Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Spiritual Warfare: Questions and Answers

What does it mean to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being strong in the Lord means first realizing that we are not fighting a private battle but participating in God's cosmic conflict with evil. "The battle is not yours, but the Lord's," he explains. It means understanding that "God is involved in this question of your salvation and ours much more than we are ourselves." Rather than viewing our spiritual struggles as isolated personal challenges, we must recognize they are part of God's larger campaign where His honor is involved. This perspective transforms our approach to spiritual warfare, giving us confidence in the ultimate victory.

What are the two essential things needed to stand against the enemy according to Ephesians 6?

The two essential things Paul mentions in Ephesians 6 for standing against the enemy are: first, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might," and second, "take unto you the whole armor of God." Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the order is crucial - we must first understand our dependence on God's strength before we can properly utilize the spiritual armor He provides. This sequence is intentional and must be followed for effective spiritual warfare.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain God's power working around us in spiritual warfare?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that God's power works around us in several ways. First, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). He also cites Jesus' promise that "No man shall be able to pluck them out of his hand" (John 10), and Paul's assurance that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8). Lloyd-Jones also mentions the ministry of angels as "ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). This divine protection operates even when we're unaware of it.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about God's power working within believers?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that God's power not only works around us but also within us. He references Ephesians 3:16 where Paul prays for believers "to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man." He emphasizes Ephesians 3:20 which speaks of God "who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us." Lloyd-Jones also cites Philippians 2:13, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure," showing that God's power works internally to transform our desires and actions. This same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in believers.

How does understanding God's battle against Satan help Christians in their personal spiritual warfare?

Understanding that our spiritual struggles are part of God's larger battle against Satan helps Christians by shifting our perspective from personal weakness to divine strength. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "the ultimate battle is the battle between God and the devil, between heaven and hell, between light and darkness." This means "God's honor is involved in it all" and "God cannot allow the evil one to defeat Him." When we grasp this truth, we stop seeing ourselves as isolated soldiers fighting private battles and instead recognize we're part of God's victorious army. This understanding provides confidence, as Lloyd-Jones notes: "The more you realize this great truth, the more careful you'll be. This is the truth that makes people keep to the narrow path."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the relationship between Christ as head and the church as His body?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains this relationship using Paul's teaching in Ephesians 4:15-16, where Christ is described as the head of the church, which is His body. He emphasizes that believers are not "isolated units" or "just mechanically attached" to Christ, but organically connected. Just as a body derives all its strength and nourishment from the head, so believers receive spiritual power from Christ: "The blood that passes his head comes through my little finger, which I am, and all the nervous energy and the power, all the power here comes from the head." This intimate connection means "the power that is in the head is working in all the members of the body," providing divine energy to every believer.

What comfort does Dr. Lloyd-Jones find in God's involvement in our salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones finds tremendous comfort in knowing that salvation is God's initiative and not merely our personal struggle. He states, "God is involved in this question of your salvation and ours much more than we are ourselves." This brings comfort because God's honor is at stake in our salvation, meaning He will not allow us to be ultimately defeated. Lloyd-Jones highlights God's promise in Philippians 1:6 that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," and Peter's assurance that we are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" (1 Peter 1:5). This divine involvement means our salvation is secure because it depends on God's faithfulness rather than our own strength.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the idea that believers can lose their salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes the idea that believers can lose their salvation by arguing that it would imply God's defeat by Satan. He states emphatically: "to believe in the possibility of falling from grace is to believe in the possible defeat of God by the devil. And it's unthinkable and utterly impossible." He cites Romans 8, where Paul declares that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Lloyd-Jones argues that the final perseverance of the saints "is, of necessity, true in view of the glory and the character and the honor of God himself." Rather than leading to carelessness, this truth makes believers more vigilant, as they realize God's honor is involved in their spiritual lives.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the Holy Spirit's role in spiritual warfare?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in spiritual warfare by working powerfully within believers. He references Ephesians 5:18, where Paul instructs believers to "be filled with the Spirit," and highlights the Spirit's indwelling presence as promised by Jesus in John 14. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the Spirit's power in prayer, citing Romans 8:26-27 where "the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" when we don't know how to pray. The Spirit also works in evangelism, as Paul experienced when "the spirit was working mightily and overwhelmingly in him" (1 Thessalonians 1:5). This divine power within is greater than any opposing force, as "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones address the balance between God's work and our responsibility in spiritual warfare?

While focusing primarily on God's power in this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges the balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. He notes that "we have a great deal to do," but emphasizes that God's work must come first. He cites Philippians 2:12-13, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure," showing both aspects working together. He also references Colossians 1:29, where Paul says, "I also labor striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." Lloyd-Jones promises to "deal with this balance later on, because so many go wrong there," indicating the importance of maintaining both truths in proper relationship.