Revival Sermon: Dead Orthodoxy

Genesis 26:17-18 — 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. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones presents these dangerous obstacles and asks us to consider the lack of balance within the Church in this sermon on Genesis 26:17-18. It is a necessity 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 individual with an evangelical outlook, as well as the Church. In the midst of dead orthodoxy, people are driven to contentment and to practice religion merely for safety and security. Are we just content because we have the right beliefs? Do we come to God’s house just to listen to a sermon? Dr. Lloyd-Jones references 1 Thessalonians 5:19 which tells us not to quench the Holy Spirit. He explains the different ways we can avoid this by recognizing a fear of enthusiasm, confusion, false excitement, emotionalism, and pseudo-intellectualism. He clarifies the difference between emotionalism and emotion. We are so afraid of the false that we quench the true emotion. “We’ve forgotten how to weep my friends,” with joy and with sadness.