Maturing in our faith
INTRO.- ILL.- There once was a man who was getting ready to sail around the world in his homemade boat.
• And there was a crowd of people on the pier that weren’t being supportive.
• They were telling him everything that could possibly go wrong.
• “The sun will burn you.” “You won’t have enough food.” “That boat of yours won’t withstand any storms.” “You’ll never make it.”
But a man standing nearby heard all these discouraging words and decided instead to offer some words of encouragement.
• As the little boat began pulling away from shore, he went to the end of the pier and began waving both his arms wildly and shouted,
• “BON VOYAGE! YOU’RE REALLY SOMETHING! WE’RE WITH YOU! WE’RE PROUD OF YOU! GOOD LUCK, BROTHER!”
This story is so similar to our lives.
• In a sense, all of us are in a little boat.
• We are on a long journey, not knowing if we are going to make it or not.
• And as we head out to sea, there are very few people who stand there giving us any encouragement.
• Most people in life are critical or negative.
• That’s a pretty sad commentary on life, but so often, it’s true.
• In Life there are many discouragers but few encouragers.
• Many people are better at discouraging others than encouraging them.
ILL.- A three-year study found that most school teachers
• Were negative and critical 75% of the time in dealing with their students.
• The study also indicated that it takes four positive comments to offset the effect
• Of one negative or critical comment.
• Now, there is also the other side of the coin.
• On June 1, 1965, a 13 1/2 foot boat left MASS. Destined for England.
• It would be the smallest boat in history to ever make the trip.
• In fact the boat was so small that the owner named it TINKERBELLE.
• That owner and pilot of this boat was Robert Manry.
• Robert had been a copy editor for the CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER for ten years and was bored,
• So he took a leave of absence to fulfill his secret dream.
• Truth be told Robert was afraid, but not of the ocean.
• He was afraid of all those people who would try and talk him out of the trip.
• So he didn’t tell many people, just a few relatives and his wife, Virginia
• Who was his greatest supporter and encourager.
• The trip was anything but pleasant.
• He spent many sleepless nights trying to cross the shipping lanes without getting run over or sinking.
• Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless.
• Loneliness caused him to have hallucinations.
• And His rudder broke three times.
• Storms swept him overboard, and if he hadn’t been for the rope he had tied around his waist,
• He would never have made it back on board.
• Finally, after 78 days alone at sea, he sailed into England on August 17th.
During his many nights, he fantasized about what he would do
• When he got to England.
• He planned to check into a hotel, eat dinner alone,
• And the next morning see if the Associated Press might be interested in his story.
• But word of his approach had spread.
• To his amazement, three hundred boats, with horns blasting,
• Escorted the TINKERBELLE into port.
• And 40,000 people stood screaming and cheering him to shore.
Robert Manry became an overnight hero.
• But he couldn’t have done it on his own!
• Standing on the dock was an even greater hero, his wife Virginia.
• She had refused to be critical
• She had refused to be negative about her husband’s trip.
• She gave him constant encouragement which helped him pursue and complete his dream!
The world today needs a whole lot more people just like Virginia Manry!
• Both men and women alike who will give others
• The needed encouragement to face life and it’s obstacles!
• We need a word of encouragement!
• The World needs a word of encouragement!
Acts 13 What we in this text teaches is the importance of encouragement in life.
1- Encouragement must be spoken
2- Encouragement deals with good news
3- Encouragement ultimately leads people to God
I. ENCOURAGEMENT MUST BE SPOKEN
15 After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
ILL.- Pianist Arthur Rubenstein once told this story on himself.
• Some years ago he got a bad case of hoarseness. He lost his voice
• The newspapers were full of reports about smoking and cancer;
• so he decided to consult a throat specialist.
• Rubenstein said, "I searched the doctor’s face for a clue during the 30 minute examination, but it was expressionless.
• He told me to come back the next day.
• I went home that night full of fears, and I didn’t sleep."
• The next day there was another long examination and again silence.
• "Tell me," the pianist exclaimed,
• "I can stand the truth. I’ve lived a full, rich life. What’s wrong with me?"
• The doctor said, "You talk too much."
I wonder if this is ever our problem.
• It could be
• And generally, the more we speak,
• The more we get into trouble.
James 3:2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
Prov. 10:19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
Pres. Calvin Coolidge was known for not talking much.
• A woman once bet her friend that she could get Coolidge to speak to her.
• She went up to him and said: "Hello, Mr. President,
• I just bet my friend that I could get you to say three words to me."
• Coolidge replied "You lose," and walked away.
• Do you just blurt out whatever comes to your mind?
• Or do you weigh your words?
• Ann Landers once said, "The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t thought of yet.
• Have you stuck your foot in your mouth?
• When was the last time you Examined your speech?
• By that, I mean when was the last time you thought about your speaking habits?
• I’m not talking about grammar.
• I’m talking about the words that you speak to others
• And the manner in which you speak them.
Some people use mean words and speak to others in a mean way.
• We all could do better
• We all could speak better.
• If one of the easiest ways to sin is with our mouth
• Then perhaps one of the easiest ways to bless people is with our mouths
We all need to learn to speak words that encourage others.
• It’s easy to discourage someone or put them down
• But what about lifting them up?
• If you have a message or a word of encouragement, please speak it to others!
• And If you don’t, don’t speak.
II. ENCOURAGEMENT DEALS WTIH GOOD NEWS
Acts 13:16, 22-23, 38-39
16 So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.
22 God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’23 “And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel!
26 “Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us!
38 “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.
ILL.- Man hides lottery winnings from wife.
• Nov. 20, 07, MIAMI, Fla. A woman whose husband kept information about winning $600,000 in lottery winnings from her
• Is suing her husband in an attempt to get her half.
• However, her husband disappeared after his wife confronted him,
• So process servers haven’t been able to hand him the lawsuit papers yet,
• Her attorney said. "Here’s a guy who for years has spent marital money on the lottery and at casinos, and he’s always lost,"
• "And now he finally wins, and he’s trying to keep it from his wife.
• That’s pretty Low
That is pretty low!
• And it’s also pretty low of us to keep good news from others!
• What am I talking about?
• It could be any good news but it could also be the best good news ever!
• Any time we keep something good from people
• Or don’t sharing it with others
• We should be ashamed!
Prov. 11:25-26 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 26 People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.
ILL There once was a woman who was fascinated by the elegant calligraphy on the hand-written menu in a Chinese restaurant.
• So She took it home and spent months knitting a sweater with those Chinese characters down the front.
• One evening She was wearing it at a cocktail party when a Chinese physician asked where she got the symbols.
• ’From a menu,’ she admitted. "
• ’Do you know what they say?’
• ’I’m afraid to ask,’ the woman said, ’but tell me anyway.’
• The doctor replied’Cheap, but good.’"
Suppose I found something very cheap but also very good
• And I failed to share it with you?
• How would you feel?
• Suppose I found a store where you could buy name brand clothing at only 20% of the regular price
• And, I never told you about it.
• Think about it $100 suits for only $20. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
• Some of you could care less
• And others would feel slighted, cheated or perhaps insulted that I didn’t tell you.
But I wonder how people are going to feel toward us
• When after this life is over
• That we never bothered to tell them the good news about Jesus?
• Right now some of them could care less
• But at death or at judgment it gonna be a different matter.
God is good.
• He was and is good enough to give us the good news of Jesus
• So that we can be saved from our sins and be with Him forever.
• That’s the best news there is and we need to share it with others!
• Whatever you talk about, please end up talking about Christ.
• Tell a story and somehow point to Christ.
III. ENCOURAGEMENT ULTIMATELY LEADS PEOPLE TO GOD
42 As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week. 43 Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God. 44 The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord.
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.
They were urged to continue in the grace of God.
• They gathered to hear the Word of God.
• They were glad and honored God’sWord.
• And To me, this says that encouragement
• Must lead to God and always point to Him
ILL.- There are Certain aborigines in Australia
• Who don’t know how to count above three.
• They say, “One, two, three, enough.”
• Their desires do not go beyond “three.”
• If we had no knowledge but a knowledge of God,
• That would be enough
• And it would be the most important knowledge we could possess.
Everything revolves around knowing God.
• Nothing in life makes sense unless it is connected to knowing God
• The One who created us.
• And true encouragement points others to knowing God.
Once an old preacher and a distinguished actor were together at a social gathering.
• When the actor was asked to give a reading,
• He spoke at the preacher’s request the 23rd Psalm.
• He quoted it in such a way that it brought applause from everyone in the room.
• Then he invited the old preacher to repeat that same Psalm
• And when he finished there was a hushed silence
• And some People had tears in their eyes.
• The actor then said, "I know the Psalm but that man knows the Shepherd."
DO YOU KNOW THE SHEPHERD?
• Just how well do you know God?
• We need to know God better
• Than we know ourselves
• Or anybody else.
CONCLUSION
• Someone said, "Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
• Criticize me, and I may not like you.
• Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
• But Encourage me, and I will not forget you."
What I am saying today is ,
• We need to be in the encouragement business!
• And If you have any message of encouragement for others,
• Please speak it!
