Building Up Believers

Building Up Believers

Ephesians 4:12-16

Theme: God gives us the characteristics of a church that builds up each other.

Introduction: Building something is a very rewarding experience. Whether you are building a model car, a home, or addition to your house, it is exciting to watch the progress. Building something is always better than tearing down something.

Here God is speaking of building something much more important: our lives.

You might say that the church’s command is to build lives for eternity. While we may build budgets and buildings, our main focus and interest should be people. Every person here in this room has a biblical responsibility to the church to build up each other.

The word edify means to build up in the sense of teaching. The focus is of growing people spiritually to a greater area of wisdom, Godliness, and spiritual productivity.

The ministry of the church is to bring people closer to God because nearness is likeness. Let’s examine the characteristics of fulfilling God’s command.

I. The purpose of edification Eph. 4:12-15

A. Conversion v. 13a

1. Unity means everyone will unite around the truth of God’s Word.

2. Here God wants everyone know Him—the word knowledge means to know Him deeply or intimately—not a casual but a personal knowledge.

3. God wants the church to unite together in telling others about Christ.

4. We do not apologize for wanting you to know our desire is for you to meet Jesus Christ as your Savior.

B. Completeness vv. 13b, 15

1. Being saved is not the quest or goal of life, it is the beginning.

2. Verse 13 clearly shows us the purpose of edification is to mature the believer into a strong, vibrant growing Christian.

3. Verse 15—we may grow up in Him.

4. There are four stages outlined in Scripture

a. Babes 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

b. Little children 1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

c. Young men 1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

d. Fathers-maturity 1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

5. A person who does not grow normally is considered a handicap person, are you a handicap believer.

C. Consistency v.14

1. A growing believer in this passage is a consistent believer.

2. He is not one who goes from one truth to another, one who believes something and then questions it later.

3. You can tell the growth of a believer by their consistency—if they lack it, there is something wrong with their diet—they are feeding on the wrong things.

4. There is the craftiness of man, the false doctrines in our world-the growing believer will not be bothered by false doctrine because he will know right doctrine and when false doctrine comes, he will shun it.

5. Edification is purposed to grow the believer in his consistency.

II. The process of edification Eph 4:16

A. Mutual commitment

1. As members of the church, we belong to each other, we affect each other, and we need each other.

2. Every believer has a ministry to other believers no matter how insignificant they think they are.

3. When we become members of our local church, we commit to edify each other spiritually—we will see how later.

4. We have chosen to be a part of this body to serve one another and benefit each other.

B. Mutual cooperation

1. Love is the circulatory system of the body.

2. An isolated Christian from the body cannot minister to others, nor can others minister to himself, and it is impossible for the gifts to be ministered in either way.

3. Love and truth unite the believers to grow or build up each other, which in turn is growing spiritually.

4. There will be numerical growth when we go through this process of edification—this is why discipleship, adult Bible study, SS, all are important.

5. Love and cooperation builds, pride and dissension tears down and destroys.

III. The plan for edification Acts 2:41-42

The early church is our model our prototype

A. Doctrine

1. This is solid, Godly, authoritative teaching.

2. Doctrine is the truth which holds the church together.

3. No doctrine, no truth.

B. Fellowship

1. The relationship man has with other believers.

2. We need fellowship—two fellows in a ship.

3. Fellowship is extremely important for spiritual growth Rom 14:7-8 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. (8) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

4. Fellowship is encouraging and strengthening Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Ecc 4:8-12 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. (9) Two arebetter than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (11) Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? (12) And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ill. Story of a lady who lived next door to us in Woodland. She had to come to us one day and ask for help.

C. Breaking of Bread

1. The Lord’s Supper is the main thought here.

2. However, the message of the Lord’s Supper is also edifying our spiritual life—it is a reminder of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

3. The songs we sing, the message we preach, the emphasis we have is all on the message of Christ.

D. Prayers

1. Nothing can build the Christian life more than prayer.

2. We need to pray for each other and we need others to pray for us.

3. The church should be a place of prayer—getting in contact with God.

4. Why I believer every church member should attend prayer meeting.

Conclusion: The ministry of the church is to build people’s spiritual lives. Church members should do all they can to build up people for the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we must preach against sin, but not against people.

God wants to build your life for now and eternity. If you build your life on anything other than Jesus Christ, you are building it on sinking sand. What are you building your life upon? What about those around you whom you influence? Your family? Your work mates? Your neighbors?