Edification of the saints

Edification of the saints(a.k.a.you and me)

It is of such importance that we understand this vital essential truth, thus enabling each other more so for the ministry which is our calling.

Speaking from: Ephesians, chapter 4:1-4, 7, 29-32

[1]: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
[2]: with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love,
[3]: eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[4]: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
[7]: But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

This part is very important.

[29]: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.
[31]: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice,
[32]: and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Once again "the calling" is talked about, that purpose of us that we are made and is our reasonable service which at the same time fulfills us. I wrote of this before, that "calling" is loving thy neighbor which is made manifest through showing Christ to that person, testifying of Christ to them by word of mouth and deed which girds up each believer and sets captives free.

What really is quite frequent throughout scripture is this truth and commandment; loving thy neighbor a.k.a. Being selfless, longing just as the apostles did for our salvation and growth in the Truth. Really if you think about it the greatest two commandments are "love the Lord thy God with your entirety", and "love thy neighbor as thy self." All the other commandments are really made to make it easier how to understand and do the first commandment and that is loving God with your entirety. And when you love God you love what He loves and hate what He hates. He hates sin, thus you find yourself not desiring sin, not desiring this world, and God loves everyone, thus you find yourself loving people, desiring that they have what has been given to you, not through shedding tears, not through the flesh but the Spirit. I wish that churches would preach this.

Now back to the text and thus my point: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.
People when reading this always miss its second meaning. Its first meaning is clearly addressing not saying cruel things towards one another out of spite or anger. Now the second meaning is talking about when you listen to the enemies lies that he sings over you. Such as dwelling in defeat instead of victory, frolicking in human frailty instead frolicing in the field of victory of Christ who lives in you. That is what the scripture is talking about when it says," -Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

What this scripture basically is saying is "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything." Basically say what God says about yourself and others, that's what having faith means, that is what God does. He speaks and brings out of nothingness something. We are to do the same. Speak to the mountain in your life and it will move. The church of God is not a defeated, stupid, helpless wretch, it is a powerful, intelligent, victorious church.

There are so many people who pray out of human frailty, carnality, and defeat. For example: "Oh God without You we're such sinful wretches, just help us to get through this week and take away all the distractions." God is not a manipulator, He moves when we move, He doesn't steal control of our lives and situations without our consent. Only someone who doesn't love us would do that. I really love what Andrew Wommack referenced in the Scriptures, about the authority that Christ enabled and gave to us: Speak to the mountain and it will be removed. Now that mountain could be anything. In Christ all things are possible. We have been seated with Christ in Heavenly places. Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Back to the main point and what the scripture is saying to us. "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear." Notice how it never says to say anything negative, but whatever may impart GRACE to those who hear. We could even take it to say that when talking with someone about Christ tell them how Christ can set them free from their prison. Extend that gift of God that was given for you, that grace, that imparts GRACE to those who hear.

What it all really comes down to is taking up the "call" of loving thy neighbor which can only come from being made worthy of the call which comes from loving God in the first place which causes you to love people, thus that's what the Christian walk is about. Anything else is false love, religion. I'll never forget the song: "Any other love is misplaced identity." Anyways I am just always brought back to this truth because almost everything centers around this.

Ephesians, chapter 4:25
Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

The truth is what God says about us, not what we think or feel, or the enemy says over us. There are so many passages that say a better word about us. No longer is the blood of Able over us, which cries out for judgement. The blood of Christ, that blood flowing with grace and truth speaks and pleads mercy and forgiveness over us, AND forever washes our sin and sins away. It does cover them but erases them. Therefore when in the assembly, do not testify of weakness, judgement, neither frailty. God does not say that about us and God is not a liar. Therefore always bring a word of encouragement, testify to the victory of Jesus who has taken up residence in each and every one of us. Always speak of the blood of Christ and what the cross of Christ redeemed us from and what that work of salvation has created in us. It is always that we are to speak of the new creature that we are as a result of salvation. You can't put new wine into old wineskins.

Ephesians, chapter 5:4
Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving.

This is another aspect and part of "being made worthy of His call." God's call to every believer is for them to love God with everything that is in them, and to love thy neighbor, extending the grace given to us, testifying that Christ is risen can set them free. A labor of love is loving thy neighbor which is manifested in the edification of each saint by each saint. (Not through the shedding of tears, nor the offering of food or drink.) Not letting corrupted communication come out of our mouths, but only that which edifies one another, thus bringing grace to the hearers.

There are too many people living out of slavery, out of carnal obedience, out of duty(not love, but a set of rules just like Catholics do) to Christ, to God. Duty was never intended to express love or help us to love but only act to keep our attention focussed. In these last days a defiled Gospel is preached. This gospel puts emphasis and stock upon a defeated better looking sinner, which is opposite from what the Bible you are reading and believe in says about you. It makes one dwell upon and put stock in circumstances, wealth, emotions, feelings, duty, and impulses first. Not selflessness, brokeness, humility, God fearing, meekness, loving one another and suffering with one another. It has all become, "God will help them, oh please God help them." We are ignoring the fact that God has put us in the earth to steward it, to reap the white field harvest. We expect God to do our job for us. When in reality, the and in the perfectly historical and proveable Bible that you believe in and reference and read, God moves to human hearts through human hearts. He doesn't suddenly break out like some child with a temper tantrum.

God is order, not impulse. Why do you think that people are dying in the main line churches (and the persecuted church overseas who are seeing the dead raised, walking on water when there is a flood and they need to get to work, money appearing out of thin air) when God has given you the authority to cast out devils and uncleaniness? It is because we refuse to acknowledge that power and authority that God HAS given to us and not in a future time, right now. We believe God to be a liar, and He is not.

Ephisians 5:18-21
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.