In the district of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus declared to the disciples upon Peter’s confession and acknowledgment of the revelation of His deity that, “Upon this rock (meaning the revelation of the realization of who Jesus is) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). In the process of fulfilling that promise after His resurrection, He said to the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father is come or revealed. For “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 emphasis mine). As I was going over the principles of edification [Gk: oivkodome meaning the building up of an individual or a people or the promotion of Christian growth] this text of Acts 1:8 kept resonating in my spirit on the section that states: “in Jerusalem.” I ask the Holy Spirit why Jerusalem? Why is it so important? What is the significance and essence of Jerusalem in relation to edification? He brought to memory how Jerusalem literally is the city of God, where His glory and presence dwells. And that it is also the heart of Jewish culture. However, Jerusalem figuratively also symbolizes the church, a family’s house or home, or an individual. If the gospel of the kingdom is going to spread like wildfire it must first begin in the Jerusalem (the heart) of the individual.” The scripture read, “And you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea.” Judea is the region or district in which Jerusalem is its holy city. You could say Jerusalem is Judea’s downtown in contemporary terms. Figuratively speaking before the disciple began to build up Jerusalem with the kingdom message they had already worked on themselves. Before you can build others up, you must be sure you are already covered.
In I Samuel 30, the Amalekites came to Ziklag, where David and his men lived and raid their home, taking their families as captives. When David and his men returned to the city and found it burned they wept until they had no strength. Afterwards, the Scripture records that, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (I Sam. 30:6). Strengthening meant that he encouraged himself, that he build himself up in the Lord. In other words, he edified himself. And by doing that he was able to stir up the courage of his men into pursuing their enemies. David’s victory wasn’t set until he conquered himself.
Jerusalem means the City of peace. Before the gospel can spread to remotest part of the world, Jerusalem had to be edified first and foremost. Therefore, before you can conquer the enemies beyond your territory, first conquer yourself by building yourself up. The Prince of Peace must reign supreme in city of your heart before you can be a peacemaker out there. Before you edify Samaria make sure Judea (your family or the church) is taken care of, and in the same way before you move to edify the world make sure Samaria (your community) is edified. Edification follows the principle of love. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” My question is, “Do you love yourself?” Because you can’t give what you don’t have. Edification has to begin with you as the individual. In other word, “Edify your neighbor as you edify yourself.” To do so, begin in Jerusalem. |
| Agent of Charge (Eternal Affairs) |
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