The Authority To Build Up

Our understanding of who God Is very much shapes who we think we are.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:10a ESV

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed." - 2 Corinthians 10:4-8 ESV

We often quote the first part of this passage which talks about casting down imaginations in the King James translation. But, The second part of the passage speaks of the authority that an overcomer has. The overcomer initiates also. The initiation comes from the hard won seated position of 'I am what I am by the grace of God.'

People are bombarded by arguments and lofty opinions that raise themselves up to challenge God's character and authority. If those arguments are processed they will damage the emotions. Oppression can lead to depression, condemnation and negative cycles.

The lone wolf has no one to watch his back. There is no one to keep watch while he is sleeping. He only has what he can carry or hide somewhere. Who has the power to edify him?

I see homeless people who fight the elements but no one seems to have the power to edify them. I see working men like that also. There are advantages to being your own boss but who will build them up? The executive. The artist.

But this does not only apply to the solitary person. What about the one who hid themselves in a group of like-minded people. Talking, laughing and checking their smart phones every 5 minutes. God is in a corner buried under arguments long forgotten that exalted themselves to heights where they didn't belong. The truth is suppressed in unrighteousness.

Only the 'I am who I am' person can walk into that space. Only the heart that has been established in grace and has a few scars from the battle can stand in that personal arena and impart those skills by example.

We glorify God alone in our rooms but we also do it out in the market square. By being who we are and explaining why that is possible. We don't shove religion down people's throats by making them sin conscious. We live the grace of God in front of them and step into their space with it. The candle is out where it can be seen and it's light may bother people a little as it shines into their carefully crafted dark rationals.

Who has the authority to build up? We do if we know the grace of God.

--