"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32 NIV).
Seems almost like a prayer by Paul and focuses the hearers on the need for edifying one's self. However, to be edified by what, in particular? By the "word of God's grace".
As we read, become acquainted with, and obey, we are not only consecrated by God's Word, we not only learn ways and means to defeat our enemy, Satan, we can also build ourselves up in our most holy faith (Jude 1:20); in this chosen act of purposeful edification, we will be blessed. This is how we "grow" spiritually and learn how to stand firm in our faith as followers of Jesus Christ.
Then we can pass it on to others so that they, in turn, may be edified. I recall Ezra of old who did just that. Ezra was a man of great integrity and credibility, I believe, and therefore the people of Israel would listen to what he had to say with all due respect and seriousness. He was a known "priest and teacher of the Law of the God of heaven" even by King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:12 NIV). That chapter also describes Ezra as a...
"...teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel..." (Ezra 7:11 NIV).
Continuing on in that letter from Artaxerxes, he commends Ezra for having great acquaintance of God's wisdom,
"...in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess..."
He goes on to command Ezra to...
"...teach any who do not know them [the laws of your God]..." (Ezra 7:25-26 NIV).
Ezra is found praising God for this good favor and...
"...took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with him..."to learn of God's ways and to honor the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (Ezra 7:27-28).
To do this there was the consecration of themselves with Ezra leading the way. He was in deep earnest. He...
"...prayed, confessed his wrongs, weeping and throwing himself down..."
in contrite, genuine repentance. The Israelites followed suit: the men, women and the children!! (Ezra 10:1, 11).
Later on in the book of Nehemiah and chapter 13, Ezra is still engaged in passing on God's Word. He is reading aloud from the...
"...Book of Moses...in the hearing of the people...".
Of course, what was being read at the time had a profound impact and effect upon the hearers. They didn't just feel remorse for their wrongs. They had true repentance and they did something about it. This is the consecration effect through confession and obedience to God's Word. God's Word put into action.
Ezra's humbleness and coming along side the people, showing he too needed to do just as they did, coupled with the penitent hearts of the people as they heard God's Word read among them, edified them all: man, woman and child!
Back to the apostle Paul again. He instructed the Thessalonian believers to
"...encourage one another and build each other up..."
and then commended them,
"...just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).
Paul also taught Timothy what the holy Scriptures were good for in the line of edification; he said they are,
"...able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:14-16 NIV).
Then he went on to say,
"...so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17 NIV).
This would take "great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV) as Timothy taught those with whom he met for "Bible study".
So the many times we have opportunity to build ourselves up; do we? Our own private, at home, quiet time of communion with God and His Word goes a long way and helps when we get to Bible study. This is another opportunity to edify ourselves with God's Word together with His people. Listening to Sunday sermons are times of the even more public reading of the Word, learning of His ways and building ourselves up. Treasure these times and be in earnest as the people of Ezra's time were.
Then it was not just the men. Nor was it just the women. Nor just the sending of the children to Sunday School. It was families; together: men, women and children having all out thirst for God's Word. I was struck by this very thing on the couple of medical mission trips I went on to interior regions where the people had this great thirst and intentness to imbibe God's Word. It was a wonder to behold!
That age old illustration of the body builder, building him/herself up. It doesn't happen overnight. Regular sessions of lifting heavier and heavier weights until they can lift a phenomenal amount and/or pull fire engines for meters down the street. Slow and steady wins the race.
As in the physical realm, so too in the spiritual realm...Do we want to soak up as much of God's Word as we can to edify ourselves? Do we want to strengthen our faith in our Heavenly Father and learn all we can about Him, how His grace works in our lives and our relationship with Him?
Again, we fortify our physical bodies with healthy food and often a variety of vitamin supplements. God's Word is our "food and our supplements" for spiritual growth in Christ. Get edified. Have multiple daily doses.
~ERC June 2019~
Jonathan Butler singing I Stand on Your Word
Lyrics for I Stand on Your Word
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