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4.20 Prophecy is for edification
The Lord wants to accompany his people in the battle of this existence like a Father and a Friend. Therefore He also gave this working of the Spirit, in order for us to be regularly strengthened in our faith.
In 1 Corinthians 14 we find a number of fine descriptions of the contents and the purpose of this expression.
Her purpose is: strengthening or building (verse 3).
God wants to help us to build and to strengthen our faith. He wants to let us know, that He walks with us as a living God.
He knows in which phase of construction our spiritual house is and He knows, that we regularly need a Godly stimulation / encouragement in this process. For example Ephesians 3:17 refers to this: “…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…”
He then also took care of it, to be able to be in our midst clearly speaking and giving directions. What a rich experience: to get the comfort and the encouraging smile from Him in your daily life. God is good!
Her purpose is: encouraging (verse 3)
The word ‘exhortation’ can also mean: stimulation. God continues to stimulate us to follow the right way, to not play with fire (of the kingdom of darkness), to not give up in our faith. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9).
The Lord knows our works and He sees watches our lives. He will not allow us to be trapped just like that. You should pay attention to how the Lord calls us to a stop or warns us by prophetic exhortation and encouragement.
So pay very good attention to this! We can prevent a lot of mistakes/lapses (..), if we listen to his advices and encouragements to do good! So we can also exhort and encourage each other and that “all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25). In this case the day of the Lord is should be interpreted as the revelation of the sons of God, of reaching the conformity to Jesus Christ, through us!
A lot of (unnecessary) battle can also be prevented indeed if we listen well to his advices and counsels. We would be able to leave many detours and troubles aside.
Her purpose is: comfort (verse 3).
The Lord also comforts us. This is after all also the name of the Holy Spirit: the other Comforter. He didn’t leave us alone, like orphans. Like orphans without protection and upbringing by loving parents.
He makes us, through the Holy Spirit, through his love, that is poured our in our hearts (so this is not a little bit!), strong and equal to the sorrow and the feeling of loneliness in our lives.
Her purpose is: instruction and encouragement (verse 31).
God’s Spirit teaches us to be alert, active and loving. There are so many things, that He likes to teach us, to be able to apply in different circumstances. Also and especially in the Church, in our contact with our spiritual brothers and sisters.
At the same time the Spirit stimulates us to activity in our faith. That we will do something (or rather a lot) with it.
For example: telling the good news to others, healing sick people, release captives, being active in and involved with our Church.
The ground verse can also be interpreted as: ‘to be called to join’. The Lord would rather not want you to be an observer along the sidetrack, but He wants you to involve you, in his Plan, in his inspiration, in his love and compassion, in the construction of his body, the Church. “…together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18 and 19).
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