C. BOSTIAN BECOME A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT 5/7/06
[s] 1 Thess 5:9-11
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE HAD A SERIES ON TURNING FAILURE INTO SUCCESS. WE THEN LOOKED AT A SERIES OF MESSAGES ON HOW TO BE HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL GOD’S WAY. THEN WE LEARNED THAT DISCOURAGEMENT OFTEN HINDERS THE WORK OF GOD’S WORK IN OUR LIVES AND THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TO REVERSE THAT. DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE ENEMY’S MAJOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AGAINST THE BODY OF CHRIST. GOD WANTS US TO MAINTAIN THE SAME ENERGY WHEN WE BEGIN AS WELL AS WHEN WE FINISH A PROJECT. OFTEN TIMES AT THE MID POINT WE ARE FACED WITH DISCOURAGEMENT. NOW THERE ARE SOMETHINGS WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE OURSELVES BUT MANY TIMES WE NEED SOMEONE TO HELP US JUMPSTART THIS PROCESS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING OUT SOME PLACE AND THE CAR WON’T START CAUSE THE BATTERY IS ALMOST DEAD. THE LIGHTS WORK AND THE RADIO WORKS BUT THERE’S JUST NOT ENOUGH POWER TO START YOUR CAR. THE “GET UP AND GO” HAS “GOTTEN UP AND GONE” AND YOU CAN’T START YOUR CAR. * A short term solution is usually for another car to come alongside and hook up a set of jumper CABLES from their strong battery to your weak one. Drawing from thAT energy and power, your car is able to start up again and function normally. That act of drawing alongside or lending energy to get another going is the basic idea behind a key word in the New Testament AND THAT IS THE word "encourage". GOD WANTS YOU AND ME TO BECOME A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
[s] Rom 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [s] 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Heb 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
THE BIBLE IS QUITE EXPLICIT ABOUT OUR NEED TO BE CONSIDERATE TOWARDS OTHERS AS WELL AS THE NEED OF ASSEMBLING TOGETHER FOR FELLOWSHIP. WE ARE CALLED TO EXHORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND SO MUCH MORE AS WE SEE THE DAY OF CHRIST RETURN APROACHING. WE ARE LIVING IN PERILOUS TIMES, TIMES OF GREAT PRESSURE, STRESS AND DISCOURAGEMENT AND THAT’S WHY GOD HAS CALLED ALL BELIEVERS IS TO BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OTHERS. A FEW WEEKS AGO I MENTIONED AN IMPORTANT STATISTIC IN THE N.T. [s] THE WORDS “ONE ANOTHER” APPEARS OVER 50 TIMES INDICATING THE FACT THAT WE NEED ONE ANOTHER. IN FACT THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.
[s] Romans 14:19 (MsgB)
So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words;
Ephes. 4:25 (KJV)
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
[s] Galatians 5:13 (MsgB)
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.
1 Peter 4:9-10 (KJV)
Use hospitality one to another without grudging. [10] As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
I RECEIVED THIS DEVOTION IN AN EMAIL THE OTHER WEEK AND IT PROMPTED ME TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT. After 30 years of marriage his wife was ready to throw in the towel. I have had it, SHE SAID. You never tell me you love me anymore. The husband replied, I told you I loved you when we got married “if I change my mind I'll let you know. Too many leaders expect their followers to run on autopilot, like the hard-hearted husband. They don't understand that people thrive on appreciation. They need it. Sometimes Christian organizations are the worst: You're working for the Lord and He'll reward you. Yes, we're all working for that final pat on the back in the sky, but God expects us to pat others on the back along the way. Paul writes: Encourage one another and build each other up. Some people don't need encouragement. They're so strong and so busy that attempts at praising them would be nothing more to them than a pesky gnat flying around their face. They'd brush it off with a look of confusion. There are also people who view praise with suspicion because others have taken advantage of them. With them, all you need to do is cultivate kindness. But most of us need encouragement and lots of it. [s] Phillis Theroux writes, "One of the commodities in life that most people can't get enough of is compliments. The ego is never so intact that one can't find a hole in which to plug a little praise. Compliments by their very nature are highly bio-degradable and tend to dissolve hours or days after we receive them which is why we can always use another.
[s] Deut. 3:28 (KJV)
But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.
1 Thes. 5:14 (MsgB)
Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.
YOU SEE, THERE ARE POEPLE ALL AROUND US WHO ARE DISCOURAGED, WITHOUT GOD AND WITHOUT HOPE IN THIS WORLD, NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH WHO ARE DEPRESSED AND DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THINGS DIDN’T GO THE WAY THAT HAD PLANNED. UNFULFILLED DREAMS AND EXPECTATIONS WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A LOT OF REMORSE AND DISCOURAGEMENT. [s] DISCOURAGEMENT IS ALL AROUND US AND GOD IS WANTS US TO RAISE UP A STANDARD AGAINST IT BY OUR WORDS AND AND ACTIONS AND BY BECOMING PEOPLE OF LIFE GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT.
[s] “You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.” Jim Stovall
[s] 1Thes 5:9-11
9 For God has not chosen to pour out his anger upon us but to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ; 10 he died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return.11 So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing.
[s] THE WORD ENCOURAGE IS DEFINED BY WEBSTER AS 1. TO GIVE COURAGE, HOPE AND CONFIDENCE, TO EMBOLDEN, TO HEARTEN; 2. TO GIVE SUPPORT TO; TO BE FAVORABLE TO AND TO FOSTER AND FINALLY TO HELP. GOD HAS CALLED ALL OF US TO THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE MINISTRY OF HELPS. [s] there are many different words and meanings for the GREEK WORD encouragement. It means "to beseech or exhort, encourage, comfort," and parakletos, "a paraclete or advocate." other synonomous words are COMFORT, CONSOLATION, EXHORTATION, and INTREATY. I think its interesting that the greek noun for this word encourage is the same word used to describe the work of the holy spirit as an advocate for every believer. NOW, ONE SUCH PERSON THAT MODELS THAT FOR US IN THE N.T. WAS BARNABAS.
[s] John 14:16 (KJV)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 (KJV)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt." Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."
[s] John 15:26 (KJV)
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
[s] THE GREEK WORD FOR ENCOURAGE MEANS TO LIT. COME UP ALONG SIDE to offer aide, help and to COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLED THE COMFORTER AND IS INSPIRATION FOR BRINGING ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS IN NEED. EVERY GIFT OF THE SPIRIT AND EVERYTHING GOD ASKS YOU TO DO WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. [s] THEREFORE EVERY GIFT AND CALLING IS DESIGNED TO BEING ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS. EVERYTHING THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THROUGH YOU AS A VESSEL WILL BRING ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS.
[s] Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who
encourage more than criticize. Elizabeth Harrison
The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run
even faster if encouraged. Ovid
Words of encouragement fan the spark of genius into the flame of achievement.
Wilfred Peterson
[s] I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among men the greatest
asset I possess. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by
appreciation and encouragement. Charles M Schwab
I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better
work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a
spirit of criticism.
Charles M Schwab
[s] ONE OF THE GREATEST ENCOURAGERS IN THE BIBLE IS A MAN WHO WAS NAMED FOR HIS ABILITY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS. HIS SURNAME BECAME BARNABAS: SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
[s] Acts 9:25-27 (KJV)
Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. [26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
HISTORY TELLS US THAT SAUL WHO LATER BECAME ONE OF THE GREATEST APSOTLES IN THE N.T. IGNORANTLY KILLED PEOPLE FOR BELIEVING IN JESUS. IT’S NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT ALL THE TRUE BELIEVERS WERE TERRIFIED OF HIM. WHEN HE GOT SAVED ALMOST ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE STILL AFRAID OF HIM. BARNABAS WAS THE FIRST DISCIPLE WHO RECEIVED PAUL AND ENCOURAGED HIM TO CONTINUE IN THE WAY OF THE LORD. SHORTLY THERE AFTER THEY TEAMED UP TOGETHER FOR MUCH OF THE EARLY CHURCH MISSIONARY ENDEAVORS. IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO SET ASIDE BARNABAS AND PAUL FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. ITS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT AS THEIR MINISTRY GREW IT BECAME PAUL AND BARNABAS. PAUL WAS SLOWLY BECOMING THE LEADER UNDER THE MINISTRY OF BARNABAS. YOU SEE, [s] PEOPLE CAN MORE EASILY GROW UNDER AN INFLUENCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAN UNDER AN INFLUENCE OF CRITICISM.
[s] “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
Johann von Goethe
“Nine tenths of education is encouragement.”
Anatoel France
[s] Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being. Johann von Goethe
Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize. Elizabeth Harrison
GOD WANTS ALL OF US TO BECOME A BARNABAS: A SON OR A DAUGHTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT. THE PEOPLE THAT GOD PUTS IN OUR LIFE CAN GROW AND BECOME ALL THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO BECOME WHEN WE LEARN [s] TO CRITICIZE LESS AND ENCOURAGE MORE.
[s] Acts 15:36-39 (MsgB)
After a few days of this, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit all our friends in each of the towns where we preached the Word of God. Let's see how they're doing." [37] Barnabas wanted to take John along, the John nicknamed Mark. [38] But Paul wouldn't have him; he wasn't about to take along a quitter who, as soon as the going got tough, had jumped ship on them in Pamphylia. [39] Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways: Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus;
PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE QUITE THE TAG TEAM PARTNERS IN MINISTRY. SOME OF THE GREATEST WORK RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WAS UNDER THEIR MINISTRY. BUT THERE CAME A TIME WHEN THAT PARTNESHIP WAS DIVIDED. JOHN MARK HAD PREVIOUSLY JOINED HIMSELF WITH THEIR MISSIONARY ENDEAVORS ONLY TO QUIT WHEN THINGS STARTED TO GET ROUGH. SO WHEN THEY PLAN THEIR NEXT MISSIONARY TRIP BARNABAS WANTS TO GIVE JOHN MARK ANOTHER CHANCE BUT PAUL DOESN’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE QUITTER. THE BIBLE TELLS US HERE IN ACTS 15 THAT THE DISSENSION WAS SO STRONG THAT THEY SPLIT UP AND BARNABAS TO JOHN MARK AND SAILED TO CYPRUS.
[s] 2 Tim. 4:11 (KJV)
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
HERE WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE WORK OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT BARNABAS DID IN MAKRS LIFE. MANY YEARS AFTER PAUL AND BARNABAS PARTED THEIR WAYS, BARNABAS TOOK JOHN MARK AND MADE A HIGLY SKILLFUL AND SUCCESSFUL MISSIONARY OUT OF HIM. [s] YOU SEE, THAT’S WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT WILL DO FOR PEOPLE WHO FAIL. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT WILL GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE. THE RESULT IS THAT PAUL MAKES A REQUEST FOR JOHN MARK TO VISIT HIM FOR HE HAS BECOME PROFITABLE TO PAUL FOR THE MINISTRY. THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF JOHN MARK WAS THE RESULT OF THE MINISTRY OF BARNABAS.
[s] Hebrews 12:1 (MsgB)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
[s] NOW LET’S LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC WORK OF A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT:
[s] Please insert a slide for each numeric heading
1. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS SOMEONE WHO SEES GOD’S PERSPECTIVE FOR YOUR LIFE AND ENCOURAGES YOU TO PRESS ON AND FULFILL YOU CALLING A DESTINY.
2. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT LOVES EVERYBODY REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR UPBRINGING.
3. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT LIKE BARNABAS GIVE YOU A WONDERFUL GIFT: THEY BELIEVE YOU CAN CHANGE.
4. THE INCLINATION OF A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS TO BELIEVE THE BEST IN OTHER PEOPLE. THEY ARE MOVED BY THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD’S LOVE: THEY BELIEVE THE BEST IN YOU.
5. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT DOES NOT SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF OTHER PEOPLE. THEY RECEIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMATURE IN THE FAITH WITH OPEN ARMS OF ACCEPTANCE.
6. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS NOT SOMEONE WHO JUST AGREES WITH YOU ALL THE TIME. HE REJOICES AND IS WILLING TO STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
7. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN SPIRITUAL GREATNESS.
8. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT DOES’T GIVE UP ON YOU. THEY STAND WITH YOU WHEN YOU FAIL. THEY DON’T SIT IN JUDGEMENT. THEY DON’T SAY. “WELL, I TOLD YOU SO.” NO! THEY MINISTER THE LIFE GIVCING POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN PEOPLE NEED IT THE MOST.
9. A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT HAS ALSO MASTERED THE LAW OF INVERSION. THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT THE GREATEST IS REALLY THE SERVANT OF ALL. IN GOD’S KINGDOM, THOSE WHO LOOSE THEMSELVES, WHO INVEST THEMSELVES FOR OTHERS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO FIND A LIFE WORTH LIVING. ONE OF THE GREATEST FEELINGS IN LIFE IS WHEN YOU KNOW THAT GOD’S HAS USED YOU TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE ACHIEVE A LITTLE SUCCESS.
10. THIS MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS MORE THAN JUST A PEP TALK ITS SHOWING GENUINE CARE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED.
WE ALL KNOW THE DESTRUCTIVE CAPABILITY OF DISCOURAGEMENT. IT IS ONE OF THE ENEMY’S GREATEST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AGAINST HUMANITY. DISCOURAGEMENT OFTEN COMES AT THE MID POINT OF A PROJECT AND CAN THWART THE PURPOSES AND PLANS OF GOD’S SUCCESS FOR OUR LIVES. GOD WANTS US TO REVERSE THAT TREND BY BECOMING A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS JOINED US TO. THAT INCLUDES OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR CO-WORKERS, EMPLOYERS AND ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE IN CHURCH. LET’S DETERMINE TO ALLOW GOD TO MAKE US BECOME A PERSON OF ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP BETTER PEOPLE SKILLS IN A BIBLICAL WAY.
