Prayer

Some say, “Doctrine divides, let’s focus on prayer.” But what is prayer without doctrine? Is prayer really the easiest thing one can do? Can anyone go to God in prayer? In this sermon on Hebrews 10:10–25 titled “Prayer,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that prayer is not easy. It is extremely difficult. Prayer is entering into God’s presence with a clean conscience and pure heart. How can anyone do this? It seems impossible. The conscience condemns and the heart proves the guilt. Yet, prayer is absolutely vital. It is essential to the Christian life. Listen to this sermon as Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only explains the problem in prayer, but shows the solution. Christians enter into prayer through the flesh of Jesus Christ. It’s through His incarnation and His death. The punishment which the law required was placed upon Jesus Christ. It’s been dealt with and, therefore, God cannot punish the sinner again. Since the law is satisfied, the conscience is satisfied. The Christian prays through Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Therefore, the Christian approaches the throne of God with fear, and also with great boldness. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out: this is all doctrine. Thus, doctrine cannot be separated from prayers.

Prayer

Take a look at the first persecution of the infant Christian church. In this sermon on Acts 4:1–37 titled “Prayer,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that it’s not the pew, nor the people, that determine the message being preached. This sermon takes a closer look at what the secret of prayer is and how one ought to pray. Prayers must not start with a person, but with God. Christians should learn to begin prayers by remembering and praising the one to whom they are praying. Prayer is coming into the presence of God. Approach Him in worship. One cannot focus on themselves and their problems, but should look at the God who controls everything, even His enemies. While the hand of people carry out works, it is the purpose of God that plans them. The church is not owned by people. When persecution comes, it is not person against person, but it is rather person against God Himself. Look at the prayer of the Psalmist in the second chapter and see where his concern is. God is the one who moves and shakes. “There is no difficulty about [understanding] miracles if you believe in an Almighty God.” There is great unity in Jesus Christ.

The Mystery of Prayer

Is prayer really important for every Christian? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that there are Christians who think there is no need to pray. “Trust God since He already knows everything,” they say. When they read Romans 8:26–27, they object: “This makes little sense. God knows all things already. We don’t know what to pray for. The Spirit prays for us. What point and purpose is there in praying?” In this sermon on Romans 8:26–27 titled “The Mystery of Prayer,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers very practical lessons regarding the mystery of prayer by answering questions about prayer including: “Why do we pray? Who should pray and who should not pray? How do we pray? What are the different types of prayer? What rules do we follow when we pray? What prayers are always acceptable to God? What cautions regarding prayer do we find in Scripture? Can we ever be confident when we pray for certain things?” The answers to these questions on prayer will encourage the Christian’s soul as they present their requests before God.

The Power of Prayer

Why is prayer difficult? Why do we need instruction to pray? In this sermon on prayer from Hebrews 10:19-22 titled, “The Power of Prayer,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and explains how to pray to God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that the uncertainty of the basis of Christian faith affects prayer and that Christian prayer is difficult because of three reasons: prayer is going into the presence of God, we have an accusing conscience, and our bodies are polluted with sin. Regarding the basis of the Christian faith, he says that without true doctrine you cannot pray. One must know the only way to pray is through the new and living way provided at the cross. Regarding the three reasons why prayer is difficult, we must pray with boldness by realizing that it was God himself who died on the cross for us. We must deal with an accusing conscience by realizing that we are sinners but those sins have already received punishment and were laid against the lamb of God. We must deal with pollutions by fighting sin through the new nature that is received through Christ. Finally, we must deal with the devil by remembering that Christ died for our sins. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by saying “go to him in full assurance of faith and he will hear you.”

Sanctification and Prayer

How should Christians live in this world? How do they demonstrate that they are children and heirs of God? In this sermon on prayer and sanctification from John 1:16, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the great doctrine of sanctification in the life of the believer. Sanctification is the process whereby the Christian is delivered from the world and prepared for the glory that awaits them. It is Jesus Christ being formed in them. Very practically it means living a life in the spirit and not in the flesh. As the Holy Spirit leads, guides, directs, and restrains the Christian, he also enables them to understand truth. This Spirit-led life is characterized by prayer for prayer is vital to sanctification. The believer will often find themselves in circumstances they don’t understand and are at loss for what they should do. In this infirmity, this moment of uncertainty, the Spirit is present and helps intercede on their behalf. It is the great privilege of the Christian to come before God and have fellowship with him through prayer.

Intercessory Prayer

Man is so tempted to put faith in his own abilities that prayer has often come as an afterthought. Learn about the concept of "prayer-backing" and the perversion of merely thinking man needs God's support. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this serious departure from what Scripture conveys as prayer. Look at the examples of Abraham, Isaiah, and Moses – all men of action, but moreso all men of great intercession. What is the greatest thing man can do at a time like this in history? Intercede before the throne of God! Are we to have greater zeal for denouncing sin or exalting the glory of God? Consider the example of Christ when He saw the state of the people – He was burdened for them. How ought we pray? Intercessory prayer is not mechanical, nor is it simple. Praying must always start with worshipping God, not presenting one's problem. Hear about Jeremiah's prayer as he reasoned and pleaded with God – even if those he was praying for were against him. Begin to see God’s larger plan of salvation. Pray and not faint; God is your only source of strength. Fall before Him and leave your petition at His throne.

The Way of Prayer

What role does prayer play in the Christian life? Christians can be surprised by the amount of difficulties and trials they encounter. Perhaps when they trusted in Jesus for their salvation, they were under the impression that all the negative aspects of life would disappear. But there is hope. In this sermon on Hebrews 10:19–22 titled “The Way of Prayer,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that Jesus promised that along with the increase in trials, His followers will have His power and protection to persevere through difficult times. The power and protection is accessed through prayer. This is found in the letter of Hebrews as an example to encourage believers to pray through trials. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides three biblical characteristics that should be consistent in how Christians pray. First, they must pray with confidence in God’s ability to handle requests. Second, they must have a clear conscience since prayer is entering into God’s presence. Third, Christians must be sincere with God. It is no use holding back even one percent of themselves since they must be willing to submit all to Him and His sovereign plan. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones helps the believer apply these characteristics of godly prayer to their lives. The only way to stand firm in persecution is to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith.

Prayer; Boldness and Access

In this sermon on Ephesians 3:12 titled “Prayer: Boldness and Access,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses the privilege and importance of prayer. The apostle Paul makes the point that Christians have access to God in prayer through Christ and can come with boldness and confidence. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also shows the importance of doctrine and practicing in one’s prayer life. If Christians focus on doctrine only, they will miss the point. But if all doctrine is abandoned and one simply hopes to “practice,” then the point is missed again. Rather one must know what God says about the Christian life, prayer, and faith in Christ and then apply those things in practice. How can one expect to come to God with boldness if they do not first understand how? Christians can boldly approach the throne of grace in prayer through faith in Christ; He has made the way. He is the access to God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives two principles to think about in prayer life. First, when coming to God in prayer, Christians must not rely on feelings, mood, or state of being to inform how to pray or if they pray at all. They must realize that these can be tools used by the devil to keep the Christian from prayer, to plague them with doubts, and remind of their sins. Secondly, Christians must preach to themselves. They must remind themselves over and over of the truths of Scripture. They must remind themselves in the throes of doubt that Christ is the redeemer and mediator. He is faithful to forgive and the Christian can boldly approach God in prayer through Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with this great reminder, “Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.”

Prayer Without Ceasing

What is the church’s greatest weapon? Some may say organizations or church events, but Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues in his sermon on Acts 12:5 that “our ultimate weapon is that of prayer.” The church has been through hard times since its existence, and Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that it is helpful to realize how the church has handled it in the past. In verse five, the answer is provided as to how the early church handled persecution — their prayer was made without ceasing. Dr. Lloyd-Jones seeks to deal with two aspects of prayer from Acts 12: “How does God answer prayer?” and “When does God answer prayer?” First, concerning the text, Peter was in prison during the last night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and therefore could not be put to death, but would be executed the next day. In light of this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones takes note of Peter’s ability to sleep— it was a gift from God. Also, God answered through the miraculous, as can clearly be seen by his escape. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the believer to have faith and expect answers to prayers. Second, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues from this text that God sometimes waits until the last moment to answer prayer in order to test and train.

Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Prayer is a beautiful gift that has been given to God’s people, but it is not a gift to be taken lightly. The Bible tells that when the Christian prays, they are to pray fervently in the Spirit. What then does it mean to pray in the Spirit? In this sermon on John 4:13–14 titled “Prayer and the Holy Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this topic by showing from Scripture how Christians should pray. He begins by saying that in order to pray in the Spirit, the Christian must be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. When this is done, the Holy Spirit will give the words to pray and will lead in prayer. It is through the Spirit alone that the Christian is able to have access to God, because it is the Spirit who enlightens the mind and reveals God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then shows that the result of praying in the Spirit is the realization of God’s presence. Prayer is a privilege to be in the presence of the holy God. It is this act of bowing down before the Lord in humility and following the leading of the Spirit that leads to true prayer.

Prayer; Drawing Near to God

In this sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores the topic of prayer and its challenges, focusing on Hebrews 10:19-22. The preacher begins by addressing the context of the epistle to the Hebrews, written to Jewish Christians who were becoming discouraged in their faith. He emphasizes the importance of prayer in the Christian life and highlights the difficulties that can arise when attempting to pray. Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines three main obstacles to prayer: entering into God's holy presence, dealing with an evil conscience, and overcoming a sense of unworthiness due to sin's pollution. He argues that these difficulties make prayer one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian life. The sermon then presents the solution to these challenges through the "new and living way" provided by Jesus Christ. This way is described as new, living, and based on the foundation of Christ's incarnation, perfect obedience, atoning death, resurrection, and heavenly intercession. Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses that this doctrinal understanding is essential for effective prayer. He explains how this new way addresses the three main obstacles to prayer: it is God's own appointed method, it satisfies the demands of God's law and our conscience, and it provides cleansing from sin's pollution. Dr Lloyd-Jones also touches on how this approach helps believers overcome accusations from Satan. In conclusion, Dr. Lloyd-Jones exhorts his listeners to rely solely on Jesus Christ and His finished work for access to God in prayer, rather than on human efforts, rituals, or earthly intermediaries. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing this "new and living way" in order to approach God with boldness and assurance, especially in times of uncertainty and potential persecution.

Prayer in the Spirit

What does it mean to worship God truly? This question has been answered by many different religious teachers. But according to Jesus, to worship God rightly is to worship in Spirit and truth. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the words of Christ from John 4:13–14 in this sermon titled “Prayer in the Spirit.” In this discussion with the woman at the well, Jesus explains that true worship is not about external things, such as where one worships, but rather about one’s heart and intentions. As Christians, God gives His Spirit to enable freedom from sin and think of Him rightly in worship. This true worship is not a matter of the mind only, nor is it simply emotions. But God’s Spirit works in the hearts of His people to allow them to pray to Him rightly and worship Him in truth. They are now free to come before the throne of God and praise and petition Him because of Jesus’s death and resurrection as the High Priest. In Jesus the Christian sees the futility of all worldly and fleshly worship, and that God desires the worship of those who love the truth.

The Congregational Prayers of Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Revival Sermon: Prayer for Revival

The church today focuses too much on doing what other religions can do. Other religions can teach a person to be moral and just. Other religions can create a sense of community and friendship. Other religions can do good things in the community. Christians tend to be content with these small things; content with the unexceptional and ordinary condition of the church. They must pray for revival. In this sermon on prayer for revival from Exodus 33:12–17 titled “Revival Sermon: Prayer for Revival,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the prayer of Moses where he prays for more. God had returned to Israel and Moses is grateful for this, but he wants more. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that praying for revival is praying for something extra, something more. Revival is not ordinary. It is a special, unusual, and exceptional move of God. The Christian praying for revival is no longer satisfied with the ordinary condition of the church. They pray for God’s glory to be shown, and cries from the “depths” that God may be known. True revival cannot be manipulated. The moment one believes this can be organized, they are in great danger. Listen in as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that church needs the power of God. The Holy Spirit must fall upon His people, and they must be revived.

Praying in the Spirit

What does the Holy Spirit have to do with prayer? In his sermon on Ephesians 2:18 titled “Praying in the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones seeks to impress on the believer the absolute necessity of prayer and of the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, praying in the Holy Spirit “is the very essence of prayer.” Also, in light of God’s stunning love that brings His children to Him, “prayer is the supreme activity of the human soul.” Many people think that prayer is as simple as saying “their prayers,” but Dr. Lloyd-Jones critiques the phrase “saying our prayers” as being antithetical to prayer itself. Prayer is much deeper than this simplistic understanding because it is a Holy Spirit-lead endeavor. Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes as far as to say, “The Holy Spirit is as essential to prayer as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.” According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jesus died that all might have access to the Father and the Holy Spirit makes real to the believer all that Jesus died for. Both must be held together if prayer is going to be true prayer.

How to Pray

In this sermon on Acts 2:41-42 titled “How to Pray,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones encourages the Christian to examine their prayer habits. This personal examination will reveal the true value a believer places on prayer. A lack of prayer is often traced to a lack of understanding what prayer is and how to go about it. Prayer means entering into the holiest of holies, the very presence of God, to have communion with him. In the Old Testament the reader finds detailed instructions for festivals, sacrifices, and the temple so that the Israelites would know how to approach God. Now, as believers in the time of the new covenant, instructions have been given in Scripture for how believers can approach God directly through prayer. They may approach God based on the work of the Lord Jesus and it is only with his help that prayer is made possible. This glorious truth leads to prayer focused on God as the Christian approaches boldly with thanksgiving and worship.

Praying Always

What role does prayer play in spiritual warfare? In this conclusion of his sermons on spiritual depression, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares the prominent role prayer must have in a Christian’s life. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:18 titled “Praying Always,” he expounds upon the words of the apostle Paul, who told the church in Ephesus to pray at all times with all prayer and supplication. Dr. Lloyd-Jones tells why Christians pray and to whom they pray. He asserts that prayer is a test for all that they claim to believe. The high road of prayer is self-examination—that Christians would discover how weak and ignorant they are so as to drive them to God. Prayer is vital, essential, and necessary because Christians have a capable enemy in the devil; thus they continually need the armor and power of God to do battle. Jesus and the many saints that have come before proved that prayer is the supreme achievement of the soul. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages to “keep your armor bright!” Prayer leads to knowledge of God, which leads to love of God, which defeats the enemy.

Revival Sermon: Preparatory Stages in Revival

Revival is conceived through the prayers of one who is burdened. Continuing the examination of where revival comes from, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that there are intermediate steps that are common before a revival begins. This begins with prayer. In this sermon on Exodus 33:12–17 titled “Revival Sermon: Preparatory Stages of Revival,” he explains three stages of prayer. This prayer toward revival begins with a longing for separation. As God used the intercession of Moses on behalf of rebellious Israel, it is explained that revival is initiated with the prayers of just one person. This one person feels a great burden for the people of God and wants to do something about it. He prays for holiness and separation from the ways of the world. There is a concern to be holy. This leads to an incredible assurance of God. Prayer turns from dread to delight as God promises His presence among the people. The praying church and individual then grow in expectancy, looking for and expecting change that only the Holy Spirit can bring. This change is not managed by people but by the sovereign Spirit of God. If the listener is burdened for the church in this world, Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages that revival begins with the prayers of one.

Revival Sermon: Wrestling for the Power

Has God turned His back on the church? Why does it seem that the people of God are powerless today? In this sermon on Isaiah 63:15–19 titled “Revival Sermon: Wrestling for the Power,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds upon a prayer of Isaiah in which the prophet recognizes the character of God and reviews the history of His people. In the prayer is found hope for the people of Israel, but more importantly, the Christian finds hope for themselves. Dr. Lloyd-Jones covers the characteristics of Isaiah’s prayer to show what prayers should contain. He notes the prayer’s urgency, importunity, emotion, and pleading. Isaiah is wrestling with God in his prayer—pleading for the nation of Israel, deeply aware of their sins and yet boldly petitioning God to have mercy. Isaiah begins by worshiping God, and then he notes his subsisting relationship with God. He asks where God’s strength and mercy are to be found. Finally, he pleads with God to look again upon His people and have mercy on them. Dr. Lloyd-Jones takes time to carefully explain some difficult words of the prayer in which Isaiah asks why God has hardened their hearts.

Praying in the Spirit

Nothing is more fatal than beginning the Christian life thinking trouble and problems are finished. In this sermon on praying in the Spirit from Ephesians 6:18, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the New Testament actually indicates the opposite of this. Rather, Christians should expect attacks as never before. What is the connection between “praying always” and the “armor of God”? Prayer is something Christians do in addition to putting on the armor. The armor provided by God cannot be used except in communion with God. Prayer is essential to the Christian life, for without it the Christian is faint. The apostle Paul speaks of “all prayer,” then “supplication.” First, he means all kinds of prayer in general — private, public, with or without words, orderly prayer, groans, etc. Then he specifies a certain kind of prayer: supplication, which is petition. The secret of true prayer is “in the Spirit.” Vain repetitions, merely uttering words out of habit or custom, is not praying. Praying in the Spirit means being concentrated and submitted to the Spirit, so that He creates, directs, orders, and empowers praying. It means recalling that the only way into the presence of God is in Christ. Praying in the Spirit is having fellowship with God, which ends in true worship.