“CPR for a Healthy Walk -- Part Eight – “Build the body”
I. Cleave to Christ and continually cultivate a dynamic relationship with Him.
II. Persistently pursue, develop and maintain meaningful connection with the community of saints.
A. Fervently pray (intercede) for one another
B. Diligently preserve the unity of the body
C. Continually build up the body in love
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thes. 5:11
God builds the body
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. Matthew 16:18
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor. 3:5-9
SOME BASIC POINTS
• God builds the body through the faithful planting and watering of His servants.
• Credit falls to the one who causes the growth not to the servants.
• Servants working in cooperation with each other and God bring about healthy growth.
• God rewards individual faithfulness.
God delights in working in partnership with us to accomplish his purposes.
The body builds the body
• The body builds the body through the cooperative effort of God and man.
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor. 3:9 See Also 5-8
• The body builds the body through the word of truth shared in loving relation-ships.
Instead, we will share the truth in love, growing more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church…Eph 4:15 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephes. 4:29
• The body grows by the proper arrangement of individual members by God.
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly Eph 4:15
in Christ the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; Eph 2:21
• The body builds the body by the proper working of each member.
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow,
• The body builds the body genuine love.
so that the whole body is healthy and growing through the manifestation of their love. Ephes. 4:16
• The body builds the body through equipped saints serving one another
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; Eph. 4:12
• The body builds the body by the loving use of spiritual gifting
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification (building) of the church. 1 Cor. 14:12
• The body builds the body as we seek to do good to our neighbor.
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. Romans 15:2
• Building the body is the responsibility of every believer.
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Romans 14:17-19
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thes. 5:11
Having said all of these things, there are some specific “one another” instructions that con-tribute to body building.
1. Encourage one another daily
The word for encourage is a common Greek word -- parakaleo; from Greek 3844 (para) preposition indicating toward, along side, with and Greek 2564 (kaleo); to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage : following is an indication of the variety of ways this is translated in the English text - appeal(4), ap-pealed(1), appealing(2), beg(1), begging(2), beseeching(1), comfort(5), comforted(11), comforts(2), conciliate(m)(1), encourage(6), encouraged(4), encouraging(3), entreat(7), entreated(9), entreat-ing(7), exhort(8), exhortations(1), exhorted(2), exhorting(3), exhorts(1), given exhortation*(1), invit-ed(2), preach(m)(1), requested(1), urge(17), urged(5), urging(1).
The basic idea of encouragement focuses on the loving instructing, explaining or exposing of Biblical truth in such as was as to inspire courage or godly action in the hearer.
Following are some representative passages that provide a good basis for understanding this vital function of the body.
And with many other words he (Peter) solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them (unsaved), saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Acts 2:40
Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; Acts 11:23
And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lys-tra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to con-tinue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:21-22
And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. Acts 15:32
And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. Acts 16:40
And after the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he departed to go to Macedonia. And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. Acts 20:1-2
And they took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted. Acts 20:12
"Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation; for not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish." Acts 27:34
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacri-fice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Romans 15:30-32
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Romans 16:17
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor. 1:10
I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me. 1 Cor. 4:16
But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity. 1 Cor. 16:12
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the pa-tient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. 2 Cor. 1:3-7
But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree-- in order not to say too much-- to all of you. Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majori-ty, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Cor. 2:5-8
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20
But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his com-ing, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. 2 Cor. 7:6-7
For this reason we have been comforted.
And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 2 Cor. 7:13
Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 2 Cor. 12:8
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Cor. 13:11
And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may com-fort your hearts. Ephes. 6:22
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of under-standing, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, Col. 2:1-2
For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; Col. 4:8
just as you know how we were exhorting and comforting and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 1 Thes. 2:11
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 1 Thes. 3:2
for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 1 Thes. 3:7
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us in-struction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. 1 Thes. 4:1
Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thes. 4:18
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thes. 5:11
And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. 1 Thes. 5:14
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thes. 2:16-17
Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as broth-ers, 1 Tim. 5:1
And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are breth-ren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. 1 Tim. 6:2
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 2 Tim. 4:2
holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to ex-hort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:9
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Titus 2:15
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assem-bling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Hebrews 13:22
As you can see, the act of encouragement stands at the heart of the believers relationship with each other. The early church functioned through the mutual encouragement of the body. They did not make it on their own. They needed the encouragement of the body. Encouragement came through the ministry of the Holy Spirit though people.
• People who modeled a life of trust (faith) in the Lord
• People who spoke words of truth pertaining to the need of the moment.
• People who relieved misery and met need.
• People whose physical presence brought new courage to go on.
Will we be people who encourage or discourage? Will we lift the heart or burden the heart? Will we take the hand or kick in the stomach? We encourage one another by sharing and modeling our trust in God. We encourage others by speaking the truth in love. We encour-age other by affirming their worth in Christ and to the body. We encourage others by be-ing there, visiting. We encourage others by relieving their load that weighs them down. Loving words of truth and affirmation give life. Words can also discourage and de-energize. Let us be encouragers!
2. Speak words of life
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephes. 4:29
May this guard our tongue. Let no worthless word come out of our mouth. Let ONLY words that build come out of our mouth. What do these words do? Words such as this spoken when needed give grace to those who hear. They energize the hearer. How many have been energized by the affirmation and words of others? How many know the deflat-ing power of word?
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
The proverbs have much to say about the power of the truth spoken in love which encour-ages, energizes and builds the church.
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, Eph 4:15
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. Col. 4:6
This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to an-ger; James 1:19
3. Stimulate one another to love and good deeds
Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, hav-ing our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us con-sider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25
God instructs us to give consideration as to how we may stimulate one another. The word consider is the word of mind and down. It means to perceive, think down, consider how to “goad” or “spur” one to an action. In this case the action is two fold. Stimulate to love and stimulate to good works. God instructs us to actually give careful consideration as to how we can encourage and stimulate one another to love one another more deeply. God instructs us to give careful consideration as to how we can encourage and stimulate one another to live godly. This is accomplished by gathering together with the purpose of en-couraging one another as the day of Christ’s return draws near.
4. Serve One another
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
Become one another’s bondslave. Give yourself to meet the needs of others.
5. Admonish one another
This word focus on calling someone’s attention to questionable behavior or to warn.
And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another. Romans 15:14
I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 1 Cor. 4:14
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. Col. 1:28
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame. And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thes. 3:13-15
"Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. Acts 20:31
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love be-cause of their work. Live in peace with one another. And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. 1 Thes. 5:12-14
CONCLUSION
Yes, Jesus said He would build His church but it was the truth spoken through Peter that would be the foundation. Yes, God brings about growth, but He does it in cooperation with His chosen servants. We are ALL called to join the Father in building the church. It is not the pastor or elders. We will all be held responsible for our part. The body grows with the proper working of each individual part. God gifts ALL believers to work in the con-struction process of building Christ’s body as a glorious temple and dwelling. We are all called to speak and serve even though our gifting falls into one of those categories. The admonition of Peter regarding our gifting is this.
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospi-table to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11
When we speak words that encourage let them be God’s words. When we serve let us serve in God’s supernatural strength. Doing our part as workman in God’s building project is not an option.
We will be evaluated as to our faithfulness to the project and the materials we used.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor. 3:10-15
What has God called you to do? Speak and serve! Speak words that give life. Serve needs that give life. If you build with words and service that discourage or destroy, your work fails the test. If you build with words and service that encourage and build, you will realize reward.
What’s a Christian to do?
Repent of inactivity
Repent of discouraging words.
Repent of checking out.
Repent of building with the wrong materials.
Resolve to be actively involved in kingdom building.
Resolve to be an encourager who speaks words of life.
Resolve to give of yourself as a slave of others.
Following are some key passages that go along with out CPR principles that might be help-ful to memorize.
Submit ourselves and our members to God
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on pre-senting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:12-13
Dedicate our members to God and renew our perception.
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacri-fice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, resist evil, purify our hearts.
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:6-10
Pray for one another.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephes. 6:18
Preserve the unity of the Spirit
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one an-other in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephes. 4:1-3
Build the body
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thes. 5:11
Bear Burdens
Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
