Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13

What are the main spiritual forces Christians are battling against according to Ephesians 6:10-13?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' exposition of Ephesians 6:10-13, Christians are battling against several spiritual forces: "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." These include the devil himself, who is "the chief of all the powers that are set against us," along with his kingdom of principalities and powers, which are "the world rulers of this darkness" and "spiritual forces of wickedness" or "wicked spirits." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that these are not abstract forces but personal spiritual beings organized in a hierarchy under Satan's control.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the nature and power of the devil?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the devil as a personal being with tremendous power, "second only to that of the Godhead." He notes the various names used for Satan in Scripture: "the devil," "Satan," "Belial," "the evil one," "the wicked one," and "the strong man armed." He emphasizes that the devil is "a superhuman personality, bigger than men, stronger than men, greater than men, and yet at the same time... not divine." Lloyd-Jones references biblical descriptions like "prince of the power of the air," "the God of this world," "a roaring lion," and "great red dragon" to illustrate the devil's power and authority.

What is meant by "the darkness of this world" in this passage?

According to Lloyd-Jones, "the darkness of this world" refers primarily to spiritual ignorance. He explains: "What does he mean by this darkness? Well, clearly, it means primarily ignorance. The darkness of ignorance. And that's the whole trouble with the world this morning. It's utterly ignorant." This ignorance manifests in several ways:

1. Ignorance of God: "The vast majority of the people in the world at this moment are not thinking about God."
2. Ignorance of self: "They know nothing about the true greatness of man. They know nothing about the soul."
3. Ignorance about death and judgment: "They know nothing about death. Likewise knows nothing about what lies beyond death."

This darkness is both external and internal: "He didn't merely say that they were once in the dark. He said the darkness was in them. They were darkness. It isn't merely that they were in a fog. The fog was inside them also."

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that understanding this spiritual battle is crucial for Christians?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that understanding the nature of spiritual warfare is "the ultimate cause of most failure in the Christian life and most unhappiness in the Christian life." He explains that many Christians start with a "romantic, almost novellet conception of the Christian life" and become discouraged when they encounter difficulties. This misunderstanding leads to disappointment because they don't realize they're engaged in a spiritual battle.

He emphasizes: "We are therefore looking at this, and we are doing so in great detail and taking our time to do so for the reason I've just given, that it is the failure to understand this teaching that accounts for so many of the disappointments and the heartaches." Understanding the real nature of the Christian life as spiritual warfare prepares believers for the challenges they will face and helps them avoid discouragement.

What does it mean that these spiritual forces are "in high places" or "in the heavenlies"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the phrase "in high places" (or better translated "in the heavenlies") indicates that these evil powers operate in the spiritual realm rather than the physical realm. He notes that translators hesitated to use "in the heavenlies" for these evil forces because they wanted to distinguish their domain from God's heavenly throne.

He explains: "The term is used to give us a contrast with the earth. We normally speak about heaven and earth, don't we? Heaven and earth. In other words, the high places, the heavenly places, the heavenlies, really means that these powers which are opposed to us and against us and are making war on us as the saints of God, are not on our earthly level."

This emphasizes that "we must always think of the enemy who is fighting against us as one who is not only personal and all his agents are personal, but also one who lives in that realm of the spirit." Their domain is supernatural, not physical.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the Christian's response to these spiritual forces?

While acknowledging the formidable nature of these spiritual enemies, Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that Christians need not be afraid. He points to the resources provided in the passage:

1. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might" - Our strength comes from God, not ourselves
2. "Take unto you the whole armor of God" - God provides spiritual armor for the battle
3. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" - Active resistance is required
4. "Whom resist steadfast in the faith" - Standing firm in faith is essential

Lloyd-Jones concludes with encouragement: "They overcame him, the old dragon himself, by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony." However, he warns against complacency: "Don't let that thought make you feel I need to worry about the enemy. Remember, says Paul, you've got to stand after every victory. Don't relax. Don't go on holiday. There's no holiday in the spiritual realm. Stand, watch, pray."