Post by Les on Jul 12, 2023 12:06:56 GMT -5
POWER TO EDIFY
I come to edify, comfort, and exhort, it’s called preaching, teaching, and demonstrating the gospel. Mere words without corresponding action cease to bring forth the fruit God intends. If we are stewards of reconciliation, if we are a peculiar people zealous of good works, if we are practitioners of what we preach, we will make a difference. But let us never forget, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that touches, changes, and enhances lives.
We are but mere human vessels of earthen clay formed into a body by blood, bone, and sinew. We are not God, but he dwells within us, we are but a reborn spirit which has a soul housed in a body of flesh. This flesh is in constant decay but the spirit is eternal.
Apostle Paul declared, “ I am crucified with Christ, yet I am alive, but not I because Christ lives in me and the life I now live is by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and died in my place” paraphrase mine. Galatians 2:20
We can never be righteous in the sight of God in or of ourselves. God poured himself into us and upon us, for we are both baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. When we submit ourselves to God humble ourselves in his presence we shall be endued with power from on high
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49 KJV
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14 KJV
Endue “enduo” : to invest with clothing ( literally or figuratively ) :- array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on. You see this word is used in both verses to explain the power ( dunamus) of God. It also annotates the sinking into clothing, or in other words when we are endued with power the Spirit indwells the believer in affect expressing himself through the believer, when the Apostle exhorts us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ the same effect happens. We are empowered to live by the faith of the Son of God who loves us and gave himself for us.
We are agents of truth, the heavens and earth could pass away, but the truth of God shall always stand. When we live truth we walk in the Spirit producing spiritual fruit and maturing in the image of Christ. We must be sober, sincere, and solid about our faith.
(8) For we have no power against the truth, but only for the furtherance of the truth;
(9) and it is a joy to us when we are powerless, but you are strong. This we also pray for--the perfecting of your characters.
(10) For this reason I write thus while absent, that when present I may not have to act severely in the exercise of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down. 2nd Corinthians 13:8-10 WNT
Brethren I exhort you to allow the express image of Christ to shine through you, I commend your love for Christ, but if we lack the life of Christ then our testimony is in vain. Let us therefore love one another edifying one another by fellowship in the Spirit.
(15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16 KJV
There are many definitions which can be attributed to love, because true Christ like love also brings with it a responsibility to the truth, truth is instructive, corrective, and edifying. This is the way we grow up in all things which flow from our Head. He supplies the strength, energy, and love to edify ( build) the body. Selah ( pause and think about it)
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Apostle Ritchie
I come to edify, comfort, and exhort, it’s called preaching, teaching, and demonstrating the gospel. Mere words without corresponding action cease to bring forth the fruit God intends. If we are stewards of reconciliation, if we are a peculiar people zealous of good works, if we are practitioners of what we preach, we will make a difference. But let us never forget, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that touches, changes, and enhances lives.
We are but mere human vessels of earthen clay formed into a body by blood, bone, and sinew. We are not God, but he dwells within us, we are but a reborn spirit which has a soul housed in a body of flesh. This flesh is in constant decay but the spirit is eternal.
Apostle Paul declared, “ I am crucified with Christ, yet I am alive, but not I because Christ lives in me and the life I now live is by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and died in my place” paraphrase mine. Galatians 2:20
We can never be righteous in the sight of God in or of ourselves. God poured himself into us and upon us, for we are both baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. When we submit ourselves to God humble ourselves in his presence we shall be endued with power from on high
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49 KJV
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14 KJV
Endue “enduo” : to invest with clothing ( literally or figuratively ) :- array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on. You see this word is used in both verses to explain the power ( dunamus) of God. It also annotates the sinking into clothing, or in other words when we are endued with power the Spirit indwells the believer in affect expressing himself through the believer, when the Apostle exhorts us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ the same effect happens. We are empowered to live by the faith of the Son of God who loves us and gave himself for us.
We are agents of truth, the heavens and earth could pass away, but the truth of God shall always stand. When we live truth we walk in the Spirit producing spiritual fruit and maturing in the image of Christ. We must be sober, sincere, and solid about our faith.
(8) For we have no power against the truth, but only for the furtherance of the truth;
(9) and it is a joy to us when we are powerless, but you are strong. This we also pray for--the perfecting of your characters.
(10) For this reason I write thus while absent, that when present I may not have to act severely in the exercise of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down. 2nd Corinthians 13:8-10 WNT
Brethren I exhort you to allow the express image of Christ to shine through you, I commend your love for Christ, but if we lack the life of Christ then our testimony is in vain. Let us therefore love one another edifying one another by fellowship in the Spirit.
(15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16 KJV
There are many definitions which can be attributed to love, because true Christ like love also brings with it a responsibility to the truth, truth is instructive, corrective, and edifying. This is the way we grow up in all things which flow from our Head. He supplies the strength, energy, and love to edify ( build) the body. Selah ( pause and think about it)
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Apostle Ritchie