Home > Church Family > Sermon Summaries > 8 July 2000, Carol Maberly - Encouragement

Encouragement

8 July 2000, Carol Maberly

(Carol is a visiting guest speaker. She works for the Trans Tasman Union Conference administration)

Overview

What is Encouragement?

Greek: parakaleo - parakletos
"Helper, comfort, console, entreat, beg, implore, counsel, urge, challenge."

Who gives Encouragement?

God the Father - "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Who gives Encouragement?

Jesus Christ - "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense (parakletos) --Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." 1 John 2:1

Who gives Encouragement?

Holy Spirit - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (paraklete) to be with you forever." John 14:16

As God's children we are called to reflect God.

"Encourage one another and build one another up" 1 Thess 5:11

Mutual encouragement linked to worship attendance

"Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing,
but let us encourage one another--
and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

Jonathon encouraged David

"Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God." 1Sam 23:16

Ruth encouraged Naomi

"'May the LORD bless Boaz!' Naomi exclaimed. 'The LORD always keeps his promises to the living and the dead.'" Ruth 2:20

Apostle Paul encouraged New believers

"strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith" Acts 14:21-22

Barnabas - "Son of Encouragement."

Helped needy saints
Supported an unwelcome convert.
Accepted Gentile believers.
Enlisted Paul in his work.
Restored a youthful deserter

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does
not know his master's business. I have called you friends…
You did not choose me, I chose you." John 15:15

Who Needs Encouragement?

Those in distress
Those who contribute to the ministries of the church
New believers
The nominal, and wayward.

Needing each other...
is a very Christian kind of need.

Jesus made cultivating Barnabas-kind of friendships
a priority in his life.

Barnabas-kind of friends don't just happen…
they must be cultivated by making time.

It's risky business to love as Jesus loves…
to get involved with people and their problems

Cities of Refuge

"People don't want to listen to a cassette of some sermon when the bottom drops out.

They want a place to cry...a person to care... someone to bind up their wounds… someone to listen, The security of a few close, intimate friends, who won't blab their story all over the church... who will do more than say, 'I'll pray for you.' They want a Refuge."

One of the highest human duties
Is the duty of encouragement...
    It is easy to laugh at man's ideals:
    It is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm,
    It is easy to discourage others.

The world is full of discouragers

We have a Christian duty to encourage one another.

Many a time a word of praise or thanks, or appreciation or cheer
has kept a man on his feet.
Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.

William Barclay

"We should keep on encouraging one another especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer" Hebrews 10.25

God wants YOU to be a Barnabas type encourager

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