are reminded to set their eyes on the things of heaven as they await the new heaven and new earth.

Many Christians ask themselves the question: why don’t unbelievers believe in the gospel? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives a bold answer to this question in this sermon on Revelation 21:1 titled “The Everlasting Gospel.” He says many do not believe in the gospel because the church has been unclear on what the gospel is. For this reason, he preaches a sermon exploring what the gospel is and why it is called “the everlasting gospel.” The gospel is everlasting because its author, God Himself, is everlasting. God’s glory and purposes are everlasting; they never fail or come to an end. This is in stark contrast to the worldly glory of humanity that lasts for a brief time and is then forgotten. The gospel is good news because it comes from a God who does not change or fade away. He is not loving one minute, and then hateful the next. The gospel is a message of hope because it comes from a God of unchanging love and mercy. Furthermore, this gospel is the hope for all in all times. Modern humanity does not need a new gospel. Jesus is a perfect savior to all who believe in Him, regardless of who they are, what they have done, or when they live.

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Here are some of the most glorious words written and found in the Bible. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones displays the truth behind this marvelous declaration. In this sermon on Revelation 5:9–10 and 12, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Lamb (Christ) is to receive the same glory as the Father. This begs the question: why is the Lamb worthy to receive this glory? First, Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents Christ as the Lord of redemption. The work of redemption is His alone. Jesus is the one worthy of opening the book of redemption; only He is able to redeem, and He needs no help. Therefore, the glory belongs to Him. Secondly, Christ is worthy because of the work of redemption. The plan for redemption centered around the cross, nails, agony, and suffering. Jesus submits to the Father’s will. The work of redemption displays the highest point of His obedience, and the lowest point of His humiliation. Yet His death purchased the glory which is to come. The death of Jesus purchased for His people the right to become children of God, forgiveness of sins, rebirth, righteousness, and ultimate glorification. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares that Christians have nothing to fear, because the Lamb will triumph. Worthy is Lamb!

Jude 1:3 — The Bible is an ancient book with an unchangeable message that is at odds with the modern mindset. With advances in scientific knowledge and a general sense of progress in the world, many people will have nothing to do with what they consider to be a hopelessly outdated book. In this sermon on Jude 1:3 titled “The Unchangeable Message,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones posits that while the Bible is an ancient book, it is perfectly relevant for every age. The message of the Bible seeks to offer solutions to life’s most pressing questions and fundamental issues that transcend time. Moreover, there is no hope apart from the unchangeable message about God found in this book. The problem is people think they know the true nature of the Bible, but they have misunderstood its content and source. They suppose it is merely a book about history and moral maxims and not centered on God and His purposes in the world. Modern people are obsessed with the thoughts and ideas of humanity, but the unchangeable message of the Bible claims to be a revelation from God himself. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones anticipates and answers many objections by modern people in this message on Jude 3. The power of the Bible’s message for the modern age is its finality; the unchangeableness regarding God and what He has done in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to bring humanity into relationship with Himself.

2 Peter 3:1-18 — As the modern world jeers at the church’s declining numbers in the West, it also mocks the pronouncement that the future still belongs to God. Christians today might assume such feelings of alienation are a modern phenomenon. In this sermon on 2 Peter 3:1–18 titled “The Gospel and the Modern Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones attests that there is nothing new about the modern world mocking God’s plan. People may think this is only part of the modern world, but it is as old as the fall of humankind. Scoffers have always made grand pronouncements about the Christian message as foolish, wishful thinking. Why should Christians think the future belongs to God? Is the modern world correct? Is there any encouragement for the nervous Christian? Dr. Lloyd-Jones seeks to answer these pressing questions. While taking his beginning point from 2 Peter 3, Dr. Lloyd-Jones surveys the Bible as he argues that the future of every individual, of every nation, in the entire world, is in the hands of God. Interacting with philosophical concepts like God’s permissive will, Satan, the presence of evil in the world, as well as history and prophesy, Dr. Lloyd-Jones maintains that God is still exercising His lordship over the world. The coming Day of the Lord will be like a thief in the night, but for those who hold fast to God’s salvation it will be bright.

2 Peter 1:12-16 — There is a tendency, perhaps even an insistence upon, turning the Christmas message into an entirely different message than its original meaning. The contemporary Western culture is constantly looking for ways to undermine the truth about Jesus of Nazareth. One way is found in the sophisticated attempt to undermine the supernatural incarnation of Christ. In other words, modern humanity cannot believe in miracles like the virgin birth and God taking on human flesh, so the world encourages the dismissal of this and instead focuses on the Christmas holiday as a great principle to humanity. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes this tendency head-on in this Christmas sermon on 2 Peter 1:12-16. There is much at stake, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, because it is only in the facts of the incarnation – the literal action of God sending His Son into the world – that humanity begins to see the love of God. Listen to this timely Christmas preaching message on the literal fact that the Son of God came to the world to rescue sinners.