Romans Chapter 14, verses 19-23:
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
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Please don’t be a stumbling block in other people’s lives by offending them. If you offend them you will turn them from the good life. They will feel hurt, judged, shamed, and that all you really easy to do is to make them feel less of a person.
Edify – To build up.
To build them up is to help them to become confident, able to deal with people in a helpful positive way, be useful, mature, charitable and loving.
Please don’t cause others to stumble.
If they sin, help them to see the light without putting them down.
It is easier to be a destroyer then to help people progress. Spiritually weak-minded people put people down and shame them.
Follow after peace. Help people come to peace in their own lives, and in doing this you cause those very same people to share their own peaceful ways with the world. This creates good examples, and more peace.
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Romans Chapter 14, verse 1:
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
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Romans Chapter 14, verse 13:
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
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Romans Chapter 14, verse 19:
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
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People will learn in time. There is no need to offend them. Any learning process takes time. All teachers of all things know this. Teaching cannot be rushed because people learn at different rates and understand on different mental levels.
The strong believer should encourage the new believer. And the best way to do this is by love and care.
Our example is the example that people judge us by.
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1 Timothy Chapter 4, verse 12:
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
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Our good example can build them up, our judgments will turn them back to the world.
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Ephesians Chapter 4, verses 29-32:
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.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
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Our words can build people up or tear them down. We want words that strengthen, rather than words of discouragement.
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Ephesians Chapter 4, verse 15:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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Colossians Chapter 4, verse 6:
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
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Matthew Chapter 10, verses 15-17:
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
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Matthew Chapter 12, verses 36-37:
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
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Matthew Chapter 15, verses 8-11:
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
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Psalms 19, verse 14:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
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Psalms 139, verse 23-24:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
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Psalms 141, verses 3-6:
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
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James Chapters 3, verses 5-6:
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
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1 Corinthians Chapter 14, verse 12:
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
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1 Corinthians Chapter 14, verse 26:
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
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We can use our gifts to help others grow, to encourage them.
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1 Corinthians Chapter 8, verses 1-3:
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
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Knowledge without love puffs up people with pride. Inflate ones ego. All things ought to be done in love. If a person has love and knowledge that person will share for free.
Pray for people. Let God know you want helped.
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2 Thessalonians Chapter 3, verses 1-2: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from1 unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
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Acts 20, verses 32-33:
And 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.
I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
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God’s word solves problems.
World problems.
It’s God using you to build up people.
Or is Satan using you to tear down people.
God has given us tools, please use them.
All the best from
James M Sandbrook.
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Notes from today’s sermon.