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 4:7-8:
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
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Art Katz said, “A church with apostolic foundations is that body of people whose central impulse and principle of life, being, and service is one thing only, namely, a radical and total jealousy for the glory of God.”
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The surest thing in the world is not death and taxes, it’s death and eternity. Yet, we’re so unconcerned.”
In their book, The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever, Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter share with us: “At the end of the Revolutionary War, only 40,000 settlers were located in the hills of western North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the area called the Appalachian Region. But within fifty years more than a million people moved West, seeking free lands, a new life, and freedom. These people needed structure and civilization, but most of all they needed God. The Methodist circuit preachers organized themselves into societies and brought the frontier to God. Eventually, the camp meeting became popular there. It offered a break from hard, backbreaking work, monotonous days, and lonely separation from civilization.”
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Notice today the manner in which God grants spiritual gifts to His children. Paul says He gives “according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Some Christians spend their time worrying about why they don’t have this gift or that gift. Some worry about why their ministry is not as big as somebody else’s ministry. Some believe that they are not as spiritually “gifted” as somebody else. Well, Paul is telling us in this verse that the spiritual gifts were given out according to the measure of Christ. In other words, you have exactly the amount of spiritual giftedness that Jesus wants you to have. Jesus is the one who doled out the gifts and said give this to him, give this to her, etc.
John MacArthur said the term “measure” tells us that the “specific portion given is by sovereign design from the Head of the church. The Lord has measured out the exact proportion of each believer’s gift. The exact proportion of enabling grace on the part of God is linked with the exact proportion of enacting faith on the part of each believer; and God is the source of both. The sum of this is that God gives both the grace and the faith to energize whatever gift He gives to the full intent of His purpose. In light of the truth just stated, it is clear that since they are sovereignly given, no gifts should be sought; that since they are essential elements in God’s plan, no gifts should be unused; and that since they come from the Lord, no gifts should be exalted.”
If you have the gift of evangelism, that doesn’t mean you have to be the next Billy Graham. Jesus gave you the measure of the gift that He intended for you to have. That might mean you become the Billy Graham of your state, or the Billy Graham of your city, or the Billy Graham of your neighborhood. Jesus needs faithful workers at every level of service. You should not show disdain for your own gift just because it appears to be small. If you are constantly wondering why you haven’t “blown up” yet, you need to consider whether or not it is in God’s’ plan for you to blow up or if you just want to blow up to feed your pride and satisfy your ego.
Kittie Suffield wrote:
In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.
Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown, and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.
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.”
— Jordan in Sheridan, Indiana
provide Jordan Vira, Eleanor Vira, Kyle Jones, Kylen Vira, and Kayden Vira with a financial breakthrough to meet all obligations including rent, food and utilities;
give them emotional and spiritual healing, for doors to open for them to be able to move out of Las Vegas, Nevada to a place where You will lead and ordain them
— David in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania
deliver Elena Suciu Pop from all problems and be with her 11 children
— Daniel
provide for their charity ministry and church planting ministry
— Ann in Carson, California
give her a financial breakthrough
— Delores in Oklahoma
deliver her from alcohol
heal her body and mind, restore her soul
provide her a place to live of her own, bless her finances, and give her direction
have her children, Shaun, Amber, Julian and Zoe’ to be saved, and have their relationship to be restored
open doors for her ministry
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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 Pentecostal Church
Ron Fredericks
Joel Boyles
Butch Deer
David Hammond
Tom Murray
Robert Arevalo
Jake Bunnn
Hallie Brown
Garry Bryant
Ben Spearman
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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.”
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
Christine Rolfes
Mark Schoesler
Tim Sheldon
Dean Takko
Judy Warnick
Kirk Pearson
Jamie Pedersen
Kevin Ranker
Ann Rivers
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 