I hope you are all staying warm! The word for this week is "building". We'll be looking at only one selection in the New Testament today. Jude 20-21 says this:
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. KJV
"Building" here is the Greek word "epoikodomeo". Strong's Concordance says: to build upon, i.e. to rear up. This is a compound word with the first part being "epi" and the second part being "oikodomeo", which Strong's Concordance says means: to be a house builder, to construct or confirm. Strong's Concordance says of "epi": a primary preposition properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (over, upon). We see this same word when we speak of the "knowledge" that is from the Greek "epignosis". Where that word means "layer upon layer of knowledge", in this instance the layer that is being built upon layer is referring to our faith! "Faith" is the Greek word "pistis", which The Theological Word Book says means: confidence, certainty, trust, trustworthiness, guarantee, assurance. We know from Romans 10:17 where faith comes from:
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV
So, we GET faith to handle any situation from the Word of God! THEN, after we GET faith, we can BUILD ON that faith by "praying in the Holy Ghost (Spirit)". These two actions, studying the Word of God and praying in the Spirit, will help us to get and stay strong in faith! We can stand unafraid, in faith, no matter what is happening in the world, when we do this! That's how HE planned it, and I like His plan! Here is a really old song from Hillsong called "Faith":
Love and shalom from the Swoveys!
