A series of homilies on Ephesians 5 & 6
A homily is “a short talk on a religious or moral topic; a usually short sermon; a lecture or discourse on or of a biblical theme.”
I am sharing a verse-by-verse series of short messages on Ephesians 5 & 6 (as well as other passages of Scripture) specifically targeted at reviving families and encouraging and exhorting husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and children to do what God has commanded them to do, for if the church is to be revived and the country is to be awakened, the family must be revived first.
Ephesians 5:28-33:
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
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Phillip J. Swihart and Wilford Wooten said, “Scripture directs us to honor parents. Obeying parents, however, is clearly time-limited. If we’re still trying to obey Mom and Dad, we’re not leaving them and cleaving to our spouse. While it may be difficult to defy their spoken or unspoken wishes, there may be times when it’s necessary.”
Leonard Ravenhill said, “At this grim hour, the world sleeps in the darkness, and the Church sleeps in the light.”
In order for a man to become one with his wife, there must be some semblance of leaving other familial ties behind. The Bible says, “For this cause [for the cause of being joined to one’s wife] shall a man leave his father and mother…”
One of the best things God led me to do for my family when my wife and I got married was to not stay closely tied to either of our families. There is some biblical precedent for a man and his immediate family leaving their extended family behind — moving away geographically — in order to pursue the specific purpose God has called that man and his family to accomplish. Abraham is one such example. God told him to move away from his extended family who were caught up in the worship of false gods, as God wanted to reveal Himself to Abraham and start a new race of people through him.
Now, husbands, you may not have to move away from your extended family in a geographical sense, but you must move away from them in a spiritual and relational sense. As the leader of your home, God is your head — not your mother or your father or your wife’s mother or father. Many marriages have been ruined by husbands and/or wives not cutting inappropriate ties with their respective mothers and fathers.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary states, “This verse is a free rendering of Genesis 2:24, indicating that the bond between husband and wife is greater than that between parent and child. The greatness of the mystery refers to the two becoming one flesh.”
‘Leave and cleave’ is a biblical command. Make sure you are obeying it in your marriage, and be blessed.
Revive the Family Prayer List
PRAY FOR SPECIFIC FAMILIES
— Kailash in South Africa
help him with the finances he needs to complete his MBBS degree/medical education
help him to use his calling to change the lives of others
— Ricardo
deliver him and his elderly father from demonic attacks
— Candice in Chicago
provide her with a job and help her to get her life back on track
bring unity back to her family
bless her kids with good health and give them safety
— Adeniyi in Lagos, Nigeria
provide him with divine intervention and help him to get married
give him a house of his own and ministerial breakthrough
— Doreen Meke in Malawi
be with her and her family
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PRAY FOR CHURCH LEADERS
Members of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention
James W. Averett of Alabama
Paul S. Hicks of Alabama
Benjamin F. Kelley of Alabama
R. Ron Madison of Alabama
D. Wayne Myrick of Alabama
Charles S. Worthy of Alaska
Tim W. Brasher of Arizona
Clay Hallmark of Arkansas
Paul E. McPherson of Arkansas
Pat J. Pavlian of California
Rolland E. Slade of California
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PRAY FOR GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS
U.S. CONGRESSPEOPLE
Andy Barr
Joe Barton
Karen Bass
Joyce Beatty
Xavier Becerra
Dan Benishek
Ami Bera
Donald S. Beyer
Gus M. Bilirakis
Mike Bishop
Rob Bishop
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University School of Divinity. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for over twenty-seven years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
BCNN1 WP 