This month we are doing a series on “What is the church.” Last week we heard from Gregory that the church is made up of Called out people.
Today we are going to see that the church is made up of called out people who are being built up in the most holy faith. So first we are called and next we are built up. There are three building in this industrial complex that exists to build a person up. Ladies only lifting (LOL), Cross fit and we here at Life church. The difference being Life Church exists to build ourselves up spiritually. Today we are going to answer the question “How does one get built up spiritually”?
So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
I hear that when you go to the gym you soon discover there are words that only gym people use and understand. Gym terminology.
For example
Aerobic exercise- Any rhythmic activity that increases the body's need for oxygen by using large muscle groups continuously for at least 10 minutes. The term aerobic means “with oxygen.”
Body Mass Index (BMI)- Measure of the relationship between height and weight; calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in centimeters squared.
To be built up spiritually it helps to know biblical terminology
Brethren: those are your fellow called out church members
God: He is the owner of the church
The word of his Grace: The Bible
An inheritance: the rewards or benefits you gain after being built up spiritually.
Then here is a new word to many “Sanctified”.
The bible calls the process of being built up “Sanctification.” Sanctification means “To be holy.” “To be separated unto God.”
Now according to our verse we are both being made sanctified and are sanctified.
“which is able to build you up (being made sanctified) and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Question: How can you be both sanctified and being made sanctified?
Theologians refer to these two types of sanctification as Practical sanctification and Positional sanctification. (Lol has trainers; life church has theologians)
Positional Sanctification means the moment you trust in Jesus alone for your salvation you are immediately made holy in Christ. The Bible calls you a saint. You have crossed over from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus. You are holy because of your new position in Christ. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. You are put on God’s team. You are sanctified.
Practical sanctification means you are also being made holy. Because you are already on God’s team you are also being built up as a team player. You are holy in Christ and are being made holy.
The saving of a sinner is the work of a moment but the making of a saint is the work of a lifetime.
We are not talking today about our salvation. We are talking today about our sanctification.
Now before we look at how one gets build up spiritually it’s important to first answer the question “what is the reward for getting built up spiritually?”
This is the “Why” before we discuss the “How”.
People who attend LOL and Crossfit do so for the rewards. They do it to look better, feel better…
What are the rewards for being built up spiritually?
So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
Paul says that being built up spiritually gives you an inheritance.
1. This inheritance is not something you receive only after you die and go to heaven.
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
This inheritance can be enjoyed in this life too.
2. Yet at the same time an inheritance is something you usually only receive upon the death of another.
Perhaps Paul is referring to the inheritance we receive from the death of Christ
But Paul could also have in mind the inheritance we receive from the death of living for ourselves.
To decide that you want to be built up spiritually has a cost to it.
Unless a grain of seed falls to the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit.
Everything we inherit from being built up spiritually is contained in the Bible; which Paul calls the word of Grace.
We could spend all year going through all the things you inherit. But let us focus today on just one.
1. Galatians 5:22 tells me I inherit the fruit of the Spirit
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, self-control.
If you want to be more loving, more joyful, more peaceful,… You must choose to grow spiritually.
So we have looked at the why and now let us discover how we get built up spiritually.
Myth: Just coming to God is enough to grow us up spiritually
Does it say we get built up spiritually by only coming to God in Acts 20:32?
So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
God has given us the Word of God (Grace) which is able to help build us up spiritually.
You can use the Word of God to put people down or you can use the Word of God to build people up.
When you use the Bible to build people up you are using it as the Word of Grace.
You can’t be built up spiritually apart from the Word of God.
Paul says “The word of Grace is able to build you and me up spiritually.”
There is lots of great material on the internet about how to get the most out of your Bible.
But noticing that Paul calls the Bible the Word of Grace I came up with something that some of you might find easy to remember. Its 5 steps to using the Word of Grace in order to build yourself up; using the 5 letters from the word grace.
G et your Bible out
You must own a Bible. (If you don’t own a Bible we can give you one for free)
R ead your Bible often (daily)
start big don’t start small
Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God.
A sk questions of the text
Q1. What does it mean?
Q2. What must I do?
C ommit as much as you can to memory
IT IS WRITTEN
E mploy it in your every day life.
man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the word of God
