Feed Your Spirit
These past couple of months for me as a believer have been great for me, but there have also been hard moments guys. I think I have learned a lot, but one important thing I’ve learned is that it is utterly important to feed your spirit. I know, it’s only the first paragraph and I am already jumping to the point. This is what I want you to understand though:
YOU CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT EDIFICATION
You can’t really live without being “edified.” To edify yourself as a believer means to feed your spirit. Engaging in fellowship with different believers, whether that be in corporate worship sessions with friends or just talking about the Word of God together or even evangelizing together are ways to edify yourself. Simply reading the word of God yourself is the primary form of edification.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
John 6:51
In John 1 you see that the Word of God came and became Jesus (Look in verses 14-18), and in this verse above it says that anyone who consumes the Word of God is consuming living bread. Here is a major example of edification. Listening to sermons are great and a form of edifying yourself and your spirit, but nothing can satisfy you in the ways that the direct Word of God can. So even upon listening to sermons, read your word. The word of God is portrayed and characterized as Water (Ephesians 5:26) and Bread for a reason, because food is important for your flesh but this word of God is important for our spirit. You spirit will not be satisfied in any way if you are not tapping into the word of God or drawing from it. Some of us think that Sunday service is good enough but I ask how would you feel if you only ate once a week?
WITHOUT EDIFICATION YOU WON’T KNOW GOD
I know a lot of folks speak about “quiet time” with the Lord but what does that look like? What does it mean? I believe it is a time set apart in your day that you dedicate to prayer or communication with God, worship, reading the word of any other form of edification but doing it with Him, with God. Just you and Him. I believe these times are like dates with God, just getting to know Him better and more.
“”Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:21-23
Quiet time with God brings you closer to Him. Seeing the verse above would let you know that knowing God is highly important. This is the reason why you hear so many people saying “Relationship, not religion” because religion is just the acts, it is just the works, but the verse in Matthew shows us that we must know Him. Edification brings you closer to God, reading the Word of God, the bible, is reading not only about God but reading His thoughts, getting to know what He is like and how He has been even.
Prayer is important in this way. Prayer is communication with God, whether it be with requests, conversations, or adoration. It is talking to Him. Let me ask you a question, if your mother or father was to call you from a random number, Would you recognize their voice? If not then……I’m not sure what to say but if yes, how? Is it not because for years you have heard them, spoken to them, and been with them? God is our Father, when we speak to Him through prayer and be with Him via quiet times, we will know His voice when He speaks to us about the things we seek answers for.
EDIFICATION MAKES YOU STRONGER
When weightlifters want to bulk up, what do they do? Eat more. Those same bodybuilders and toned guys are usually able to protect against their opponents because of their strength. I believe the same goes for your spirit, think about how Jesus fended of the devil when he was trying to tempt him during his fast in the desert in Matthew 4. Jesus used scripture in order to drive away and refuse the devil. Edification equips you so that you may do the same thing. Reading the bible is a form of edification that can help you prevent sin just by simply knowing scripture and not believing the lies you are told by the enemy that cause you to fall into sin.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
As a soldier being equipped makes you stronger and puts you at an advantage, especially when you know how to use that equipment. The same goes for the Word of God, it serves as your tools and even weapons against the enemy. The bible is called a “two-edged sword”. Sermons heard in your personal time or even at church are you being taught how to use what you are given in the word of God and worship can be seen even as a form of conditioning. Being edified is important and puts you at a big advantage, take these practices this article and put them to use, see what life looks like after.
