Reviving Faith: Embracing Spirit Over Dead Orthodoxy

 

Summary

In our gathering today, we explored the profound difference between a living, vibrant faith and what can be termed as "dead orthodoxy." This dead orthodoxy is characterized by a contentment with mere correctness of belief, devoid of the life and power that true worship in spirit and truth brings. We must ask ourselves: do we come to church merely to fulfill a routine, or do we come with the expectation of encountering the living God? The danger lies in becoming complacent, satisfied with our doctrinal correctness while missing the vital presence of the Holy Spirit.

A significant aspect of this dead orthodoxy is a dislike of enthusiasm, which can lead to quenching the Spirit. Historically, those at the heart of revivals have often been accused of excessive enthusiasm. Yet, this enthusiasm is often a manifestation of the Spirit's work. The New Testament church was alive with the Spirit, and while this sometimes led to exuberance that needed guidance, it was a sign of life, not death.

We must navigate between two biblical principles: "Let everything be done decently and in order" and "Quench not the Spirit." The former guards against confusion and disorder, while the latter warns against stifling the Spirit's work. The challenge is to find a balance where we maintain order without extinguishing the Spirit's fire. This balance is crucial, as the absence of emotion and spontaneity in worship can lead to a lifeless faith.

In our fear of emotionalism, we risk banishing genuine emotion altogether. True emotion, as opposed to sentimentality, is a God-given response to His presence and truth. We must not be so afraid of false joy that we miss the true joy of the Spirit. The church today often lacks the emotional depth that characterized the early church and past revivals. We need to rediscover the freedom and spontaneity of the Spirit, allowing ourselves to be moved by the truth of the Gospel.

Key Takeaways:

- True worship involves encountering the living God, not just fulfilling religious routines. We must guard against the complacency of dead orthodoxy, which values doctrinal correctness over the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit. [18:17]

- Enthusiasm in faith is often misunderstood and criticized, yet it is a sign of the Spirit's work. We must be open to the Spirit's movement, even if it challenges our comfort zones and traditional ways of worship. [19:04]

- Balancing order and spontaneity in worship is crucial. While order prevents chaos, we must ensure it does not stifle the Spirit's work. The New Testament calls us to maintain this balance, allowing for both structure and freedom. [24:46]

- Genuine emotion in worship is essential. We must not confuse emotionalism with true emotion, which is a natural response to God's presence. The absence of emotion can lead to a lifeless faith, devoid of the Spirit's power. [41:20]

- Intellectualism and respectability can hinder the Spirit's work. We must be wary of becoming so controlled and respectable that we quench the Spirit. True revival requires openness to the Spirit's leading, even if it challenges our intellectual pride. [44:47]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:45] - Presence of the Living God
[18:32] - Dead Orthodoxy and Contentment
[19:22] - Enthusiasm and Revival
[21:50] - Guidance from Scripture
[22:49] - The Early Church's Vibrancy
[24:14] - Balancing Order and Spirit
[25:18] - Confusion and Order
[27:39] - Control and the Spirit
[30:09] - Emotionalism vs. True Emotion
[32:34] - Quenching the Spirit
[34:18] - Formality vs. Spontaneity
[36:00] - Programs and the Spirit
[39:11] - Freedom of the Spirit
[41:20] - Emotion in Worship
[44:47] - Intellectualism and Revival

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 14:40 - "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 - "Do not quench the Spirit."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the sermon describe as the main characteristics of "dead orthodoxy"? [18:32]
2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between enthusiasm and the work of the Spirit? [19:04]
3. According to the sermon, what are the two biblical principles that need to be balanced in worship? [24:46]
4. What examples from church history were given to illustrate the misunderstanding of enthusiasm? [20:23]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest that "dead orthodoxy" can lead to quenching the Spirit? [19:04]
2. In what ways does the sermon propose that the early church's vibrancy is different from many churches today? [22:49]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of genuine emotion in worship, and how does it differ from emotionalism? [41:20]
4. How does the sermon interpret the balance between maintaining order and allowing the Spirit's spontaneity in worship? [24:46]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal worship experience. Do you find yourself more focused on routine or on encountering the living God? How can you shift your focus if needed? [18:17]
2. Have you ever felt uncomfortable with enthusiasm in worship? What steps can you take to be more open to the Spirit's movement, even if it challenges your comfort zone? [19:04]
3. Consider a recent worship service you attended. Was there a balance between order and spontaneity? How might you contribute to achieving this balance in your church? [24:46]
4. Think about a time when you experienced genuine emotion in worship. How did it impact your faith, and how can you cultivate more of these experiences? [41:20]
5. Are there areas in your life where intellectualism or a desire for respectability might be hindering the Spirit's work? How can you address this? [44:47]
6. Identify one way you can encourage others in your church to embrace both order and the freedom of the Spirit. What practical steps can you take this week? [36:00]
7. How can you personally ensure that your worship is not just a routine but a true encounter with God? What changes might you need to make in your approach to worship? [18:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering the Living God Beyond Routine
True worship involves encountering the living God, not just fulfilling religious routines. Many people fall into the trap of dead orthodoxy, where they become complacent with merely having correct beliefs without experiencing the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit. This can lead to a faith that is lifeless and devoid of true spiritual power. It is essential to approach worship with the expectation of encountering God, rather than just going through the motions. The danger of dead orthodoxy is that it values doctrinal correctness over the vibrant and transformative presence of the Holy Spirit. [18:17]

"Thus says the Lord: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.'" (Isaiah 66:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: When you attend church or engage in personal worship, do you come with the expectation of encountering God, or are you simply fulfilling a routine? How can you prepare your heart to truly meet with God in your next worship experience?


Day 2: Embracing Enthusiasm as a Sign of the Spirit
Enthusiasm in faith is often misunderstood and criticized, yet it is a sign of the Spirit's work. Throughout history, those who have been at the heart of revivals have often been accused of excessive enthusiasm. However, this enthusiasm is frequently a manifestation of the Spirit's movement. The New Testament church was alive with the Spirit, and while this sometimes led to exuberance that needed guidance, it was a sign of life, not death. It is important to be open to the Spirit's movement, even if it challenges our comfort zones and traditional ways of worship. [19:04]

"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt enthusiastic about your faith. How did others respond to your enthusiasm? How can you remain open to the Spirit's movement, even if it challenges your comfort zones?


Day 3: Balancing Order and Spontaneity in Worship
Balancing order and spontaneity in worship is crucial. While order prevents chaos, it is important to ensure that it does not stifle the Spirit's work. The New Testament calls believers to maintain this balance, allowing for both structure and freedom. The absence of emotion and spontaneity in worship can lead to a lifeless faith. It is essential to navigate between the biblical principles of doing everything decently and in order, and not quenching the Spirit. This balance is vital for a vibrant and Spirit-filled worship experience. [24:46]

"What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up." (1 Corinthians 14:26, ESV)

Reflection: In your personal or communal worship, do you tend to prioritize order over spontaneity, or vice versa? How can you create space for both structure and the Spirit's spontaneous movement in your worship practices?


Day 4: The Importance of Genuine Emotion in Worship
Genuine emotion in worship is essential. There is a risk of confusing emotionalism with true emotion, which is a natural response to God's presence. The absence of emotion can lead to a lifeless faith, devoid of the Spirit's power. True emotion, as opposed to sentimentality, is a God-given response to His presence and truth. It is important not to be so afraid of false joy that we miss the true joy of the Spirit. The church today often lacks the emotional depth that characterized the early church and past revivals. [41:20]

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your emotional response during worship. Are you open to experiencing genuine emotion, or do you hold back out of fear of emotionalism? How can you cultivate a heart that is open to the true joy of the Spirit?


Day 5: Overcoming Intellectualism to Embrace the Spirit's Work
Intellectualism and respectability can hinder the Spirit's work. There is a danger of becoming so controlled and respectable that the Spirit is quenched. True revival requires openness to the Spirit's leading, even if it challenges intellectual pride. It is important to be wary of allowing intellectualism to become a barrier to experiencing the fullness of the Spirit's power. The church must be open to the Spirit's leading, even if it challenges traditional ways of thinking and being. [44:47]

"For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'" (1 Corinthians 3:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where intellectual pride might be hindering the Spirit's work? How can you cultivate a posture of humility and openness to the Spirit's leading, even if it challenges your intellectual understanding?

Quotes



How often does this vital idea enter into our minds that we're in the presence of the Living God that the holy spirit is in the church that we may feel the touch of his power how much do we think in terms of coming together to meet with God and to worship Him and to stand before him and to listen to him. [00:17:32]

Isn't there this appalling danger that we are just content because we have correct beliefs and we've lost the life the V the vital thing the power the thing that rarely makes worship worship which is in spirit and in truth well there are some of the manifestations of this dead Orthodoxy. [00:18:07]

A dislike of enthusiasm if you like it in more biblical terms, I could put it like this it is to be guilty of quenching the spirit because that is exactly the same thing dislike of enthusiasm is to quench the spirit now those who are familiar with the history of the church and in particular with the history of revivals. [00:19:08]

The New Testament Church was a church that was alive she was filled with the spirit she was born in Pentecost in that great baptism of the spirit and there were problems in the early church because she was spiritually alive that was the problem in the church at current the problem of the church at Corinth. [00:22:49]

There are two great principles laid down in the New Testament for our help and guidance in this very matter now I say the line is rather difficult to draw but it's here there are two positions that we can lay down here is the first let everything be done decently and in order there's one position but there's another position quench not the spirit. [00:24:46]

Confusion always brings the gospel into disrepute and the second thing I would mention is and it it comes with that first one excitement or a false sense of Joy now that can be purely of the flesh there are many things that can excite people listen to a broadcast of a football match and there you'll hear it excitement animal excitement. [00:28:03]

Emotionalism is a state and a condition in which the emotions are run Riot the emotions are in control they're in a a kind of ecstasy and if emotionalism is bad how much worse is a deliberate attempt to produce it so any effort which deliberately tries to work up the emotions whether by singing or incantation or anything else. [00:29:23]

The history of revivals is most interesting on this very subject with which we are dealing it's the first charge that is generally brought against a Revival this is a sure emotionalism look at the confusion this is just animal excitement these people are besides them so this is mass hysteria that's the charge that always has been brought. [00:30:51]

Everything is perfectly controlled everything is nice orderly correct formal and above all respectable I just ask you again to take the church as you've known the Christian church and to consider her in the light of the New Testament Epistles you see the difference you don't need whole tracks of the New Testament today. [00:33:20]

The very characteristic of the New Testament Church was this spontaneity this life this living quality this vivacity but as you fall away from the spirit and his influence everything becomes formal so you have forms of service you will find that the church in every period of declension becomes much more formal in her service. [00:34:18]

Are we giving the Holy Spirit an opportunity are we so tied by our programs that he's excluded why this formality why this tying down of everything what if the spirit should suddenly come I do commend this matter to you very seriously for what it's worth if it's of any interest to anybody this is my main reason for not preaching on the wireless. [00:37:49]

In our fear of emotionalism there is a grave danger of our banishing emotion all together I am troubled at the absence of emotion in the Christian church today oh there's plenty of sentiment but I'm not talking about sentiment sentiment is weak and flabby sentiment is that which a hard man puts on to persuade himself that he's still got some feeling within him. [00:41:20]

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Transcript
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