Ephesians 1:1-6 (KJV) - “Paul, an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the
faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from
God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love: Having
predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of
the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Paul was so sure of who
called him and without doubt knew what he was called to do. May they fit this
description (Apostle Paul gave these three descriptions) -
1)
Saints
· They are saints - set apart, separated and called
out of this world. Set apart because they have been cleansed from what excludes
them from the presence of God and cleansed from pollution (the old nature).
· They are God’s own people; separated unto Him,
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1Peter 2:9)
Acts19:8-10 (KJV) – “And he went into the synagogue, and
spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things
concerning the kingdom of God.9 But
when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before
the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing
daily in the school of one Tyrannus.10 And this continued by the space of two years; so
that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews
and Greeks.”
·
Paul set apart disciples to teach in the
school of Tyrannus (Acts19:9).
·
Separated to learn at the feet of the Lord.
·
It means to exercise faith (Be not faithless
but believing) - Full of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
· Faith in the incarnate, believe that He came
in the flesh, believe in the fact that Christ came to die, His blood was shed
for the remission of our sin and that He is risen and seated on the right hand
of God the Father and believe in the person of the Holy Spirit.
·
Men who are faithful to that which is
committed to them.
3) Men who are in Christ Jesus
Prayer
Point
· Father, we thank You for choosing them before
the foundation of the world.
· Lord, we pray that they may know of a
certainty that they are men whose calling and election is sure.
· Lord, make our men disciples and disciplers
indeed who are ready to receive instruction and also instruct others in the way
of Christ (Acts19:1-6).
· Help them to continue and let there be no
break or drawing back (verse10.)
· Father, let there be a dramatic increase in
discipleship.
· Men who are leaders and training others to be
leaders also and willing to invest their time in the lives of others.
· Men who exemplify the life of fatherhood and
make both spiritual and biological sons after Christ.
· Men who are filled and full of the Holy
Spirit and manifesting in the fruits (inner life of Christ) and the gifts of
the Holy Spirit.
· Patient in service and being patient to serve.
· They keep the faith, hold to the faith,
contend earnestly for the faith, defend the faith, established in faith and
consistent in faith.
· Men who are reliable, dependable, blameless
and above reproach in Jesus name.
· Lord, may they always know that it is You
working through them and not of themselves.
The City of Ephesus (The world, their location)
·
Ephesus was a great city and a worshipper of
idol, paganism, magic.
·
They had mixed ethnicity (Greeks, Jews,
Egyptians).
·
Men were out to make merchandise of men
through sorcery and witchcraft.
·
The disciples of old also experienced the
challenges of our generation.
·
This present world is full of false religions,
idolatry, witchcraft and paganism.
·
We live in a society of mixed ethnicity.
·
Men are seriously making merchandise of men
in a grievous way.
·
They are in this world but not of this world.
For
Our Men of Courage
· Men who are different from the men of the
world.
· Lord, as the door of the city of Ephesus was
open to the Gospel, we pray that every location where You have positioned the
men will be an open door to preach the word.
· Father, let them walk in the authority You
have given them to confront evil and rebuke the works of darkness.
· Lord, as they go and preach Your Word (the
complete Gospel), let it be accompanied with signs and wonders.
·
Give them a word and wisdom that their hearers
will not be able to gainsay.
· Lord, as they preach the Gospel, may they by
Your spirit persuade and turn away the heart of men from false doctrines (Acts19:26)
and wreck havoc to the business of the merchandiser and let them be converted.
· Father, grant them a discerning spirit.
·
Make them flames of fire.
·
That they will have profound influence in the
world around them.
·
Arise oh Lord and scatter the enemy and show
forth Your praise; the gates of hell will not prevail over them.
·
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
give them grace and peace. (verse 2)
THE MEN ARE MATCHING ON (2X)
THE
GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL
THE
MEN ARE MARCHING ON
