Weary in Well Doing
A Sermon on Galatians 6:9
Scripture
9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Sermon Description
Christians may grow weary of well doing. Despite being on a correct path, all Christians have experienced spiritual depression. Much of this can be attributed to a “middle period” of the Christian life; a time that comes after much growth and momentum, with the struggle to continue despite feeling routine. In this sermon on Galatians 6:9 titled “Weary in Well Doing,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones outlines some common pitfalls and dangers during this period. Negative voices encourage giving up, resigning to the feelings of hopelessness and artificial stimulants such as alcohol or drugs that provide no lasting hope. For Christians who feel like they are just putting one foot in front of the other, Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages that such feelings are normal. Instead of stalling, look to the word to discover “Why am I weary? What has caused me to feel this way?” Energy for serving Christ and growing in maturity is not from feelings, but from the Savior. Acknowledge that this life is a time of preparation for what is to come, and rest in knowing the Lord will rescue and redeem in due time. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener that the walk will have ups and downs, but they can stand in their faith and not grow weary in doing good.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing spiritual depression and weariness in Christians.
- There are many causes of spiritual depression including:
- Physical exhaustion from overworking
- Relying on carnal energy instead of the Spirit's power
- Wrong motives like seeking thrill or self-glory
- Making ministry an identity rather than a calling
- There are three dangers to avoid:
- Don't listen to suggestions to give up
- Don't resign yourself to stay in this condition
- Don't rely on artificial stimulants to motivate you
- To overcome, examine yourself to determine the root cause(s) of your weariness
- Recognize there are phases of growth in the Christian life that bring changes
- Remember you are engaged in "well-doing," not a task - this is a privilege
- This life is preparation for eternity - maintain an eternal perspective
- The harvest of rewards in heaven is certain, so continue laboring faithfully
- Consider Jesus, who endured humbly and patiently for the joy set before Him
- Look to Jesus for forgiveness, strength, and a renewed passion for His work
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Spiritual Depression
What is the main scripture passage Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses in this sermon on spiritual depression?
The main scripture passage Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses in this sermon is Galatians 6:9: "And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." He focuses on this verse to explore a specific aspect of spiritual depression - becoming weary while continuing in the right path of the Christian life.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the "danger of the middle period" in the Christian life?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the "danger of the middle period" as that time when the initial excitement and discoveries of the Christian life have faded. He describes it as "the stage which follows the initial experience, that initial experience in which everything was new and everything was surprising and everything was wonderful and everything was thrilling." During this middle period, Christians often feel they've arrived at a plateau where nothing seems to be happening, changing, or advancing, and they lose the momentum that carried them in the early stages of their faith.
According to the sermon, what are the three negative responses Christians should avoid when experiencing spiritual weariness?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the three negative responses Christians should avoid when experiencing spiritual weariness are: 1. Don't give up or give in - don't listen to voices suggesting you quit 2. Don't resign yourself to it - don't accept a joyless, formal Christianity as inevitable 3. Don't resort to artificial stimulants - don't try to overcome spiritual weariness by creating artificial excitement or new programs just to create a stir
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones recommend as the first positive step in addressing spiritual weariness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones recommends self-examination as the first positive step in addressing spiritual weariness. He urges: "Start by examining yourself... sit down and say to yourself, well, now then, why am I weary? What's the cause of my weariness?" He emphasizes that we shouldn't attempt to treat the condition before diagnosing it properly, just as in medicine, we shouldn't "rush to treatments before you know exactly the condition with which you're dealing."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggest we should view our Christian duties when we're feeling weary?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests we should view our Christian duties as "well doing" rather than as burdensome tasks. He states: "If you regard your Christian life as a task, you're insulting God." He encourages believers to remember that the Christian life "alone is worthy of the name life" and is "righteous and holy and pure and good." He urges Christians to remember that this is "the kind of life that the Son of God himself lived" and to recall the sacrifice Christ made that brought us into this life in the first place.
What perspective does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we should adopt to overcome spiritual weariness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones says we should adopt an eternal perspective to overcome spiritual weariness. He emphasizes placing our current struggles in "the context of eternity," recognizing that "this life is but the antechamber of eternity" and "but a preparatory school." He encourages believers to focus on the certainty of the coming harvest: "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." This eternal perspective helps us endure temporary difficulties by focusing on the joy set before us.
What causes of spiritual weariness does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several potential causes of spiritual weariness: 1. Physical exhaustion from overwork 2. Working with mere "carnal energy" instead of the power of the Spirit 3. Improper motives - doing Christian work for the thrill and excitement 4. Self-centeredness - working to satisfy or please oneself 5. Living on the momentum of your activities rather than having your spiritual life properly ordered 6. Failure to recognize the natural phases and development of the Christian life
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones relate Christ's example to the issue of spiritual weariness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones relates Christ's example by pointing to His patient endurance through difficult circumstances. He notes that Christ's life might have seemed "humdrum" at times, dealing with "ordinary petty people misunderstanding him," yet "he went on, and he didn't complain." The preacher explains that Christ endured by focusing on "the joy that was set before him" - seeing the eventual harvest and glory that would come from His suffering. Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to follow Christ's example by looking beyond present difficulties to the eternal rewards.
What is the "artificial stimulant" danger that Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against in church life?
In church life, Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against the danger of trying to overcome spiritual weariness by creating artificial excitement - implementing new programs or special events simply to create a stir. He describes seeing churches that always have "some fresh announcement outside, some new attraction" because they're "obviously living on artificial stimulants." He compares this to taking drugs or alcohol in physical exhaustion, warning that "if once you resort to the artificial, more and more will be required" and the church will need "more and more" stimulation to keep going.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the ultimate cure for spiritual weariness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the ultimate cure for spiritual weariness as looking to Christ and focusing on the eternal rewards awaiting believers. He states that as we remember our "blessed Master," consider the privilege of Christian service, and focus on "the certainty of the harvest that is coming," we will be "filled with a new hope and a new strength and a new power." The cure comes not from artificial stimulants but from a renewed vision of Christ and eternity that makes us "thrilled with the privilege and the joy of it all" and with "the love of such a Lord and Savior, such a marvelous Master."
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.