The Promises
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13
Originally preached Nov. 26, 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
In times of great trials and tribulations, it is the Holy Spirit that empowers believers to persevere and remain faithful to the call of the gospel. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “The Promises,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that this experience of the Holy Spirit’s blessing is not a constant thing in the life of Christians, but occurs in times of persecution and distress. This is seen throughout the Old and New Testament when saints received the supernatural aid of God to overcome trials and temptations. This great strength is available to all Christians who turn to God and His word in the moment of their greatest need. Christians must never rely on their own strength, but in all things they must trust God in His love and grace to provide for their needs. This is what it means to call upon the name of the Lord: it is to trust and turn to His loving care and providence when there is no hope in oneself. All Christians should put their hope in the great love and power of God as seen in His Holy Spirit in the midst of life’s many tribulations. The Christian should know that God has promised to always be by their side through the darkest and most trying times.
Sermon Breakdown
- We are to be strong in the Lord by developing the life he has given us through spiritual food, exercise, and practice. This is constant and normal.
- There are also times of unusual difficulty where we need special grace and strength. God promises to provide what we need for each day. We can ask him for this.
- There is also a special anointing of the Holy Spirit that gives us power, insight, and the right scriptures to stand against the enemy. This is not constant but given when needed.
- In times of crisis, God can make his presence felt in direct ways. This is not the normal experience but is given in hard times.
- There are examples of God directly intervening to help his people in times of difficulty, like with Joshua, Elisha's servant, Jesus in Gethsemane, Paul in Corinth and Jerusalem, and Peter in prison.
- God's promises to be with us and strengthen us are still true today. We need to believe them, pray for his help, and seek his presence.
- Hymns show we need God's presence and help in hard times and in facing temptation and death. We should pray for his nearness and guidance.
- If we seek God's presence, he will make himself known to us in times of crisis as he has for his people in the past. But we must actively pursue him.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Spiritual Warfare According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
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 passivity where we "hand it all over to the Lord and leave it to him." Rather, it's a call to great activity on our part, but in His strength. The fundamental teaching is that in the new birth, Christians are given power and life from God. We are "made partakers of the divine nature," and in that gift there is inherent power. Like a newborn baby who is weak but has life and therefore power, Christians need to foster and develop this spiritual life through proper spiritual disciplines.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the ways Christians can develop spiritual strength?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several ways Christians can develop spiritual strength: 1. Through spiritual food and drink (the Word of God and prayer) 2. Through spiritual exercise (actively living the Christian life) 3. Through practical application (practice makes master) 4. By calling upon the name of the Lord in times of unusual difficulty 5. Through active realization of Christ's nearness and presence
As he explains, these activities should be constant in the Christian life, but there are also additional resources available particularly in times of "unusual stress and unusual difficulty."
What promise does God give for times of unusual spiritual crisis?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to Deuteronomy 33:25 as the fundamental promise: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." This means Christians will always be given grace and strength that is adequate to whatever situation they are in. When facing particularly difficult circumstances, God provides extra strength. This is especially comforting when facing potential persecution or trials that seem impossible to endure. Lloyd-Jones affirms: "Whatever comes to you, you'll be given the strength. Whatever it is. As thy days, so shall thy strength be."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about "the anointing" of the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the anointing as a special aspect of the Holy Spirit's work that leads to power. He explains:
- It's seen most visibly during times of revival, when people are filled with power to preach, pray, and testify
- It's not confined to revivals but can happen at other times too
- It enables Christians to detect and understand what's happening in spiritual warfare
- It gives spiritual insight they normally don't possess
- It helps them recognize the devil's strategies
- It brings appropriate Scriptures to mind to counter Satan's attacks
- It's something Christians should seek, covet, and pray for regularly
How does God make His actual presence felt during spiritual battles?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, God makes His actual presence felt in direct ways during times of unusual spiritual crisis:
- God serves as both "a sun and shield" (Psalm 84:11)
- He sometimes intervenes directly, as when the angel appeared to Joshua (Joshua 5:13-15)
- He reveals spiritual realities normally unseen, as when Elisha's servant saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:13-17)
- Even Jesus received this help - angels ministered to Him after the wilderness temptation and strengthened Him in Gethsemane
- The Lord promised His continuing presence: "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20)
- In the early church, the Lord appeared to Paul in visions, stood with him during trials, and sent angels to deliver Peter from prison
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that while believers don't physically see Christ, they can be aware of His presence in times of crisis, receiving words, assurance, peace, and certainty from Him.
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.