The Power of Revival
This book review was also published and edited by the team at SOLA Network.
How does the Holy Spirit give power in preaching? In The Power of Revival, Dongjin Park presents an academic study on Martyn Lloyd-Jones, baptism in the Spirit, and preaching on fire.
At just over 250 pages, this book is an outstanding examination of Lloyd-Jones’s Reformed doctrine of Spirit baptism. Park recognizes Lloyd-Jones as one of the most influential preachers of the 20th century. He writes that the pastor’s pneumatology, especially in regard to preaching, has not been fully explored and hopes to remedy that in his writing. To that end, Park writes that Lloyd-Jones's position on Spirit baptism is in line with Calvinistic doctrine regarding assurance of salvation and revival.
Understanding the Spirit
The beginning of the book explores Lloyd-Jones's understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is noted to be distinct from regeneration and is an outpouring that provides full assurance of salvation to the believer. It is dependent on the sovereignty of God and can be repeated.
When witnessed in preaching, baptism of the Holy Spirit provides the preacher and congregation with a sense of authority and genuine power. Lloyd-Jones refers to this Spirit-empowered work as "true preaching." When reading this section of the book, my eyes were opened as to what was possible in my own preaching endeavors.
The middle of The Power of Revival looks at Lloyd-Jones’ life and how it guided his theological leanings, interests, and desires. Growing up as a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist impacted Lloyd-Jones's theology. He differed from Pentecostals by objecting glossallia as an initial physical evidence of Spirit baptism, that the Spirit could be given by the laying on of hands, and that the Spirit is given in a once-for-all event. He still, however, witnessed powerful preaching and experienced revival in his life. This book helped me see that, while differing from Pentecostals, the Reformed tradition has a robust understanding of the Spirit.
Logic on Fire
The end of the book applies Lloyd-Jones's theology of Spirit baptism to his homiletical prowess. He regarded "true preaching" to be "logic on fire"—both exegetical and Spirit-empowered.
Park looks at Lloyd-Jones's ten essential elements of true preaching from Chapter 5 of Lloyd-Jones's book Preaching and Preachers, "The Act of Preaching." They are:
The whole personality of the preacher is involved in the preaching
A sense of authority and control
Freedom
Seriousness
Liveliness
Zeal and a sense of concern
Warmth
Urgency and persuasiveness
Pathos
Power.
I am challenged and encouraged to bring this type of preaching into the pulpit.
Park has provided an outstanding academic study that is rich with powerful implications and potent applications. I am encouraged not to be satisfied by mere intellectual exercises but to ask the Holy Spirit for experiential awareness of his presence. I am moved to rely more on the Holy Spirit in my preaching, praying for his power, and impassioned for revival.
I received a media copy of The Power of Revival and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram – my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.