The Making of an Encourager

 

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

4 

Say to those with anxious heart,

“Take courage, fear not.

Behold, your God will come with vengeance;

The recompense of God will come,

But He will save you.”

Isaiah 35: 3-4 NASB 1995 BibleGateway.com

   Sometimes it takes only one word, a smile, or a grasp of the hand. Sometimes it means standing by someone during a particularly hard time and helping him or her not give up in despair.

   What does encouragement mean to you? Can you recall a time when someone came alongside you for the sole purpose of lifting your spirits or making you smile?

   Have you ever done that for a hurting person? It feels good to know you're loved. It feels especially good in those low moments when you can't see ahead clearly, when you don't grasp God's perspective and vison for your life. Isaiah 35: 3, 4 admonishes, "Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.'"

   The Father has given each of us special tasks within the body of Christ, and those with the gift of exhortation or encouragement (Romans 12:8) can rejoice in their unique and tender ministries. But encouragement isn't strictly the domain of those to whom the Lord has given a special gift; it's not an activity exclusively for those with naturally bubbly or warm personalities. Encouragement is the wonderful, God given function of everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ.

   In the early days of the church, new believers badly needed encouragement. Societal pressures mounted, persecution multiplied, and few had access to the Apostle's teaching (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10).

   Very often, encouragement for the early church came in the form of a person, as it does today. Sometimes just the sight of a certain loved one can reinvigorate your spirits and remove your focus from yourself. Sometimes Paul sent Timothy. More than once, he sent his associate, Tychicus, as a special envoy of joy.

   The ministry of encouragement is indispensable, both to you and to the body of Christ. There is no such thing as a person who doesn't need encouragement.

   By seeking ways to daily encourage those with whom you interact, you further the potential for meaningful, Christ-centered relationships. As Paul told the persecuted Thessalonians, "Encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing . . . Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5: 11, 14).

Stanley, Charles. F. Life Principles Daily Bible: Biblical Principles for Each Day of the Year. Thomas Nelson: Nashville. 2011. pg 1181.

God’s Will

 

If necessary, God will shake up heaven and earth to get our attention and show us His will.

2Chronicles 20:12

¹² Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” NIV  www.biblegaeway.com

The following is part of Life Principle 10 by Dr. Charles Stanley. For the complete page with scripture references, please open your copy of the 30 Life Principles.

   God always wants the best for us, and He is committed to showing us how to follow the specific plan He has designed for each of our lives. He wants us to listen for His voice, to hear what He wants us to do, and how He wants us to do it (Isaiah 30:19-21).

   When we begin to wander from the course God has set for us, He will take all kinds of measures to capture our attention and protect us from harm. He has a wide variety of ways to help us to take notice, among them:

• A restless spirit
• A spoken word
• An unusual blessing
•  Unanswered prayer
• Disappointment
• Extraordinary circumstances
• Defeat
• Financial troubles
• Tragedy, sickness, and affliction

   The Father always knows exactly where you are in your journey of faith and precisely what it will take to get your attention. Stay alert; notice if any of these divine methods are occurring—or recurring—in your life. If they are, ask Him what He wants to tell you. Be willing to hear and obey what He says.

When faced with a decision, ask, “What does the Bible say?” and “Will my actions reflect God’s love to someone else?” These questions are for me and my “snapping turtle” personality. With all the turmoil, life moving faster and faster, as tragedy upon tragedy piles up, Dr. Tony Evans presented an encouraging message to the Christian National Broadcasters Convention in June 2021. Please pray and then listen to Dr. Evans. This video encourages my heart!!!

 

God presented the reading on Life Principle 10 and Dr. Evans’ powerful message at the National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention within days of each other. So, as Bill Gaither says, “Something Good is About to Happen!” Dr. Evans concluded his message with the example of looking at coming attractions. As a believer in Jesus Christ, we are to allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate God to all people. Will someone look at me and want to see the main event? Will they ask, “How do I purchase a ticket?” The ticket has already been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. All someone has to do is accept the ticket.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world [including add your name] that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever [including add your name] believes in him, [add your name], shall not perish but have eternal life.  NIV   John 3:16      https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/John%203:16

The Narrow Way

 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." Luke 13:24 NIV, BibleGateway.com suggestion, read rest of chapter

   Martial artist Morihei Ueshiba once philosophized., "There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji." His statement reflected the idea that many people believe, which is that there are many ways to find God. Life is a journey, and people are free to choose their own path to the deity of their choice.

   However, Jesus completely refuted that idea. In Luke 13:24, He said, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." In other words, there are people who will spend their entire lives pursuing a deity that cannot save them, and they will not realize it until it's too late. It's a horrifying thought.

   So why do so many people think there is more than one way to find God?

   Generally, the belief that there is more than one path to God stems from the fact that in every society in the world (it doesn't make any difference how civilized or uncivilized), there are always people who believe in some kind of deity. Therefore, many anthropologists and sociologists reason there is no one true religion-everyone simply worships the deity which best reflects their environmental influences.

   Such scientists conclude everyone is entitled to his or her own idea of God-including believing there is no such thing as a supreme being. Unfortunately, that's human reasoning. It sounds logical, but the problem is it's a complete contradiction to the way the one true God has provided for us to know Him (John 3:16-18).

   Why are there so many cultures with so many deities? Romans 1:20 explains, "Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." People are without excuse in knowing God exists. Every culture has a concept of God-He's clearly seen throughout nature. However, it's not up to us to imagine who He is or to create Him out of our own reasoning or culture. Rather, we must look to the way He's revealing Himself to us, which is through the person of Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:27; John 14:7).

   Unfortunately, people are sometimes offended when Christians say Jesus Christ is the only way to God because they say God wouldn't exclude from heaven all the people who don't believe in Christ. However, their reasoning is completely wrong. It's not that the one true God is exclusive. In face, He is completely inclusive, Jesus said in John 12:32, "I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." Jesus offers salvation to everyone. Jesus would never turn away someone who put his or her faith in Him (Rom. 10:9-13).

   Though life may be a journey, and though there may be a multitude of roads to the earthly Mount Fuji, there's only one way to God-by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Christ offers the only road that leads to salvation. Though the world may offer an abundance of choices, they'll never lead to what you're really looking for (Prov. 14:12). The only right choice is the road God offers through Jesus Christ. Though that path is the narrow one, it's always wide open to you. Trust Him.

Stanley, Charles F. Life Principles Daily Bible, Biblical Principles for Each Day of the Year. Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishing, page 485.

United by the Gospel

Every one of us was created with a free will to think and choose; my belief is that we are ALL created in the image of Holy God. Sometimes I can and sometimes I cannot change my circumstances, but I can ALWAYS change my way of thinking or my focus in the circumstance. In this blog, I would like to share a few of my survival strategies learned in my 80+ years. Where do I try to focus? What am I learning?

  

Since January 1, 2020, I have been reading the LifePrinciples Daily Bible by Charles F. Stanley. This devotional combines a growing knowledge and understanding of God through His Word. Every reading combines something from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and the New Testament. Only by example can I hopefully explain how the four separate readings connect with knowledge and understanding. The first reading is Genesis 1-2, creation, Life Principle “Our Intimacy with God—His highest priority for our lives—determines the impact of our lives.” In Psalm 1, I learn “…in His law he meditates day and night…” In Proverbs 1, I learn “to receive instruction is wise behavior…” In Matthew 1, I read the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.

A few examples of recent scriptures that have encouraged me:

Proverbs 21:2 “People think they are doing what is right, but the Lord knows the heart.” :10 “Evil people love to harm others; their neighbors get no mercy from them.” :30 “Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the LORD.” :31 “The horses are prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.”

John 13: 24-25 “A new commandment I give you that you love one another, even as I have loved you that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 17:20-26, especially “…that they all be one…” The following excerpt is from The Tony Evans Bible Commentary page 1057.

   He [Jesus] prayed that all believers would all be one —that is, experience unity. Legitimate unity is not uniformity or sameness. Rather, Jesus was talking about being unified in God and his purposes. That’s why he prayed, May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

   A football team consists of different players filling different positions with different roles. But the entire team has one purpose: reaching the goal line. Their unity consists of pursuing that one goal according to the rules of the game. The church of Jesus Christ is composed of people from every race, ethnicity, gender, and walk of life. But we have the common purpose of proclaiming the gospel and pursuing God’s kingdom agenda. Our effectiveness is determined by our unity. That’s why Satan works so hard at causing division among Christians and within churches.   Please read the rest of this commentary.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” KJ biblegateway.com

Please listen to “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank E. Graeff recorded by Gaither Music.

United by the Gospel; how has the good news of Jesus Christ comforted you? I have written about how I am comforted during difficult circumstances. How do you find comfort in a time of turmoil? Please share your thoughts, where do you go for encouragement? The Gospel will unite us in prayer and action. Thank you.