It Is the Spirit of the World in the Church That Hinders the Spirit...
A true revival in the church can only come through a deep work of the Spirit, convicting the world in the church and casting out the worldly spirit.
Andrew Murray emphasizes that the spirit of the world infiltrates the church, hindering the work of the Holy Spirit and obstructing revival. He notes that even the most mature believers struggle to recognize and combat this subtle influence, which requires a heart fully surrendered to God. Murray argues that true revival can only occur when the worldly spirit is expelled from the church, allowing the Spirit of God to work effectively. He calls for a deep conviction and transformation within the church to prepare it for God's mission in the world.
Text
I have spoken to believers. The most advanced believer will be the first to admit how subtle, how deep, the spirit of the world is, and how utterly beyond our own powers of watchfulness or victory. It is only a heart fully possessed by the Spirit of God that can know its subtlety or escape its power.
If it be true that it is difficult to bring home this conviction to individual believers, how much more so is it when we speak about the church as a whole.
And yet, I am very deeply persuaded that as it is the spirit of the world in the church that alone hinders the Spirit of God, and makes a revival so absolutely necessary, and so wholly impossible too until the worldly spirit be cast out, so it will alone be by a deep work of the Spirit, convicting the world in the church, that a true revival can come and the church be fitted for doing God's work in and for the world.
(Excerpted from The Coming Revival, by Andrew Murray , pg. 28)
Sermon Outline
- The Spirit of the World in the Church
- The Difficulty of Convincing Individual Believers
- The Necessity of a Deep Work of the Spirit
- Convicting the world in the church
- Fitting the church for doing God's work
Key Quotes
“It is only a heart fully possessed by the Spirit of God that can know its subtlety or escape its power.” — Andrew Murray
“It is the spirit of the world in the church that alone hinders the Spirit of God, and makes a revival so absolutely necessary, and so wholly impossible too until the worldly spirit be cast out.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- Recognize the subtle influence of the world in the church and the need for a heart fully possessed by the Spirit of God.
- Seek a deep work of the Spirit in your life and in the church, convicting the world and fitting the church for doing God's work.
- Understand the role of the Spirit of God in revival and the importance of overcoming the spirit of the world.