LET US DO SOME EDIFYING TODAY

I have been thinking much about the word EDIFY which is used quite a number of times in the New Testament both in relation to the individual and the Church. It has some interesting shades of meaning which are all very related. The word means to BUILD UP, TO ENBOLDEN, TO UPLIFT.

I want to ask what is really a silly question can we be built up too much, and I am sure the answer is NO, Can the Church be built up too much again the answer is NO.

So in relation to the Church may we SAY & DO only those things that build up and strengthen the Church, and individuals amen.

In relation to the individual what does the Bible say? Jude 20 NKJV expresses it this way But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. What does it mean, it must include believing ands confessing what God’s Word says about every situation, and not determine the situation by what we see with our natural eyes and ears. What is praying in the Holy Ghost ? (Holy Spirit). If you are a CONTINUALIST you believe that when you were born again the Holy Spirit came into your life, and as you learned to surrender yourself to Him more and more you are introduced to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which includes the privilege of having a prayer language (speaking in tongues) Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 14:4 NKJV He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, (the Church is only edified when the message in tongues is interpreted or a prophecy spoked out in the venacular). So Paul is talkng the PERSONAL & PRIVATE USE OF THE PRAYER LANGUAGE the Believer is edified, and his faith is built up. So can I ask the question again? Can a Christian use his prayer language too much, sadly YES if he does not equally use the vernacular (the language he uses in conversation with others) as much in his daily communion with the Lord., But can he and should he regularly and daily use his prayer language to edify himself and the answer must be YES, YES, YES.

Another area that we can indirectly edify ourselves is using our prayer language in Intercession, almost daily there are situations that arise and matters to pray about that we simply do not know how to pray effectively, and this can leave us very frustrated. Paul expresses it so well in Romans 8: 26-27 NKJV Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The Amplified says So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.

When we Pray in tongues we are praying in the will of God, that sure deals with the frustration.

I could list numerous other reasons why the Believer must regularly (daily) use his prayer language and as Preachers need to remind Believers about the Gospel so we can get slack and lazy. May we be like Charles Wesley and say O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise. AMEN