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| Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." |
Lets consider that these are the days that all Christians will be tested and can attack the faith that builds, and these tests and attacks will bring us into our downfall and eventually in backsliding.
In this case, we sometimes find ourselves longing for the encouragement of someone, especially to those who are close with us in the family of Christ.
Although, some of you might say "we need to encourage ourselves FIRST in the Lord". Yes, this is not bad and wrong, but in our lives, we need encouragement from others as well. Right?
King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 4:9 "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. [10] For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
Therefore, encouraging one another is very necessary to do by all Christians nowadays.
Encouraging is also a ministry in the body of Christ.
HAVE YOU ENCOURAGED THEM IN THE LORD?
Have you encouraged your brethren in Christ? How often did you encourage your brethren in Christ what words come to your mind to encourage them?
I often used Ephesians 6:10 to encourage my brethren. For me, it is one of the best encouragement words that we could actually say to our brethren nowadays.
But, what is this verse actually mean?
Today I will share with you what this verse means. So, that we can say this verse to anyone that we cared for in the family of Christ not only because we memorized this verse but it actually comes to our hearts.
This verse is an encouragement word by Apostol Paul to Ephesian believers telling them that they must be strong not by their own strength but by the strength that comes to God.
Why did Apostle Paul encourage the Ephesian believer of those words? What is in the Ephesians believers?
Ephesians believers will face battles spiritually speaking.
What is this? Revelation 2:1-7
[1] Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; [2] I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: [3] And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
These verses happened to them who are in the Ephesus church, they are the Ephesians who has been told by Apostle Paul, to have the strength that comes to God. The strength that has the power to:
1. TO WITHSTAND/ENDURE THE LABOUR FOR GOD DESPITE PERSECUTION IN THAT DAY – Revelation 2:2
2. TO TEST SPIRITS – Revelation 2:2
3. TO HAVE THE PATIENCE TO OVERCOME PERSECUTION – Revelation 2:3
4. TO REMAIN THEIR FIRST LOVE TO GOD – Revelation 2:4
So, Hebrews 10:31 ”It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” is a verse of preparation and reminder for them to have God’s strengths, while they’re on the battlefield spiritually. This is also, a reminder that in every spiritual battle that Ephesians was in they must ask and seek God’s strengths, that they might have the power to overcome.
Because if Ephesians believers lack the strength that comes to God, they only fail as Revelation 2:4 said: ”Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. ”
As we have read, Ephesians believers lack strength from God, because of this, their first love was lost.
Now, in Revelation 2:5 ”Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Jesus tells them what they SHOULD DO to remain what is in them and to gain again what they have lost. These are the three ”R”: REMEMBER, REPENT, and REPEAT.
As they have known what they should do to remain and to gain again what they’ve lost, they should have the strength that comes to God before they do the three ”R”.
THEREFORE EPHESIAN BELIEVERS NEED THE STRENGTH OF GOD INDEED!
The Strength of God is the power that we Christians must have. The power that no one can stand against, even Satan, his cohorts, and even his full force of power. Moreover, he is not able to stand in the presence of God, how much more in the power of God?
That’s why Apostle Paul strictly warned and requires Ephesians believers to have the strength that comes to God for them to overcome persecution and to remain their first love for God.
Brethren,
We actually can say these words, to our fellow believers in Christ even we don’t know that they are facing spiritual battles. These words could work powerfully to them who are:
1. Weak – cannot endure persecution.
2. Blind spiritually – can’t test spirits
3. The backslider in the heart – lost their first love
4. In a spiritual battle – losing patience to overcome persecution
We sometimes never know that we are using God to uplift/encourage the brethren. We don’t know that every word that comes to our mouth has the power to uplift them. We never even know what is in the heart of our brethren.
We can’t know what the day brings, now we are the ones who can encourage our brethren, the next day we can’t know if we are the ones who need to be encouraged.
But remember, whatever spiritual standing you were in, now, you need the strength that comes to God if you want to remain what is in you now, or if you want to gain what was lost in you. The strength that comes to God is your need.
The strength that comes to God is that we can overcome the persecution that will come! And most of all strength that can remain our first love to God.
Brethren, living in these last days are not easy, especially when you only depend on your strength. We cannot do anything by our might alone! Accept that we need God and his strength!
Now, ask and accept the strength that comes to God to be an overcomer in these last days. May your Fellow believers of Christ may see and feel your sincerity while you were telling them: Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
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| Pray with all your heart |
1 Comments
Be strong in the Lord sis and in the power of His might.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!