The Strong Man Disarmed (Remastered)
This sermon is from the YouTube site, MLJTrust:
It is from the playlist, Armor of God: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvVtziP2bL635x3GqdxWCxozHSpFf8MYK
Description of the series Armor of God, from MLJTrust:
In this collection of 68 powerful sermons on the armor of God (spelled as Armour of God in some translations), Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones recognized that the Christian life is spiritual warfare, while understanding the whole armor of God is essential for success. In these sermons on the armor of God, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores each piece of the armor mentioned by the apostle Paul and examines the general principles of spiritual warfare.
Including the same sermons on the armor of God that composed Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ book, “The Christian Warfare: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10-13”, he also addresses the character and tactics of the devil, and how discouragement, anxiety, false zeal, lack of assurance, and worldliness come under the heading of “the wiles of the devil.” Understanding the nature of evil and the devil’s tactics is essential for successful Christian living.
If you’re looking for guidance on how to stand amidst this spiritual war and overcome the wiles of the devil, the MLJ Trust’s collection of sermons on the armor of God is an excellent resource. Gain a deeper understanding of this important aspect of Christian theology and equip yourself for the battle ahead.
Engage with the Armor of God in Scripture (or Armour of God in Scripture) and gain a deeper understanding of its profound implications for your daily walk as a believer. Learn how to put on the Full Armor of God, immersing yourself in the truth of God’s Word, standing firmly in righteousness, and being prepared to share the Gospel of peace.
These sermons on the Full Armor of God will equip you with practical strategies for spiritual warfare, empowering you to overcome the attacks of the enemy and live victoriously in Christ. Allow the teachings to inspire you to stand firm, fully clad in the Armor of God, as you navigate the challenges of life and engage in spiritual battles. [End description.]
The sermon in this post is #12 from MLJ’s series, Armor of God. The last sermon I published was sermon #7. The twelfth sermon is all they currently have posted. Although I have listened to all of them more than once, I am only going to post the ones that are most significant to me.
I highly recommend that you subscribe to the site and listen to a sermon a day on your drive to work…. I think MLJ is the most biblical preacher I have heard in my 20 years of listening to sermons (John Calvin also).
I have posted many other fine biblical preachers in this blog, but his style (and Calvin’s) is most appealing to me: no jokes; very few secular references; many scriptural references; he takes the time to address false systems along the way and his attitude is serious. Oh, and most significantly, he is not in a hurry to preach the word, but he even takes more time than MacArthur when going through a book of the Bible. Those things help me to focus rightly and to get more from his messages.
I want to mention a significant thing I learned in message #11. There was some overlap in the previous messages between #7 and #11, and the sermon short I used to open #7, by John MacArthur (JM), wherein he talked about the measures God took to restrain evil and restrain sinners in the world, I was first acquainted with via such by JM, but I got another piece of the larger puzzle this morning when MLJ implied that God restrains evil in the world via His church, it occurred to me, that God accomplishes that when members of the church are fighting to stand against evil by seeking God’s grace (the subject of sermon #11). It seems that I grasped that from hearing several sermons this morning, the cumulative effect?
When that point registered upon me, I realized that it is important that I more diligently seek God’s grace that I am able to stand against evil; and that I do that in an effort to honor God. I knew those things before but not the way I know them now. I have a greater sense of purpose presently, than I did before. I needed the hope that comes from a greater sense of purpose because I have been feeling discouraged and beaten down recently.
A sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians 6.10-13 https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book…
“Whatever the outlook may be, however dark it may be, God has his plan, his purpose, his very hour, his exact moment, and nothing can or ever will prevent his acting in his own time.” ―Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against…
Sermon Description [by MLJTrust; divided for ease of reading; emboldening mine]:
Because of Adam’s sin, the whole world became subject to sin and the rule of Satan. The devil, also called the prince of the world, blinds people from seeing and believing in the truth of the gospel.
In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “The Strong Man Disarmed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes the way Christ has broken the grip that the evil one has on the world. For Jesus has bound the strong man and by the proclamation of the gospel, the works of Satan and all who follow him are destroyed.
This means that Christians can take the gospel to the ends of the earth knowing that Jesus has overcome the evil forces that once dominated this world. Even while Satan and his demons still have some control and influence in the world, the day will come when Christ will return and vanquish the devil and all who worship him once and for all.
As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, Christ Jesus will bring to completion that which He started on the cross when He comes again to bring the new heaven and earth.
This gives all who love Christ confidence and boldness knowing that He has overcome the devil and will finally defeat him on the last day.
Sermon Breakdown [by MLJTrust]:
- The sermon begins by introducing Ephesians 6:10-13 which talks about spiritual warfare.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones then gives an overview of the biblical narrative of redemption from Genesis to Revelation. God has had a plan of salvation before the foundation of the world.
- The Old Testament shows how even the greatest men failed against the devil. Men are in a hopeless condition without God.
- God instituted common grace – government, culture, etc. to restrain sin. But men still need God’s special grace through Christ.
- The ministry of angels was present in the Old Testament, especially the Angel of the Lord who was the pre-incarnate Christ.
- The Old Testament looks forward to the coming Messiah who would defeat the devil.
- When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son (Galatians 4:4-5). Christ came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
- The devil attacked Christ’s coming and ministry at every point – through Herod, the Pharisees, the temptation, etc. But Christ prevailed.
- Christ defeated the devil through His death and resurrection. “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31).
- As a result, the devil is defeated, the kingdom is open to Gentiles, the Spirit is poured out, and Christ is gathering His people.
- Christ will come again to destroy the devil and his followers forever. The kingdoms of the world will become Christ’s.
- God will make a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. The original rebel (the devil) and his followers will be destroyed.
- Christ, the Second Adam, has triumphed where the first Adam failed. He has defeated the devil and his forces. Glory be to God!
Video-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@MLJTrust/videos
Playlist-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@MLJTrust/playlists