Christians are no longer servants of the world, but of God. They are God’s special people. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:14 titled “Marching Orders,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows how they should view the world in light of their life in Christ. It is important to realize that Christians are in the world but are not of it. Their citizenship is now in heaven, and the world is no longer their home. Because of this, they no longer focus on the temporary or materials things that do not last. Dr. Lloyd-Jones moves on to focus on the importance of preparation. Preparing for a place in heaven means casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of God. It means spending time and energy on preparing for the future home than using it on the temporary home. Lastly, Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes his sermon by focusing on the practical deductions of these truths. Most importantly, these truths need to be something that is practices, not just things that are said. Preparing for a future home and living for God calls for action. He encourages living these truths out in lives as the Christian walks with Christ.

In the Christian battle with the devil, one of the most important things to have is balance. Balance is what keeps the Christian from slipping and falling into the traps of the devil. But how does one have balance? How do they stand firm and fight against the devil? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:15 titled “Stand Fast,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how Christians are to shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace in order to obtain balance in battle. He explains how Roman soldiers would arm their feet with gripping sandals to provide firmness, mobility, and safety against traps. Similarly, when Christians arm their feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace, they are preparing and readying themselves to stand firm and plant their feet upon the solid rock of the word of God. It is what allows Christians to proceed confidently in the day of battle, knowing where they stand. Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes on to explain how it also represents watchfulness and readiness against the ever-present traps of the devil. It is through arming the feet for battle with the preparation of the gospel of peace that the Christian will be able to stand firm in the day of battle.

The Christian soldier must always be ready and prepared for action because the enemy is always active and his attacks are unexpected. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:15 titled “Mobility,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns to know the devil will do anything to get a Christian down. Paul exhorts believers to have “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” meaning there must be a firmness and a mobility, ready and prepared for action. Preparation is the element of mobility, which is of great significance in warfare. Christians must not only watch the enemy, but be ready to counter his moves and meet him where he is attacking. Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that this means the Christian cannot be sluggish of spirit, dull, or complacent. Like David, the Christian must be ready to fight in God’s way, no matter how impossible or ridiculous it seems. They must have firmness in strategy: the battle against the devil is the same as it always has been. But they must have mobility and adaptability that is always true to the fundamental teachings of Scripture, because the enemy is always varying his tactics. Christians hold onto old principles, but apply them in a manner that is effective against and adaptable to modern challenges.

Christians must realize that they are engaged in perpetual spiritual warfare. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:16 titled “The Shield of Faith,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that Paul exhorts believers to take up the “shield of faith.” He referred to other pieces of the armor of God as things to “have,” but Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this action changes to “take.” The shift is because the first three pieces of armor are fixed firmly to the body, but the shield must be taken up. People do not fight some general evil, but a particular spiritual person and others he commands. What are the “fiery darts”? Commonly, they are doubting thoughts, blasphemous words, and phrases that fill the mind and come to mentally discourage, depress, and defeat. Other darts inflame desires and passions, destroying peace, and contentment. Some are fiery trials of persecution, antagonistic people, or adverse circumstances. The “shield of faith” is the ability to quickly apply belief in answer to everything the devil does or attempts to do. Faith is not merely an intellectual belief or theory, but is always practical to apply truth. Faith never points to itself but to its object. The object of genuine faith is God, His character, and His promises. When attacks come, faith is actively dependent upon God and His grace in Christ.

Every part of the body must be covered for defense in warfare. In this sermon on the helmet of salvation from Ephesians 6:17, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones asserts that the spiritual application of the helmet of salvation is meant to deal with the whole of Christian life. A common problem is weariness or tiredness but Paul said to the Galatians, “Be not weary in well doing.” The campaign is long, the warfare is constant, and it can cause exhaustion. It is easy to be tempted to discouragement. A classic case is the psalmist looking at the wicked prospering and being tempted to give up on righteousness. The difficulty in life is to keep standing; the danger is to faint of weariness. How does one deal with it? The helmet of salvation is not just an awareness, but the hope of salvation for the Christian personally — not something being enjoyed now, but something that is coming. It is the hope of Christ’s coming and all that is contained in that teaching. There are steps and stages in salvation: “I am saved, I am being saved, I will be ultimately saved.” Whatever the strength and power of the enemy in this fight, the Lord’s is greater and ultimately triumphant and that is the final hope.

How do Christians use the “sword of the Spirit”? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:17 titled “The Sword of the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the sword of the Spirit differs from the other pieces in three ways: it does not protect any part of the body, it is a defensive weapon, and it is also an offensive weapon. The devil can terrorize people into hopelessness but the sword is the antidote. It is possible to resist the devil and cause him to flee. The Spirit is not the sword but provides the sword­—the biblical Scriptures—and enables the Christian to use it correctly. A general attack upon the truth is a strategy of the enemy to shake God’s people from the truth. This is done in many ways, including philosophy (humanity can encompass truth and find God out of their own ability and intellect) and knowledge (any knowledge that humanity has, but science in particular). The more one understands Scripture, the better they can identify the errors lobbed at them. If one doubts the truth and authority of the Bible, it is like having a broken sword in hand and they are already defeated by the enemy. Knowing Scripture in a detailed manner and being soaked in the whole of it is necessary to effectively reply to someone who calls truth into question.

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.

The main emphasis of “praying for all the saints” is intercessory prayer. Why does this matter? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:18–20 titled “Praying for All the Saints,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones challenges all believers who engage in the same fight for faithfulness, sharing a common salvation, and fighting a common foe. This is why public worship is so important. Christians must recognize that they are not alone. This battle not only involves all Christians, but it is God’s battle. Intercessory prayer is significant because failure at any point in the ranks affects the whole army. Christians must think of themselves in terms of the church, not individualistically. Praying that everyone in their position will stand is the way to avoid discouragement. One of the great mysteries of the faith is that prayer actually works. God could do everything without His people, but He has elected them and chooses to work through them. Therefore they are dependent on the prayers of others, and He commands His people to pray for one another. Intercessory prayer is the sovereign remedy for introspection and a morbid self-concern. In light of this, Christians ought to pray for all preachers of the gospel to speak boldly and rightly— keeping nothing back of the truth, not fearing people, but relying on God.