The Power Of ‘as’.

The Power Of ‘As’.

Ephesians 5:1NKJV

Don’t let the broken promises of this world keep you from believing the promises of God. God will always act, “...according to His promise” (2 Peter 3:13).

Don’t let the broken promises of this world keep you from believing the promises of God.“God is not a man that He should lie...” (Numbers 23:19).

Don’t let the broken promises of this world keep you from believing the promises of God. God’s word teaches, “He/God, will not fail you, nor forsake you,” (Joshua 1:5). -God meant exactly what He said.

So, whatever you are going through today, lean heavily upon the promises of God—they never fail—or maybe it is better to say that the promises do not fail because God never fails!

Ephesians 5:1NKJV Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Ephesians 5:1NIV Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.

How would you understand and apply that? Beloved children would imitate their fathers. So since you are beloved children, imitate your heavenly father, God.

Once more, Ephesians 5:1TPT Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters.

Again, How would you understand and apply that? -So since you are beloved children, imitate your heavenly Father, God.

-So Be imitators of God as beloved children.

Therefore, since you are beloved children, imitate God. However, it doesn't exactly say that. It uses the word ‘as,’ the Greek, ‘Hoce.’

Hoce can be translated to mean in the same way as, or just like. So it could be translated,

“Be imitators of God in the same way as, or just like beloved children.”

How do you carry out that command? First, you must have an idea of what beloved children are, how they act, and how they react, and how they live.

* How they act. -You are called an ambassadors for Jesus Christ. -You represent the King.

How they react. -You turn the other cheek. You smile while in the furnace, because you know you are eternal.

How they live. -You live with moderation. You think on Godly things.

Therefore, you start living as if you were one of them. -‘As’ dear children!

So as you believe, you would act, so act in that same way.

As a child of God, you are not bound by what you’ve been or even by what you are now.

Romans 4:20-25NLT Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Abraham was an imitator of God, as beloved children. He believed and he responded by faith. Real faith does God’s will. -Faith responds to faith.

‘As’, meaning you do, act and react like God, because you are imitators of God, as God’s children!

Go up a few verses in, Romans 4:18-19NLT  Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

Abraham was given a word from God and he begin to conform to God’s promise.

-The power of ‘as’ can, and will change your destiny!

Faith and Promises.

When something is promised, you have not seen it happen yet, have you? If I promise my wife that I'm going to clean out the basement, there's no proof that you can see. There's only my word. That promise is the only evidence it will happen. And I may prove unreliable for one reason or another.

But God is trustworthy and true! Say, “but God is trustworthy.” -His promises are more reliable than any evidence you can see or touch or reason out. -His promises are the unseen proof that gives faith it's sureness. -His promises are the unseen evidence that drives away doubt.

Therefore we can state, “Faith is certain of what we do not see because of God's promises.”

Ready to hear a secret, Conform to what God has already said to you, about you, and about others.

Let’s look a little farther in, Ephesians 5:21-29NKJV 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.