Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Prayer

What is the starting point of all true prayer according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the starting point of all true prayer is a realization of God and His character. The prophet in Isaiah 63 begins by reminding himself of "the loving kindnesses of the Lord" and God's character. Lloyd-Jones states, "Prayer must always begin by a realization of God and of his character. Otherwise, prayer can be a mere attempt at discovering some kind of psychological relief or ease." He emphasizes that if we have any doubt about God's goodness or character, our prayers are already useless.

How does Lloyd-Jones interpret the decline of the church in his time?

Lloyd-Jones interprets the decline of the church as being caused by the church's own rebellion against God, not external enemies. He states, "There is only one true explanation of the state of Christendom and the state of the church today. It is that the church herself, last century, deliberately rejected God's revelation and put philosophy in its place." He specifically mentions how church leaders began criticizing Scripture, denying aspects of biblical teaching like Christ's virgin birth, miracles, and atonement, replacing God's wisdom with human wisdom.

What historical approach to prayer does Lloyd-Jones encourage believers to adopt?

Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to review the history of God's dealings with His people as a vital approach to prayer. He points to how the prophet in Isaiah 63 reviews Israel's history from verses 8-14. Lloyd-Jones explains, "This is the invariable thing which they do. They look back to the past as if to say to themselves, well now then, why are we in this position? How have we ever come to this? Has this ever happened before?" He emphasizes that studying God's historical dealings with His people provides patterns and principles that remain consistent throughout time.

What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the turning point for revival?

The turning point for revival, according to Lloyd-Jones, comes when the church "comes to herself" and remembers who she truly is. He uses the example of the prodigal son, saying, "Before she begins to experience revival, she has to come to herself and remind herself as to who she is and what she is, that she is the people of the living God brought into being in this miraculous manner, and that she belongs to God." This self-realization leads to repentance and earnest prayer asking "Where is He?" - seeking the God of power who worked in previous generations.

What does Lloyd-Jones mean by the question "Where is He?" in his sermon?

When Lloyd-Jones highlights the question "Where is He?", he's referring to the church's desperate seeking after God's manifest presence and power. He explains this is the cry of a people who know God exists with "illimitable power" but don't experience His presence. It's a prayer asking where the God who performed mighty acts in history has gone: "Where is the God of Moses? Where is the God of David? Where is the God of Elijah? Where is he, the God who does such marvelous things?" Lloyd-Jones sees this desperate seeking after God as the only way to revival and restoration for the church.

What is Lloyd-Jones' criticism of how the church tries to solve its problems?

Lloyd-Jones criticizes the church for trying to solve its problems through human methods and organizational strategies rather than seeking God. He states, "We look at our enemies and in our folly we say, what can we do? What fresh organization can we set up? What can we organize?" Instead, he emphasizes that the proper response is to cry out "Where is He?" and to seek God's face. He argues that the church cannot compete with the world on the world's terms, saying, "The church has only one source of strength, and that is the power of God, the power of his Holy Spirit."