Spiritism and the Christian
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13
Originally preached Nov. 27, 1960
Scripture
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against …
Sermon Description
Do not tinker with demons! In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Spiritism and the Christian,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the topic of spiritualism and the use of mediums. He says that while the Bible never denies the existence of spirits and other powers, it nevertheless condemns the use of these spirits to commune with the dead and divine the future. He uses the example of Saul and the witch of Endor as an example of the pagan spiritism that God’s word unequivocally condemns. It is only out of a spirit of unbelief that people are tempted to turn away from God and try to consult the dead. This reliance on unholy demonic powers is a fundamental denial of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and His loving providence over the entire world. It is only when people reject God that they turn to pagan idolatry. Furthermore, some have argued that the Bible, particularly the ministry of Jesus, is compatible with spiritualism. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that to do so is to reject the clear teachings of the gospel that it is the Holy Spirit and the power of God that empowers the ministry of Jesus, not so-called spirits and medians. Only the true power of God can preserve and lead to all truth and righteousness.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Bible condemns spiritism and consulting mediums.
- Spiritism denies God's revelation and salvation. It offers a false way of salvation.
- Spiritism denies biblical teachings about angels, Jesus, miracles, resurrection, heaven and hell.
- Spiritism is the work of evil spirits, not departed loved ones. The spirits impersonate to deceive people.
- The case of Saul consulting the medium of Endor proves this. The medium was terrified because Samuel appeared unexpectedly, showing God condemned Saul's action.
- The transfiguration of Jesus was unique and showed Jesus fulfilling the law and prophets. It was not spiritism.
- Spiritists never glorify Jesus or believe in His deity, virgin birth, miracles or resurrection.
- Spiritism shows a lack of trust in God and His salvation. People want to control their destiny instead of trusting God.
- Spiritism denies God the Father's providence and love, the sufficiency of Jesus and the Holy Spirit's fellowship.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.