Morale
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13
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.
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.