It was late and not getting an answer my mind drifted and so
I went to bed. Later that night
the Lord showed me what these wheels were. There I stood on an enormous wheel with many others. The circle in which we stood was
so big that I couldn’t see the people on the other side of the circle. In front of each person was a line that went to the center of
this wheel.
When I woke, I remembered the event, but to be completely
honest I forgot what I had asked the Lord the night before until he reminded me
that the dream was the answer to my question the night before.
To the understanding I was given, the wheels were the churches and the lines in front of each person led to the center where the Spirit was. The body of Christ is standing on these wheels and is directed by the Spirit of God who is the Holy Spirit. We move as directed by the Spirit of God. We (the body of Christ) are all one, connected to Spirit.
"‘For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.'" Acts 17:28
When I read the next verse below I was reminded of this experience the Lord showed me.
Ephesians 4:11-16 says” And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints of the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head- Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does it share, causing growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Edifying the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he who prophesies speaks
edification, and exhortation and comfort to men.” (NKJV)
I believe this doesn’t just go for prophets of God but all followers of Christ. When you speak you it should edify and reflect God. Your smallest words and actions either will glorify God or won’t glorify God. When you speak it should be a stance that is confident, steadfast, assured and full of conviction in and from God. When you speak it should be of comfort that is full of purpose God is giving you.
So what do these words, “edification, exhortation and comfort” mean according to the bible concordance. Below the definitions are scripture examples.
Edification:
1.
The act of building, building up.
2.
The act of one who promotes another’s growth in
Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness.
3.
A building (i.e. the thing built, edifice.)
Romans 14: 19, Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 14:12, 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Corinthians 5:1
Exhortation:
1.
A calling near, summons, esp. for help.
2.
Importation- (The process of importing what God
gives.), supplication, entreaty
3.
Exhortation, admonition- (A mild, kind, yet
earnest reproof. Cautionary advice
or warning), encouragement
4.
Consolation – (comfort received by a person
after a loss or disappointment) comfort, solace (he sought solace in his faith
in God); that which affords comfort or refreshment.
5.
Persuasive discourse, stirring address.
6.
Instructive, admonitory- (conveying a warning or
reprimand), conciliatory, powerful hortatory- (a strong urging) discourse
Acts 9:31, Acts 13:15, Romans 12:8, 1 Corinthians 14:3, Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 13:22
Comfort:
1.
Any address, whether made for the purpose of
persuading, or of arousing and stimulating, or of calming and consoling.
1 Corinthians 14:3
God wants us to use our spiritual gifts well to serve one another. If we have a speaking role, which we all do in some measure, we are to do it well. No matter if we are a pastor, evangelist, teacher or speaking to another sibling in Christ, our family member or our neighbors. We are to speak the truth in love to promote one another’s growth in Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
I remember talking to a guy named Chad, who was a missionary, after service a few years ago. A sigh of boredom came from his lips as his eyes surveyed the room of others snacking on goodies and appetizers. I don’t remember my response to his sigh but he answered, “I am tried of being around saved people. I want to go out and find some unsaved people.”
His comment has stayed with me since then and I didn’t understand what he meant until now. It wasn’t like he hated being around other Christians, he just wanted to be used by God, he wanted to make a difference, he wanted to reach out into the body of Christ and the world and teach and tell people about Jesus and see Jesus working. He wanted to be an “active” disciple not someone who was "comfortable". We were giving the impression we had no need of anything. We were giving the impression that we had no need for him in our circle which gave him godly purpose. He came to encourage us but he wasn't feeling very encouraged.
"When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." Romans 1:12
That doesn't just go for missionaries but those around us. We need to stimulate each others faith by sharing what God doing in our lives. What is he teaching you. What has he done in your life and in the lives others. Now if we haven't been seeking God and looking for what God is doing then where is the encouragement from God you are suppose to be fueling yourself up in to be salt and light?
I hate when it feels like I am just doing “nothing”. I am zealous about the word of God, especially the word God brings in season and is making alive and real. This living word of God makes me want to share it with others, which stimulates and edifies those in Christ and stirs those with curious ears.
It also gives me a "part" in the circle of Christ and when I don’t get to use my gift in the circle of Christ I get discouraged and even frustrated because I know God doesn’t just give me this godly wisdom and encouragement to keep to myself but to make a difference in other people’s lives.
So as the Holy Spirit directs, speak edification,
exhortation and comfort to others in humility and love of Christ.
Again: “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, not give place to the devil. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for the necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32
Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
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