Building a Custom Home: Jude 20 (I Corinthians 6:17; 14:2-6, 9-15; Ephesians 6:18; James 5:15; Acts 18:18; 21:23)

"But you divinely loved ones, building up ourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20)

In the expertise of building construction there is often the mass produced "cookie cutter" builds, which are basically all identical with maybe a reverse floor plan or a different color scheme or a changeup in the color of flooring or cabinets, but otherwise, they are all identical, with very little individuality. However, a custom build is something that is intricately designed; meticulously scrutinized; and the floor plan and features are all specific to the tastes and preferences of the person that will be living in that home. Spiritually speaking, we are a custom built home, presently under construction.

BUILDING UP

In Jude 20, the English translation, "building up", is the Greek word (epoikodomeo), 2026, which is actually a compound of (epi), 1909, and (oikodomeo), 3618, [which is a compound of (oiko), 3624, house, home, dwelling, family and (doma), 1430, to build]. The preposition (epi) is an intensifier, but it also has the meaning of "upon''. The basic meaning of the whole word is "to build a house or dwelling, a home upon" something. The idea is not just to build a house or home upon something, but there is the intensive thought of continuing to build a dwelling so that it contains this imagery of ongoing construction.

CUSTOMIZED

This whole building or ongoing construction process, takes place on the foundation of faith, that unwavering confidence in God, our Father, who has established an intimate relationship with us, through Jesus Christ, and it is He for whom the construction of this dwelling is being built, as He makes His home in us, living in and through us, with every aspect of this house being customized to His specific taste. Visually, the imagery is of every chair in the home; the colors of the walls; where the tables and couches are placed; the "footprint' of the home; and the specific design, all being molded and modeled, to His desire, so that He is completely and totally, "at home" within the dwelling, to the point that any visitor would know exactly who lives there because every room bears His preference, His mark, and the nature of His personality.

SPEAKING & PRAYING (IN THE SPIRIT)

The specific "how" of this construction and interior design is accomplished through "praying in the Holy Spirit". This praying "in the Holy Spirit" is a reference to praying in tongues or other languages. This is established from 1 Corinthians 14 where it refers to both "speaking" in another language (14: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13), where "speaking" refers more to something spoken publicly [as evidenced by 14:9 referring to "uttering" (didomi), 1325, that is, 'to give' something, and 14:19 emphasizing "speaking" in or among the church, as well as 14:23 which specifically refers to "speaking" when "the whole church be come together into one place"] and the same passage refers to "praying" in a tongue, or another language, where the scripture says "my spirit prays" (14:14) and that "I will pray with the spirit" (14:15), using the same word in the Greek translated "prayer", as is found in Jude 20. [The Amplified  Bible translates, "my spirit, by the Holy Spirit within me, prays"].

PUBLIC & PRIVATE

In other words, in this passage "speaking" in tongues refers more to giving a public message whereas "praying" in the spirit defines a more specific and intimate interaction, self-directed and spurred on and motivated by the Holy Spirit in and through you, but perhaps focused on a more private concern than a public demonstration. 

PRAY IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Ephesians 6:18 also references a similar activity of "praying...in the spirit", where it is not a vague or nebulous action, but one of a specific definition, especially since scripture emphatically states: 

"...he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:17) so that there is no difference in referring to "our spirit" or the "Holy Spirit" in us, praying, meaning that to pray "in the spirit" is to pray in other languages or "tongues", as defined by the scripture.

DEFINITION: PRAYER

The reference to our spirit, or the Holy Spirit in us praying, provides further description through the meaning of the Greek word translated "prayer". 

JAMES 5:15

In James 5:15 the scriptures state that "the prayer of faith shall save the sick''. The Greek word translated "prayer", (euche), 2171, is part of the root word for the word translated "praying" in Jude 20; Ephesians 6:18; and 1 Corinthians 14:14-15.

The Greek word in James 5:15 is only used two other times in the NT:

ACTS 18:18 - "...and Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow (euche)"

ACTS 21:23 - "Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow (euche) on them..."

VOW

This idea of a "vow" engages the visual imagery of speaking something emphatically that has a binding effect on the behavior and actions of the person making the vow, because words have been spoken that have committed the speaker to a specific task. One of the main focuses of the vow is that something has been spoken, or declared out loud, which, in the context of scripture is, generally, a declaration and commitment made to God.

In the context of James 5:15 this "vow" offered in faith, covers a broad spectrum as it is a declaration of God's word; a reminder of the covenant; an announcement of the legal right of the individual being "prayed" for; that healing belongs to them. This type of declaration is not only a "reminder" to God, our Father, but an assertion to the person who is ill, and a bold affirmation to all the spirit world, that the sickly individual has a right to full and complete healing.

PRAYER

The word translated "praying" or "prayer", in Jude 20; Ephesians 6:18; and 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 is the Greek word (proseuchomai), 4336. Continuing the idea of boldness of speech, this word literally means, "to speak out, to utter aloud. To affirm out loud, to make a solemn declaration".

The most common usage in classical Greek involved:

1. to affirm boldly and proudly

2. to make known

3. to boast

DEFINITION

The verbs basic meaning is actually "to make confident statements about oneself" and it can also mean, "to boast; brag; and assert".

OBSERVATIONS

There are two monumental observations concerning these findings:

1) What is fundamentally staggering, is that this Greek word is the most commonly translated word for "prayer" or "praying". It defies our religious preconceptions, that "prayer" is actually making bold or confident assertions, or declarations, about oneself, affirming what the scripture says, out loud.

[Words are vehicles of vision, and they paint a visual picture or image in our mind of what that word or words describe. Understanding the actual definition and meaning of "prayer", one can never again be content to surrender scriptural truth for the form and religiosity frequently disguised as prayer. Consider this fact: People often do not receive answers to their prayers because the form and religious ritual they observe, is not prayer at all, but merely a habitual practice that offers little comfort other than an emotional release with no effectual results].

2) The second mind-blowing observation concerning this word, and it's application, is that when we pray in tongues [other languages], this is constantly and continually what our spirit, with the Holy Spirit, is praying through us. The Holy Spirit is declaring, out loud, boldly, the truth of God's word, concerning every circumstance and situation that we face. The Holy Spirit is making bold, confident assertions and declarations about us, enforcing the word, to all the spiritual realm, and we can have 100% confidence, that He is always speaking the will of God, over our life.

SUMMARY

In summary, a huge part of developing a "custom home" or dwelling for the Holy Spirit, where He is "at home" and comfortable there, because He has been actively participating in the construction; design; and decor within the home, results from actively allowing the Holy Spirit to pray in tongues [other languages], in and through us.  

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours