THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In ancient Ephesus, the Pollio Fountain was located to the south of the State Agora, across the Odeion. It was built in 97 A.D. by the rich Ephesian C.S. Pollio and his family. The water was brought to the fountains of Ephesus from three main sources through aqueducts and distributed from fountains by a branching system of baked clay pipes (note the pipe at the bottom of the picture, which is now at ground level). The water sources were Kencherios (42 km) at Kusadasi, Camlik village stream of Marnas (15 km), and the Cayster River (20 km). This was an example of excellent engineering. Water was free of charge by the city in the public fountains. This fountain has a high arch facing the temple of Domitian and is known to be decorated with a number of statues. One of these statues of Roman gods and goddesses is the Head of Zeus which is on display in the Ephesus Museum today. Please note the caption written below the second photograph.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Ephesians 6:10

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

There was a very moving reading from Ephesians 6 during the funeral service of the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher (click here to hear her granddaughter read this most powerful Scripture). “Spiritual Warfare” is real, and all of us need desperately to apply these truths to our daily lives. Having assimilated (made part of ourselves) these powerful facts, let us then be channels of God’s power to win battles, and eventually the war, by preparing for battle every morning, or throughout the day as we make quality time available, in which we concentrate on God! How do we do this? “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION!” (Ephesians 6:18).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You modelled for me “all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Your intensity in prayer on the night of Your arrest, when Your disciples fell asleep again and again, is truly my example of “being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication!” O, how far short of that I fall! The spiritual song I sing and pray with great fervency is as follows, “O to be like thee, blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art. Come in Thy sweetness. Come in Thy fullness. Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My son-in-law, who preaches in the Arabic language all over the world on several satellite channels, Rev. Nizar Shaheen, has said to me over and over, “Be strong Dad!” Norma-Jean, if she is in hearing range, always adds the words of Ephesians 6: “…in the Lord and in the power of HIS MIGHT!” (verse 10). Then she preaches a little bit for my benefit. I need lots of reminders that it is only “HIS MIGHT” that makes me strong. It’s my job to make sure that I have the whole armour of God in place over my head, my heart, and my will. When I’m properly dressed for battle, then I’m absolutely confident that God is giving me “the power of His might.” We can wield “the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” with devastating effect against the lords of the underworld and the “wiles of the devil.” The hosts of the wicked one are no match! We are more than conquerors!!! (Romans 8:37).

Following the reading of this final chapter of Ephesians, and before we begin 1 Chronicles tomorrow, I would like you to join me in reading the story of the final meeting of Paul with the elders of the Ephesian Church (Acts 20:16-38). As I read this, I, too, am weeping freely as they did. I’m praying fervently for all who read my blogs!

Yours for becoming stronger each day “in the Lord and in the power of His might!” Amen!!!

David

Temple of Hadrian is one of the best preserved and most beautiful structures of ancient Ephesus. It was built before 138 A.D. by P. Quintilius and was dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian, who came to visit the city from Athens in 128 A.D. The facade of the temple has four Corinthian columns supporting a curved arch, in the middle of which is a relief of Tyche, goddess of victory. The side columns are square. Inside the temple above the door, a human figure, probably Medusa, stands with ornaments of acanthus leaves. 100 years after the death and resurrection of Christ, the religion of Rome was still the state religion. These and other gods and goddesses were the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places against which Paul said we fight! (Ephesians 6:12).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.