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 1:18-23:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
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Frank Bartleman said, “A revival almost always begins among the laity. The ecclesiastical leaders seldom welcome reformation. History repeats itself. The present leaders are too comfortably situated as a rule to desire innovation that might require sacrifice on their part. And God’s fire only falls on sacrifice. An empty altar receives no fire!”
Leonard Ravenhill said, “I want to see something that God builds. I want to find some people so hungry for God that every night they want to pray. We’re not going to move America any other way. We’ve tried every scheme, every fancy thing, and we try and work something up, but what we need is for somebody to come down. Some person! Not a new theology, a person! Jesus Christ!”
In their book, The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever, Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter share with us: “The First Great Awakening flashed like a bolt of lightning on a dark night across the German skies, crossed the ocean to America, jumped over to England, and from there went on to touch the world. God had said, ‘I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh,’ and in this awakening we see clear evidence of the fulfillment of that promise: The Holy Spirit began falling on the aristocracy of Germany, the poor masses of England, and the rich merchants of Connecticut.”
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As we close out our study of Ephesians chapter 1 today, I call your attention again to the fact that all things are under the feet of Jesus Christ and that He is the head of all things. When we talked about this previously, we spoke of Jesus’ authority over those forces which oppose the church — the world, the flesh, and the devil. However, we must also realize that we, God’s people, have Christ as our head. We are also under His rule.
While we are a part of God’s family and share in Jesus’ inheritance, we are in no way on the same level as Jesus Christ. He is our Master, and we are His servants. He is the head and we are the body. We owe Him our allegiance and our obedience. The church is ineffective and dysfunctional when it begins operating in opposition to the direction of its head, Jesus Christ.
God made Adam, and Adam was to be obedient to God as his Head. Adam, however, disobeyed and brought down sin, death, and destruction on the human race. Jesus Christ has made us new creatures in Himself. Unless we abide by the leadership of our Creator, we, too, will mess up the good thing that God has given us by His mercy and grace.
Ultimately, we must remember that it is all about Jesus. That is why Paul includes this last phrase: “the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” The word “fulness” describes “the body of believers, as that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, and riches of God and of Christ.” When we look at what He has done for us and through us, we can do nothing less than be obedient to Him. Through obedience, we will also find victory.
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.”
— Mindy in the U.S.
For her small business to find success; for her husband’s job to be blessed and protected; for their 2 daughters to be successful in their studies and work
— Lucette in Abilene, Texas
for her friend Bikash and his atheist friend to be saved
— Linda in Fort Worth, TX
For total healing for Anthony;
for her brother to be completely delivered from alcohol & grief over the murder of his only son;
for her daughter to come back to You
— Teresa in Albany, GA
for her daughter and oldest son to recover from the death of their brother and to be healed
for Teresa to stay strong
— Lillian in Somerset
For Your blessings to be upon her Christian ebook that it would make more sales
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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
Sherri Siegel-Quinones
Barry M. Signorelli
Christopher Sikkema
Sylvia Simioni
Bronwyn Clark Skov
Adrienne Smart
Mike Smith
Stephanie Spellers
Lura Steele
E. Mark Stevenson
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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.”
KENTUCKY STATE CABINET MEMBERS
Diane Marcus
Barney Kinman
Andrew English
Lee VanHoose
Roger Crittenden
Whitney Westerfield
Darryl Owens
Thomas B. Stephens
Christine Trout
Jenny Goins
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 