Prayer in the Spirit
A Sermon on John 4:13-14
Originally preached Nov. 27, 1966
Scripture
13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting …
Sermon Description
What does it mean to worship God truly? This question has been answered by many different religious teachers. But according to Jesus, to worship God rightly is to worship in Spirit and truth. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the words of Christ from John 4:13–14 in this sermon titled “Prayer in the Spirit.” In this discussion with the woman at the well, Jesus explains that true worship is not about external things, such as where one worships, but rather about one’s heart and intentions. As Christians, God gives His Spirit to enable freedom from sin and think of Him rightly in worship. This true worship is not a matter of the mind only, nor is it simply emotions. But God’s Spirit works in the hearts of His people to allow them to pray to Him rightly and worship Him in truth. They are now free to come before the throne of God and praise and petition Him because of Jesus’s death and resurrection as the High Priest. In Jesus the Christian sees the futility of all worldly and fleshly worship, and that God desires the worship of those who love the truth.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage under consideration is John 4:13-14 which speaks of the living water offered by Christ which springs up into everlasting life.
- True Christianity offers this living water which springs up into everlasting life. The question is whether we possess this, are enjoying this and if not, why not.
- The story of the Samaritan woman gives insight into the hindrances that stand between people and this living water. Currently, the sermon is dealing with the difficulty of worship.
- Jesus says true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The sermon is examining what it means to worship in spirit.
- Worshipping in spirit means worshipping in and by the Holy Spirit. This differentiates New Testament worship from Old Testament worship.
- The first characteristic of worshipping in spirit is the realization of God's presence. This is always present when worshipping in spirit.
- Another characteristic is a sense of privilege at being admitted into God's presence. This is seen throughout the Psalms.
- Worshipping in spirit is always a living act, not mechanical.
- Boldness and assurance is another characteristic. This comes from understanding what Christ has done and the privileges we have. Examples are Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 10:19-22.
- There is a difference between carnal confidence and spiritual confidence. Spiritual confidence comes from what God has done, not what we work up.
- Warmth is another characteristic of worshipping in spirit. This is something the Holy Spirit does, not something we work up ourselves. Examples are the fire from heaven in the Old Testament and tongues of fire at Pentecost.
- Freedom and liberty is another characteristic. There is a difference between struggling to pray and being carried along in prayer. Examples are prophets speaking as moved by the Holy Spirit in 2 Peter 1:21 and John Wesley's heart being "strangely warmed".
- Fervency is another characteristic, demonstrated by the "ohs" and longing in prayers and hymns. An example is Epaphras "laboring fervently" in prayer in Colossians 4:12.
- Gratitude, thanksgiving and love are other characteristics. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ who glorifies the Father so praise is inevitable. An example is Philippians 4:6. The test is whether we are more concerned with God's glory or our wellbeing.
- Persistence is another characteristic. Examples are the early church praying with one accord, Paul striving in prayer, and exhortations to pray without ceasing. When the Spirit leads our prayers, we persist in them.
Sermon Q&A
How Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Define True Worship in the Spirit?
What is the main text Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines regarding true worship?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on John 4:13-14 and verses 21-24, where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman about the nature of true worship. The key statement is when Jesus says, "The hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth. For the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between the "truth" and "spirit" aspects of worship?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that worshipping in truth means having honesty in our inward parts, without any hypocrisy or pretense, as these make worship impossible. Worshipping in spirit refers to being guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is what differentiates New Testament worship from Old Testament worship. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit helps us worship with the right frame of mind and heart.
What are the regular characteristics of praying in the Spirit according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the regular characteristics include: 1. A realization of God's presence 2. A great sense of privilege in being admitted to God's presence 3. Prayer becoming a living act rather than mechanical 4. Boldness and assurance in approaching God 5. Warmth and ardor in prayer 6. Freedom and liberty in expressing oneself 7. Fervency in prayer 8. Gratitude, thanksgiving, and love 9. Persistence and perseverance in prayer
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about boldness and assurance in prayer?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that boldness and assurance are essential elements of praying in the Spirit. He cites examples from Hebrews where Christians are exhorted to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" and to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." He emphasizes that this boldness is not a carnal, irreverent familiarity with God, but a spiritual confidence based on what God has done for us in Christ. This boldness coexists with reverence and godly fear.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the "warmth" element in Spirit-led prayer?
Lloyd-Jones describes warmth as the fire of the Spirit in our prayers. He says the Holy Spirit deals with the whole person—mind, heart, and will—not just the intellect. This warmth is not something we can artificially create or "work up" through emotional manipulation, but is produced by the Holy Spirit. He references the biblical imagery of fire as representing the Holy Spirit's presence, such as the tongues of fire at Pentecost and John the Baptist's prophecy that Jesus would "baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."
What example does Lloyd-Jones give of freedom in prayer?
Lloyd-Jones shares a personal experience of a prayer meeting where a man who normally struggled and stumbled in prayer suddenly began to pray with remarkable freedom, eloquence, and power. This transformation affected everyone present, and they continued praying without interruption for hours, experiencing a sense of timelessness and being in "the realm of the eternal and the spiritual." Lloyd-Jones explains this as the "liberty and freedom of the Holy Spirit" in prayer.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate between self-centered and God-centered prayers?
Lloyd-Jones suggests a key test for determining if we're praying in the Spirit is whether we're more concerned about God's glory or our own well-being. While he acknowledges it's appropriate to pray for ourselves, he emphasizes that in Spirit-led prayer, praise and thanksgiving predominate over petitions. He cites the example of Paul and Silas praising God at midnight in prison, and the early church praising God's greatness even when facing threats and persecution.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as exceptional characteristics of praying in the Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones identifies certain exceptional manifestations of praying in the Spirit, including: 1. Being lifted up out of the ordinary realm into spiritual visions (like John in Revelation) 2. Praying beyond normal understanding (as Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 14) 3. Extended periods of prayer during revival where people pray for hours without weariness or awareness of time 4. Being taken up by the Spirit in a way that transcends normal consciousness
Why is persistent prayer important according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that persistent prayer is a characteristic of Spirit-led worship. He cites biblical examples of "striving" and "laboring fervently" in prayer, and Paul's exhortation to "pray without ceasing." He argues that the state of the church and the world demands fervent, persistent prayer for revival. He believes that divine intervention through revival is the only way to arrest the church from its decline and influence the world, and this comes through persistent prayer.
What is Lloyd-Jones' concern about the state of worship in his day?
Lloyd-Jones expresses concern about the church returning to formalism, ritualism, and external aids to worship, which he sees as reverting to an Old Testament view of worship rather than embracing the New Testament's emphasis on spiritual worship. He believes many Christians lack the spiritual experience of true worship, which is why they seek these external forms. He contrasts the "cold, mechanical, so-called beautiful prayers" with the fervent, living prayer that the Holy Spirit produces.
The Book of John
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.