Praying in The Spirit (Spiritual Depression)
A Sermon on Praying in the Spirit from Ephesians 6:18
Scripture
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Sermon Description
Who can talk to God? Who can boldly enter His presence and communicate with Him in prayer? In this sermon on praying in the Spirit from Ephesians 6:18, Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones guides the listener through this careful study of how Christians are to pray. The blood of Jesus, His death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives His people unhindered access to the Father. But that open access to God in prayer is not an invitation to be casual, flippant, or fill prayers with meaningless repetition. Christians need the Holy Spirit's guidance to teach them how to pray. The spiritual battles of life, the weakness of the flesh, and the need for intercession requires careful attention to one’s communication with their king. Prayer that glorifies God and maximizes the spiritual life is prayer that is filled with reverence and respect for the Father who loves and is always ready to hear the voice of His children.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on Ephesians 6:18 which exhorts Christians to "pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."
- The sermon begins by providing context about spiritual warfare and the armor of God. Prayer is essential in addition to the armor.
- The sermon asks the question: How are we to pray? It aims to provide guidance on how to pray in the Spirit.
- Praying in the Spirit is not determined by:
- A particular place (e.g. a specific building)
- A particular time (e.g. out of duty or habit)
- Forms (e.g. vain repetitions or going through the motions)
- Frantic pleading in times of crisis
- Praying in the Spirit means:
- Being led and guided by the Holy Spirit
- Realizing God is Spirit and worshipping Him as such
- Realizing we can only come to God through Jesus
- Having boldness and assurance of faith
- Addressing God as "Abba, Father"
- Realizing the presence of God
- Being a living, vital, free, and warm prayer
- Being thoughtful, directed, and orderly
- Being according to God's will and mind
- Being full of faith and expectation
- Questions about methods and times of prayer will be resolved if we pray in the Spirit. But some guidance:
- Pray always, without ceasing, on all occasions
- Pray specially at certain times, like in times of crisis
- All types of prayer are legitimate (kneeling, standing, contemplative, etc.) as long as in the Spirit
- Pray for all types of things and people (yourself, church, leaders, etc.)
- We must pray in the Spirit to stand against the devil and see the church stand. We must put on the whole armor of God, using prayer.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Prayer in the Spirit: Questions and Answers
What does it mean to pray in the Spirit according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, praying in the Spirit means prayer that is "inspired by the Holy Spirit," "led by the Holy Spirit," "guided by the Spirit," and "taught us by the Spirit." He explains that "praying in the spirit is the praying of a man who is habitually being led by the spirit in the whole of his life." It involves realizing the truth about God as spirit, understanding that our only way into God's presence is through the blood of Jesus, and approaching God with both reverence and the "full assurance of faith." When we pray in the Spirit, we address God as "Abba, Father," realizing His presence with a warm, living, and vital connection.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say many people's prayers aren't really prayer at all?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that many people's prayers aren't truly prayer because they lack the essential element of being "in the Spirit." He references Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman, where Jesus said true worshipers must worship "in spirit and in truth." Lloyd-Jones points out several ways our prayers fall short:
- When prayer is determined merely by a particular place (localized worship)
- When it's determined only by specific times or mechanical routines
- When it's merely following set forms or vain repetitions
- When it's just a "frantic, hysterical request" in times of crisis
He states that "so much of what we call worship and passers worship, according to the Lord's own saying, is rarely not worship at all. We only truly pray when we pray in spirit and in truth."
What are the key characteristics of prayer in the Spirit according to the sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, prayer in the Spirit has these essential characteristics:
- It realizes the truth about God as spirit, approaching Him with reverence
- It recognizes that our only way to God is through the blood of Jesus
- It comes with "the full assurance of faith" and "holy boldness"
- It addresses God as "Abba, Father" with a filial relationship
- It realizes the presence of God - "We know and feel that thou art here"
- It is living, vital, free, and warm - not cold or lifeless
- It is thoughtful, directed, and concentrated - not wild or uncontrolled
- It aligns with the will and mind of Christ, truly in His name
- It is full of faith and divine expectation, looking confidently for answers
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about when and how we should pray?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the apostle Paul instructs us to "pray always" - at all times and in all seasons. He emphasizes "never quit praying" and "pray without ceasing" as New Testament directives. Regarding methods, he interprets Paul's phrase "all prayer" to mean we can pray in various ways:
"You can kneel if you like. You can stand if you like. You can walk if you like. You can be seated if you like. You can pray in private. You can pray in public. You can pray in a contemplative manner. You can pray mentally without uttering words. You can pray in an ejaculatory sort of manner. You can pray with an urgency."
Lloyd-Jones insists these methods don't matter as much as whether we're "praying in the Spirit." He also distinguishes between general prayer (worship, praise, adoration) and supplication (particular requests).
Why does Lloyd-Jones criticize the emphasis on location or buildings for prayer?
Lloyd-Jones criticizes the emphasis on location or buildings because it resembles the error of the Samaritans who thought God could only be worshipped on their mountain. He points out this isn't just an ancient error but "a very modern error" too. He challenges the notion that certain buildings are more sacred than others, saying:
"People often emphasize the contrast which they observe between certain types of buildings. Certain buildings are said to be more sacred and more devotional than others... Is God more present in a cathedral than in an unconformist building? Of course he isn't."
Lloyd-Jones argues this emphasis on place creates "a kind of vague atmosphere which is often more pagan than anything else." He believes true prayer has nothing to do with the building but with the spiritual connection to God through the Holy Spirit.
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.