The Pillars of Comfort and Edification

The Purpose of Pillars

Pillars as a part of the architectural structure of a building dates back to Ancient Egyptian times. It is said that Pillars were introduced to this part of Africa as a support for roofing documented as early and most likely before the 3rd century. Pillars have a dual purpose not only to they support structures much larger than themselves but they are also aesthetically pleasing parts of a building. They are truly ornaments within themselves. It’s quite interesting that even in places depicted and designated as ruins where buildings have decayed and fallen apart, there are pillars that are still standing. Biblical history shows us that pillars were important fixtures in temple, halls contained rows of pillars, pillars were functional elements of construction when Samson made two pillars collapse and killed more Philistines in that day that he had his entire reign as Judge. Pillars have a three fold function, support the roof, to serve a place to harness a horse, and to divide a building into compartments.

As it pertains to the support system of the church there are two pillars that I would like to discuss today. The pillar of comfort and the pillar of edification. Without the ability to comfort each other and the ability to edify each other our potential as a church diminishes greatly. The church should be a place where I can find comfort, the church should be a place where I can find edification. In a world that want to tear me down, and destroy the very fabric of the identity I have in Christ Jesus I ought to be able to find friends within the body of Christ that will comfort me when life gets tough and edify me when I’m broken down.

This text reminds me of my grandfather, he was a consistent choice for prayer at church during worship on Sunday mornings. One sentence that he would say in his prayers was “Lord strengthen where we are weak and build us up where we are torn down”. Life is tough, and we need some friends that are going to add comfort not discomfort to our lives, some friends that are going to edify us and people we can comfort and edify as well.

Truth be told if we can’t find friends in the church something is wrong. If we can be the friends that people need something is wrong! We should be friends that comfort and edify one another.

Keep Doing What You Are Doing

The section of this letter begins with “you have no need that I should write to you”. If adding comfort and edification to someone’s life is something you already do that ‘s perfect, but keep listening.

Regardless of our ability we do need a constant reminder that the return of Jesus will separate the ready from the unready.

When we don’t know we have to remain ready, similar to the parable that Jesus shared in Matthew 25, it wasn’t that they didn’t know who the groom was or that they were unwilling to follow him they were just not prepared. Matthew 25:13 ““Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Not only must we be aware for ourselves, we have to be aware for each other. If you see something say something. If someone seems like they’re down, or not their regular self there’s nothing wrong with asking a question.

How’s your day

Is everything going well

My brother, my sister, do you need anything

Nothing may be wrong, but sometimes people aren’t willing to open up unless someone asks.

Protection Through Association

Walking in light requires awareness. Refrain from anything that will limit your ability to be effective amongst the body of Christ.

There are three tenets that impact salvation. Faith, hope and love. The enemy’s goal is to keep us from seeing these tenets within the church. If he can get us to believe that faith doesn’t exist in this place, if he can get us to believe that the church is a hopeless place we will devalue it and look for support elsewhere. This is why it has to be a place of comfort and edification! Understand that the world will provide comfort and edification in it’s own way as well and if we aren’t doing what God has instructed we allow people to find comfort and perceived edification in places that could provide people with eternal condemnation.

I remember when I was playing football, every 6 weeks we would have a test to see our max for bench press, squat, power cleans, and incline. Those who were top 11 would get there name on the board. Those who broke records would get a special plate at the bottom of the chart to signify a record.

There were times where I would lift more than I expected because of the encouragement from my teammates. People around you wanted you to succeed will push you further than you ever thought you could go.

During this time edification and comfort was so necessary! Christians were under heavy persecution. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.”

A true friend is going to stand with you even when times get tough. Not only were people facing persecution but you had false teachers pretending to be people that they weren’t. For this cause it was imperative that genuineness was at the forefront of relationships. One way to rid ourselves of disunity and disingenuous behavior is to emphasize fellowship! Fellowship should stir up love and good works.

What is Comfort? What is Edification?

Understand that edification means to build, strengthen, build up, make more able. Understand that authority was never supposed to be used to tear down or oppress. Edification increases potential. With everything going on with us we should be able to find comfort and edification in the church. If I can’t find a friend anywhere I should be able to find a friend that will add comfort and edify me within the body of Christ.

What does comfort look like amongst Christians? Comfort is a deeper sense of encouragement. It’s non-verbal and verbal! Sometimes comfort is a smile, sometimes it’s a hug, sometimes it’s you got this! Sometimes it’s a I’m praying for you! Comfort is encouragement!

There’s people here today that are in need of comfort and edification! Sometimes the best edification doesn’t come from a sermon or a song, sometimes it comes from a hug or smile from person in the pew next to you.

Understand it’s imperative that we understand the power of living in peace and unity with one another.

God desires that we understand the power of constant Joy, Prayer and Praise. This verse sets the stage for what is to come!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks!

There should be a point where our Christian walk is more about encouragement and less about instruction!

When people align themselves with the mission of the church they should expect to find encouragement and edification within the church!

Jesus was a savior of encouragement and comfort and edification.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 1:4 “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

He does this so we can do it for each other! Let’s comfort each other, let’s build each other up!