Reasons we are encouraged/discouraged? (get answers from audience)
These are all situational.
Circumstances change.
ILLUSTRATION: Roller coaster analogy-112 hours a week on an actual roller coaster. We are awake approx. 112 hours a week and life can be like a roller coaster.
Welcome to part 2 of YOUR extreme makeover.
Applying this message can cause you to rise above life’s situations to God’s refreshing power. We will talk tonight about soul inspiration.
"More abundantly" more encouragement/more positive outlook.
I want to share with you 2 principles of soul inspiration …
1. God’s strength will always give us the encouragement we need.
Psalm 92:10 "but you have made me as strong as a wild bull. How refreshed I am by your power."
Without God no other encouragement will every fully fulfill the need in us to be refreshed and inspired by encouragement.
Go through examples- winning a race- they might be a refreshing "high" for a few moments or even days but the good situation will leave you in the hands of another situation that may be just as extreme a "low" depressing thing as the winning was high.
Can’t always depend on people to be there for you.
The goal isn’t to stop the roller coaster but to teach us how to take the initiative to see God in it.
Circumstances change, God doesn’t!
Our souls must be realigned with God daily. He wants to make us over from the inside, the way we think.
Like we learned last week from Romans 12. Explain what a daily devotion is and how this quiet time with God should be viewed as part of the makeover. Compare physical and spiritual fatigue. Seek God first and be encouraged/inspired by His love.
We also many times feel that even though God loves us we want to know that people love us as well.
Story of the man stuck in a storm on a little boat. He refused help from people because "God would help him." God sent those people.
God made us to function together as a family. We do need each other. Many times God uses the channel of human relationships to answer our prayers.
William Arthur Ward: "Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I WILL NOT FORGET YOU."
Recap point one. Move on to
2. Encouraging people always seem to have a positive outlook on life and appear to be on top of the world.
Proverbs 11:25: "The generous prosper and are satisfied, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
It makes sense!
You don’t typically hear "You are a fun person to be around" responded in a way like "Thanks, you know you are a really boring person!"
Connect "Jesus with skin on", god’s promise, and the graveyard experience at Syracuse for a challenge to encourage each other.
So many people feel "dead" inside. Forget about being encouraged and just go encourage everyone else! You will end up leaving encouraged.
Altar call:
-accept Jesus
-recomit to time with God
-be a better encourager
