Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver".
That means this, it is beautiful to look at and it's very valuable. How many are thankful for those words that come at just the right time?
Father, this morning we thank you for your word. Lord, we thank you that you are good to us, let it have its perfect effect in us. May we decrease and may you increase, amen.
All of us like a pat on the back. Encouragement is one of the gifts that God has given to believers to pass on to other people. How many have ever gotten an unexpected word of encouragement and been thoroughly blessed by it at just the right time? It's wonderful. You know what that feels like and understand the difference that it makes in your life and the difference that it can make in others lives. Mother Theresa said that "being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat".
Everybody needs encouragement. It doesn't matter the level of success you've had or haven't had; it doesn't matter how well off you are or how well off you're not. The truth is everybody needs encouragement no matter how old you are or what you've accomplished. Everyone gets tired sometimes, feels lonely and has disappointments. Everybody at some point has failed and everyone has had a really blue day. Sometimes you just wake up and you're not feeling good at all.
Ken Blanchard, one of the great ministers of our time, said, "Encouragement feeds people's souls". Anytime you speak into someone's life, something that blesses them or builds them up, it's like feeding a hungry soul. Encouragement is a real gift to the one who has that gift of giving encouragement and to the one who is receiving it. The Bible says that encouragement is actually a ministry gift. It's a gift that God has given to certain people and is also a tool that God has put into the life of every believer so that they can impact people at any time and at any moment. You can find that in Romans 12:8, it talks about that gift of encouragement. At any moment you and I can talk to someone or do something for somebody that builds them up. You may think you're not the most talented person in the world but you have a mouth and all it takes is a kind word or a bit of inspiration that can change someone's entire day.
Depending on your version of Romans 12:8, it's called the gift of encouragement or the gift of exhortation. Literally, it's speaking into someone's life. Some people are better at this gift than others but the truth is all of us can work at being an encourager. Those who are encouragers will make a name for themselves. In Acts 4:36-37, we're introduced to a man by the name of Barnabas. It says, " And Joses who was also named Barnabas by the Apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet". He was a son of encouragement.
If you become an encourager, you will make a name for yourself that you won't be able to shake. You will be known as someone who pours into others lives. Barnabas was a priest; that's what it means when it says he was a Levite. He came from the tribe of Levi and was a priest that ministered to the nation. Mostly he did it with the sacraments and the sacrifices but there was something that stood out about this man. Not only did he serve God and do the priestly duties that he was assigned, there was something about the spirit of God that was on his life when he came into contact with other people; they were better for having been around him. They called him the son of encouragement because whenever he was around people they were blessed. I believe every Christian wants to be that way with others.
There's a story of a teacher who was always speaking positive to this one boy who struggled tremendously in her class. He wasn't the brightest in the class, didn't have any learning disabilities but wasn't one of those people who could make straight A's and not study. He was one of those people who had to work for even the ?C' that he got. One day when he was handing in his work, the teacher said, "You know, you're doing a great job. What are you planning to do when you go to college?" He looked at her and said, "I never really thought about going to college because I have to work so hard to do this, I'm just not smart enough and could never go to the next level". She looked at him and said, "Son, I want to tell you something, not only are you a smart man but where you don't understand things you work hard to do it and I believe in you. If you apply yourself, you're going to go farther than you ever dreamed possible". From that time on, that young man's whole thought began to change. His grades began to come up, he graduated and went on to college. He wound up getting a good job and having a good family. One day he said, "I credit that teacher for turning my life around because she encouraged me that I could and she challenged me to do my best. Because she did, I believed I could and I did". Everyone of us need someone just like that teacher in our life.
There are people around you right now that no one will speak into their life; people who have been given up on, that no one wants to talk to. But you and I can be life changers. Sometimes we think that being a Christian who makes the difference means that everywhere we go we have to see the miracles of God follow. Although his word says that these signs will follow those who believe, sometimes the simplest thing we can do is just be an encouragement to those who are near us. William Arthur Ward, one of the great poets 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; encourage me and I will not forget you".
It doesn't take much to help people feel better. The word "encourage" means to give courage or confidence, to build up, to inspire, cheer on, to speak a good word at just the right moment, or to help someone to do good and right. Encouragement can take many forms and can be applied many ways. I have found that encouragers are good at coming in when we are discouraged and can't see or think straight. Those encouragers offer a listening ear and help us see what is right in front of us and offer a word of comfort and blessing. God has called each of us to use this gift well. Proverbs 15:23 says, "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth. A word spoken in due season, how good it is". Our words have the power of life and we need to learn to master that life. It's just a simple choice to be the best at what we say to touch the heart of somebody else.
One of the ways that we encourage is to help those in need. Barnabas was a Levite, a priest, yet one of the first things he did when he first came to the Lord was to sell some land so he could help those in need. Acts 4:34-35 says, "Nor was there anyone among them who lacked. For all who were posessers of land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles feet and distributed to each one as anyone had a need". This doesn't mean they sold the house that they lived in and ended up living on the streets. It means they sold the extra things they didn't need and began to bless those who didn't have. Sometimes it doesn't take a whole lot to make a difference in someone's life.
Sometimes sowing financially into someone says, "I believe enough to invest in you". When I first started in ministry, people gave to us so we could go through ministry school and there came a point during the year when I had absolutely no money left. Then one day I was getting ready to eat lunch with a friend and go to the leader of that school to say, "I've got to go home and get a job, I can't do this anymore, I have nothing left". I hadn't said anything to anyone except that one friend I was going to lunch with. I had been praying and fasting, asking God to do a miracle in my life. As I showed up to go to lunch with that person, a guy from our church came to visit us from Phoenix. As we sat down to eat, we talked for awhile and I didn't realize that my friend had already talked to him on the phone. He was a very successful businessman from Pittsburgh and just happened to be in Phoenix on business staying at one of the nicest hotels. But I didn't say a word to him, sometimes you just have to let God take care of your stuff. He came up to me and said, "Wayne told me what was happening in your life and here's a check for $1500 to pay your rent for the next 3 months. I believe in you; to me $1500 isn't a lot of money but for you it's everything".
Because he did that I was able to finish school and go on into ministry and it was one of the greatest lessons that I ever learned in my life, that God would always take care of me. To him it wasn't alot but I have found through most of my life that I don't have to give $1500. Sometimes it's just a little bit to help someone go on a missions trip or just taking someone to lunch, just a simple thing but a powerful thing. It helps someone know that they're worth it. Proverbs 11:24-25 says, "There is one who scatters yet increases more and there is one who withholds more than is right and it leads to poverty. The generous sow and will be made rich and he who waters will also be watered himself". Encouragement is like giving cold water to a thirsty soul.
Another thing that encouragement does, it takes risks on people that others are unsure of or disappointed in. Every single one of us has made a bad decision or a bad choice at some point or another; mistakes that we've made, sins that we've committed. We all need those who will look past the opinion of others and our disappointment that we have in ourselves and help others to see the good and the potential that God sees.
Acts chapter 9 talks about Saul (the one who became Paul). "And when Saul had come to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and how God had spoken to him and preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus". Before Paul became the great apostle that we know today, he was Saul, one who persecuted the church and killed many Christians. As a matter of fact, this was the same man that stood there and encouraged everyone to stone Stephen.
When Saul finally had that encounter with God, his life was changed and he went to go find the disciples. How many can imagine Peter's response to Saul looking for him? Saul's trying to tell him he's saved and Peter's thinking he's just looking for him to put him to death. But Barnabas, the encourager, got a hold of Paul and said, "I know God has changed your life and I'm going to take you right to the apostles". This is one of those times that I want to go back in time. Can you imagine what it was like for Peter and the apostles as Barnabas knocks on the door and says, "Listen, I want you to meet Saul of Tarsus". Can you imagine what happened when they opened the door? Peter was probably thinking about reaching for his sword again. Barnabas said, "God can change anybody and he changed this man. As a matter of fact I'm going to take full responsibility for Saul, take him under my wing and disciple him.
To be an encourager, you must believe that people can change. Barnabas got to be the man who discipled Saul, who became the apostle Paul, and by doing so began to change his life. Barnabas was the same kind of person as that one Sunday school teacher who led Billy Graham to Jesus in our time. Barnabas took Paul under his wing and began to pour into him and build him up; he saw the potential. Encouragers see the potential in other people and they will take an intimate interest in them. This particular gift was a gift that was slow in coming to the apostle Paul himself. Even though someone had believed in him, he was still a little bit stubborn and had a long way to go in his own personal life in this area.
One time after Paul was on a missionary journey, Barnabas was with him and they had a young man, John Mark, also with them. In the midst of that missionary journey, John Mark decided that he had had enough and was ready to go home. We don't know why he went home, whether he was feeling sick or if he just missed his wife; all we know is that he decided to leave. When it came time for another missionary trip, Paul refused to work with him again. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of God and see how they are doing". Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John Mark but Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them and not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they departed from one another; so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Even Paul got too big for his britches when it came to his mentor and that's when Barnabas knew it was time to cut him loose. Barnabas began to pour into John Mark's life and to mentor him. We know that Paul went on to write most of the epistles in the New Testament but what many don't know is that John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark that we read today.
How many are thankful for men like Barnabas who are encouragers? Someone who will take their time to pour into anothers life and then when that person is done he'll cut them loose and find another person to pour into. We don't see a gospel of Barnabas but what we do see is the effect of that one man's life encouraging someone else. Do you realize that Barnabas poured into two men's lives so importantly that it has changed the entire shape of Christianity in all the world today? All because he decided to encourage two men.
Many times we see encouragement as instruction in doing the right thing. Sometimes our life simply sets the example as we are faithful and refuse to give up. Every mom knows that your kids are watching you. Moms, how many remember the time when you saw your kids doing something the exact way you did it and you were excited by that? How many see your daughter preparing food the same way you did it? Or see them disciplining their children the same way you did it? Christian, I want to remind you that people are watching you and how we respond to life is encouraging.
Growing up in my church I saw some of the greatest saints and had the privilege to be around them. Some you would look at and not think a whole lot about but the truth is I watched them week after week, day after day. We got to watch them through the good times and the bad times and when they went through the hard times they were still trusting God; when they went through the good times they were still faithful to God. When the trials came I saw them on their face at the altar crying out to the Lord and when the bad times came for others I saw them get right down next to them and pray for them, bless them and encourage them. People are encouraged when they see you set an example. We understand when people in the world see believers fall, become a hypocrite or not live the way they should be living, it discourages many people from even coming to the Lord. But every single time people are watching us and we get it right, it encourages them to live for God and trust him when we do it through the good and the bad.
2nd Corinthians 1: 6-7 says, "Now if we are afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation which is effective for enduring the same suffering which we also suffer; or if we are comforted it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast because we know as you are partakers of the sufferings so also you are partakers of the consolation. Our courage helps encourage others in their time of trial. It helps them to understand that just as God is taking care of us, he will take care of them. It is important to share our lives and our stories because they help people. Every time you let people know what you're going through and then let them watch you live for God, you set the example that encourages them that God is faithful; if He is good to you then He will be good to them. God is letting others watch you.
There are some simple keys to ministering this gift of encouragement. The first key to being an encourager is for us to draw near to God ourselves. Hebrews 10:22 says, "Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water". Those who are encouragers are themselves close to God so that the word we deliver comes from His heart and not our own intellect. One of the reasons I draw close to the Lord everyday is so when I get in the line at McDonalds and I have to deal with someone messing up then I'll be sensitive enough to bless them when I get to the window. How many are tired of getting it wrong and want to start getting it right? The way you do that is by drawing close to the Lord. I promise you that I haven't always gotten it right but I'm getting better. The closer I stay to the Lord, the better I get at it. I want to encourage you, draw near to the Lord because if you're near to Him then you're going to be just like Him and that's what we're to be.
Paul learned to hear from God and because he did, he was able to inspire many in the midst of their crises. When Paul saw Barnabas begin to pour into the life of John Mark it began to change Paul's own management style of his life. If someone let him down he wouldn't give them a second chance but he decided to be a second chance giver. When Paul got on the ship and it began to fall apart, it was by his leadership that everyone on that ship became encouraged. It takes a person of God when the storms of life come and everything is being tossed around. There needs to be someone in the midst of the storm that stands up and says, "Listen, God is faithful and is going to take care of you and I'll bet my life on it", and they'll set the example in the midst of everything.
Acts 27:36 says, "Then they were all encouraged and also took food themselves". All those people on the ship with Paul in the middle of that storm had given up eating and weren't doing anything and finally Paul said, "God is faithful and it's going to be alright. It's time you get your appetite back because God is going to take care of us".
Encouragers will develop patience. Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful". Encouragers are patient with the people that they're speaking into because it takes time for people to change. Salvation may come in a moment but the full fruit of that salvation takes time to develop. When you begin to speak into someone's life, those whom others have given up on, they may let you down again but you still continue to give them a second chance. Stand firm and when everything around you isn't going well just be patient to let God come through; that will encourage everyone around you.
The last thing I want to talk about concerning the gift of encouragement is to determine to inspire others to do the right thing. Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works". Encouragers help to stir people to do the right thing. They are the ones when everyone is doing the wrong thing, shows them the way that pleases God. One verse says, "Let us provoke one another to good works". How many of you have just had a bad attitude about someone and you know you're not about to make the right choices with them? Sometimes you get on the phone with a good friend and ask them to help you because there's something you're dealing with and you need them to provoke you a little bit. How many have good friends that instead of agreeing with your bad attitude will actually begin to speak into your life and stir up the work of God?
I want to challenge you, part of being an encourager is knowing this word so that when others come to you, you can mentor them to do the right thing. The other day I got on the phone with a friend and he began to just talk to me saying, "You've talked me through things many times, let me speak into your life right now". He began to stir me up to say and do the right things. How many would rather have good fruit all the time? The Bible says that in order to be an encourager we need to determine to stir others. When we look around our world we find so many people who don't do the right thing and when it comes time for others to encourage you to do the right thing they seem to back down. Encouragers urge others to mingle faith with action so I want to encourage you that everyone needs a good word at just the right time. Being able to do that is a real gift. How many would like to be a gift to somebody else? To be that blessing that stirs them when they come around you. I'd like to have that nickname, to be a son of encouragement. We can have it if we practice this word in our lives. Amen
