Isaac's Removal of the Philistine Rubbish

Genesis 26:17-18 — In this powerful sermon on revival, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws from the story of Isaac re-digging his father Abraham's wells in Genesis 26. He argues that the church today is in desperate need of revival, facing a crisis of faith and vitality. Dr. Lloyd-Jones contends that the solution is not to seek new methods or adapt to modern times, but rather to rediscover the timeless truths and doctrines that have fueled revivals throughout church history. He emphasizes the importance of studying church history to understand how God has worked in the past and to gain wisdom for the present. Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several key doctrines that have been obscured or neglected in the modern church, including the sovereignty and active involvement of God, the authority of Scripture, the sinfulness of man, the centrality of Christ, and the person and work of the Holy Spirit. He argues that these foundational truths have been covered over by false teaching and worldly influences, like the Philistines filling in Abraham's wells. The task of the church today, Dr. Lloyd-Jones asserts, is to clear away these obstacles and rediscover the life-giving "water" of biblical truth. He calls believers to return to a robust, supernatural faith that expects God to work powerfully, rather than relying on human effort alone. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with a stirring appeal for the church to humble itself, learn from the past, and earnestly seek God for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit in revival power.