People Builders
“… build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit ….”
Jude 1:20 (NLT)
God is in the building business. That’s because we are all under construction! God is building a church by building individual lives and connecting them in the body of Christ. For many, the church is just a building or a religious organization. The truth is that the church is not a building or, for that matter, it’s not even a religion. It’s not about empty rituals or routine practices and observances. It’s not even about teaching, preaching, or communicating messages with words about the gospel. The church is much more than words; the church is the gospel lived out in community. It’s about building people, not buildings or temples or sanctuaries. The church is a community of faith - people who live out the gospel - not just in the church buildings where they meet but in the larger community and around the world.
To effectively live out the gospel in our world, we are told to build each other up in the faith. We are to be people builders! That’s the point of biblical fellowship, and that’s why I love life groups so much. Living the message of the gospel in a fallen and broken world isn’t easy. We need one another. Faith is not just a matter of believing; it’s a matter of belonging as well. How do we build each other up in the faith? One way is through prayer. In Jude 1:20, we are told to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we pray for one another, the Holy Spirit emboldens us to be the message in our world, building others up in the Lord.
Are you actively building up others in the faith? Who are you praying for in your community of faith? If we are going to take our faith beyond words to a life of action, it must begin in the church. Don’t wait on someone else to do it. Look for those in your community of faith that you can begin building up. Pray for them and pray with them. In John 13:35 (NLT), Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”
It’s so much easier to tear down than to build up. Jesus is saying that the distinguishing characteristic of a Christ follower is one who loves and builds others up in the faith! Look for someone you can encourage today.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.