The Complete Story The Book of Ephesians Like You've Never Seen It Before

Our Greatest Witness

Often the greatest witness to unbelievers of our faith is when we remain faithful to God through all our trials. Unbelievers might not believe the blatant miracle was real but they cannot deny our steadfastness and the continual joy as we slog through this life.

Unbelievers often become sullen and hopeless in trials, but we are not like that, we know everything has a purpose for the follower of Christ and that at the end of this life, we have eternity in paradise with God, a total restoration of what was lost in the fall.

Everyone has trials, every single one, but only born-again believers have the strength to remain faithful to God and full of His joy and purpose no matter what is happening around us or who rejects us.

Romans 3:3-4
3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar, as it is written:
“So that You are justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”

Hallelujah!

It is important to read Scripture in Context!!!

God's Love is Nothing Like Man's Love

Because God is perfect love He must correct and rebuke sin. There can be no love when there is acceptance of sin.

Love is relating to God in a way that helps others to repent and become born again.

Love is not a feeling or emotion, it is a mindset that cares deeply about others so that they can find salvation in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:5-11

"And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ."

Those who withhold correction to win someone to themselves are not showing love, they are selfish because the purpose of winning others to self is for self-exaltation and self-gratification.

When we love someone God's way we will tell them the truth, weep with them and laugh with them in all their experiences sharing in their life as if it were our own.

Proverbs 19:18

"Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death."

Our example for expressing love is all through God's word which are the directions from Jesus Christ, He is the Author.

When we are continually attempting to be friendly to the entire world so that people will like us we cannot please God.

Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ".

Do we love people the way God loves them or do we love ourselves hoping to win them to ourselves? This is an important matter to pray and fast over because our world in the churches do not understand love God's way and they do not love others God's way.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.

5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,

6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8a Love never fails;"

Our love toward our fellow man must go beyond superficial feelings and personal pleasure. It must be based in the Word of God willing to be helpful even when it may lose us something.