Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:25 — 35.3MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS
Are we open to listening to the Holy Spirit this morning? Are we willing to be tapped on the shoulder and then to obey? This is vitally important whenever we sit under the preaching of the word.
To edify means: to build up, to make some progress towards a goal. Have we been growing? Are we helping each other to grow?
Word Study
We don’t use the word edify too much. We generally would say “encourage” in the place of “edify.”
Encourage in the Old Testament means to “strengthen, to help, to confirm, to fortify, to maintain, to make strong.”
Deuteronomy 1 – When the spies were sent in to Canaan there was a conflicting report that was given. One side was positive and sure that they could take the land, the other side was sure that Moses had brought them out of Egypt to let them die.
Can you imagine how this made Joshua feel? He needed to be encouraged to take the job of leading the Children of Israel. He also needed to encourage the people to follow him. Moses knew that Joshua needed encouraging.
Deuteronomy 3:28 – God has wonderful things in store for us, that is his desire for us as individuals and as a church. Moses here, again, tells the people to encourage their leader, to stand behind them, to walk with them through the difficult times.
What can we learn from these verses? We should encourage our brothers and sisters when God has called them to a task and to a specific assignment. We should pray for them, not only is that for them, but it also affects our attitudes and how we feel and relate to our brothers and sisters.
Edify in the New Testament means “to construct, to confirm, to build up.”
Romans 14:19 – Is this representative of me? Have I been building up the church and those around me?
Romans 14:7 – It is easy to just kind of “sit back and watch” – but all of us as a part of the body have an affect in some shape or form on the rest of the body.
Romans 15:2 – Is this happening with me? Am I pleasing my neighbor for his good to edification. Am I building up my brothers, spiritually in the Lord?
Romans 14:12-13 – We’ve been told to build up and to encourage. Here Paul warns agains the opposite, which has a negative affect on others (and ourselves) in a spiritual sense.
When we don’t see things exactly the same, or have different opinions, or even what we would say is a conviction. Even then we must related in such a way as to edify one another, not in a way that would lead to destruction.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 – There are a lot of things that in themselves may not be right or wrong. Things to do, places to go, things to wear, things to say. These things may not be wrong, but they may not be helpful and may not be the best for the occasion. They may have a negative affect on someone instead of building them up.
1 Corinthians 8:1 – We all have knowledge, we all have an opinion on whatever issues come up. Paul tells us here that “knowledge makes a person proud, but charity builds others up.” Does our brother or sister know us because of our knowledge which we are always trying to give to them or because of our love for them?
Ephesians 4:29 – Is what I am saying/doing administering grace to those who I am talking to or working with?
A one on one relationship. How it works together. Let all things be for edification.
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 – What are you doing for the body of Christ? Are you building up? God expects you and me to be helping others grow.
May God, by his Holy Spirit and His word help us to grow in these areas.