What is one of the greatest dangers to the church? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “God in the Flesh,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns about the devil’s attack upon the church by introducing false teaching about the person of Christ. The early church in the time of the apostles had to battle those who denied that Jesus truly came in the flesh. In later times, the church had to oppose those that said Jesus is just a creature sent by God, not the Creator God Himself. Heresy is dangerous because it is not merely an academic question of theology, but it affects the gospel proclamation of the church. When the church has lost sight of who Jesus is and what He has done, it loses itself and becomes fatally compromised. What does this mean for the Christian? This answer is simple: it matters because it is Jesus Christ who saves from sins and redeems people by His death. It is Jesus who saves through the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith. The importance of Jesus Christ is the reason that the church must always be clear and bold in its proclamation of God’s truth as found in His word.

What is the role of experience in the Christian life? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Faith and Experience,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this very practical question by looking at the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He warns of the great danger of reducing all of the Christian life to mere emotions. This is dangerous because it makes the Christian put their hope not in Jesus Christ and His work, but in their own subjective feelings. Christians can become enslaved to passing emotions and desires. The other danger is to reject all emotions as fundamentally deceptive and misguided. Some say that all that is needed is to affirm the truth of Christianity. But the biblical position avoids both these imbalances because it grounds all hope and emotions in what God has done in Jesus Christ. God has declared His people free from sin as His children. This should produce a true and lasting joy that casts out all fear and doubts. Christians can love God and neighbor because God has made them new creatures in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Emotions are the appropriate reaction to the objective work of God. This sermon calls all to ask the question: “do I have this hope in what God has done for me?” There is no more important question any can ask.

Why is it important to have a biblical understanding of humanity? Many people both inside and outside the church have a flawed view of humanity that either overemphasizes the spiritual nature at the expense of the physical nature, or vice versa. They downplay the need for spirituality and replace it with modern psychology. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Physical, Psychological, Spiritual,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the Bible teaches that people are body, mind, and soul. They are more than the matter that they are made of, but the human body also affects its spirit. There is a great danger to turn all sin issues into problems of psychology. They say that a person’s problems are never a result of their sin but are a result of their circumstances. The Bible tells something different. According to the Bible, people are sinful and willingly rebellious. They have rejected God. The answer is in the gospel of Jesus Christ for the redemption of sins. This does not mean that all problems are the result of sin, but it does mean that all problems find their ultimate answer in the gospel. This sermon points all to the glorious truth that Jesus is a sufficient Savior.

Why is true assurance so central to the Christian life? Followers of Christ can and should know that they are now children of God and have been set free from sin and death. But, as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains in this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “True and False Assurances,” there is a false assurance that leads to death. This is when people who do not know Jesus and who do not believe in His gospel are blinded by the devil and tricked into believing that they are saved. All Christians must examine themselves to see if they truly know God. Many in the church have given only an intellectual assent to the gospel, while others are so caught up in an emotional experience that they have deceived themselves. The answer is to look to Scripture and its main descriptions of what it means to be a true Christian. This sermon contains the timeless message of the need not only of salvation, but also of a true and biblically grounded assurance that should give all of God’s children a lasting and steadfast hope in Jesus Christ.

The Christian can struggle with assurance of salvation, feel tormented by past sins, or disbelieve that they could truly be saved. In this sermon focused on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Attacks on Assurance (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones diagnoses the real cause of struggles with assurance. Often the devil causes the Christian to question whether anyone can be sure of their salvation or he makes them feel presumptuous to be so certain of their salvation. The truth is that only the devil makes one look back at sin—Christ makes them look back to His work on the cross. That is where the Christian must place their confidence. God commands His people to be certain of their salvation and to know the truth that they are saved as seen in 1 John 5. Christians are encouraged to not be so busied with the state of their spiritual health that they make themselves ill but instead lay hold of the promise of salvation and rest in Christ.

Christians can feel as though the Lord has withdrawn His smile from them and are concerned that their current or difficult state may mean that they are not truly a Christian. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Attacks on Assurance (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that when Christians experience hardship and adversity, they must remember that the Lord allows difficult things in their lives because He wants to grow them as Christians. This ought to be a great comfort in hardship. Adversity encourages the Christian not to rely on their good works, but to be encouraged that they are being matured and prepared for future glory with Christ. They should not question their justification when they experience trials and suffering. Instead they should remember that when they confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse His people from all unrighteousness.

In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Quenching the Spirit (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes the bold claim that the church’s quenching of the Holy Spirit hinders it more than anything else. What is quenching the Spirit? In a desire to avoid making Christianity reliant on subjective religious experiences, many Christians leave no room for the work and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is quenching the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells that the Holy Spirit is a person who indwells all who believe. The church of today ought to look at the early church found in Acts to see what it looks like to rely on the Holy Spirit for power and guidance. What are the practical applications of this message on Ephesians 6:10–13? Christians should seek to look to the Holy Spirit to empower their ministries and lives as they follow Jesus Christ. The church as a whole should look to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as He allows Christians to understand the gospel and God’s word. Christians must not overreact against those who abuse the Bible’s teaching on the Holy Spirit by suppressing what the Bible does teach about the Holy Spirit and His ministry in the church.

Why does the church seem weak, ineffective, and powerless? As the world is in chaos, why are Christian people so lethargic about witnessing to the glorious good news of the gospel? In his sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Quenching the Spirit (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones offers a challenging and convicting message to the church today: beware of quenching the Spirit. Quenching the Holy Spirit is one of the ways the devil works in believers’ lives in order to make their Christian life ineffectual and lacking power. Dr. Lloyd-Jones diagnoses the problem by looking at the Scriptures and noting that the person filled with the Spirit knows their doctrine, has a love and warmth about them, and has the power of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then proceeds to offer application for how one can be guilty of quenching the Spirit. He attacks such practices as formalism in the church, conflating regeneration and the baptism of the Spirit, as well as a general resistance of the Spirit’s prompting.

Many Christians live burdened by a misunderstanding of what it means to be tempted by sin. They think that because they experience involuntary evil thoughts that they have sinned. In this sermon on temptation from Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Temptation and Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones uses the example of the temptations of Jesus to refute this belief. Jesus was repeatedly tempted by Satan when He was in the desert, but he never sinned. The temptation that Jesus faced was not because He wanted to sin but it came through external promptings. In the same way, Christians may have thoughts that they do not desire to have and that are not their own. Many times these thoughts are the result of Satan and his demons who tempt the children of God. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims, the only way to truly fight the devil and sin is to flee to Christ who alone has the power to overcome sin and temptation. Christ died for all who believe so that though they are still in the flesh, they will one day be free from all sin and temptation when Christ returns to finally destroy death, sin, and the devil. This great hope is the remedy against all sin and spiritual depression.

The devil uses multiple tactics in order to discourage God’s people from being useful for kingdom work. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Discouragement,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses how discouragement cripples the life of the Christian and how God has equipped His people to fight against this attack in His word. Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses the difference between self-evaluation and introspection, which is looking to oneself for their worth and value. Dr. Lloyd-Jones combats this by stating that what makes a person a Christian is not anything that they will find within, but simply through the blood of the Savior. Christian assurance can never come from oneself; this will only breed discouragement. The Christian must instead combat their own doubts and discouragement with thankfulness over what Christ has already accomplished. This is a truth that should demand action from the Christian, saturating every aspect of their life and ministry. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents the hope that can be found in the midst of a discouraging world and the friend the Christian has in Jesus; a friend who is no stranger to the hurdles Christian’s face.

What brings a Christian to a place of worry and anxiety? How does one fight the discouragement that is brought about when one becomes anxious for the future? In this sermon on worry and anxiety from Ephesians 6:10–13, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones begins to tackle these questions and addresses the way that the devil incapacitates believers through worry. Drawing from the story of Martha in the New Testament, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds listeners that the devil desires to overwhelm Christians with good responsibilities, effectively preventing followers of Christ from meditating on the spiritual. Yet the Christian should not be out of control in this way. Drawing from several common worries, such as wellness and the future, Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses the fact that good things were never meant to be at the center of one’s life. The way in which to fight the enemy when one is tempted to grow anxious is to declare the truth: that God has never failed His people and the Christian’s future rests secure in His hands. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by offering this relief of stress to the Christian: leave the future in the hands of a loving God, and allow Him to lead through His will.

“The greatest battle a man faces,” says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “is against himself.” Why is this the case, and how is this known to be true from Scripture? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Man’s Greatest Problem – Self,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones works through how Satan tries to bring havoc into the lives of people, especially believers. How does he accomplish this? Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the devil primarily uses pride to refocus people off the things of the Lord. One of his main methods in this is to take a person’s gift— whether it is singing, speech, knowledge, intellect or even conversion experience — and use it to make its possessor feel self-reliant and that they are above the spiritual state of other believers. How can Christians counter this threat? Scripture says Christians must face their fallenness and who they are with honesty, realizing that all are equal sinners in the sight of God. Additionally, one must see everything they have as coming from the Lord and not themselves, remembering that their gifts are to be used for the encouragement of other believers and the glory of the Lord. This proper view of themselves and what the Lord has given them will allow them to be humble in whatever level of life they occupy, knowing that their sole purpose is to please God.

Why do people have a hard time finding the proper balance in life between too much activity and too much rest? Society today is saturated with the message that people should always be doing something in order to be productive. Yet others would say that life should be lived casually and restfully. What does Scripture say? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “True and False Zeal,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why this battle is so important for a follower of Christ. One way that Satan attacks is through one’s view of their own actions. He tries to keep them from finding the balance between the two extremes of activity for the kingdom of God. What are these extremes? The first is called antinomianism, which is an interpretation that disregards instructions in Scripture as things to be obeyed. On the other side is legalism, a view that demands a strict lifestyle with no room for obedience based on principle. Either of these views, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, will lead to a general slackness in one’s Christian walk and a failure to apply the truth to oneself. Christians are called to follow Christ and to demonstrate their love for Him by obeying His commands, but they must not allow this to build a worldly zeal within — rather, they must overcome this scheme of the devil by realizing that they must obey God out of a desire to please Him and know Him better.

When someone mentions “worldliness,” what comes to mind? In this sermon on overcoming worldliness from Ephesians 6:10–13, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps the listener come to a proper understanding of worldliness and how it affects the Christian walk. Worldliness, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is when one allows things that are good in and of themselves to occupy too big of a part in one’s life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that this happens when the Christian doesn’t allow their walk with Christ to overlap with the other areas of their life. Being a follower of Jesus means following His instruction for every action, thought, and desire one has. How can one prevent falling into the trap of worldliness? First, they must remember that salvation is not just to save one for eternity, but is also to save from sin now and deliver the Christian from the present evil. Second, Christians must be cautious of any hint of sin and run from the scent of it at all costs. At times it can seem like an impossible task but Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener that they are called to stand strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Jesus has overcome Satan, and the Christian can do the same because He is alive lives in those who believe in Him.

Christians are in the midst of a fierce battle; how can one fight and stand strong? An important step in this battle, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, is to recognize one’s role in this conflict— Christians are called to fight. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “The Call to Battle,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones tells of Paul’s two commands: to stand strong in the Lord, and to put on the full armor of God. What does this look like in practice? First, Christians must recognize the need to be strong— not only because they will need strength in order to stand until the final day, but also because they are the children of God and have the God-given ability to be strong. Next, Christians also need to realize their own weaknesses and need of help and this awareness helps the Christian to know the areas that can be potential trouble spots. Third, Christians must recognize that He is their source of strength. God has not called His people to live the difficult Christian life on their own. Rather, He wants them to lean on Him because that is the only way they will make it through. Instead of focusing on how capable one thinks they are, the Christian must meditate and focus on Christ’s strength and might because He alone is powerful enough to see them through this life.

How are Christians related to the power of God? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “God’s Battle, not Ours,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that Christians must remember that Jesus Christ is the captain of their salvation. Salvation is God’s work. Christians are individual soldiers in a great army fighting a great campaign. The ultimate perspective is not the individual’s fight, but God’s. The battle is the Lord’s. God is “leading many sons to glory” according to His scheme. The appointed leader of this plan is Jesus and as the Christian fights, they must remember that God is involved in it all with them. Therefore, they must realize this: this fight cannot fail because God’s honor is in it. This means their salvation is secure. Christians cannot “fall from grace,” because to do so means the power of God fails and the devil wins. That does not happen. Therefore those who are in Christ are secure and kept by the power of God at work in them. The devil can shout, rail, and threaten, but he cannot touch those in the kingdom of Christ. All believers are members of the body of Christ, empowered by His Spirit, and therefore kept from the devil triumphing over them in the end.

Christians are called to fight a spiritual battle but how are they to fight? What role do they play in this struggle? Are they to be passive, or are they alone to be the ones engaging the enemy? In this sermon on fighting in the Christian life from Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Who Does the Fighting?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on spiritual warfare and the responsibility that Christians have to be fighting in their lives. The phrase “Let go and let God” is popular today among many Christians, but is it Biblical? Are they to just surrender to God and let Him fight all of their battles? Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents strong arguments from Scripture that demonstrate otherwise. He argues that if this was the case, many of the exhortations seen in the New Testament to believers are unnecessary. Many passages in Scripture instruct the Christian to play an active role in fighting spiritual warfare—to resist the devil, put to death the deeds of the flesh, stop lying, fight the good fight, and many other such encouragements. God’s word is consistent and clear— followers of Jesus are commanded to take action. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also notes that this is a relatively new doctrine, and one that ignores Christian teaching on this subject that has been accepted for thousands of years. Because of these reasons, he says, Christians are to understand that their role in spiritual warfare is an active one.

Continuing his series through on Ephesians 6:10–13 with this sermon titled “Morale,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the believer and their role in the spiritual conflict which they are called to play a part in. Although many New Testament writers including Paul wrote that Christians are to actively fight sin and engage in spiritual warfare, he also says that they are to stand strong in the Lord. This seems to imply that they are to let go and trust God’s strength, but is that compatible with the rest of the instructions in the New Testament? Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides a helpful analysis of this. The resolution, he says, is that Christians are called to fight but also to rely on God for the power to fight. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides multiple Scriptural examples of how the Lord aids His followers. Instead of “letting go and letting God,” as many say to do, Scripture says to hold tightly. The Lord will pick up the other side, like a parent assisting their child with a load that is too heavy for the child alone. This, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is how the Christian is to fight the enemy successfully.

Christians over the centuries have found solace in the fact that this world is not the end. Realizing the things in heaven that await God’s people is an incredible source of encouragement. Believers have no need to be troubled by this life because they know that their real life is still to come. And yet, they are still called to live as Christians in this world until then, remembering that they are representatives of God. At times, this can seem impossible. How can they become stronger in the Lord and in the power of His might so that they can live as Christ calls them? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Food and Drink,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on practical steps the Christian can take to grow in the Lord. Just as infants need food to become strong, so the Christian must eat spiritual food regularly so that they can grow in the Lord. Jesus said that He is the bread of life and the drink that will cause Christians to never thirst again— the greatest longings are only satisfied in Him. He alone must be the sustenance, and they must run to Him over and over again to gain the strength that they need to live. How can one do this? Dr. Lloyd-Jones implores to spend time talking with Him and reading His word. This, he says, is how Christians can strengthen themselves for the daily spiritual battles they face.

In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Exercise,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the importance of Christians exercising their faith so that they can grow. Christ is the source of strength for a believer. Christians are told to run to Christ for their spiritual food and drink, and yet there must be something more— they must use spiritual food and drink for spiritual development. Christians must exercise their faith so that they can gain the strength needed to stand strong. Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives three practical ways to implement this exercise. First, the Christian must develop a certainty regarding the things of their faith. Second, Christians must exercise their faith by laying hold of the doctrines of Christianity and learn the Bible well so that they can communicate the hope of Christianity to a lost world. Third, they can look to the past and examine the lives of faithful Christians who have walked before in the midst of incredibly trying times. This, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, serves to encourage, inspire, and strengthen one’s faith. Through Christ, believers can stand strong in the midst of difficult times and this exercise of their faith will only serve to deepen their steadfastness.