If we are going to be affected by that which is present in other people, all those features in Christians and in Christian work and activity which are repugnant to us, we are going to close up and withdraw in heart and nothing is going to be done in the way of mutual helpfulness and edification.
Worthy of our Calling
We are to exercise the gifts God has given to each of us in the place He has put us, We are to minister to one another, edifying each other and speaking the truth in love.
Together we help the other parts grow, and edify the saints of God – that are His – so that the whole body is healthy, maturing in grace – and growing in His love.
Exhort and Edify
Paul also prompts us to come alongside each other – to undergird the others faith. Wherefore exhort yourselves together, and edify one another, even also as ye do 1Thess.5:11. We are to exhort ourselves together and edify the body of Christ. We are to comfort each other and help to underpin each other in life: Exhort yourselves together – Heb.10:25 Comfort one another – 1Thess.4:18 Love one another earnestly – 1Peter.1:22
Faithful Servant
A faithful servant will act to exhort and edify his fellow believers in love. A careless steward will act to correct or criticise and smite his fellow-servants, but gracious exhortation can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Right Division
Past history recorded in the Bible, gives encouragement and provides edification. Present application of God’s Word, enable us to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Future prophecies in Scripture, secures our hope in Christ and develops our faith.
Godly Living
We are to put away foolish speaking which misrepresents our new holy nature, but rather speak the truth in love and edify and encourage the body of Christ.
Riches of Grace
This potent prayer of Paul was inspired by the Spirit to teach and edify all the saints. This is not only a plea from Paul – but exposes the Father-heart of God Himself.
This potent prayer of Paul was inspired by the Spirit to teach and edify all the saints.
Defeat : Prepare : Edify
Such prayer is destined to DEFEAT the strategies of the enemy. Such prayer is designed to PREPARE the way for the salvation of the lost. Such prayer is designated to BUILD UP and edify the body of Christ in holy faith.
One saint, who understood God’s principle of time, gave this edifying comment:- “We might consider some familiar names of believers whom God obviously brought to maturity and used for His glory – such as Pierson, Chapman, Tauler, Moody, Goforth, Mueller, Taylor, Watt, Trumbull, Meyer, Murray, Havergal, Guyon, Mabie, Gordon, Hyde, Mantle, McCheyne, McConkey, Deck, Paxson, Stoney, Saphir, Carmichael, and Hopkins.
Edify and Encourage
But Paul also knows truth can be corrosive – scattering unfounded pain in its wake. Our words should build up and not tear down.
They should edify and encourage. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6
We are to be grounded on truth of the Word – building up and edifying others.
Ungodly Words
There is to be no place for the uncircumcised tongue or the unredeemed mouth. Our words are to be wholesome; sensitive; truthful; thoughtful; wise – spiritual: let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
We are all members of one body and should care for each other as we do our own bodies, and speaking the truth in love can encourage as well as correct – edify as well as instruct.
But Paul also wanted to comfort, encourage and edify these believers - and so often we find that this is done by calling to remembrance all the wonderful things that God has done for us - and anticipating all the wonderful things that God has in store for the future.
Not only did it contain news of Paul’s current circumstances… but he knew that this faithful servant of the Lord would edify the saints, and encourage them to stand firm in the faith and hold fast to the truth of the glorious gospel of grace.
We are given wise advice on how to function spiritually as members of the body of Christ and reminded that we all have spiritual gifts, which are to be used for the encouragement of the saints and the edification of the body of Christ.
In this edifying and encouraging passage in Romans 8, Paul details the glories of being in Christ; the wonders that God has planned for those that love Him and an eternal assurance that every born-again child of God will live with Him forever.
Let us therefore in love and grace be sensitive to the needs of others – neither compromising the gospel of Christ nor causing our liberty in Christ to be a stumbling block to other brothers and sisters in Christ - let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
What a beautiful picture this presents of the joy and gladness that fills the heart of a man or woman, when a beloved Christian friend or dear brother in Christ combines gracious acts of kindness, wise advice, words of encouragement and genial counsel with the glorious gospel of Christ in order to edify and encourage or even to correct.
All men in eldership position should use the gifts and graces with which they has been endowed, for the edification of the Body and for the glory of God.
Similarly we all have a form of 'prophetic' ministry, for Paul tells us that: the one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
May we encourage and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ, with gracious words and pure deeds - so we remain in close fellowship with our heavenly Father and become the living testimony to our fellow man.
And so Paul begins to list the enriching and edifying qualities that are found in godly love, which were so lacking in the lives of these unspiritual believers.
Speaking is tongues without love becomes a clamouring noise, and without love, prophesying or preaching, knowledge or faith demeans the preacher, dishonours the Lord and does not edify the saints.
The Word of God teaches that we are to deny ourselves by keeping 'Self' in the place of death, so that we may love and serve the Lord our God in spirit and truth, and encourage and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let us love one another in spirit and truth, for love is of God, and he who loves as Christ loves, will both edify the body of Christ and glorify our Father Who is in heaven.
He yearns to see them and to minister to them, and so he tells them of his eager plans to visit them shortly - for their mutual edification, to encourage their spiritual development and to strengthen their faith in the Lord.
May we be those who are careful with words, guard our speech and use our word to heal and not hurt - to guard and not gossip, to edify and encourage and not to wreak havoc.
Believers are one in Christ and should encourage and edify each other.
Let us live holy lives that are well- pleasing to the Lord so that all we say and do is helpful and edifying to the body of Christ – so that as we walk in newness of life, as we grow more like Jesus day by day.
This is a general exhortation for all believers to be faithful in attending their local church assembly, in order to participate in brotherly encouragement... strength; support; edification; spiritual nourishment; biblical teaching and the joy of sharing fellowship with like-minded believers..
Let us do all we can to ensure that we do not forsake our assembling together as the Body of Christ - as is the habit of some believers, but rather let us take every opportunity to meet together with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ,, for mutual strength; support; edification and encouragement - so that we can give and receive spiritual nourishment and sound biblical teaching together with like-minded believers - which is all the more important, as we see the day of Christ's return drawing ever nearer
for the edification, exhortation and comfort of those in Jerusalem - for we read that: the testimony of Christ is the spirit of prophecy - but still only part of Joel's prophesy was fulfilled at this time
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Let us follow after the things which make for peace so that we may edify one another - and let us pursue what promotes a godlike tranquility in the body of Christ and build up one another in godly grace.
To often they made every attempt to discover a fault or a sin in them so that they may discredit them with petty arguments - but the one that is truly spiritual is not concerned with dragging down their brothers or sisters in Christ, but in encouraging, edifying and restoring the one that has trespassed - in a spirit of gentleness and godly love.
There should be a patient, kind, gracious love, that comes only from the indwelling Spirit of Christ Christ, Who is our life - for in Him our soul is refreshed and we are equipped to edify others, which glorifies our Father in heaven.
Paul is a great example of a man who always tried to encourage and edify the saints, while ensuring that he did not compromise the truth of the glorious gospel of grace.
Paul himself taught that our spiritual gifts are to be used for the mutual edification, exhortation, teaching, consolation, building up and encouragement of the Church of Christ.
The gifts of the Spirit are given to help equip other believers in their spiritual service; to edify the body of Christ and to help to perfect each member of the Church for the particular ministry to which God has called them.
Indeed, there are crowns and rewards for teachers who shepherd the flock of God, bring others into a closer understanding of His word, and edify the body of Christ - through their desire to teach the truth of our wonderful Saviour.
