Podcasts about spirit ephesians

Send us Fan Mail“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).“And being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,' He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' … ‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'” (Acts 1:4-8).Freshly written and sent out immediately "morning by morning" from the morning prayer time of Tommy Hays each day.God bless you and you have a great day!—Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministrieshttp://messiah-ministries.org

We prepare for spiritual warfare through prayer in the Spirit. We persevere in spiritual warfare through prayer in the Spirit. We partner for spiritual warfare through prayer in the Spirit.

Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...

Wednesday, 19 August 2026   So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. Matthew 22:10   “And having departed, the ‘servants, those' into the roads, they gathered all, as many as they found, evil, both, and good. And it filled, the nuptial – reclinings.” (CG)   The previous verse noted that the king said to his servants to go through the through-departures and as many people as they found, to call them to the nuptials. He next says, “And having departed, the ‘servants, those' into the roads, they gathered all.”   Out they went, dutifully looking for people to attend the wedding ceremony. One can imagine the apostles and early disciples, once finding that Gentiles were to be a part of the kingdom, actively going out and sharing the good news.   Those who heard this parable would remember it and consider that the plan waswe set and all they needed to do was engage their feet and get going. What they had no idea about was the scope of the task, either in expansion or in time –   “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'” Acts 1:6-8   When Jesus was departing, these disciples were still thinking of the promised earthly kingdom, not realizing that two-thousand years would pass, and that every nation on the planet was to be evangelized. Nations that didn't exist at the time would participate in the process.   As the world has evolved, the priority has remained unchanged in the lives of those who have accepted the call to continue inviting others to the coming event. That is in fulfillment of the words of the parable, saying, “as many as they found, evil, both, and good.”   A new word is seen here, te, a primary particle of connection or addition. Generally, it is translated as both or also. HELPS Word Studies says it “occurs 204 times in the NT and unfortunately is often not translated.” They rightfully rue over the fact that translators do not include such articles, as if they are unnecessary.   Of the words of this clause, Cambridge says, “bad and good] Who will always co-exist in the Church on earth.” Other commentators repeat the same thought. That misses the point and incorrectly explains the parable. This is not referring to bad people who remain bad in the church, as if they will or will not participate in the event. This is referring to the state of those who are called, when they are called.   No person is to be excluded from hearing the gospel. The “good” people who are honest, responsible with their lives, pay their bills by working decently, etc., need Jesus. The “bad” people like drug addicts, prostitutes, swindlers, and politicians(!) need Jesus too. All are invited to respond favorably to the good news. Someday, the last person to be evangelized will hear and respond. At that time, the rapture will take place, “And it filled, the nuptial – reclinings.”   Well, we don't need to worry about what the seating arrangements will be like. The idea of “reclinings” is the Middle-Eastern style of sitting at a low table. Of this style of dining, the Topical Lexicon says it –   “...portrays the first-century practice of reclining on a couch while partaking of a meal. In Scripture it frames scenes of fellowship, invitation, judgment, and eschatological promise. The posture itself is never incidental; it locates the participants within covenantal meals that anticipate the Messianic banquet and reveal the heart of Christ for sinners and saints alike.   Cultural Background of Reclining   By the early Roman period Jewish and Gentile diners adopted the Greco-Roman triclinium. Guests lay on the left side, feet extended outward, right hand free for eating. Reclining indicated belonging, honor, and enjoyment. Servants moved among the couches; hosts signaled welcome through seating order.”   Life application: As noted above, those who are in the church and who do not believe will not be a part of this event. The rapture will take those who are sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14). Our job is to tell others about Jesus. Their job is to believe.   Those who join a church and don't believe, for whatever reason, will not be taken. It is the sealing of the Spirit, something known by God, that will bring about our being taken to the feast that is coming. This gives good reason why the strong delusion Paul refers to in 2 Thessalonians 2 will be possible.   Although we don't know who is or who is not sealed with the Spirit, it is rather certain that the Pope has no personal relationship with Jesus. This unbelief permeates much of the Roman Catholic church, along with leaders and adherents of many major denominations.   When the rapture happens, and they are not taken, it will be easy to dismiss the event. They sit smugly in their religiosity, thinking they are the center of God's plans and purposes. The world, too, looks at them as the representatives of “true” Christianity. As such, their being left behind will provide a simple means of beginning this strong delusion.   Lord God, help us to diligently tell those around us about the prospect of eternal life in Your presence, paid for solely by the merits of Jesus Christ. May we never water down the gospel. There are no works of our own that will bring us any closer to You. Our faith in His works is the ticket. Thank You for this wonderful gesture of love and reconciliation. Amen.  

“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬)

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭17)

Sunday morning sermons from Vertical Church St. Paul.References:Sources & citations• Ephesians 6:17; 6:13; 6:18 — the armor / the fourfold “stand” / sword-and-prayer as one sentence. Berean Bible Church, Eph 6:17–20• Isaiah 59:16–17 — the Divine Warrior puts on the same armor Paul lists; Septuagint word-parallels. Bible Hub cross-reference; Desiring God, "Sacred Weapons"• Isaiah 49:2, 49:16 — “mouth like a sharpened sword”; “engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Bible Gateway, Isaiah 49• Genesis 3:1 — “Did God actually say...?” Bible Gateway• Genesis 3:24 — the flaming sword guarding the way to the tree of life. Bible Hub• Genesis 1:3 — “Let there be light.” Bible Study Tools• John 19:34 — the spear pierces Jesus' side; blood and water confirm His death. Bible Hub• John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.” GotQuestions• 2 Timothy 3:16 — all Scripture “breathed out by God” (theopneustos). GotQuestions• Hebrews 4:12, 4:16 — living/active word that pierces; the throne of grace three verses later. Bible Gateway, Hebrews 4• Matthew 4:1–11 — Jesus answers temptation with “It is written.” Enduring Word, Matthew 4• Revelation 19:15 — the sword from the mouth of the returning King. Bible Hub• Revelation 19:13 — the returning King named “The Word of God,” robed in blood. Bible Hub• Revelation 22:1-2, 14 — the tree of life restored, gates open, no barring sword. Bible Gateway• Romans 8:1, 8:39 — no condemnation; nothing can separate. Bible Gateway, Romans 8• J.I. Packer, Knowing God — “graven on the palms of his hands... never out of his mind.” The Gospel Coalition• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and Fall / Temptation — “The temptation of Christ was harder...” Quotefancy• Martin Luther, Works, Vol. 51 — “I did nothing; the Word did everything.” Gentle Reformation• Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved — “You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.” Henri Nouwen Society• Charles Spurgeon — “edge all over... keen to cut.” Goodreads; on the Word as sword / Christ-centered, The Spurgeon Centerbereanbiblechurch.orgEphesians 6:17-20 - The Pertinence of Prayer : Berean Bible ChurchDesiring GodSacred Weapons for Spiritual War: Wearing the Whole Armor of God

Episode Description: What happens when human vocabulary completely runs out of ways to describe the majesty of God? In this episode of For Zion's Sake, hosts Shelly and June Volk explore the radical, barrier-breaking language of Ephesians chapter 3. Shelly returns to the New King James Version to highlight how the Apostle Paul famously utilized the Greek prefix huper (hupa) to stretch the limits of language—proving that God doesn’t just answer prayers; He responds exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever dare to ask or think. June shifts the perspective to eternal weight, reminding listeners that our hope stretches far past this temporary life into the reality of a resurrected, first-fruits existence. Together, they trace the theme of divine abundance across the landscape of Scripture—from the overflow of an "abundant pardon" in Isaiah to the "abundance of peace" promised in the Psalms. Tune in to learn why human capability fails, why the Holy Spirit is your only true engine for eternal significance, and how to step directly into a realm that operates far above natural understanding. Key Takeaways from This Episode: The Power of Huper: Shelly breaks down how standard Greek was insufficient for Paul’s epistles, requiring him to stack prefixes to emphasize that God’s grace, pardon, and operations are super-abundant. Eternal Significance Over Human Effort: Shelly highlights that while humans can keep busy doing many things, true spiritual power is reserved for actions that carry eternal weight—which is only possible through the active indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A Cross-Scriptural Pattern: Connecting Ephesians 3:20 to a larger biblical tapestry of abundance, including Isaiah’s promise of an abundant pardon and the Psalms' assurance of an abundance of peace. The Fullness of the Godhead: Exploring how God calls believers to inherit a total spiritual ecosystem—the fullness of Jesus (Ephesians 4), the fullness of the Spirit (Ephesians 5), and the total fullness of God. Scripture References Mentioned in This Episode: The Anchoring Prayer: Ephesians 3:14-21 The Supply Standard: Philippians 4:19 The Multiplied Riches: Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:7, and 1 Timothy 1:14 The Prepared Domain: 1 Corinthians 2:9 / Isaiah 64:4 The Sufficiency Clause: 2 Corinthians 3:5 The Inner Mechanics: Philippians 2:13 The Mandate for Power: Acts 1:8, 1 John 4:13, John 14:26, and Acts 19:6 Spirit vs. Flesh: John 6:63 The Abundant Pardon: Isaiah 55:7 The Abundance of Peace: Psalm 37:11 An Abundant Entrance: 2 Peter 1:10-11 Support & Connect with For Zion's Sake: For Zion's Sake is a broadcast dedicated to strengthening believers in their faith and praying for Jewish kinsmen to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as the Messiah. Visit Us Online: Find full archives, updates, and resources at shellyandjunevolk.com. Write to Us Directly: For Zion's Sake P.O. Box 244 Kannapolis, NC 28082 Support the show: https://shellyandjunevolk.com/product/partner-with-us-psalm-127-fund/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sermon preached by Jonny Lim at the Evangelical Christian Church of Dubai on Ephesians 1:13-14.

Paul finishes his letter to the Ephesians with the topic of prayer. Prayer is ultimately tuning our hearts to what God is already doing, remembering who he is, and our way to take up the armor we've been talking about in this sermon series. Listen as we wrap up our Masterpiece series and discuss prayer as a way to stay connected to God in all situations.

Gifts from the Spirit (Ephesians 4:7-16)

Ephesians 6 reminds us that Scripture, brought to life by the Holy Spirit, is far more than ancient text. It's a living, breathing source of strength for battles we face today. When we know God's Word deeply, we can stand firm against doubt, fear, and every lie that tries to steal our peace. Listen now and be inspired to pick up your Bible with fresh eyes and let the Spirit make it come alive in your heart.

Morning Service

What does it really mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?On Pentecost Sunday, we explored the invitation not just to understand the Spirit—but to experience His power, pursue His presence, and walk in purity.In Acts of the Apostles 1–2, the disciples were told to wait—and when the Holy Spirit came, everything changed. Fear turned to boldness. Ordinary people became powerful witnesses. Lives were transformed.And that same invitation is still open today.In this message, we look at:⚡ Power – The Holy Spirit enabling us to live and witness beyond our own strength❤️ Purity – The Spirit forming Christlike character in us

Sunday Sermon from the book of Ephesians from John Bourgeois on May 24, 2026. Our hope for you is that you will know, love, and follow Jesus Christ -- leading to personal transformation, intimate community, and a life of radical mission. You are always welcome to join us for worship at West End Community Church.For more info, please visit the WECC website at westendcc.org

Our Current Situation Jonathan Parnell Download Acts 1:1-11,In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”Acts 2:1-4,When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Today, on Pentecost Sunday, it has seemed good to the elders to have a sermon that addresses our current moment. Now, if you've been around for the past few months, you know that we've not ignored our situation — we have tried to ‘keep our eyes on the base' ahead of us, and every now and then we've said things behind this pulpit, and I've written things, to try to guide us through these days. But what makes today different is that I want to address everything a little more ‘on the nose,' as it were. My hope is to be as clear as possible. I want to tell you three realities about our current moment: Where we areWhat we're facingHow we respond And if you're a guest with us this morning, I need to explain that we normally do what's called expositional preaching. It's the central part of our worship, which is the heartbeat of our church. Every Sunday, we open the Bible and preach through a passage of Scripture. My goal as a preacher is to simply tell you what God says. We do that by conviction, because we believe what we most need, and the power to change our lives, is the word of God. And we're in the word today, here in Acts 2, but we're just gonna spend most of our time, not on exposition, but on application. You'll see what I mean. Let's get started.The first reality of our current moment … I want to tell you …1. Where we areRight away, it's this: we are currently in the promised age of the Spirit.We are in the part of redemptive history when the Holy Spirit has been poured out on the people of God. The gospel is advancing. Jesus is building his church — And that's what I tell my grandfather every summer when I seem him on our family trip to North Carolina.Twenty-three years ago, when I believed God was calling me to be a pastor, my grandfather was one of the first persons I told. He is a godly man who has had a deep influence on me, and I try to see him at least once a year. And every summer that I've seen him for the last decade, he always asks me, “Son, how's the church?” And for several years now, the first thing I say is: “Grandaddy, the gospel is advancing. Jesus is building his church.” And he just smiles.Well, this morning, from Acts 2, I wanna tell you the short story of why that's true.The Story of PentecostThis is where the Day of Pentecost comes in. Pentecost is the foundational event in the Book of Acts, and Luke wants us to see the connection between Pentecost and the ministry of Jesus. Look at Acts 1, verse 4. Luke writes, And while staying with them he [Jesus] ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me…”Notice that when Jesus gives his disciples instructions for receiving the Spirit, he starts it by saying “you've heard me talk about this.” Jesus has taught on the Holy Spirit before, and we've heard this teaching! The Holy Spirit is the big topic in the Farewell Discourse, in the Gospel of John. We've heard Jesus say:John 14:16, “… I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth …”John 15:25, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”So as we come into the Book of Acts, we already have an expectation: the Spirit proceeds from the Father — he is the promise of the Father and Jesus will ask and receive from the Father to give the Spirit to us. And so we are ready for this. Now jump over to Acts Chapter 2.Acts 2, verse 1 — it is the Day of Pentecost — 50 days after Jesus's resurrection, about a week and a half after Jesus's ascension. And the disciples have done what Jesus instructed; they had been waiting in Jerusalem; they were altogether, and then verse 2: … suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.The promised Spirit has come!And it leaves the onlookers amazed and perplexed, so Peter ‘stands up' among the disciples to explain what's going on. This is significant: Because Peter had fallen — which we saw last week: in his worst moment he denied Jesus — but he is now restored and standing among his brothers. And, filled with the Holy Spirit, he preaches the best sermon ever. He says that Jesus, who had been crucified, is now raised up, and, verse 33:Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.Notice how this ties it altogether. We know the behind-the-scenes here, because Jesus told us: Jesus has asked the Father for the Spirit, to give him to us. Jesus has received the Spirit from the Father, and now, on this Day of Pentecost, Jesus has poured out the Spirit on his people. This is so significant that it marks the official transition from the old covenant to the new. This moment commences what the apostle Paul calls the “day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). That's another way to talk about the ‘promised age of the Spirit' or the ‘messianic age of salvation.'Witness and OpportunityThis age means at least two things:First, it means that we are Jesus's witnesses.The Spirit who bears witness to Jesus, bears witness to Jesus through us. We've talked about this recently: the work of Jesus in this world has not ended, but it's continued now by his Spirit through his people. We are not of the world, but Jesus has sent us into the world, and he tells us in Acts 1:8, “you will be my witnesses.”We are here to be life and light to a dead and dark world by pointing to Jesus.And secondly, this age of the Spirit means what Peter says in Chapter 2, verse 21 … that right now, because the Spirit is poured out, “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from; your background, your mistakes, your name — none of it matters. If you call on the name of Jesus Christ — if you ask Jesus to save you, he will save you. This is more amazing than we can begin to comprehend! It is the real headline today — just like it was the real headline yesterday. In fact, this has been the real headline everyday for the past two thousand years! Ever since Acts Chapter 2, the real daily headline is: TRUST CHRIST AND BE SAVED!That is where we are. That is the truest situation we're in. The grace of God is abounding all over this world! And so get in on the grace while you still can. That's where we are. Now, #2 … what we're facing …2. What we're facingIn a word, what we're facing is opposition — which is not strange.First, it's not strange because opposition is a kind of trial — and trials of various kinds are a means that God uses to produces in us steadfastness (James 1:2–4). This is part of the way that God shapes our character and deepens our hope (Romans 5:2–5). This is how he brings to completion the good work he began in us (Philippians 1:6).Another reason opposition is not strange is that, in light of churches throughout history and churches all around the world, countless local churches face opposition. It's just how it is! From the moment the Spirit is poured out in Acts 2, the church advances through both power and resistance.If anything, the opposition and challenges we're facing make us more at home with world Christianity — and more at home with the Book of Acts — than we ever were before.And so, ultimately, church, we're gonna be okay. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and we will see his face one day, and until then our Heavenly Father watches over us in such a way that not a hair can fall from our heads apart from his will, and in fact, all things must work together for our salvation. Hey, we're blessed! And we need to remind ourselves of this everyday, over and over again. And the Holy Spirit helps us to do that! He ministers hope to us through this Book!And at the same time, as we live in this hope, we should not downplay the opposition set against us, especially not the parts that are unlawful, harmful to our families and children, and that put other churches at risk.I think about a good friend in college … he spent a whole summer in West Africa, in the bush, doing a missions project, and one of the individuals on his team was so eager to suffer for Jesus that they decided not to the bring a toothbrush for the entire four months. And this person experienced all the things you might imagine you would if you don't brush your teeth for a long time. And one of the lessons my friend learned is that “Jesus is most likely okay with a toothbrush.”The lesson is that although suffering for Jesus is normal — and the Bible teaches us to expect it — that doesn't mean that we seek it out or accept it without any concern.For example: God has instituted earthly authorities, known as government, as a means to create and guard ordered societies. According to Romans 13, we should expect our government to punish wrongdoing.What happened to us on January 18 was wrong, period.And much of what continues to go on out here on Sunday mornings is also wrong.And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, then great. Keep it like that. There are ways to get into this space without having to walk past these people who hate us. I'd encourage you: avail yourselves to those ways.But to be clear: out front, over the past few months we have experienced, and have evidence of, chargeable offenses. People have said things and behaved toward our church members with the intent to cause harm and induce reasonable fear. They want to make our coming to worship as uncomfortable as possible so that we would stop coming. (Their goal is to shut us down, just like the people who desecrated our worship service on January 18.) But, the more serious issue is that, so far, our city and state officials are doing nothing about it. And that's the bigger problem. The world hating us is expected — Jesus told us they would. But our local government should enforce the law equally, for all people, including for Baptists … including for Evangelical Christians … but they're not doing that.So that's what we're facing, here in our little slice of the world, in the Twin Cities, in this promised age of the Spirit poured out.Now #3, I want to tell you …3. How we respondNow before I say anything here about our response, I first want to commend you and thank you for your response so far.And I want to give a special thanks to our security team. These men have done so much over the past several months to protect us from physical harm and to promote safety, and I thank God for them. I encourage you, when you get a chance, express your gratitude to these men. And for our entire church, corporately, look, your response has been remarkable. Over and over again the fruit of the Spirit has been manifested in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.I've seen it in you! So thanks be to God, and may this fruit abound more and more!Now, as we look forward to a new season, and the opposition drags on, I want to tell you about a three-part strategy that's trying to taking everything into account. With God's help, these are three actions that we can take in these days.1. We will pursue wise and lawful means to hold our opponents accountable for wrongdoing. We are continuing to document everything, and we're doing our best to work with the St. Paul Police and city officials to get the law enforced. This means that we, as your pastors, gotta be a little persistent. We have to kindly bother them, and that's what I plan to do.I hope to have an audience with Mayor Her, and I want to appeal to her. And I would say:Mayor Her, on April 20th this year, in your address on the state of St. Paul, you said that you are committed to listening and to acting and to lifting St. Paul higher to its full potential, but I wonder: Do you include Evangelical Christians in that commitment? Or, do you only care about people you agree with? You have left us to wonder this. These are serious questions that we need to ask. That's one part of our response.Here's the second:2. We will increase our fervent prayer.I know many of us have been praying, and many other churches have been praying for us, and I want to encourage us to keep on, and even pray more. Look, we know, Ephesians 6:12, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Our opposition is fundamentally spiritual, and therefore our response must be fundamentally spiritual. We put on the armor of the Lord, which includes praying at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).And so the plan is to equip our greeters and security with some guided prayer points to carry with them as they're serving, and I would like to build a small team of prayer warriors to pray as our people are coming to worship. I will send more communications about this, but just know it's coming. We're gonna pray more. I'm reminded of the quote, goes back to Oswald Chamber. He says:“Prayer does not equip us for greater works — prayer is the greater work.”3. We will remember the real headline. Now I've already told you the real headline, but it's probably not one that you're gonna find in your feeds. The real headline today — and everyday until Jesus comes back — is that THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS BEEN POURED OUT!TRUST CHRIST AND BE SAVED!Church, Jesus is real. Jesus is alive — and he is not anxious about anything. He's not worried about our future. Right now he's reigning from the Father's right hand. He has all authority in heaven and on earth, and he has many in these cities who are his people. We are in the promised age of the Spirit, the age of salvation. And that means that anybody from anywhere — it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from or what you're past is — if you call on the name of the Lord you will be saved!And because this is true, church, be filled with the Holy Spirit and take the next step on mission — Have that gospel conversation with your neighbor or coworker. Invite people to church! — hey, if you think people are not gonna wanna come because of the opposition, just test that out. Invite people to come see for themselves who we truly are.In these days when our opponents want to shut us down, I pray that God doubles our size. I pray that he multiplies us! I pray that he sends us out! We don't want less mission — we want more. More prayer. More courage. More witness. More disciples made.More of the glory of Jesus overcoming us and overflowing through us! The promised Spirit is here! And he is at work. In a couple of months, God willing, I'm going to see my grandfather in North Carolina. And he's been following what's going on. He keeps up on us. But when I see him, he's gonna ask me, “Son, how's the church?” And I'm gonna say, “Granddaddy, the gospel is advancing! Jesus is building his church!”And he's gonna smile because he knows it's true. This is the time in which we live. May God be glorified through us!And that's what brings us to the Table. The TableAt this table each week, we enter into a ritual that Jesus gave to his church. It's for Christians.So if you're here and you're not a Christian, if you have not put your faith in Jesus, this is an opportunity to do that. On this day, in this moment, I invite you: call on the name of Jesus, put your faith in him, and be saved. Now, for Cities Church and all who trust in Christ, let us remember him — let's remember his death and resurrection for us, and let's remember the hope we have in him.

To take up the Sword of the Spirit is to take aim at hostility and division. The promised Holy Spirit is the deposit that guarantees our collective future and tells us we are one family.Scripture:Ephesians 6:10-20Resources:FaceBook- FCC Young AdultsInstagram- @fccyaEmail- fccyadmin@fccsantamaria.orgWebsite- fccsantamaria.org

Holy Spirit - Part 13 - Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-21)  Pastor Ron Laney, Pleasant Grove Church, Carthage, MS.  www.PleasantGrove.info

In Ephesians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul gives us 3 things that characterize the lives of people who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Such a person will live a life of (1) Singing (2) Thanksgiving and (3) Humbly submitting themselves to others. Tune into this episode to hear more about the role that these 3 things play in the lives of God's people.

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit..."In this episode, Jackson Hankey preaches about the sin of drunkenness and the need for Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Charles Spurgeon once said that,“without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless. Like an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted.”

Hello, Kindly listen to the teaching titled THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:15-21) by Rev Gillian Okello from the Evening Devotion of Thursday, 7th May 2026

The “fear of the Lord” is absolutely essential to the Christian life. Throughout Scripture, the command to fear God is accompanied by tremendous blessing. Yet for many Christians, we think of fear as something negative and bad rather than how the Bible describes it. In this study, Nathan talks about the amazing and awe-inspiring fear of the Lord, what it is and isn't, how to cultivate it, and ultimately why it is so foundational and is a mark of being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:21).------------» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

This week we are exploring the second half of Ephesians 3, discovering how the Holy Spirit empowers us to move past spiritual plateaus and grow together as a faith family. Paul reveals we have an "all-access pass" to God; we can bring our most authentic selves, as His children, into His presence with confidence. By rooting ourselves in the community of believers and practicing spiritual habits, we open our lives to receive Christ's immeasurable love and the power to accomplish more than we could ever imagine. 

“The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:1-11 NASB Where Is Jesus Now? He is ruling and reigning over His kingdom at the right hand of the Father “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet and made Him head over all things to the church,which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:18-22 NASB What Is He Doing? He is building His church “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” Matthew 16:18 NLT He is preparing a place for us “There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:2-3 NLT He is with believers that have gone before us “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV Three Things Jesus Left Behind 1.) An unmatchable presence “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” 1:8a This Brings: Passion “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 NIV Purity “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 NIV Power “…be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18 NIV Promptings “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14 NIV 2.) An unfinished task “and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” 1:8b The work of Jesus is finished (John 19:30, Hebrews 1:3) The work of the church is unfinished “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 NIV 3.) An unshakable promise “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 1:11

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!emersonk78@me.comExcel Still More Journal - AmazonNew GENESIS Daily Bible Devotional!Daily Bible Devotional Series - AmazonSponsors:  Spiritbuilding Publishers Website:  www.spiritbuilding.comTyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide MortgageWebsites: https://statewidemortgage.com/https://tylercain.floify.com/Phone: 813-380-84878 Reasons God Won't Hear or Answer Prayer:1)        Unconfessed Sin (Ps. 66:18)2)        You Don't Actually Pray (James 4:2)3)        Doubt that God will Act (James 1:5-8)4)        Wrong Motives (James 4:3)5)        Unforgiveness to Others (Mark 11:25-26)6)        Ignoring Hurting People (Proverbs 21:13)7)        Being a Bad Husband (I Peter 3:7)8)        He's Got Something Better Planned! (II Cor. 12:7-10)When you pray, recognize the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-28).“Pray in the Spirit” Ephesians 6:18 – Utilize your relationship with the Spirit!He's in the house. Tear down the paper wall between you and welcome Him. 

Here is a great message from Pastor Darrell from the book of Ephesians.  Have a blessed week!

Preacher: Cody Knox Gracenet Community Church

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Im gonna make you an offer you can't refuse…  What exactly does that mean… It is such a great offer I just can't refuse it OR because of whom is offering you better not refuse it or it could be the last offer you ever get before you eat a bullet.   1. Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) One of the best examples of "delegated authority" is Tom Hagen acting as the consigliere. When he visits the film producer Jack Woltz in Los Angeles, he is physically unassuming and polite. However, he makes it crystal clear that he isn't speaking for himself; he is the voice of Vito Corleone. The Power Move: Hagen calmly explains that Mr. Corleone is a man who "insists on hearing bad news immediately." He wields the Don's entire criminal empire through a quiet dinner conversation.     Special Instructions on "How" Beyond the "what" and "where," the Bible gives specific tactical advice: In Secret: Jesus warned against performing for an audience. He suggested going into a "closet" or inner room (Matthew 6:6) to keep the motive pure. With Persistence: The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) teaches us not to give up if an answer doesn't come immediately. In the Spirit: Paul mentions praying "in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18), which implies a deep, divinely-guided connection beyond just reciting words. Briefly and Simply: Jesus cautioned against "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7). God isn't impressed by a high word count; He's looking for sincerity. In Jesus' Name: This isn't a magic phrase at the end of a prayer; it means praying in alignment with His character and authority (John 14:13).

Rabbi Steve Berkson offers an in-depth exploration of Scripture to better understand the nature of our adversary, known as HaSatan or the Devil.• Reset / Review• Ephesians 6:10-11–The schemes of the devil• Ephesians 6:12–Those who want you to fail• Ephesians 6:13–The wicked day?• Ephesians 6:14-18–Walking in truth?• Why wear tzitzit?• What is righteousness?• Ephesians 6:16–The shield of belief• The burning arrows of the wicked one• The best employee • Ephesians 6:17–The helmet of deliverance• The sword of the Spirit • Ephesians 6:18–Praying at all times • James 4:7–Resist the devil • James 4:1–Fighting among your members?• Find an expert• James 4:3–Are you ready to receive?• I want a lot more money• James 4:4–Friendship with the world is…• Will this vehicle get you there?• James 4:6–I have to earn grace?• James 4:7–How do I submit myself to Elohim?• James 4:8–Draw near to Elohim and…• James 4:9-10–Lament, mourn, and weep?• James 4:11–Don't speak against one another, brothers • James 4:13–Be aware of his plan for you• James 4:17–To him it is sin?Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to be notified of new content each week.Learn more about MTOI:https://mtoi.orgThe MTOI App https://mtoi.org/download-the-mtoi-appFollow MTOI:https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide Contact MTOI: 

In the quiet of a humble manger, hope arrived not as a concept, but as a person—Jesus Christ. What does it mean to live with true hope today? In Luke 2, we meet a man named Simeon, a man whose life was defined by his hopeful waiting and deep faith in God's promises. How can Simeon's example guide us to experience genuine hope?The Bible reminds us that hope isn't wishful thinking. It's the Greek word "elpis," meaning confident expectation. Simeon was a living testimony of this kind of hope. Waiting for decades, he clung to God's promise that he would see the Messiah before he died. His story teaches us three essential practices for a life filled with hope:1. **Learning to Wait Well:** Simeon waited faithfully for decades without wavering, rooted in God's promises. Isaiah 40:31 encourages us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.2. **Led by the Holy Spirit:** Simeon's sensitivity to the Holy Spirit guided him to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. We, too, must quiet the world's noise and seek guidance from the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 5:18).3. **Satisfied in Christ, Not Circumstances:** Simeon's peace came not from his life's circumstances changing, but from holding the promised Savior. Are we drawn to find our satisfaction in Jesus alone?“At 2Rivers, our mission is to help you become a passionate follower of Jesus so you can experience the life He intended for you and encourage others to do the same.”Stay connected and deepen your walk with Christ. Subscribe for more teachings that bring Scripture into everyday life.

Explore the concept of 'praying without ceasing' as explained through 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing.” This insightful video delves into the idea of regular, heartfelt prayer and how it connects us to a divine 'live stream' from heaven. Discover the joy and power of prayer as more than a duty, but a delightful interaction with God's presence, supported by biblical references and historical anecdotes. God Himself is the initiator of prayer. Prayer begins in God and we are all just joining in the Live Stream of prayer that Heaven is already making available. All we have to do is to join it and be carried along with the Stream of Prayer that is flowing from Him. ‘Without ceasing' means REGULARLY, without any unnecessary gaps, as often as required. The word 'adialeiptos' (translated ‘without ceasing') was used to describe a tickling cough. A tickling cough is not one where you cough non-stop. It means that you cough without long gaps between coughs! *I. Let's move from RARE PRAYER to REGULAR PRAYER. Regular prayer doesn't mean that we are praying 24/7, but that we are in a constant flow of prayer. We are constantly accessing Heaven's Live Stream of prayer, which catches us up into God's Presence to walk with Him. “Praying at ALL TIMES (in every opportunity) with all kinds of prayer IN the SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:18). This is the key to joining Heaven's Live Stream of Prayer. We struggle to join it with our head! Our head is too limited. That's why we have the Holy Spirit living within our spirits, who makes us able to join that Live Stream. He helps us to tune into the bandwidth of Heaven and join in with what's flowing from God's Throne. We need to PRAY in the SPIRIT. Praying in tongues is one way we can pray in the Spirit, and join Heaven's Live Stream, but it is not the only way. Praying in the Spirit is praying from the Spirit within us, depending on the Spirit to lead and empower us in prayer. It is a way in which we pray, and a place from which we pray, more than it is a kind of prayer. *II. Let's move from HEAD to HEART. We will never be able to pray without ceasing, if we pray only from our HEAD. We have to go from prayer that only comes out of our HEADS to praying from our HEARTS, prayer in which we bring up from the core of our being, expressing God's life & heart of God within us. It's praying from our HEART. Martin Luther: “Prayer is climbing up into the heart of God.” God invites us to pray from His heart - praying from His lap, from His Father heart. We hear His heartbeat, as we put our head to His heart, like the beloved disciple (John) at the Last Supper, who laid his head on Jesus' chest (John 13:23). We can hear His heartbeat and pray His heart. The Holy Spirit will give us the right word to return to the Father in prayer. Prayer is joining God's Live Stream, so what pours out of Heaven through His Word & Spirit enters into us, and through prayer we offer it back to Him in Heaven. Then He responds in the Earth with answers: “So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 54:11). Man was never designed to live only from his HEAD. Man was designed to live from his HEART, from the core of his being. And so, let us PRAY from there. *III. Let's move from DUTY to DELIGHT. God wants us to take us from the DUTY of prayer to the DELIGHT of prayer. For many people, prayer is a CHORE, or worse a BORE, when it is so much MORE! Prayer is a DELIGHT. In Matthew 21:13, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 56:7: “I will make them JOYFUL in My House of PRAYER.” There is JOY in the House of PRAYER. Have we found joy in prayer? If not, let's get into Prayer's Live Stream. God's Live Stream will carry you on and carry you up! Psalm 34:5: “They looked to Him (in prayer) and their faces were light (radiant with joy).” When we look to God in prayer, rather than looking to ourselves and our own resources, we go beyond the DUTY and the DISCIPLINE of prayer, and get caught up in the DELIGHT (joy) of prayer. 1Thess 5:17 is the meat in the sandwich: “pray without ceasing.” 1Thess 5:16 & 18 are the bread. These 3 verses are a triptych of simple exhortations: “(1) REJOICE always, (2) PRAY without ceasing, (3) in everything GIVE THANKS” (1Thess 5:16-18). God doesn't want us in the DRUDGERY of prayer! He wants us to discover the DELIGHT of prayer. So, let us join Heaven's Live Stream of Prayer that God has made available to us.

Explore the concept of 'praying without ceasing' as explained through 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing.” This insightful video delves into the idea of regular, heartfelt prayer and how it connects us to a divine 'live stream' from heaven. Discover the joy and power of prayer as more than a duty, but a delightful interaction with God's presence, supported by biblical references and historical anecdotes. God Himself is the initiator of prayer. Prayer begins in God and we are all just joining in the Live Stream of prayer that Heaven is already making available. All we have to do is to join it and be carried along with the Stream of Prayer that is flowing from Him. ‘Without ceasing' means REGULARLY, without any unnecessary gaps, as often as required. The word 'adialeiptos' (translated ‘without ceasing') was used to describe a tickling cough. A tickling cough is not one where you cough non-stop. It means that you cough without long gaps between coughs! *I. Let's move from RARE PRAYER to REGULAR PRAYER. Regular prayer doesn't mean that we are praying 24/7, but that we are in a constant flow of prayer. We are constantly accessing Heaven's Live Stream of prayer, which catches us up into God's Presence to walk with Him. “Praying at ALL TIMES (in every opportunity) with all kinds of prayer IN the SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:18). This is the key to joining Heaven's Live Stream of Prayer. We struggle to join it with our head! Our head is too limited. That's why we have the Holy Spirit living within our spirits, who makes us able to join that Live Stream. He helps us to tune into the bandwidth of Heaven and join in with what's flowing from God's Throne. We need to PRAY in the SPIRIT. Praying in tongues is one way we can pray in the Spirit, and join Heaven's Live Stream, but it is not the only way. Praying in the Spirit is praying from the Spirit within us, depending on the Spirit to lead and empower us in prayer. It is a way in which we pray, and a place from which we pray, more than it is a kind of prayer. *II. Let's move from HEAD to HEART. We will never be able to pray without ceasing, if we pray only from our HEAD. We have to go from prayer that only comes out of our HEADS to praying from our HEARTS, prayer in which we bring up from the core of our being, expressing God's life & heart of God within us. It's praying from our HEART. Martin Luther: “Prayer is climbing up into the heart of God.” God invites us to pray from His heart - praying from His lap, from His Father heart. We hear His heartbeat, as we put our head to His heart, like the beloved disciple (John) at the Last Supper, who laid his head on Jesus' chest (John 13:23). We can hear His heartbeat and pray His heart. The Holy Spirit will give us the right word to return to the Father in prayer. Prayer is joining God's Live Stream, so what pours out of Heaven through His Word & Spirit enters into us, and through prayer we offer it back to Him in Heaven. Then He responds in the Earth with answers: “So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 54:11). Man was never designed to live only from his HEAD. Man was designed to live from his HEART, from the core of his being. And so, let us PRAY from there. *III. Let's move from DUTY to DELIGHT. God wants us to take us from the DUTY of prayer to the DELIGHT of prayer. For many people, prayer is a CHORE, or worse a BORE, when it is so much MORE! Prayer is a DELIGHT. In Matthew 21:13, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 56:7: “I will make them JOYFUL in My House of PRAYER.” There is JOY in the House of PRAYER. Have we found joy in prayer? If not, let's get into Prayer's Live Stream. God's Live Stream will carry you on and carry you up! Psalm 34:5: “They looked to Him (in prayer) and their faces were light (radiant with joy).” When we look to God in prayer, rather than looking to ourselves and our own resources, we go beyond the DUTY and the DISCIPLINE of prayer, and get caught up in the DELIGHT (joy) of prayer. 1Thess 5:17 is the meat in the sandwich: “pray without ceasing.” 1Thess 5:16 & 18 are the bread. These 3 verses are a triptych of simple exhortations: “(1) REJOICE always, (2) PRAY without ceasing, (3) in everything GIVE THANKS” (1Thess 5:16-18). God doesn't want us in the DRUDGERY of prayer! He wants us to discover the DELIGHT of prayer. So, let us join Heaven's Live Stream of Prayer that God has made available to us.

Pastor Matt Nelson teaches that in a culturally divided world, the Church must become a radically united people by keeping Jesus—not opinions, preferences, or politics—at the center. Drawing from Ephesians 4, he emphasizes that diversity is not a threat but a strength when submitted to Christ. He warns that unity will never happen accidentally. We must fight for it, cling tightly to the essentials of our faith, and rely on the Holy Spirit to make us one. Listen and be challenged. Support the show

Stop Worrying—Start Thanking. You'll replace anxiety with prayer and gratitude, guided by God's Word. Learn to pray with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:18), wield the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and sing through trials to find peace and victory—even in the valley (Jonah 2:9-10; Acts 16:25).Stop Worrying- Start Thanking! | Prophet Ezekiah FrancisWatch in English https://youtube.com/live/8fy4fh4AfQ0Watch in Tamil (தமிழ்) https://youtube.com/live/tPNOcwNm3b0Watch in Hindi (हिंदी) https://youtube.com/live/owoDIVFIqHkWatch in Telugu (తెలుగు) https://youtube.com/live/46CERom288QWatch in Malayalam (മലയാളം) https://youtube.com/live/-pMsUmg6_MYWatch in Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) https://youtube.com/live/HxBibg7AqNs

Leadership can feel like stepping onto a battlefield: criticism, burnout, doubt, and temptation can leave you feeling exposed. But God hasn't left you defenceless. In this episode, I unpack the full armor of God from Ephesians 6 and show how each piece can strengthen your leadership journey. You'll discover: How the belt of truth grounds your leadership in integrity Why the breastplate of righteousness protects your motives and credibility What it means to walk in the shoes of peace, even during conflict How to use the shield of faith to deflect doubt, criticism, and gossip Why the helmet of salvation is key to overcoming imposter syndrome How the sword of the Spirit equips you to lead with clarity and authority This is a daily practice that equips you to lead with confidence, wisdom, and grace. Whether you're walking into a tough meeting or leading through seasons of uncertainty, the armor of God will help you stand firm. Prayer prompts mentioned in the episode: 1. The Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14) “Lord, fasten me with Your truth today. Guard me from lies and half-truths. Let everything I say and do as a leader be rooted in Your Word.” 2. The Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14) “Lord, cover my heart with Your righteousness. Protect me from pride, fear, or compromise. Help me to lead with integrity even when no one is watching.” 3. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15) “Lord, fit my feet with Your peace. Help me walk into every situation as a peacemaker, not a peacekeeper. Let others sense Your presence through me.” 4. The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16) “Lord, strengthen my faith today. Help me to hold up the shield when doubts, gossip, or fear come my way. I trust in Your promises.” 5. The Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17) “Lord, protect my mind with the assurance of salvation. Guard me from discouragement and self-doubt. Fill my thoughts with Your truth.” 6. The Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) “Lord, equip me with Your Word as my sword. Let Scripture be on my lips, guiding my decisions and encouraging my team.” 7. Prayer (The Power Behind the Armor) (Ephesians 6:18) “Lord, help me to pray in the Spirit at all times. Cover my leadership with Your strength and wisdom. Make me alert, faithful, and Spirit-led.” Reflection: Which piece of armor do you most often forget to “put on”? How would your leadership change if you prayed through the armor each morning? What battle are you facing right now that requires God's protection, not just your effort? Ready to go deeper? Join the Women of Faith in Leadership community on Facebook, where you'll find encouragement, prayer support, and other Christian women who get it. Take the Free Confidence Quiz Find out what the #1 thing is that's holding you back from leading confidently with this short and free quiz! Take the free quiz here: https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/quiz/ Have a listener question? Submit it at https://womenoffaithinleadership.com/podcast Join the Free Community for Female Christian Leaders Join a community of women who are all navigating the same challenges as you are. Let's share, connect and support one another. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenoffaithinleadership

This week, guest preacher Ray Sanchez closes out our Firmly Established series in Ephesians with a powerful message on the Sword of the Spirit — the Word of God. Learn how Scripture is both our defense and offense in the spiritual battle, equipping us to stand firm against the enemy.

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT) The pieces of the armor of God that the apostle Paul lists in Ephesians 6 are almost all defensive in nature. They are designed to protect. Only one—the sword of the Spirit, the word of God—is intended as a weapon. Unfortunately, many believers never use it as one. They have the rest of their armor in place, but they keep their sword in its sheath. They talk about it. They study it. They compare swords with others. But they never use it in spiritual battle. That pacifist approach plays right into the devil’s hands. He knows all too well the power and authority of the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word. The author of Hebrews wrote, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). God Himself said, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). The devil has no defense against the Word of God. That’s why he doesn’t want you to use this incredible weapon God has given you. Remember how effectively Jesus used the sword of God’s Word to defend Himself when He faced spiritual attack in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1–11? Jesus was God. He didn’t have to stand around and deal with the devil. He could have gotten out of the situation very easily. Instead, He engaged the enemy and modeled for us the right way to fight temptation: with the Word of God. When the devil tries to attack you with temptation, fear, or doubt, or when he brings up past sins you’ve already confessed and been forgiven of, remember the sword of the Spirit. Pull God’s Word out of its sheath and use it aggressively to defend yourself. The more time you spend in God’s Word, the more formidable you’ll be in battle. You can hone your swordsmanship by studying God’s promises and committing them to memory. You might start with Hebrews 13:5: “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you’” (NLT). You can hone your skills further by studying your enemy’s battle tendencies throughout Scripture. Look at the way he approached Eve, the way he tried to devastate Job, and the way he tempted Jesus. The more you know about your enemy’s movements on the battlefield, the better you can prepare to defend against them. Look at Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (NLT). The person who can wield God’s Word with accuracy, understanding, authority, and humility is thoroughly equipped to do spiritual battle. Reflection question: How would you use God’s Word to protect yourself if the devil tried to attack you with doubt? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sermon from Phil Friesen on July 27, 2025

This week, Casey Withers continues our series "When discipleship gets difficult", helping us understand the sword of the Spirit and the importance of Gods word in our lives as followers of Jesus.