Morale
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13
Originally preached Oct. 29, 1961
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
Continuing his series through on Ephesians 6:10–13 with this sermon titled “Morale,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the believer and their role in the spiritual conflict which they are called to play a part in. Although many New Testament writers including Paul wrote that Christians are to actively fight sin and engage in spiritual warfare, he also says that they are to stand strong in the Lord. This seems to imply that they are to let go and trust God’s strength, but is that compatible with the rest of the instructions in the New Testament? Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides a helpful analysis of this. The resolution, he says, is that Christians are called to fight but also to rely on God for the power to fight. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides multiple Scriptural examples of how the Lord aids His followers. Instead of “letting go and letting God,” as many say to do, Scripture says to hold tightly. The Lord will pick up the other side, like a parent assisting their child with a load that is too heavy for the child alone. This, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is how the Christian is to fight the enemy successfully.
Sermon Breakdown
- We must realize and understand actively all that we have said hitherto on this subject.
- The first essential is assurance of salvation.
- Assurance of salvation enables us to overcome the devil.
- The key to the conquest of the devil is assurance of salvation.
- If we are in any kind of doubt or uncertainty with regard to our salvation, the devil has already defeated us.
- We all ought to be assured of our salvation. The scripture is full of it.
- If there is anybody listening who is not certain and sure of his or her salvation, there is only one reason for it. That is, the devil, somehow or another, has defeated you.
- If the devil has already got you down and has already defeated you at the crucial point, he's cutting off the source of supply, the source of energy and of power and of money.
- If he's already done that, well, obviously he's going to defeat you everywhere else.
- You're in a miserable state, you're unhappy. And when the devil comes and tempts you in the flesh or in the spirit or any other way, well, he's got you very easily.
- You're already down, and he kicks you on the ground and spits upon you, and you're AbsoluTely hopeless and helpless.
- My dear friend, there's only one way. You got to get up, and you've got to get this ASsuRaNCe, this absolute certainty with regard to your salvation.
- That's the thing that will give backbone to you and strength and power and certainty and assurance, and you'll be ready for the devil in whatever form or guise he happens to come to you.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13
What does it mean to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being strong in the Lord doesn't mean handing everything over to God and doing nothing. Rather, it means our activity powered by His strength. As he explains: "It is our activity, but that he provides the power for the activity. He doesn't tell us to do nothing. Indeed, he tells us to exert ourselves for all we are worth, but that the power given to us to do that is his and from him, and that we must learn increasingly how to rely upon that power." It's not a passive state but an active one where we are strengthened by God to fight spiritual battles.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the "let go and let God" teaching?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones firmly rejects the "let go and let God" teaching as unbiblical. He points out that this teaching began in the 1870s and falsely claims to be a new discovery. The Scripture never presents the Christian life as simple or easy, but rather uses terms of warfare, wrestling, and fighting. He says: "The terms, as I showed you, are those of warfare, wrestling, fighting the good fight of faith, being a good soldier of Jesus Christ." The Bible consistently calls believers to active resistance, not passive surrender.
What biblical examples does Lloyd-Jones use to show the relationship between God's power and our activity?
Lloyd-Jones cites numerous examples including: - Hebrews 2:18 where Christ "succours" (helps) us when tempted, not taking away our battle - Romans 8:26 where the Spirit "helpeth our infirmities," like helping carry a heavy log - 2 Corinthians 12 where Paul was told "My grace is sufficient for thee" - Philippians 2:12-13 "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you" - Galatians 2:20 "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" - Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the key to conquering the devil?
The key to conquering the devil, according to Lloyd-Jones, is assurance of salvation: "If you and I are to wrestle triumphantly against the devil and all these powers, the first essential is assurance of salvation." He emphasizes that uncertainty about our relationship with God defeats us before we begin. This connects to Revelation 12:11 where the saints "overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony" - you cannot give testimony if you're uncertain of your salvation.
How does joy relate to spiritual strength according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones cites Ezra's profound statement that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." He explains that our emotional and spiritual condition directly impacts our ability to face difficulties. When we're miserable and uncertain, we're already defeated, but joy infuses us with power. As Lloyd-Jones illustrates: "If you are happy and all is well, you'll go through your work. It'll be nothing for you. The joy of the Lord. It puts strength into you. It puts power into you." This joy comes from knowing our position in Christ.
What Old Testament examples does Lloyd-Jones use to illustrate spiritual strength?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses two powerful examples from the Old Testament: 1. Ezra - who refused to request military protection from the king because he had already declared that "the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him." Instead of military help, he called a fast to reconnect with God. 2. Nehemiah - who was urged to hide in the temple for safety but replied, "Should such a man as I flee?" His knowledge of who he was as God's servant gave him courage to stand firm in the face of danger.
How is the Christian's relationship to spiritual warfare portrayed in the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones portrays the Christian as an active participant in spiritual warfare, not a passive observer. He explains that we are to resist and overcome through Christ's strength: "They overcame him. They didn't just sit back and let him overcome for them. That isn't the teaching of the scripture." The believer must actively fight, yet does so with divine power: "You hold on and fight, but fight in that way and you'll conquer him." The Christian is charged with God's power but must use it in active resistance against evil forces.
What does Lloyd-Jones say about knowing who we are in Christ?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that knowing our identity in Christ is fundamental to spiritual victory: "The first and the greatest thing we have to realize is as to who we are and what we are. That's the way to defeat the enemy." When we truly grasp that we are children of God, it becomes a tremendous source of strength. He points to Nehemiah's response, "Should such a man as I flee?" as evidence that recognizing our identity as God's people empowers us to stand firm against spiritual enemies.
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.