On this episode of The Alliance Activity podcast, Andy Albright comes to you live from his home in Treasure Island, Fla. to talk about the importance of edification.
The word used for Edification in the New Testament is Oikodomé, which translates literally as "the building of a house." The word appears in the King James Bible about 20 times where later translations shorten the phrase to mean "building up."
The Webster's Dictionary definition of edify is "to instruct (educate) and improve (enlighten) another's capacity and perspective."
According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament words, edify means "spiritual growth (understanding) and development (encouraging) of character."
Instruct/Growth:
Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance (support) of his friend."
Improve/Development:
Hebrews 3:13, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Edification formula: Instruct + Improve = Edification
Instruct through education to create growth through understanding in order to impact another's capacity (to know the possible).
Improve through enlightenment to create development through encouraging in order to impact another's perspective (to see the possible).
Edification (building up)
Tough-love edification: Edification occurs when the potential in me reaches out to connect to the potential in you. However, edification is not always warm, fuzzy and comfortable feelings of encouragement.
For example: This development of another happens when a veteran agent kindly, but toughly, tells you that you are wrong or mistaken. But first, that rookie agents need to be vulnerable (allows yourself to be exposed) and correctable (not needing to be right).
Proverbs 27:6, "Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy."
Through fellowship we can cover each others' back, sharing our expectations and disappointments of each others' effort to honor this community with work.
Maturity Requires Edification:
For some, this ability to be vulnerable and correctable (or what we call leaning in) will not be easy. It will require a form of maturity that only occurs after a growth of understanding of the bigger picture takes place.
Being teachable (tell me why) must be the prerequisite to being developed (tell me how).
Remember: Beat them to the why if possible (anticipate).
2 types of edification based on one's identity:
Edification of activity/results (work) + Action-driven identity = Initiative
Edification of values/behaviors (integrity) + motive-driven identity = initiative
Build up the reward of tomorrow because of their commitment (8 Steps) to the present.
These people need something to do to find meaning in what they accomplish
"I will (Drive) therefore I can (Confidence)."
Build up the chance of tomorrow due to their cause (8 values) of today.
These people need some- thing to be to find purpose in why they take action.
I can (Confidence) therefore I will (Drive)."
@AndySAlbright
@NationalAgentsAlliance
@NAALeadsTheWay
#TheAlliance #DoTheDo
#N247RU