Serving the Lord
A Sermon on Romans 12:11-12
Originally preached May 13, 1966
Scripture
11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Romans 12:11–12 titled “Serving the Lord,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches about the importance of serving the Lord with zeal. The Christian may be tempted to do things half-heartedly as they go from task to task. Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches that this approach is second to demon possession in that the Christian has allowed the devil to influence their actions. Slothfulness, he expresses, can manifest itself in doing something half-heartedly. This lazy form of action is one way in which the devil corrupts God’s good creation. Similar to the body and mind, exercise of the Spirit is what promotes its health within the believer. The Christian must continually fan the flames of the Spirit within them. Before long, the sluggish Christian can become the diseased Christian who falls into sin easily and becomes entangled by it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also preaches that when the Christian feels lethargic or sluggish, they must meditate on, read, and study the actions of God in His people. God will bring to fruition the seeds sown by the Christian. God’s people must be sure to keep fervent in spirit, which literally means that they must be “at the boiling point” in their hearts and in their passion for the Lord.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing practical Christian living in Romans 12.
- He begins by urging Christians to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God. This is our reasonable service.
- Christians should not conform to the world but be transformed by renewing their minds. This allows us to know God's will.
- Paul then discusses spiritual gifts and how we should use them to serve one another in the church.
- In verse 11, Paul tells Christians not to be slothful in zeal but to be fervent in spirit while serving the Lord.
- Slothfulness refers to laziness, slackness, and half-heartedness. There are many causes of slothfulness including temperament, the devil, discouragement, and trials.
- To overcome slothfulness, we must rouse ourselves. We can apply arguments to ourselves, realize the dangers of slothfulness, remember our duty to others as members of the body of Christ, and think of the work God has called us to.
- Being fervent in spirit refers to being energetic and enthusiastic. This is produced by the Holy Spirit in us, not our own efforts.
- To be fervent in spirit, we must stir up the gift of the Spirit in us. We can do this by raking the ashes (removing hindrances), ensuring the Spirit has air (praying), adding fuel (reading Scripture and about revivals), and remembering the Spirit in us is powerful.
- We must remember the work God has called us to, including being lights in the world and co-workers with God. Thinking of the lostness of humanity and the urgency of the times also stirs us up.
- William Chalmers Burns said "we must hurry" in light of the shortness of time and the state of the world. We must redeem the time and seize opportunities.
- The ultimate motive for overcoming slothfulness and being fervent in spirit is serving the Lord.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on "Not Slothful in Business" - Questions and Answers
What does Romans 12:11 mean according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Romans 12:11 ("not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord") is about the spirit and attitude with which Christians should approach their calling. He explains that a better translation would be "in diligence, not slothful" or "in zeal, not slothful" rather than "in business." The verse addresses moral earnestness and how believers should be energetic, alive, and vigorous in their Christian service, avoiding laziness and slackness while maintaining spiritual fervor.
What are the main causes of spiritual slothfulness that Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several causes of spiritual slothfulness: 1. Temperamental and constitutional factors - some people are naturally more lethargic or phlegmatic 2. The work of the devil - Satan can attack believers by producing lethargy and depression 3. Discouragements and trials - when facing setbacks, Christians can become discouraged and half-hearted 4. National or cultural characteristics - some cultures may tend toward greater slothfulness 5. Physical conditions - including health issues that can affect energy levels
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "fervent in spirit" in this passage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that "fervent in spirit" refers not to our natural human spirit but to the Holy Spirit within believers. He points out that this is a command applicable to all Christians regardless of temperament, and we cannot change our natural temperament, but we all have the Holy Spirit. The Greek word translated as "fervent" means "to boil" or "to be aglow." It refers to maintaining the energy and fire of the Holy Spirit within us, keeping spiritually "at the boil" rather than lukewarm or cold.
How can Christians overcome slothfulness according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christians can overcome slothfulness by: 1. Rousing themselves on a natural level - taking themselves in hand and making themselves act 2. Stirring up or "fanning the flame" of the gift of God (the Holy Spirit) within them 3. Removing hindrances (the "ashes") that dampen spiritual fervor 4. Reading Scripture and books about revivals to add "fuel" to their spiritual fire 5. Prayer - ensuring a "current of air" for the spiritual flame 6. Remembering their high calling as "co-workers with God" and "lights of the world" 7. Keeping in mind the spiritual needs of those in darkness around them 8. Focusing on serving the Lord as the supreme motivation
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the relationship between doctrine and practice in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that doctrine and practice cannot be separated. He states that "doctrine is not something merely to be contemplated intellectually. It is something to be applied, something to be put into practice, and there is no point or purpose in our knowledge of doctrine unless it has led to a radical change in our lives and in our living." He insists that each practical injunction in Romans 12 must be understood in light of the "therefore" in verse 1, connecting practical living to the doctrinal truths established in the first eleven chapters. This prevents believers from obeying commands in isolation or becoming merely busy people without spiritual purpose.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the Holy Spirit's role in overcoming spiritual lethargy?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the Holy Spirit as "a spirit of power" and energy within believers. He teaches that the Spirit provides the inner motivation and power that drives Christians forward in service. Using Philippians 2:13, he reminds listeners that "it is God who works in you both to will and to do." Christians cannot produce spiritual energy themselves, but can create conditions for the Spirit's power to flow by "fanning the flame" through prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. He compares the Spirit to fire that needs to be tended, with Christians responsible not for creating the fire but for removing obstacles (ashes), ensuring air flow (prayer), and adding fuel (Scripture).
What illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use from Nehemiah to encourage believers against slothfulness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refers to the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. When enemies suggested that Nehemiah hide in the temple to save himself from danger, Nehemiah responded, "Should such a man as I flee?" Lloyd-Jones suggests Christians should apply this same argument to themselves when tempted toward spiritual laziness or self-protection. The illustration demonstrates that our sense of calling and identity should prevent us from retreating from our spiritual responsibilities, no matter how difficult or dangerous they may seem.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between carnal energy and spiritual fervor?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that we should not confuse natural, carnal energy with the energy of the Holy Spirit. He notes that naturally energetic people like Apollos face the danger of substituting their own natural enthusiasm for genuine spiritual power. He says, "When men try to produce the fire, it's chaos, it's a false fire. There's a lot of that about. There's a lot about that in evangelical circles. A false fire, a carnal zeal." True spiritual fervor comes from the Holy Spirit working within us, not from our own natural temperament or self-generated enthusiasm. We can't produce the fire ourselves, but we can maintain it through spiritual disciplines.
What practical steps does Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggest for "fanning the flame" of the Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests several practical steps for "fanning the flame" of the Spirit: 1. "Rake the ashes" - remove hindrances that have dampened spiritual fervor 2. Ensure a "current of air" through prayer 3. Add "fuel" by reading the Scriptures 4. Read about revivals and the lives of saints filled with the Spirit 5. Remind yourself that the Holy Spirit dwells within you 6. Remember your calling as a co-worker with God 7. Consider the spiritual darkness of the world around you 8. Recognize the shortness of time and urgency of the task 9. Apply the doctrine of the indwelling Spirit to your daily life
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe reading about revivals is spiritually beneficial?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones considers reading about revivals to be "the finest tonic" and spiritually invigorating. He shares his personal experience: "When I'm tired and jaded and feeling slothful, I have never yet in my life ever read anything about Whitfield and the Wesleys and Jonathan Edwards, but that I'm immediately restored and the flame is fanned again." He believes accounts of past revivals provide "fuel" for the spiritual fire within believers by showing examples of men filled with the Spirit whom God used powerfully. These accounts remind Christians of what is possible when the Spirit works without hindrance and inspire them to seek similar spiritual vitality in their own lives.
The Book of Romans
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.