Joy Unspeakable: Power and Renewal in the Holy Spirit

If this is not Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ worst book, it must surely come close. This is sad, because the “Doctor,” as he is affectionately known by some, is, generally, a good expositor and exegete of Scripture. For example, I found his work on Ephesians very helpful in studying the armour of God in Ephesians 6 and his treatment of original guilt in Romans 5 very helpful indeed in studying the doctrine of original sin. That is to say, I am not someone who dislikes Lloyd-Jones, hereafter abbreviated to MLJ. Nevertheless,Joy Unspeakable is a truly dreadful book. It is dreadful exactly because it is not exegetical. Although Joy Unspeakable purports to be a series of sermons on John, the “Doctor” strays from an exegetical treatment of John into flights of fancy, which continue for almost the entirety of the book. MLJ launches off from John 1:26, 33, takes the phrase “baptizeth with the Holy Ghost,” and runs amok with it.The book is also long and repetitive, which makes a concise review of the work difficult. Perhaps, MLJ imagines that, if he beats the “baptism with the Holy Spirit” drum long and hard enough, he will beat the reader into submission. Throughout the reading of the book, this reviewer kept waiting for the proof—the exegetical proof—of MLJ’s central assertion: “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is a post-conversion experience available to all believers, but lacking in the lives of most believers, especially today in the age of declension in which we live; and, since “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is the church’s only hope, we must all cry out for revival, for revival and “baptism with the Holy Spirit” are inextricably linked.Egregiously, MLJ uses the old Pentecostal/Charismatic tactic of quoting repeatedly, “Quench not the Spirit” (I Thess. 5:19), as if quoting (but not providing any exegesis of) this text were enough to shut the mouths of all those who disagree with MLJ’s central thesis. MLJ offers a false dichotomy—either you believe in the “baptism with the Holy Spirit,” as he defines it, or you are a Spirit-quencher, which is dangerously close to being unregenerate! I counted at least thirteen references to I Thessalonians 5:19, but not one attempt to exegete the text!If anyone would like me to go in deeper as to why this book is just awful, send me a comment.<><

Brilliant book from the Doctor on the baptism and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Highly informative too, and greatly moving.

OK book, but not life changing for me. I've had a lot of issues in my life at that time and was looking for help in various Christian literature; however, I have found little help if any at all.

A bit repetitious. Disappointing.

A very informative book that everyone should read

Reading!

Worth reading and hopefully you will find inner joy through this and inspiration in the Scriptures as I did. Wonderful.

Once in a lifetime comes a man truly gifted of God, who brings the genuine excitement of truth of the Holy Spirit to his writing and understanding. That man was Martin Lloyd Jones. A man of very high intellect and knowledge of the Bible, and the fallen nature of man! This book "Joy Unspeakable" is, without doubt, the finest book on the subject of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and clarity and sensitivity on speaking in "other tongues". I continually thanked God for giving this man such discernment and width of understanding on these sometimes controversial subjects, especially in these days when such gifts are so abused by the Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches. When Bibles are given out in these churches, this book should also be issued at the same time! As I read this book for the third time recently, "Joy Unspeakable" flooded my spirit in its continuity of enlightenment and understanding. As a Charismatic and a Welshman, I praised God for the corrective influence this book provided in abundance!