Mobility
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:15
Originally preached May 27, 1962
Scripture
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Sermon Description
The Christian soldier must always be ready and prepared for action because the enemy is always active and his attacks are unexpected. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:15 titled “Mobility,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns to know the devil will do anything to get a Christian down. Paul exhorts believers to have “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” meaning there must be a firmness and a mobility, ready and prepared for action. Preparation is the element of mobility, which is of great significance in warfare. Christians must not only watch the enemy, but be ready to counter his moves and meet him where he is attacking. Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that this means the Christian cannot be sluggish of spirit, dull, or complacent. Like David, the Christian must be ready to fight in God’s way, no matter how impossible or ridiculous it seems. They must have firmness in strategy: the battle against the devil is the same as it always has been. But they must have mobility and adaptability that is always true to the fundamental teachings of Scripture, because the enemy is always varying his tactics. Christians hold onto old principles, but apply them in a manner that is effective against and adaptable to modern challenges.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is exhorting Christians to stand firm against the devil's schemes.
- The only way to stand against the devil is by putting on the full armor of God.
- One piece of the armor of God is having your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
- Christians must have a firm footing and always be ready and prepared for spiritual battle. The enemy is always active and his attacks are unexpected.
- Christians should not be slow or sluggish. They must have mobility and adaptability.
- The battle is fundamentally the same in every age - against the devil and his forces. But tactics must adapt to the times.
- Christians must avoid rigidly adhering to old forms and facing old problems. They must face present problems.
- The problems today are complacency, sentimentality, and the notion that beliefs do not matter.
- Christians must fight these problems with the gospel of peace - peace with God, peace within, and peace with others.
- Without peace, Christians cannot stand against the devil. Peace gives joy and strength.
Sermon Q&A
Questions About Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 6:15
What does "having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" mean?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this phrase refers to the Christian's readiness and mobility in spiritual warfare. The image comes from Roman soldiers who wore sandals with studs underneath to give them both firmness of grip and mobility in battle. Similarly, Christians need both stability in truth and adaptability in tactics to effectively fight spiritual battles. The "preparation" means preparedness - being constantly ready because the enemy is always active and his attacks are unexpected.
Why does spiritual warfare require mobility and adaptability?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that spiritual warfare requires mobility because the enemy constantly changes tactics. Just as great military leaders like Alexander the Great, Oliver Cromwell, and Montrose used mobility to win battles, Christians must be quick to adapt their methods (but not their message) to counter the enemy's moves. He criticizes the church for often being too slow, ponderous, and committee-bound while "the world is on fire" and the devil is gaining ground everywhere.
What dangers does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn against regarding spiritual readiness?
He warns against several dangers: being slow and heavy-footed in our Christian walk, following religious routines in a thoughtless manner, living on activities rather than spiritual understanding, conforming to Christian types or patterns without intelligence, professionalism in ministry (especially for preachers), and being at ease in Zion when there's a battle raging. He compares these dangers to "David trying to fight in Saul's armor" - attempting to fight battles in ways we're not equipped for.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones balance adaptability with faithfulness to truth?
While emphasizing adaptability, Dr. Lloyd-Jones is clear that "adaptability should always be in terms of truth." He criticizes those who "jazz the gospel" or compromise truth to attract people. Rather, we need "the old truths with a modern suit" - holding firmly to biblical principles while applying them in ways relevant to current problems. He states, "We don't change our fundamental strategy. You never forsake your ultimate principles of tactics, but you've got to be adaptable."
What does the "gospel of peace" contribute to spiritual warfare?
The "gospel of peace" provides the foundation for effective spiritual warfare because "without this peace we can do nothing." Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several dimensions of this peace: peace with God (assurance of salvation), peace within (freedom from anxiety based on Romans 8:28 and Philippians 4), being peaceable people (gentle and patient), and peace with others (unity among Christians). Without these aspects of peace, Christians will be distracted, divided, and unable to face the real enemy.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the real problems the church should be addressing?
He warns against fighting "old problems instead of present problems." The church often fights "rear guard actions" on issues that were relevant in the past. He notes that unity is not the central problem, nor is the "old modernism" which is largely dead. Instead, today's challenge is a "sentimental, nondescript idealism passing for Christianity" where "it doesn't matter what you believe" and "affability passes for saintliness." The real battle is against complacency and the idea that principles are unnecessary.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe ineffective Christian soldiers?
He describes them as "passengers being carried" who are "always a great hindrance to an army." They include those who are lethargic and have to be "whipped up," those who follow routines thoughtlessly, those fighting the wrong battles or old battles, those uncertain about their salvation, those filled with anxiety, and those fighting other Christians instead of the enemy. Such Christians are "casualties" who need to be "sent back behind the lines."
What Scripture does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to emphasize peace among believers?
He quotes extensively from Romans 12:18 ("As much as lieth in you, be at peace with all men"), Philippians 2:1-4 about being like-minded and esteeming others better than ourselves, and Colossians 3:13-15 about forbearing one another, forgiving one another, and letting the peace of God "rule or act as umpire in your hearts." He emphasizes that if Christians are fighting each other, there's no hope of effectively fighting the enemy.
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.