Be Strong in The Lord
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-11
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.
Sermon Description
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones admits that the problem of spiritual depression is so widespread that he could spend all of his time counseling depressed Christians. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–11 titled “Be Strong in the Lord,” he seeks to address the cause of spiritual depression. While the counselor should take strides to ease the immediate pain of depression, the problem lies deeper than the pain itself. The problem is spiritual. Living in a materialistic world, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that one forgets that the spiritual world exists. The tendency is to treat everything as physical. For some, this means arguing that all depression is the result of personal sin. For others, this means arguing that all depression is the result of the body or brain. These answers, however, do not go deep enough and leave the individual in their depression. The problem is that Satan wars against humanity. These depressed thoughts come from the devil himself. In fighting spiritual depression, Christians must engage in a spiritual battle. Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines the whole armor of God and calls Christians to put on this armor. This is their fight against spiritual depression: to take up this armor and fight against the devil. Listen and be encouraged that Christ has triumphed, He has defeated the devil. In Christ, His people will prevail.
Sermon Breakdown
- Many Christians are depressed and unhappy because they fail to realize they are in a spiritual warfare.
- Some Christians don't seem to be aware there is a conflict at all. This is a pathetic state to be in.
- One of the fundamental problems of humanity is forgetting the spiritual realm. This affects non-Christians and Christians.
- Materialism is not just an interest in physical things but a forgetting of the spiritual realm. This is the main cause of irreligion today.
- This forgetting of the spiritual realm can follow us into the Christian life. It can affect our prayer life and realizing the reality of the unseen.
- We can fail to realize the reality of evil spiritual powers that surround us. This is dangerous.
- Some think conversion is the end of the process rather than the beginning. This view comes from false evangelism or a failure to grasp Scripture.
- The Christian life is one of conflict with evil powers. This is taught throughout Scripture and church history.
- We see this conflict in the lives of Christ, the apostles, Luther, Bunyan, and others.
- We must understand the character of this fight. It is against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness.
- The words used convey a sense of dramatic intensity and a call to battle. We are in a great spiritual conflict.
- These forces attack us physically, mentally, and spiritually. Physically through illness, mentally through depression or fears, spiritually through doubts or temptation.
- The devil can directly attack and terrify even strong Christians. His power should not be underestimated.
- We must apply this teaching practically in our lives. Head knowledge is useless without application.
- We can distinguish attacks of the devil from our own sin or thoughts. Depressing thoughts, self-concern, doubts, a sense they come from outside us, hating them, etc.
- Failure to realize the complete victory we have in Christ is another reason for depression. We can't defeat the devil in our own strength.
- Christ has already defeated the devil. We are in Christ, so we can defeat the devil through His power and strength.
- We are told to resist the devil, and he will flee. We can overcome him through Christ.
- Our greatest failure is failing to avail ourselves of Christ's strength. We often bypass the Scripture and think prayer alone is enough.
- Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God, then pray. We must follow the order and details in Scripture, not oversimplify the Christian life.
- We will go on to explore the armor of God in more detail.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Spiritual Warfare According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
What is the main theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon series that he's been exploring on Sunday mornings?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones has been exploring "spiritual Depression" or what he calls "the case of the so-called miserable Christian" - referring to believers who find their lives "constantly troubled and worried... and more or less bound in shallows and in miseries." He has been examining various causes of this condition and the biblical remedies for them.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say many Christians are depressed and unhappy?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, many Christians are depressed and unhappy simply because "they have not awakened to a realization of the fact that we are all, as Christians, involved in a spiritual warfare." They fail to understand they are in a spiritual conflict against unseen powers. He identifies two main causes for this misconception:
- False evangelism that gives the impression that after conversion everything will be perfect with no problems
- Failure to properly understand scripture and its teaching about spiritual conflict
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the forces Christians are battling against?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones, based on Ephesians 6:12, emphasizes that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" but against "principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places." He describes these as the devil and the evil spirits under his control. He calls this "the great biblical teaching about the devil and all the evil spirits and forces that are marshaled and arrayed and controlled by the devil."
In what specific ways does the devil attack Christians according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several ways the devil attacks believers:
- Physical level - influencing bodies and producing illnesses
- Mental level - causing depression, worry, blasphemous thoughts, fears (phobias), and working on the imagination
- Spiritual level - creating doubts about truth, the authority of Scripture, and temptations
- Direct personal onslaughts - especially intense attacks that "almost baffle description"
How can Christians tell if their negative thoughts are from the devil?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers several tests to determine if thoughts come from the devil:
- "All depressing thoughts in a Christian undoubtedly come from the devil"
- "All concern about self in any form" likely comes from the same source
- "Doubts certainly all come from the devil"
- If you have "a definite consciousness that all these things are coming from outside yourself"
- If you "hate these things" and "dearly wish that they didn't bother you"
What is the source of victory over spiritual warfare according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
The source of victory is "the Lord and the power of His might." Lloyd-Jones explains that only Jesus Christ has conquered the enemy, and Christians can defeat the devil because they are "in Christ" and "joined to him." He references Jesus' analogy of the vine and branches, saying "Without me, ye can do nothing, but with him we can do everything." This union with Christ means believers can access His power to resist and overcome the devil.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is most Christians' approach to spiritual warfare, and why is it inadequate?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones critiques the common approach of immediately saying "pray about it" as the complete solution to spiritual problems. He points out that in Ephesians 6, Paul doesn't start with prayer but first instructs believers to "take unto you the whole armor of God" and details each piece before mentioning prayer. Lloyd-Jones states: "at the risk of being misunderstood, I am going to say that the first thing you do is not to pray."
Instead, he emphasizes that Christians must both put on the whole armor of God and pray - "Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer." He warns against oversimplifying the Christian life in ways that ignore Scripture's detailed instructions about spiritual warfare.
Spiritual Depression
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.