Encouragement Pt 3 Anatomy Of An Encourager Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Anatomy of An Encourager”

Introduction

For a couple weeks last year, we explored the concept of encouragement. The Greek term variously translated in our English Bibles (urge, beg, comfort, exhort, encourage, advocate, counsel, help, ask) comes from a combination of the verb “to call” and the preposition “beside”. It paints a picture of someone coming along another person in need of encouragement. Encourage is the action. Encouragement is the result of the action.

Encourager is the description of the one doing the action. The noun and verb appear nearly 150 times in the New Testament. God does it. People practice it. God commands the church to practice it toward one another. Jesus does it. It is the central function of the Holy Spirit. Other terms like inspire, motivate or influence capture the sentiment of the term. The core idea has to do with an activity that takes place in community.

We all need and desire someone to come along side of us in our life journey. The key passage in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians clearly focused on the nature of encouragement. Interestingly, he wrote it because he sensed his first letter felt discouraging to some. He urged them to bless God for His encouragement in times of suffering. We made a several observations from that passage which used the word encourage or encouragement 10 times in five verses.

• God’s encouragement flows out of God’s nature.

• God’s encouragement addresses ALL our troubles.

• God’s encouragement empowers us to encourage others who face affliction.

• God’s encouragement keep pace with our suffering.

• Our encouragement comes through our connection with Christ.

• God’s encouragement to us in order that we encourage others.

• Encouraging others energizes them to endure their suffering.

• God’s encouragement inspires hope amid discouragement.

Paul had been encouraged by Titus who had been encouraged by the Corinthian’s expression of love for Paul and then Paul encouraging the Corinthians by his letter. Feelings of encouragement provide a new sense of courage, inspiration to go on or do the right thing. The act of encouraging comes from a connection with someone who motivates us in a positive direction out of a negative state (discouragement).

Encouragement comes from at least four things.

RESOTRATION OF DIVINE PERSEPCTIVE

A significant aspect of encouragement involves words. In times of difficulty we need God’s perspective on life in a broken world. Many times, our discouragement comes from faulty thinking. These, along with a multitude of other negative “messages” play over and over in our thoughts even to the point of mental paralysis. We need renewed thinking. The major source of that renewed perspective flows from the Scriptures.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to remind the apostles of His teaching.

In times of difficulty, we need divine perspective on the past, present and future.

God’s encouragement helps us to address things that happened in our past.

Renewed perspective aids our struggle with things in the present.

Divine perspective assures us of God’s continued presence in the future.

Divine perspective encourages the soul to endure, repent, move on.

UNDERSTANDING DIVINE PURPOSE

Hurtful unexplained events in our life tend to cause discouragement. “What’s the point?” The knowledge that there is some point to it all stirs strength and encouragement. That comes from God’s prompting or from someone God sends our way to help understand divine purpose.

REALIZING DIVINE PRESENCE

God designed us for community. Disconnection from meaningful community brings greater vulnerability to discouragement. Jesus promised the presence of one just like Him; the Holy Spirit. The word God used to describe His ministry is the same word we have been exploring; “One called alongside”. Some translated it “The Comforter”; others “The Helper.” It all comes from the same word meaning “to called alongside.”

The very word indicates PRESENCE.

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Encourager, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

There are times when we sense God’s special presence. There are times when God sends someone to come along side at the right time. The presence of God or people He sends brings encouragement.

SENSING DIVINE PARTNERSHIP

God ordained a community of people called the church through whom He chooses to accomplish His will regarding the world and individuals. Encouragement is the life-giving blood that flows through the community of believers. Words of encouragement bring life and inspiration. There are words of discouragement that bring death and paralysis. God calls us to encourage one another. We can’t do that in isolation. Relationships can be energizing or excruciating. What does encouragement look like in the community of believers?