A series of homilies on Ephesians
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 (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.
TEXT: Ephesians 1:12-16:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
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Charles Finney said, “A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God.”
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The greatest loss in life is not losing an arm or losing a friend or losing a fortune, it’s losing your relationship with God.”
In their book, The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever, Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter share with us: “As a young man preparing for ministry, Jonathan Goforth read Hudson Taylor’s book describing missionary work in China. He was already involved in work at an area rescue mission, but he was so impressed by what he read that he committed his life to serving God in China. Rather than join Taylor’s China Inland Mission, Goforth and his wife Rosalind served under the sponsorship of their local Presbyterian church.”
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One of the practices which Paul was faithful to throughout his ministry was praying for those saints who came to faith in Christ through his preaching. In verse 17, he tells the Ephesian believers, “I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” Paul praised God for their progress in spiritual growth, but he continued to pray for them on a consistent basis. In Romans, in Thessalonians, and in Philemon, Paul also expressed that he was praying for the believers in those churches as well.
This shows us that a minister’s job is not just to preach to God’s people and teach God’s people, but to pray for his people. We must remember that Paul did not stay at one church to pastor. When he wrote these letters, he was hundreds of miles away, yet he continued to aid their spiritual growth not just by his writings, but by his prayer to God for them.
We need more pastors who pray for God’s people behind closed doors. Ryan Fullerton said, “A pastor who fails to pray for his people is as unbiblical as a pastor who refuses to preach God’s Word. The prophet Samuel made this abundantly clear when he promised the people of Israel that he’d pray for them saying, ‘far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.’ To leave God’s people un-prayed for is to leave them uncared for, unprovided for, unprotected, and unled, ‘like sheep without a shepherd.’ We must learn to flee the sin of prayerlessness and to put on the righteous and wonderful habit of praying for God’s people.”
In the book of Acts, the twelve disciples who were leading the early church put prayer on the same level as preaching. They said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” They had seen Jesus repeatedly turn to His Father in prayer throughout his three-year ministry. How could they do any less?
Let’s pray.
Now, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, please keep in mind that the Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Just pray and ask Him to come into your heart and He will. I will be sharing more on the matter of salvation in the next segment of our service which starts in about 5 minutes.
Revival Prayer List
PRAY FOR SPECIFIC FAMILIES
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
— Anne
help her to study your Word well
— Anonymous
completely heal their sister
— Adele in Detroit, Michigan
bless her with a financial miracle
— Noviana in Medan, Indonesia
help her out with problems in her family and job
— Anne in Finland
bring complete healing to a young man who has brain cancer
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PRAY FOR CHURCH LEADERS
Paul said in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Leaders of the Episcopal Church
Rev. Gay C. Jennings
Rev. Dr. Wollom (Wally) Jensen
Rachel Jimenez
Wendy Karr Johnson
Sharon Jones
Heather Joseph
Malaika Kamunanwire
Christine Kandic
Michelle Karimi
Lauren A. Kata
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PRAY FOR GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS
1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
STATE CABINET MEMBERS
WASHINGTON
Rachelle Sharpe
Roger Millar
David Danner
Alfie Alvarado-Ramos
John Wiesman
Dorothy Frost Teeter
Joel Sacks
Pat Kohler
Major General Bret Daugherty
Sheida R. Sahandy
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 including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. 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.
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’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 