Join the E-Team: Edify!

[0:00] I've just got to get dressed for this one. Now, this is my message this morning. It's just to help you remember it, okay?

[0:10] I'm not meaning to be irreverent or treating this lightly. I'm not going to wear it right through the sermon, but I just want you to know, I didn't get a t-shirt, I didn't have time to make up a t-shirt, but I want you to join the E-team.

[0:24] So you'll be clearer what that means as I go through this. Join the E-team. Take a visit with me to the construction site.

[0:36] Talking about edifying, edifying. Now, I know I've, I better put this on, sorry. I'll have to do that again. Join the E-team.

[0:49] That's my message. Talking about edifying. Take a visit with me to the construction site. We're either building up or tearing down. I know I love to speak about edification, edifying, because it's needful, and the Word of God emphasises it many times.

[1:09] As Christians, God calls us for this, for the work of edifying, of edification, of building people up. We see that in 1 Corinthians 14, 26, at the latter part of that verse.

[1:22] It tells us, let all things be done unto edifying. All means all. That's an interesting thought, isn't it?

[1:33] So to edify is to strengthen, to build up, to promote spiritual growth and godly character. We need some builders in a sin-sick world that's filled with despair and negativity, don't we?

[1:46] When we see whatever government of the day prevails, there's unsaved men in that government. There's unsaved women in that government. And there's a proclivity, whatever flavour of government, to veer away from God and to veer in Satan's direction.

[2:08] And the world is like that. We know we are outnumbered, and yet we can be encouraged today. And we can encourage one another. It's easy to get discouraged, isn't it?

[2:20] To get downcast. People are inclined to tear things down, to see the lack, to see what's lacking. And sometimes discouragement feeds off itself and gets worse.

[2:33] It's like a downward spiral. And in these days, we have to build up one another because we need one another. We need to encourage one another. And we need to encourage ourselves like David did.

[2:44] It was a time of great distress. This was a time where they'd suffered a great defeat and a disaster at Ziklag. And it says prior to this verse in 1 Samuel 30 verse 6, it says that David wept till he could weep no more.

[3:01] He was just at the end of himself. And yet David found personal faith and personal strength in his faith. Sometimes we just have to be like David.

[3:14] It says David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. We've got numbers of videos on our YouTube channel, over a thousand. And I was looking and just one real short one I've got was on this same verse.

[3:29] And it was one of the most popular videos. In fact, the most popular videos are not me. Sorry, on my YouTube channel, there's some other preachers. But this one is one that people seem to, it seemed to strike a chord with people that David encouraged himself in the Lord.

[3:45] It's just a very simple truth, isn't it? That we can find personal faith and strength and strengthen our faith. And sometimes we just have to encourage ourselves.

[3:55] When we're feeling like we're alone, when we're feeling like we don't have others to encourage us, we can encourage ourself in the Lord, our God. Can't we? And we have to see beyond the sadness, beyond the heaviness, and to learn how to edify, to join the E team.

[4:17] Amen? Let's have that E team attitude. We're on the edification team. We're called to edify. We're called to build up. We're called to strengthen. We're called to encourage one another.

[4:29] It tells us that in Jude chapter 1. But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

[4:48] It tells us to be building up yourselves. Be a builder. Be uplifting. Be encouraging. Be an edifier.

[5:00] How can we do this? Our motive is love. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

[5:11] It says love builds up people. We can have knowledge and yet be unloving, unkind, and miss the point. Charity, love edifies.

[5:25] It builds up. So how do we see others? Do we see others with the love of Jesus, our Lord? Do we look with compassion and care? Do we look beyond what we see and see the soul?

[5:39] Are we looking at building up one another? Are we building up the kingdom of God? How can we be more loving as a church? We can have knowledge.

[5:51] We can have wisdom. We can have, well, we should have wisdom. We should have knowledge. But we don't want to get prideful or too high and mighty, too high and lofty that we miss the point.

[6:04] Charity builds up. There's a mutual edification. It says build up one another, edify one another, look out for one another. Isn't it so easy to live in our own bubble where we just think about ourselves?

[6:18] Look for others. Care for others. Look out for the interests of others. Stop being selfish. It also says we are edified by the word of God.

[6:29] We see that in Acts 20, 32. Paul says, Now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

[6:43] The word of God, it's able to build you up. Who believes the word of God is able? The word of God is able to build you up. Who believes the word of God is able to build you up? It is.

[6:55] It still is. It's still the same word. It's still the same God who empowers his word, who enlightens his word, illuminates his word, inspires us by his word.

[7:07] He speaks to us by his word. It's his voice. The shepherd's voice. It tells us in the word of God that we can have a breakthrough. We can have victory.

[7:19] We can know God's care. We can know that we have life. Life eternal. And when we join the E team, we start to see things differently.

[7:30] The light goes on. We start to see things differently. He enlightens us. We follow after some things. It tells us here, Paul says, let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify another.

[7:46] Paul says pursue this. He says follow this. Follow after these things. Follow after what makes for peace. Follow after what makes for ways you can edify. He says chase after this. Run after this.

[7:57] Get excited about this. Pursue this. Run after this. Chase after this. Agonise for this. Make this your aim. Peace. And the ways you can edify.

[8:08] See if you can excel at being in the E team. The team of edifiers. It tells us in the word of God, 1 Corinthians 14, in the context of being zealous of spiritual gifts, Paul says this.

[8:21] He says seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church. Excel to the edifying of the church. Now, I know there's some scholarly people here who've got great theological credentials.

[8:37] And that's a good thing. We've encouraged people to look at a Bible school. And we can do more in that regard as a church. Perhaps the Bible schools need to have a course, a training course in edification.

[8:50] Edification 101. Teaching people how to be builders. Teaching Christians to be builders. Can we aim to get an A double plus at edifying?

[9:03] A high distinction? Or what's the top one? Whatever it is. If only we could take such a course in edification 101. If only we would have committed students to this end.

[9:15] To make it our own to excel. To be excellent. To get top marks. To excel at being edifiers. There's one preacher put it, I love what I call the three amigos.

[9:29] Amigos. Exhort, edify and encourage. Let's join the three amigos. Amen? Exhort, edify and encourage. It's a good thing to be, isn't it?

[9:39] To be such a Christian. These are all positive, uplifting and upward building things. We're called to this. Let all things be done to edifying. Seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.

[9:53] That others will be built up. That others will be encouraged, not torn down. The E team is a body. It's a body.

[10:04] It's a team effort. We rally to this cause. It's what we are. It's who we are. And we know this familiar one that tells us, let us consider one another.

[10:18] To provoke unto love and to good works. Stir each other up in this way. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. As the manner of some is.

[10:30] But exhorting one another. Encouraging one another. And so much the more, as you see the day approaching. When we get together, it's what we're here for.

[10:41] It's here for each other. We're here for each other. That's why it's good if you've got time. Come early and edify. Stay late and edify.

[10:53] Spend time together. I know some have got to shoot through and it's not always possible. But exhort, edify, encourage. It's a group effort. It's what we're here for.

[11:04] Your brothers and sisters have got needs here this morning amongst us. We do church together. It's together as God's body.

[11:14] And I like the thought really that I know I'm not much of a specimen of it, but we should be bodybuilders. Shouldn't we? Bodybuilders.

[11:25] I know there's some here who've got much more physique than I have. Bodybuilders. Building up the body. That's what we should be about. And we see an illustration of how we should work together.

[11:38] Some have reflected how a Gothic arch. Now, if we'd have thought on, we could have made an arch like this on that doorway there. But a Gothic arch is like medieval architecture.

[11:51] And it shows us a lesson here in that a Gothic arch has its strength and stability derived from the fact that each stone in the arch leans on the one beside it.

[12:05] You know, the arch is made strong by the leaning of the pieces together. And this is how we should be as a church.

[12:16] Mutual support. We need one another. That's what gives us our strength as we lean on one another. If we stop leaning on one another, we fall.

[12:30] We're here for each other. I need you. We need each other. We need one another. And in the fellowship of God's own people, we have this mutual interdependence.

[12:43] And I call every believer to be a bodybuilder. To join the building effort. Join the building crew. Building through encouragement. Building through the word. The word which is able to build you up.

[12:57] The preached word. The written word. The recited word. The memorised word. The meditated word. It's able to build you up. And as we get the word, we'll keep on building our faith.

[13:09] And we build our faith in fellowship. It's where it happens. When we get together, there's something spiritual that happens. There's something of God that happens. It tells us wherefore comfort one another.

[13:23] Comfort yourselves together. And edify one another. Paul says, make it happen. Encourage. Comfort. Edify. Build up. And there's a snowball effect, I put to you.

[13:36] That as you edify one another, you activate them to edify their brothers and sisters. There's a snowball effect. There's an increasing, an abounding, a growing.

[13:47] And multiplying. And multiplying. 1 Thessalonians 3.12. It says, Paul's telling us here in the word, it's a multiplier.

[14:08] It's a combined effort. It's a mutual interdependence. It's every part playing its part to build up others. And this edifying, it's contagious. It's catching.

[14:20] It multiplies. You know, I often see in church, you know, I watch carefully. Just when I sing the final song, and I look around me, and I see some people just go, on their hands.

[14:34] And then they shake people's hands. I think that's contagious, isn't it? So I just watch out for that. So if I don't want to shake your hand, it's because I've seen you coughing in it. Just be, no, really.

[14:45] I'm just talking about contagion, isn't it? It's about viruses. We can catch things off people. You might catch something off someone this morning. Let it not be a virus. Let it be edifying.

[14:56] Amen? Let's catch something good this morning. Let's catch that edifying, that building up. If you have to cough into your sleep. But, you know, honestly, let's be contagious Christians.

[15:06] Amen? Let's have that contagious Christianity. Let's have that snowball effect. That will increase. That will abound. They will increase in love one toward another.

[15:17] And we're all called to this. And this edifying is contagious. We feed off each other in a good way. You know, it's a good kind of gossip. A good kind of gossip.

[15:30] Wouldn't that be nice? I know I've heard some people, there's one chap telling me lately that they left the church because of gossip. You know, there was a situation where they told the leadership of the church something and it just got out and spread like wildfire.

[15:47] You know, there's a bad kind of gossip. I don't think we should leave a church over it. But there's a good kind of gossip. That's what we should be about, isn't it? That we say something good about people. We'll say something good about others.

[15:58] We want to encourage. We want to use uplifting talking. Wouldn't it be great if it wasn't telling stories to pull down but telling stories to build up?

[16:09] Wow. Did you hear about so-and-so? He came to the prayer meeting and there was hardly anybody there but he was there. Did you hear about this? Did you hear about that? Did you hear about the, you know, the efforts that some people are going to to supply the kitchen and to bring food off their own bat?

[16:26] Wow. That's tremendous, isn't it? The unsung heroes, the quiet achievers, those that are just going about living a godly life and shining God's light. People that went down to the hospital and sung to a woman on a virtually her deathbed and it could be her deathbed.

[16:42] She sang some good gospel songs and maybe put a smile on the dial of that dying woman. There's a good kind of uplifting, isn't there? Shouldn't we be about that?

[16:54] Shouldn't we rather be about that? A talking that is uplifting instead of pulling down. Telling stories, gossiping to build up rather than to pull down.

[17:06] They could be things like testimonies, answers to prayer, blessings that we share, what God has done for me, for my soul, good reports.

[17:19] And our heart is for others to be such a church, to be lifting others, discipling others, encouraging others, praying for others, to be a spiritually healthy church where we care for others.

[17:33] Join the 18. Be an edifier. Put your t-shirt on, your cap on.

[17:43] We can get some printed if you want. We care about lifting up others. We care about encouraging. We care about restoring others who have fallen. Caring about others who need mending will help repair them and restore them.

[17:56] We care about urging others in an uplifting way. We care about provoking unto love, provoking unto good works. Not pulling them down, but lifting them up.

[18:08] This edifying we're on about is godly. It's God-ordained. It's motivated by good and God. And it's pleasing to our Lord. Praise God.

[18:20] We see that here in 1 Timothy 1 verse 4. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies. You know, some people are just blab, blab, blab.

[18:32] Or provoking questions about some peculiar doctrine. You know, it's amazing. Some people look at one verse and make it read into that one verse to say something, ignoring the scriptures as a whole.

[18:49] And they just want to zero in. Oh, does your church do this? Oh. Not having a bar of it then. You know what I'm talking about. Rather than godly edifying which is in faith, so do.

[19:06] Paul tells Timothy here what to give heed to. Tell me more. Oh. I'm all ears. What to give heed to and what to not give heed to.

[19:21] Amen. Good to learn those two things, isn't it? What to give heed to and what not to give heed to. Do that, he says, godly edifying which is in faith.

[19:32] This edifying we are on about is in faith. It's led by God's spirit. It's driven by the word of God. It's motivated to spiritual blessings and benefits. Give heed to this.

[19:44] Pay attention to this. Be committed to this. When it comes to the church fellowship, can we have a heart of what can I contribute? Tell me more, some good stuff. And I'll tell you some good stuff.

[19:55] What God has done for my soul. And it happens. It snowballs. It multiplies. It's abounding. It's increasing. It's growing. And we'll grow together in love. We'll join together.

[20:06] We'll be knitted together. You know, really stick to the knitting. Now, I'm not very skillful with knitting. I've not passed the first lesson.

[20:18] I wouldn't know the first thing about knitting. And I know some here are very skilled in that regard. But the Bible tells us we should all be about some kind of knitting.

[20:29] We'll get to shortly. It says of the word of God. It says of the body of Christ in Ephesians 4. Of Christ the head. Of whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted.

[20:40] Joined together. Compacted. By that which every joint supplieth. It says it makes increase of the body. unto the edifying of itself in love.

[20:52] The effectual working in the measure of every part. Friends, here it tells us. It tells us, each one here today. Join the E team.

[21:04] Edifying the body. Every joint supplies. Every part effectually works. Every saint is gifted. Every saint is working. Everyone is fitly joined.

[21:15] Every part makes increase. It says every part. Now there's a mechanic here. Who can tell you. It just takes one part. To malfunction. To make a car useless.

[21:28] Doesn't it? I know. I should have had a talk to Jeff. Before I got rid of the last car I had. But it was a total lemon. And I took it to the dealer. And they just couldn't fix it.

[21:40] It was dangerous to drive. It was dangerous. It was dangerous to drive. Just one thing. God wants every part working. Every part functioning.

[21:52] Pray for one another. Encourage one another. Have a heart for others. How can it happen? This work of edification. I put to you, realise the power of your words.

[22:03] The power of your words. Ephesians 4.29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. But that which is good. To the use of edifying. That it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[22:16] It tells us here. It's actually telling us here we should speak what is good. If it's corrupt. Zip the lip.

[22:28] If it's corrupt. Don't say it. If it's good. For the use of edifying.

[22:38] That it may minister grace unto the hearers. Speak that. Let's speak what is good. What ministers grace. Do your words minister grace? Only speak words that edify.

[22:50] Only speak words that are good and helpful. Use words that uplift. Words of grace. Words that minister. Words that heal. Shout his praises. Speak only edifying words.

[23:02] What better words than the words of scripture? As I said. I was by the bedside of a saint in hospital. Just earlier this week. Last gone.

[23:14] And she could utter no words. It was really hard. The first time I went into her room. And there was others present. I was kind of a bit dumbstruck. I just. It was such a sad.

[23:25] Sad sight. And I was really. I could barely say anything. It was just really a shocking. Confronting sight. But then.

[23:37] At a later time. I came to her. And she could nod. When I asked her. Would you like me to read some scripture. And I read some scriptures to her. And I could see that she was blessed by that.

[23:49] And again. I sang some songs. As I said earlier. May we have God's word on the tip of our tongue. Hidden in our heart. Now sometimes it's good. And I'm going to give you some scriptures here.

[24:00] You might want to write them down. The references. Because you might be in the same position one day. Standing by the bedside of a loved one. What can I say?

[24:11] They can't. I can't have a conversation with them. I can only be God's messenger to them. I can only minister grace. By my words. And we read earlier how the word is able to build you up.

[24:24] The word is able to build you up. There's many verses that are able to build us up. To build up yourself. To build up one another. 1 Thessalonians 4.18 it says tells us to comfort.

[24:35] Or encourage one another with these words. So let me read these to you. I don't have all the actual content in front of me here.

[24:50] But just some of the references here. And just meditate on these words. These are. You might like to just note some of these verses down.

[25:01] Because one day. You could be stood by the bedside of a loved one. A friend. Someone you're going to talk to about the Lord. And they're going through something really hard. It's a tough time.

[25:12] These are words of scripture. The words of grace. That are able to build people up. We can build people up with words like these. For example. And I'll just recite them to you as we go through.

[25:23] So this will take a few moments. Psalm 34 verse 8. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

[25:35] Isaiah 40. 29 through 31. He giveth power to the faint. And to them that have no strength. No might. He increaseth strength. Even the youth shall faint.

[25:46] And be weary. And the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord. Shall renew their strength. They shall mount up. With wings as eagles.

[25:57] They shall run. And not be weary. And they shall walk. And not faint. Psalm 27. 14. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. And he shall strengthen thine heart.

[26:10] Wait. I say. On the Lord. 1 Peter 5. 6 through 7. Humble yourselves therefore. Under the mighty hand of God. That he may exalt you in due time.

[26:20] Casting all your care upon him. For he careth for you. We could preach a whole sermon on all these different words. Couldn't we? Romans 8. 31.

[26:31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us. Who can be against us? 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 3. But the Lord is faithful.

[26:42] Who shall establish you. And keep you from evil. Romans 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you. With all joy and peace in believing. That you may abound in hope.

[26:54] Through the power of the Holy Ghost. Blessed scriptures aren't they? Isn't this lifting you up this morning? Isn't this building you up? The very word of God. It tells us Romans 8.

[27:07] 37. 39. It says. Nay in all these things. We are more than conquerors. Through him that loved us. For I am persuaded. That neither death. Nor life. Nor angels. Nor principalities.

[27:18] Nor things. Nor powers. Nor things present. Nor things to come. Nor height. Nor depth. Nor any other creature. Shall be able to separate us. From the love of God.

[27:29] Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lamentations 3. 22. 23. It is of the Lord's mercies. That we are not consumed. Because his compassions fail not.

[27:41] They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. 2 Corinthians 4. Verse 16 through 18. For which cause we faint not. But though our outward man perish.

[27:54] Yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction. Which is but for a moment. Worketh for us a far more exceeding.

[28:04] And eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen. But the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal.

[28:19] Puts it all into perspective. Doesn't it? Ephesians 3. 17 through 21. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. That you being rooted and grounded in love.

[28:30] May be able to comprehend. With all saints. What is the breadth. And length. And depth. And height. And to know the love of Christ. Which passeth knowledge. That you might be filled with all the fullness of God.

[28:42] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding. Abundantly above. All that we ask or think. According to the power which worketh in us. And to him be glory in the church. By Christ Jesus.

[28:53] Throughout all ages. World without end. Amen. 1 John 3. 1 to 3. Behold what manner of love. The Father hath bestowed upon us. That we should be called the sons of God.

[29:05] Therefore the world knoweth us not. Beloved know. Now are we the sons of God. And it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that.

[29:18] When he shall appear. We shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him. Purifieth himself. Even as he is pure.

[29:31] Joshua 1 verse 9. Have not I commanded thee. Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid. Neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee.

[29:44] Whithersoever thou goest. Wherever you are. He is with you. Proverbs 18 verse 10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it. And is saved. Psalm 37.

[29:56] 23. 24. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall. He shall not be cast down. Utterly cast down.

[30:07] For the Lord upholdeth him. With his hand. Psalm 28. 6 through 7. Blessed be the Lord. Because he hath heard. The voice of my supplications. He's heard your prayer.

[30:19] The Lord is my strength. And my shield. My heart trusted in him. And I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth. And with my song will I praise him.

[30:30] Psalm 16 verse 8. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand.

[30:42] I shall not be moved. Psalm 27 verse 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life.

[30:53] Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 18. 1 through 2. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

[31:07] The Lord is my rock and my fortress. And my deliverer. My God. My strength. In whom I will trust. My buckler.

[31:19] A shield. And the horn of my salvation. And my high tower. Psalm 62. 6. He only is my rock. And my salvation.

[31:30] He is my defence. I shall not be moved. Hebrews 13. 5 through 6. Let your conversation be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have.

[31:41] For he hath said, I will never leave thee. Nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. And I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

[31:56] Psalm 29. 11. The Lord will give strength unto his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace. Psalm 118 verse 14. The Lord is my strength and song.

[32:08] And is become my salvation. Jeremiah 32. 17. Our Lord God, behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm.

[32:20] And there is nothing too hard for thee. This is just a selection. We're getting there. I'm nearly there. Ephesians 3 verse 20 through 21.

[32:33] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages.

[32:47] World without end. Amen. I think I read that before. Isaiah 41 verse 10. Isaiah 43 verse 10.

[33:09] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. And through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt.

[33:23] Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Psalm 34 7. The angel of the Lord encumpheth around about them that fear him and delivereth them. Psalm 18 1 through 2.

[33:34] I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my strength in whom I will trust.

[33:46] My buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower. Psalm 37 39. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. He is their strength in time of trouble.

[34:00] Can't you confess that this morning? The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. He is their strength in time of trouble. Psalm 46 1 through 3.

[34:11] God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear. And though the mountains be, sorry, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

[34:26] Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled. Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. And lastly, Psalm 91 verses 1 through 2. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

[34:42] I will say of the Lord. He is my refuge and my fortress. My God in him will I trust. I could see some folk mouthing those words.

[34:53] It's in your heart. It's in your soul. It's even better, isn't it, than having it written down. It's to put it inside of you. Let it live. Let the word of God dwell in you richly.

[35:05] God's word. It's able to build you up. God's word, it's like as a fire. It's like as a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces. I usually go home bruised and battered after preaching.

[35:18] The word of God, it's a fire. It's like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces. That breaks the rocks. The hardness of our hearts. That hardness. That hard-heartedness.

[35:30] Let him break it up. He wants to demolish every high thing and cast it down. To burn it up, the dross, and to build up what is good.

[35:46] Build up what is true. Sometimes the bushfire has to go through. I know Julie and I were travelling and we saw, well, I visited someone actually, and the fire had gone through, but now it's green again.

[36:07] Amen. Sometimes we go through the fire, but the green comes again. Amen. The freshness comes again. Let's build up the church. Build up what is right.

[36:19] Let's find something good that's happening and snowball that. Let's gossip about what is good. Exhort one another daily. How often? Daily.

[36:29] How often should we put the E team? How often should we be on the team? On the edifying team? Daily. Day by day. Day after day. While it is called today.

[36:40] So that means today. Amen? That's pretty simple, isn't it? So don't wait till Monday. Do it on today.

[36:51] Today. While it is called today, exhort one another daily. Christ is our pattern, and he wants to see us increase, to grow, to truly grow in the measure of what is spiritual, what is holy.

[37:04] We see God's will is that his church be joined to the head, that we be bodybuilders, where every part, all the joints and the bands, the nourishment, is knit together.

[37:15] Knit together. And so, as I said, let's stick to the knitting. Stick to the knitting. Sometimes we can get away from the knitting, and we start doing the unraveling.

[37:27] Let's stick with the knitting. Knit together. Together. And it increases with the increase of God. The goal of edification, of building up. Edifying means build up.

[37:37] The goal of edifying, of building up, is to encourage one another. To be like Christ is. And someone has said this, it's impossible to knit, and nitpick, at the same time.

[37:49] You're either a knitter, or you might be a nutter, but you might be either a knitter, or you're a nitpicker. Let's not be a nitpicker. Amen? Let's be a knitter. Let's knit together in love.

[38:00] And of course, that's not to say, we still would challenge false doctrine. We still would speak, when there's need for discipline. But there's a sense, where we knit together in love. Love is the predominating factor here.

[38:13] And our hearts should be comforted, being knit together in love. Colossians 2 verse 2. So instead of being a picker, be a builder. And don't be selfish.

[38:26] Keep an eye out, for how you can reach out. How can you reach out, and lift another? Excuse me. Just coming to a close here, Romans 15, tells us that those who are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please themselves.

[38:46] To please our neighbour, for his good, to edification. So look out for one another. And we might think, we've got everything down pat, that, and someone lacks that.

[38:57] But God wants us, to edify them. If they have a lack, let's add to that lack. Let's build them up. Let's look out for one another. As we edify, we'll be more like him.

[39:10] And our Lord, is the ultimate burden bearer. He wants us, to have that same quality, of love. And to be, as it says in Ephesians, of the edifying of the body. It talks about the perfect man.

[39:22] It talks about the fullness of Christ. It talks about, being no more children, tossed to and fro. It talks about, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him, who is the head, even Christ.

[39:34] And, from whom the whole body, fitly joined together, makes increase, of the body. I'm glossing, somewhat here. But the edifying of the church, is such a critical thing.

[39:46] And, you know, this might help you remember this, I know it's a silly thing to do, to look like such a, a strange, creature here, to put the E-team hat on.

[39:58] Amen. You might think, if you remember nothing else, remember, I want to be on the E-team. Amen. I want to be one who encourages, edifies. I want to be one, who, is one who, wants to build the church.

[40:17] So, be strong. And, if you are one of the mature ones, even more so, isn't it?

[40:30] It tells us, we that are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. We're here for each other. So, when they've got a weaker brother, lift them up.

[40:42] Be the hand extended, to lift them up. Help them to grow. Be generous towards others. There's a man, Jonathan Edwards, wrote a whole load of resolutions.

[40:56] It's a big, some famous document, about Jonathan Edwards. I've only glossed over it, but, he wrote this big, long list of resolutions, about his commitment to Christ, and how he wanted to be a firm, and devoted believer.

[41:09] And, he says, resolution one, I will live for God. Resolution two, if no one else does, I still will. You might feel, you're on your own some.

[41:22] It can be hard, when, look, human nature is to pull down, and to find fault. But, let's not block the edifying. Let's join the edifying team.

[41:35] And, Paul says, let all things be for this purpose. It's, it's very much emphasized, in the word of God. He tells, the people, dearly beloved, we do all things, for your edifying, he says.

[41:50] All things. So, when we come, in fellowship, when we gather, when we, get together, as God's people, let's have a heart to serve, to love, to care, to reach out.

[42:04] And, I was really encouraged, of late, to hear, one sister, saying she wanted, to be more active, in the church. And, she says, what can I do, for the Lord? And, there was some needs, she could help fill.

[42:18] And, I thank, thank God for you sister. You've joined the team, part of the E team. We've got, there's so much need. Now, I'm spread pretty thinly, at times.

[42:29] There's much need, much, much need. You know, I've seen some encouraging signs, of people, have made some generous offer, to host a men's breakfast. There's, there's people here, they want to, participate, they want to contribute, they want to be part, of building this church.

[42:47] They want to be part, of building up one another. And, what is, your gift? What is your, calling? What is that, which God has called you to do? What has God enabled you to do?

[43:00] Build the body. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Let all things, do all things for this, to this end, that we can grow, to high levels of maturity, to be, used of God, while we can.

[43:14] So, friends, today, to remind you again, join the E team. Shine the light. Join the E team. Amen? Be one who wants to edify the church, edify the body of Christ, build it up.

[43:27] Let all things be done, unto edifying. And, God will help you, to be a builder, for the Lord's sake. Let's pray. We bless you, Lord. We praise you. Lord, that it's your will, that we be a part, of contributing, to this body, to the functioning, of your body, in whatever capacity, that every part, every believer, has some part, to play.

[43:50] Help us to be, such a people we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.