EPIDEMIC: DYING ON THE VINE...THE LOST MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT?
By Wade Martin Hughes Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WE ARE SELLING MIRACLES IN A BOX?
I was at the mall and I saw a large crowd gathered around a small booth. One person in the middle of the crowd was giving a sell's pitch. It was powerful enough to keep the crowd's interest. The person had the answer for misbehaved kids at school, for nervous adults --- THIS IS THE ITEM WE DESPERATELY NEED.
I could not wait to see this miracle power product? The lady pulled out this three pronged red item and started spinning it. SHE CALLED IT A "FIDGET!" The crowd lined up and paid $20.00 a piece for the "NEW INVENTION" that were cure all the woes of society. One would just pull out their fidget and spin and spin it. As people were leaving with their new found miracle the lady had another tool for $10.00 more. It was a small box, it had little switches and buttons to push. The switches and buttons did nothing at all, just you pushed them. So the people that had purchased the FIDGETS lined up to buy a small box to hold in your hand that you could push and it would do absolutely nothing. $30.00 to cure misbehavior and nervousness!!! Wow!!! What a good investment?
Seems many were talking about the wonders of FIDGETS and BUTTON BOXES? They were selling so fast they could not keep them in stock. Soon the wonder product was band from schools. Boys were spinner their fidgets and putting them in girls hair? What a mess to cut out? Soon the WONDER WORKING FIDGETS booth at the mall was closed and today every gas station in the area is selling the FIDGET SPINNERS for $3.99. Now, no one is carrying them. IT WAS A BOOMING FAD FOR A WHILE?
SEEMS OUR SOCIETY IS LOOKING FOR A QUICK EASY WAY TO CURE OUR WOES.
We will spend millions of exercise equipment and club memberships?
We will spend millions on sports?
We will spend millions on education and football fields and cannot afford to give teachers a raise?
We will spend millions to lose weight?
WE ARE FACING A GREAT EPIDENIC WITHIN THE HEARTS OF MANY PEOPLE TODAY.THE BIBLE HAS
WE ARE FACING A GREAT EPIDEMIC WITHIN THE HEARTS OF MANY PEOPLE. GIVEN US CLEAR WARNINGS ABOUT THIS EPIDEMIC ...
EPIDEMIC: a sudden quickly spreading occurrence of something harmful or unwanted,
a disease or sickness that spreads quickly, widespread growth or extent,
AFFECTING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, excessive.
TODAY WE HAVE A GREAT NEED IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE CHURCH.
There is a great lacking of real encouragement...
WWJD?
WWJD? What would Jesus do?
Seems, we can all tell what Jesus would do, without doing what we know to do...
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17 (NLT) Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
WE MUST IDENTY THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIAGNOSE ( to recognize the problem, to seek the cause,) and PROGNOSIS ( an opinion how to recover, correct )---
MAY WE COME INTO AGREEMENT THAT WE MUST SEE THE NEED AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF A LACKING IN THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
We were at a funeral home for a funeral of a friend. I heard the phone ring and the funeral director came out of the office very upset. The staff gathered around him and he told them: A VERY SUCCESSFUL PASTOR at a large church in the area had committed suicide? He had been going through a battle within and he felt like a failure. As the news spread everyone was telling how wonderful this "man of God" was. No one seemed to have shared the good news with him? Seems in all the success the Pastor was discouraged...
There is a man that is under a heavy load. He has pressures at work. He does not feel well. His wife has hounded and griped at him. His kids are ungrateful and demanding more and more. His car has some mechanical issues. His dad is very sick... He needs encouragement.
There is a wonderful old lady sitting looking out her window. She has her phone in her hand. She would love to hear from her kids and grandkids. She has taught Sunday School for 50 years. She prays for her family, church and friends, she would love to hear a word of encouragement.
GOD HAS A WORD FOR US! ARE WE WILLING TO HEAR GOD'S WORDS? THE REAL QUESTION IS WILL WE RECEIVE THE CALL TO THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT!
Romans 14:19 (KJV) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 14:19 (NLT) So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
Romans 14:19 (MSG) So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words;
AS A PASTOR OF 36 YEARS, I HEAR, SEE AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS.
REAL HURTING PEOPLE OFTEN TEND TO MAKE LIGHT AND DO NOT RECEIVE ENCOURAGEMENT WELL.
HEAR IS THE WORDS I OFTEN HEAR:
NO BODY ENCOURAGES ME... ALL I HEAR IS TROUBLE...
THE ANSWER IS CLEAR: WHO ARE YOU ENCOURAGING?
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU ENCOURAGED SOMEONE?
THE MIND OF CHRIST IS FOCUSED ON THE SPIIRITUAL MINISTRY AND GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
We see the hurting children on TV, and we are touched...
We see the sad commercials of abused dogs, and we are touched...
WHILE WE SEEM BLIND TO THOSE AROUND US...
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS DOWN? Do you know someone that is forgotten?
Do you know a child that his Dad and Mom are fighting and screaming? School is difficult?
Do you know a Mother that is so concerned her child is on alcohol or drugs?
Do you know a child that feels the DIVORCE is his fault?
Do you know some forgotten person or pastor?
WE MUST SEE THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT AS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH. HEAR ME! HEAR GOD'S SPIRIT! HEAR GOD'S WORD!
Ephesians 4:29 (KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29 (MSG) Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
FIND THE NICHE OF EDIFICATION AND ENCOUREMENT...
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG) So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.
WHY WAIT FOR OTHERS TO ENCOURAGE YOU? IT IS YOUR ETERNAL RESPONSIBILITY TO LEARN THE GIFT OF SELF ENCOURAGEMENT...
David was forgotten out in the field when Samuel came.
David was anointed of God yet he never saw his dream while tending sheep and fighting bears and lions.
David finally sees a little hope and King Saul was out to kill him.
David was running for his life and finally found a little place of a SAFE HAVON...
He has been out in battle, he is tired, exhausted...
He steps over the next hill and sees smoke.
1 Samuel 30:4 (MSG) David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping.
NOW, DAVID, ALL HOPE WAS GONE... HIS EYES SAW GLOOM AND DESPAIR...
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
1 Samuel 30:6 (MSG) And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him. David strengthened himself with trust in his God.
DAVID KNEW WHERE TO GO IN HIS HOPELESS EXHAUSTION...
1 Samuel 30:7And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. 8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
CONCLUSION: MANY PEOPLE TODAY ARE DYING ON THE VINE IT SEEMS TO THEM THEY ARE FACING A LACK OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
I know a few people that just can't seem to accept encouragement. We must both learn to give encouragement and accept encouragement. May we accept the ministry of arm lifting and refreshing others.
Proverbs 17:22 (KJV) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
How many will read others sermons and never write an encouragement to those that have disciplined themselves to write?
