It is our job as born again believers to build one another up in the faith.
Building someone up does not mean flattering them or praising them. It means we speak truth to them that they may be sound in their faith.
Using Scripture to build others up may at times mean we must correct with scripture.
There is no better way to build the faith of a brother or sister than to bring Scripture to bear so they can be encouraged to obey God. It is when we obey God that we see the blessings of wisdom.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Hebrews 10:24-25
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing."
Proverbs 27:17
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
Hebrews 3:13
"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
We cannot build someone in the faith when we are flattering them. We cannot build someone in the faith without using scripture that is applicable to the situation.
As born again believers we ought to be more interested in truth and righteousness than we are in temporary happiness.
Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Those who will not receive correction or instruction from God's Word are prideful and cannot expect to grow emotionally or spiritually.
1 Timothy 4:1
"4 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,"
The deceptions are so numerous now in the church that the people actually believe their heresies and errors, defending them to the point of anger when they are exposed.
2 Timothy 4:6-10 "6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."
I am weary of the continual litany of conservative news reports of all the evil that is going on in the world. I want to hear about Christ, His principles, and the way He works. Only one third of the Bible is prophecy. We love His word but it is wrong to ignore the other two thirds of the Bible that teach holiness and principles that we need to know to live out the rest of our existence on this earth before we are taken home.
There is work to do, warning the unbelievers to repent to be saved and warning the believer to keep their focus on Christ.
Colossians 3:2 – Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:23-24 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Romans 8:5 – For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit.
To be continually focused on the evil that the end days devils are doing glorifies the devil and the evil men, not Christ.
We know evil when it waltzes past us we have no need to seek out the evil going on in the world today, we have no need to know it.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
The company we keep is not always people, sometimes it's the media. We are influenced by the things we look at all the time. We must watch to make sure that we are seeking Christ and His Word for grow in holiness.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Romans 14:19
"So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual outbuilding."
Ephesians 4:12
"To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"
1 Corinthians 14:26 "26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church ."
The work of the ministry that we should be building in one another is not news from outside sources. The work of the ministry is the teaching and training in God's principles and the gospel through His Word the Bible. These things are not seen in the latest newscasts or the scuttlebutt making the rounds on the internet.
Those who spend too much time on the drama of the antics of the wicked will themselves be worldly focused, unable to impart grace and encouragement to others.
The devils are very crafty they entice the Christians to be more focused on the evils in the world than on the Word of God, causing the believers to be ineffective in the work of the gospel as well as angry in their hearts.
The biggest lie many Christians are speaking today is this; "we need to know these things." God never said that we should know about the evil, He said to avoid knowing it.
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Ephesians 6:11
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
Constantly dwelling on the evils in the world will pollute the mind, making fearful those who have trusted in their worldly knowledge more than they have trusted in Christ.
Mark 7:20-23
"And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
It is clear in God's Word that we should not be spending time knowing all we can about evil. We are to spend our time learning all we can about righteousness.
I am saddened to see how many famous Christian speakers who spend a lot of time on the prophecy of the end times, becoming caught up in the drama of the evil all around them.
There is almost glee in those who are addicted to the drama, knowing as much evil as they can. Many years ago I knew how the world was going because God's Word told me. I had no need to know the ratty and icky details of these monstrous people.
Philippians 4:8
"8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
These are our marching orders brethren, to seek out the truth in God's word and to speak it to others. Moving beyond this to the enormously evil world around us is to take our focus off of Christ and onto the exploits of the devil. We must stop giving the devil glory by speaking all that he is doing in the world.
Yes, nearly everything seems irrational right now. It is hard to find people who think intelligently about things, they are full of fantasy and emotion. Emotion drives their actions instead of reality.
These people are so full of self they will not listen to rational and reasonable things, only what they like and feel is acceptable to them.
These are the end times God spoke of, in which faith is placed in people rather than in Christ.
Even while many claim the name of Christ they defy His word while claiming to obey it.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
I want to shout it but no one is listening!!!!
That man that is now an idol for Evangelicals and Charismatics, is not at all what they think he is!!!!!
Now, I will let you ask God what I mean and seek His face for who this is and why it is important.
I am praying for God to open the eyes of many so they will stop looking to a man and begin looking only to Christ.
Isaiah 31:1
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD."
Don't be astonished when "Christians" act angry because we used the Bible to correct them. This is the state of the apostate church. The modern church is more interested in viewing life horizontally than they are vertically.
Correction is the new evil among those who boast and swagger about their rights.
Everything the apostate Christian defends will be about their personal rights and freedoms. The born again believer knows we have no rights and our freedom is in Jesus Christ. We can be free while we are in prison.
The world's antics do not upset those who are deeply walking with Christ. We know whatever happens is orchestrated by God for His purposes. To kick against God's plan is to kick against Him.
Things are only mildly inconvenient right now, what is coming will be far more severe. We might as well learn to accept God's will and remain steady and joyful through it now so that when the real hard stuff comes we will be adept at praising Christ in the midst of it.
While the world is upset at all that goes on we will be able to bring joy and hope to them. There is fear in the hearts of believers and nonbelievers alike, let us be different from those who have no hope and rejoice in whatever situation we are in.
Philippians 4:10-12 "10 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.…"
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Ephesians 6:10
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."
