How to Pray
A Sermon on Acts 2:41-42
Originally preached March 28, 1965
Scripture
41¶ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Acts 2:41-42 titled “How to Pray,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones encourages the Christian to examine their prayer habits. This personal examination will reveal the true value a believer places on prayer. A lack of prayer is often traced to a lack of understanding what prayer is and how to go about it. Prayer means entering into the holiest of holies, the very presence of God, to have communion with him. In the Old Testament the reader finds detailed instructions for festivals, sacrifices, and the temple so that the Israelites would know how to approach God. Now, as believers in the time of the new covenant, instructions have been given in Scripture for how believers can approach God directly through prayer. They may approach God based on the work of the Lord Jesus and it is only with his help that prayer is made possible. This glorious truth leads to prayer focused on God as the Christian approaches boldly with thanksgiving and worship.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by emphasizing the importance and urgency of understanding the Christian gospel and message.
- The sermon then examines Acts 2:41-42, focusing on the characteristics of the early church. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that the order in which these characteristics are listed is important.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses first on the apostles' teaching. He says this must come before everything else and determines the nature of the fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones then examines what prayer means. He says prayer is not just saying your prayers, reading prayers, or relaxing. True prayer is entering into God's presence, worshipping and adoring Him, giving thanks, and making requests known to Him with confidence and assurance.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks why the early Christians prayed. He says it was because they realized their need for mercy, forgiveness, help, and strength. They also prayed because they enjoyed talking to God, who had done so much for them.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones then addresses how one can pray. He says it is difficult to approach the holy God, but Jesus Christ is the only mediator who provides access to God. His death and resurrection open the way to God. We can pray through Christ, in His name, and by His blood.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by saying that once we understand the gospel, we will want to continue steadfastly in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About Prayer in the Early Church?
What does Acts 2:42 tell us about the priorities of the early church?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Acts 2:42 shows that the early believers "continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." He emphasizes that the order is significant - they began with the apostles' teaching (doctrine), followed by fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. This ordering is divinely inspired and shows that sound doctrine must be the foundation that determines everything else. The teaching controls the fellowship, explains the meaning of communion, and shapes how we pray.
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast prayer in the early church with modern approaches to prayer?
Lloyd-Jones contrasts the biblical pattern with modern approaches by noting that today many churches downplay prayer meetings as "outdated" or "not contemporary." He mentions a young minister who was asked to resign because he still believed in prayer meetings. Lloyd-Jones also criticizes the modern ecumenical approach that says, "We may not agree on doctrine, but we can pray together." This reverses the biblical order where agreement in doctrine must come first, leading to united prayer. The early church prayed together because they were first united in apostolic teaching.
What does Lloyd-Jones say is the true meaning of prayer?
Lloyd-Jones explains that prayer is not merely "saying your prayers" or reading liturgical forms. True prayer means entering into God's very presence - "entering into the holiest of all." He says prayer involves: 1. Worship and adoration (recognizing who God is) 2. Thanksgiving for God's blessings 3. Supplication and making requests 4. Approaching God with confidence and full assurance of faith
He cites examples from Acts 4 where the church prayed with an understanding of God's sovereignty and majesty before making their requests known.
Why did the early Christians pray, according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the early Christians prayed because: 1. They realized their need for mercy and forgiveness 2. They recognized their weakness and need for strength and help 3. They understood life is a battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil 4. Most importantly, they had discovered God's love and desired communion with Him - "A man who has ever had any knowledge at all of God likes to talk to Him"
How can people approach God in prayer according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that the fundamental problem of prayer is how sinful humans can approach a holy God. He explains that we need: 1. A mediator - someone who can stand between us and God 2. A "new and living way" to enter God's presence 3. Christ as our great high priest
He emphasizes that the only way to approach God in prayer is through Jesus Christ. "A man cannot enter into the presence of God except in Christ. By Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." We pray in Christ's name, knowing He died for our sins and now advocates for us at God's right hand, allowing us to "go with boldness into the holiest of all."
The Book of Acts
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.