[Be sure to read the Word before you read the words below. Click the reference to read online or turn to it in the pages of your Bible.]
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV
Because of His Son's obedience --- His sinless blameless life --- God the Father exalted Jesus, put all things under His feet and made Him head of the church, which is His body.
The church's purpose is to display His fullness to all the world. Bring light where there is darkness. Bring order where there is chaos. Bring love and compassion where there is hurt-full hate. Bring truth where there is deception and confusion. Bring wholeness to places of corruption. Bring life to those who are dying. Bring purity to places and people who have been defiled. Bring justice to those who are oppressed. Bring freedom to those who are captive. Bring hope and good news to those in despair. Bring healing to those suffering dis-ease.
Do you see the church fulfilling that role?
Paul gave thanks for the Ephesian church. For their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love toward one another in the church. But he also remembered them in his prayers, asking God to grow them even more and more into the fullness of Christ Jesus.
Today. Let's take Paul's prayer model for the Ephesian church and pray this Word over First United Methodist Church Jacksonville. For our good and His glory:
Thank You, Lord, for First United Methodist Church Jacksonville. For those who are faithful to Your name and loving toward all Believers. (Take a moment here to insert specific names of those you are thankful for their faith and love.) I ask You, today, Father God, for the sake of Your glory and our Lord Jesus Christ, to bless the members of First United Methodist Church Jacksonville with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Jesus. Open the eyes of our hearts, corporately and individually, to the hope You call us to, to the riches of the glorious inheritance we have access to in His name, and to the immeasurable greatness of His power in us as Believers. The same power You used to raise Christ from the dead is at work in us. Teach us to use Your power for Your glory. May we do everything for the praise and glory of Him who sits at Your right hand! Grow us to display Your fullness of love, compassion, mercy, wisdom, and truth to those around us, not only in our church, but in our homes, at work, and in the community. Open us up fully to the headship of Jesus Christ. In His name I pray, the name that is above every name, both now and in the age to come, Amen.
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