THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT
ACTS 13:13-26
INTRO-
District Assembly highlights/ I was encouraged not discouraged-
We need more encouragers and less discouragers! Amen.
One of the speakers was Lamorris Crawford, Chaplain of the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a positive impact that will stay with us for a long while.
Prayer:
Father, this morning, allow us to sense your Spirit ministering to each of us. Allow us to realize that we can play a part in someone’s day just by encouraging or discouraging them. We can be positive or negative and by choice we choose positive influence. May we be encouragers that make a difference in someone’s life.
Acts Chapter 9-
Paul’s amazing conversion on the road to Damascus.
(May that be an encouragement that none of us are too far from God that He cannot reach them.)
Paul’s “personal encounter” with Jesus changed his life forever. To hear the truth, speak the truth and see the truth, Paul became not only a believer, but an advocate for the Lord.
Acts 11- Peter a devout Jew preaching to the Jews gets a “vision” from God that shows him that “He is not to call impure what God has called pure” pertaining to the meats that was acceptable to eat.
It also showed him that the Jews were not the only ones to be included in God goodness and salvation.
He goes in Antioch and meets Barnabas who carries the message of encouragement into Jerusalem.
The Lord had shown Peter that He was to be an encourager rather than a Christian with a sour face.
Gosh O’day- Some people never have a kind word or an encouraging word- you could not even tell that the hope of Christ was in them. What kind of person are you?
Text- Acts chapter 11:19-26
Acts 13:15
“Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
*** The world is certainly looking for a fresh word of encouragement.
***the lord is looking for people to be in the ministry of encouragement.
***there are a lot of people who discourage in the world, but few who encourage
To encourage- is to put courage into someone
To discourage- is to drain courage out
To put hope in a heart
70 % people today have a negative attitude and it takes 4 positive comments to offset the effect of one negative or critical comment
Sometimes after being with someone, I almost feel dirty because they have puked up such negative responses that it is almost overwhelming. (That’s why we need these assemblies)
Illustration-
Chuck Swindoll in his book “growing deep in the Christian life” tells about a man getting ready to make a around the world voyage in his homemade boat. Without exception everyone on the pier was vocally pessimistic. Everyone was telling him everything that could possibly go wrong. “The sun will boil you” “you won’t have enough food” that boat of yours won’t withstand any storms. “You’ll never make it”
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, your really something, were’ with you, were proud of you. Good luck brother!
***in a sense we are all in a life boat.
We are on a long journey.
There are not many people who are willing to offer encouragement along the way.
***encourage someone
Speak and be a blessing to someone
***Put on a smile and see what it won’t do for someone- big smile- one short smile of creepy!
James 3:2-
“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check”
Ann launders says “The trouble with talking to fast is you say something you haven’t thought of yet”
Brothers (sisters) if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak
Col 4:6-
“let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Ephesians 4:29-
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit who listen.
***if you have a message of encourage- speak up. If you don’t- button up!
Everyone of us has a gift- Romans 12 tells us about seven gifts of service including encouragement.
Let’s get encouragement right this morning:
Encouragement what is it?
It literally means to come along side of someone.
It means that you are going to put courage into someone who needs it
It means that you are willing to separate from your world and want to be part of someone else’s
Proverbs 11:25-26-
“A generous man will prosper. he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Every Christian is called to be a servant.
! Living sacrifice
! Transformed
! Committed to the things that please God
We touched on that last week as we looked at being a disciple, a person that was following Jesus!
***Do you realize the lives that could be touched if believers knew the impact we can make on other people.
Society today is critical, they have a attitude of tear down instead of building up
Most see a glass ½ empty instead of ½ full.
Encouragers bring people up the ladder of life, they are not draining, they are filling people with hope, encouragement, and purpose.
***As an encourager- we have the power to change people’s lives
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”
why encourage others
***Because people need encouragement- all of us do!
***Everyone wants to feel needed, appreciated, and have a purpose.
***People achieve great heights if they know people believe in them.
Here are some reasons God has sent us to be encouragers to someone.
To keep the weak from quitting
Acts 11:22-23-
“News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the lord with all their hearts.”
***Barnabas testimony reached the church and made an impact and a difference.
It draws out the potential that is usually hidden by negative circumstances people go through.
Helps people see God in rough times
***They need to see that God is still involved and caring what they are going through in their life.
***They need to see that God has a plan for their live
Uses us for the bigger purpose of God to others
Illustration-
Jean Nidetch , a 214 pound homemaker desperate to lose weight, went to New York city department of health, where she was given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later, discouraged about the 50 plus pounds still to go, she invited six overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to stay on it. Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 250,000 weight watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives? To answer that, she tells the story. When she was a teenager, she used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while the toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them. ‘I’d give them a push, says Nidetch. “And you know what happens when you push someone on a swing? pretty soon he’s pumping, doing it himself. That’s what my role in life is. I’m there to give others a push”
Encourager’s push people farther than they think they can go!
We all need a push once in a while- all of us!
Society today believes that they should spend their lives finding themselves. People today are needing to find God. They struggle on that road and they need encouragement to find Him.
Illustration-
Swindoll- I am more convinced than ever that life’s major pursuit is not knowing self, but knowing God. as a matter of fact, unless God is the major pursuit of our lives all other pursuits are dead end streets, including trying to know ourselves. They won’t work. They won’t satisfy. They won’t result in fulfillment. They won’t do for us what we think they’re going to do.
True encouragement in a godly manner points people to knowing God.
I’m winding down:
Encouragement is the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is tough.
To encourage is to inspire someone “encourage one another daily”
It is a habit, it is a way of life
We all want to be around people who encourage us, have a positive outlook on life.
Book of Hebrews tells us “let us consider how we may spur one another on”
Spur is to stir, provoke, stimulate or excite someone to do something-
To create a thirst!
Barclay says-
It is easy to laugh at man’s ideals, easy to discourage. The world is full of them. We have a duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise, appreciation or a cheer has kept a man on his feet.
Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.
Closing;
let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
(V16)- standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said “men of Israel and you gentiles who worship God-“listen to me’
And he began to encourage
Will you take a stand and allow God to use you as an encourager in someone’s life?
If we became encouragers, it would be easier to invite and be a part of people’s life because we would have a way into their lives- they would gladly let us in. who does not want encouragement?
Today, if you are needing some encouragement from the lord realize he cares what is going on in your life
Realize there may be weeping today, but the Son (S-O-N) will shine tomorrow
Hebrews 10:23-24
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”
We need each other! I need you and you need me. Both need the Lord!
