Chesterfield grabbed their fifth away win of the season thanks to a superb performance from veteran striker Jack Lester.
Lester tore Lincoln's defence apart in the first half and helped himself to a hat-trick in the process.
And although Lincoln got back into the game, they looked a well beaten team long before the final whistle.
The Spireites took only eight minutes to go in front thanks to some poor defending from Lincoln.Jamie Ward whipped in a cross from the right which Lester converted with a first-time shot.
Lincoln, without a win in 12 games and bottom of the league, were stunned 10 minutes later when they went further behind.
Lester controlled the ball inside the box and, as two defenders backed off, he fired in a shot which left keeper Alan Marriott helpless.
A last-ditch challenge from Paul Green kept out Adam Rooney and then Lincoln were saved by the woodwork when Ward cracked in a shot from the edge of the box.
Ward was unlucky in the 36th minute when his lobbed shot landed on top of the net.
But Chesterfield kept pushing forward and were rewarded in the 42nd minute. Ward again linked with Lester who got clear and finished with a low shot.
Lincoln hit back and scored with their first shot of the game in the 45th minute.Dany N'Guessan beat two defenders before firing in a low shot which deflected past Barry Roche.
Lincoln had another let off when a shot from Rooney was pushed out by Marriott and Lester followed up to fire against the post.
But Chesterfield scored their fourth of the game in the 64th minute when a cross from Felix Bastians was flicked on by Rooney and Janos Kovacs scrambled the ball in from close range.
Lincoln made the scoreline a bit more respectable three minutes later when on-loan centre-back Hamza Bencherif headed in a cross from Lee Frecklington.