"Stop Destroying the Works of My Hand........." - Sign, Jesus Christ.

Ever wondered why we can’t seem to see the church growing? In this case: growing in the faith. Why the young Christians still stay young after 5 years? Why there are only so few spiritual people in the church?

Why are we seeing Christians pulling down other fellow Christians? A brother accuses another brother of his of false charges, bringing fellow brothers and sisters of the same faith to court. Often we hear people gossiping about each other and spreading false rumors. Around us, sadly, in the church itself, we see people hating each other; we see the HIGH and LOFTY looking down on the LOWLY and rejecting them at one glance; moreover, they are of the same family of Christ!
We are TEARING down each other one way or another!

THIS MUST STOP...

Leaping out of the pages of the Bible we see a word that is CLOSELY LINKED to our faith as believers of Christ, it is the word “EDIFICATION”. This word seems far-fetched for most of us but in fact it is as real as air. It is one of the most spiritual-sounding words we often hear in the church. But really, what does it mean?
The meaning is pretty simple. The Greek term for “edify” means to “build the house.” Yup, as simple as that, to build the house.
Jesus uses the literal meaning of the word edify in Matthew 7:24

Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.

We get interested and excited about building high rise buildings and see them taking shape. We compete on who can build the biggest building, the tallest, the most expensive and so forth. But the Bible has a different interest, while the world is concerned about building BUILDINGS, God is more concerned in BUILDING PEOPLE. God is calling all of us to build up our fellow believers in the faith. Yes, that is the simple truth.

Matthew 16:18
And on this rock, I will BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

In the verse above, Jesus wasn’t talking about building a brick-and-stone structure with beautiful precious stones all over the walls of the building. He is not interested in building a castle or a palace grander than India’s Taj Mahal. No, He is NOT! What He meant in that verse is to build up the WORLDWIDE BODY of BELIEVERS. To build His church in YOU!
The world out there is MEAN. Once we walk out of the door, we are a sitting duck for the enemy to attack us, and he will do his very best to bring you down; take note, he will NOT stop! This is where edification plays an important role in the church today; we get together with our fellow brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ and get built up once more. But of what good will it be if our own fellow believers are “helping” the enemy to tear other Christians down? The result will be even worse!

What is a church? Many refer it to a building where Christians go to worship on Sundays. But the REAL CHURCH is NOT a building, it is the PEOPLE! It is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s BUILDING.” we are the CHURCH! And we are told to build up the church of God, Ephesians 4:12 “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” So that is what edification is all about, building the church of Christ up, building our fellow believers of the same faith up.

Many a times we get so comfortable in swinging the hammer and know exactly where to apply the deadly crowbar at people’s heart and break it. We are just so good at tearing down each other. But to tear down our fellow brothers and sisters is the exact OPPOSITE of what we are called to do! Read carefully the verse below:
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out from your mouths, but only what is helpful for BUILDING others up according to their needs, that it may BENEFIT those who listen.

There are many things we can do or say or react to situations but be warned that what you say or do or react can either break a person or make a person. Next time before you do anything, ask yourself, “Will this build up or tear down my brother or sister?”

We are all called to edify one another, to build one another up in the faith. To take care of Jesus’ flocks, not one or two particular sheep, but ALL. We are called to strengthen one another. But until we do that, we will see the church being stunted in all aspects of growth. Stop passing judgment, stop gossiping, life is short so make good use of every second. What do we benefit from all these useless activities?
So start to open your eyes and look around for stray sheeps of God and make every effort to bring them back into the flock; in numbers we find safety. Start being mindful of what comes out of your mouth, of the way you react in desperate situations, and especially in the way you TREAT OTHERS.

Remember that is we tear down one of our brothers or sisters, we are tearing down God’s building, God’s work…

ALL believers are the work of God, so......

Romans 14:19-20
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
DO NOT DESTROY THE WORK OF GOD...”

Let us edify,
Zlwin Chew.