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 2:1-3:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
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G. Campbell Morgan said, “We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again.”
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The tragedy in our colleges and seminaries right now is that we turn men out who know the word of God. But that is never going to turn the world upside down. The question is not whether they know the Word of God; the question is: Do they know the God of the Word?”
In their book, The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever, Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter share with us: “Perhaps the earliest recorded outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the First Great Awakening was experienced by a small group of Moravian Christians in Herrnhut, Saxony (Germany), as they gathered to observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper on a summer evening in 1727. Those who gathered experienced the presence of God so profoundly that the prayer meeting begun a few days later continued twenty-four hours a day for more than a hundred years. Out of that prayer meeting, hundreds of missionaries were sent to carry the gospel to unreached peoples around the world.”
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Paul wrapped up Ephesians chapter 1 by emphasizing the power of God. Paul viewed Jesus’ resurrection as the greatest example of God’s mighty power. In chapter 2, he begins looking at how this power affects and transforms us.
God’s power is evident in the fact that believers are now spiritually alive. Verse 1 reads, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” The word “quickened” means to make alive.
Paul does not want the Ephesians to forget where they have come from. They were once dead to God. The spirit, the most important part of a human being, was not alive. The condition of being dead spiritually dictates a person’s behavior physically and mentally. A spiritually dead person is also a trespasser and a sinner.
A trespasser is one who has crossed a line or attempted to cross a line. God has drawn a line in the universe. Some things are good, some things are bad. Contrary to modern humanist belief, even the unsaved man knows that there is a difference between right and wrong. God is firmly on the side of that which is right, good, holy, and righteous. Those who cross the line into sin, evil, and darkness are trespassers and enemies of God.
Without the mighty power of Jesus working to provide a way of salvation, everyone would remain an enemy of God forever. God’s mighty power converts trespassers, sinners, and dead men who are enemies of God, into saints who are spiritually alive and who are the friends of God.
We are praying for revival and awakening in this nation and the world. We must never forget that it will not be done in our own strength. It will only be done through the mighty power of God who makes dead men live.
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.”
— Linda and Wade in Ledyard, CT
for her prodigal husband to return to You and come home
— Naeem
to keep him safe as he begins full time ministry in Pakistan
— Virginia in Barbados
for her nephew, Fachad, to be released from prison; for her husband to stay employed; for her to become debt free
— Kenesha in Kenosha, WI
bless her as a single mother, provide for her and her children; give her the right kind of job that pays well; lead her to a good church home
— Pastor John and Scovia in Uganda
for money to pay for their house; blessings and provision for their church
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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
Pamela Stewart
Jennie Tung
Rosa Urdaneta
Scott van Pletzen-Rands
Winfred B. Vergara
June Victor
Sikhumbuzo Vundla
Michael H. Walsh
Sherri Siegel-Quinones
Barry M. Signorelli
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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
Mary Elizabeth Bailey
Robert C. Brown
Christopher L. Johnson
Lesley Bilby
Sharron Burton
David A. Dickerson
Gail Russell
Anya Carnes
Doug Hogan
Ricki Gardenhire
Rodney C. Stewart
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 