ACTS Ministry "ENCOURAGERS"

ACTS Ministry

ENCOURAGERS

I AM NO LONGER GOOD ENOUGH TO BE CALLED YOUR SON. TREAT ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR WORKERS.

INTRODUCTION

If you know the story of the Prodigal, This is a very interesting story many want to call this a parable but the truth the Word of God does not say that this is a parable.

But just to summary this story There was a young man, who was the youngest one the two brother, who had everything that he could ask for, his father was very rich and he had a brother and the family scene was really good.

No problem at the house, no problem with the parent nothing. But one day the youngest brother decide that he want all the inheritance that the father had for him and that he want to go out and experience something.

NOT LONG AFTER THAT, THE YOUNGER SON PACKED UP EVERYTHING HE OWNED AND LEFT FOR A FOREIGN COUNTRY, WHERE HE WASTED ALL HIS MONEY IN WILD LIVING.

SHOW A PICTURE OF MIKE TYSON

Mike Tyson - The famous boxer reportedly earned $300 million in his career, but it wasn't enough to support a lavish lifestyle that famously includes pet tigers. He filed for bankruptcy in 2003, owing $27 million.

SHOW A PICTURE OF NICOLAS CAGE

Nicolas Cage - In response to the suit, many maintains that Cage brought about his own financial ruin by living above his means, and many had warned the actor to scale back his lavish lifestyle. The actor's purchases included said castles, 15 palatial homes, a large collection of yachts and a fleet of Rolls Royces.

Many can have everything, but still be missing something, and so they try to buy their happiness, their peace of mind, their comfort, but nothing satisfied them.

ENCOURAGERS

Many can have everything, but still be missing something, and so they try to buy their happiness, their peace of mind, their comfort, but nothing satisfied them.

HE HAD SPENT EVERYTHING, WHEN A BAD FAMINE SPREAD THROUGH THAT WHOLE LAND. SOON HE HAD NOTHING TO EAT.

FAMINE SPREAD THROUGH THAT WHOLE LAND. SOON HE

HAD NOTHING TO EAT.

HE WENT TO WORK FOR A MAN IN THAT COUNTRY, AND THE MAN SENT HIM OUT TO TAKE CARE OF HIS PIGS.

COUNTRY, AND THE MAN SENT HIM OUT TO TAKE CARE OF

HIS PIGS.

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD TO EAT WHAT THE PIGS WERE EATING, BUT NO ONE GAVE HIM A THING.

Nobody would giving him anything. Now this is the picture that I want you to get a hold tonight.

We often times we forget that this is a person that is reaching out for help.

We forget about this person is hurting, this person has a need that is not being met.

Remember our motto: Here at Southpointe, FIND A NEED MET THE NEED, SEE A HURT THEN HEAL THE HURT.

You see this young man was in the house, and he was hurting, he need someone to encourage him.

There are many today, that was once in the house, once in the family, once in the church and they have disappeared.

In ACTS, we refuse to let one go down, one go out, we refuse.

This is what I believe the church is suppose to be doing and this is what we as member of the acts ministry will be doing.

ENCOURAGERS

This is what I believe the church is suppose to be doing and this is what

we as member of the acts ministry will be doing.

IF ANY OF YOU HAS A HUNDRED SHEEP, AND ONE OF THEM GETS LOST, WHAT WILL YOU DO? WON'T YOU LEAVE THE NINETY-NINE IN THE FIELD AND GO LOOK FOR THE LOST SHEEP UNTIL YOU FIND IT?

OF THEM GETS LOST, WHAT WILL YOU DO? WON'T YOU

LEAVE THE NINETY-NINE IN THE FIELD AND GO LOOK FOR

THE LOST SHEEP UNTIL YOU FIND IT?

AND WHEN YOU FIND IT, YOU WILL BE SO GLAD THAT YOU WILL PUT IT ON YOUR SHOULDER AND CARRY IT HOME

THAT YOU WILL PUT IT ON YOUR SHOULDER AND CARRY IT

HOME

JESUS TOLD THE PEOPLE ANOTHER STORY: WHAT WILL A WOMAN DO IF SHE HAS TEN SILVER COINS AND LOSES ONE OF THEM? WON'T SHE LIGHT A LAMP, SWEEP THE FLOOR, AND LOOK CAREFULLY UNTIL SHE FINDS IT?

WHAT WILL A WOMAN DO IF SHE HAS TEN SILVER COINS

AND LOSES ONE OF THEM? WON'T SHE LIGHT A LAMP,

SWEEP THE FLOOR, AND LOOK CAREFULLY UNTIL SHE

FINDS IT?

So my question to you tonight: Are you willing to do whatever it take to bring them back into the house.

take to bring them back into the house.

If we lined up the approximately 195 million unchurched people living in the US, the line would reach around the world 2 ½ times and that line grows ½ mile longer every day, 182 miles every year.

In which many of them where in our churches. But became discouraged.

You can either be an encourager or a discourager. Which one are you?

The Bible's original Greek word for encourage literally means "called to the side of."

the side of."

Encourage - stand alongside someone in order to assure them, to urge them onward, to be a pillar of strength for them.

them onward, to be a pillar of strength for them.

Encourage one another, become sons and daughters of encouragement to each other.

ENCOURAGERS

Encourage one another, become sons and daughters of encouragement

to each other.

Gain encouragement to pass along encouragement from the One who is the source of all encouragement.

the source of all encouragement.

SPEAKS ABOUT THE GOD WHO GIVES ENDURANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. "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."

"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."

God's encouragement is that which says,

"AS FAR AS EAST IS FROM WEST SO FAR HAVE I REMOVED THE GUILT OF YOUR SIN FROM YOU."

God's encouragement says,

"YES, I KNOW ALL YOUR WAYS..... AND I LOVE YOU ANYWAY! YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO ME. I WANT YOU. I HAVE CALLED YOU FROM THE VERY CORNERS OF THE GLOBE. I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU. WHEN YOU FALL, I WILL RAISE YOU UP AND GUIDE YOU FURTHER."

God's encouragement says,

"LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS.... AND I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU."

God's encouragement says,

"YES THERE ARE MOMENTS OF GREAT DISTRESS, WHEN TROUBLES RISE UP LIKE HUGE MOUNTAINS. BUT WHEN YOU SEE THESE MOUNTAINS, REMEMBER THAT YOUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH...... IN THIS WORLD YOU SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION. BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER. I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."

I don't even have to begin to tell you what a challenge it is to live as brothers and sisters of Jesus in our busy, very secular age.

ENCOURAGERS

I don't even have to begin to tell you what a challenge it is to live as brothers and sisters of Jesus in our busy, very secular age.

Seems like the moment we stop to breathe, we're sliding backwards in our faith. Temptations, disappointments, conflict...... No end to the ways that the shine can be taken off Christian living.

Temptations, disappointments, conflict...... No end to ways that the shine can be taken off Christian living.

Temptations, disappointments, conflict...... No end to ways that the shine can be taken off Christian living.

Thank God for the gift of encouragers who can come alongside us, interact with us, and lift up and up again with new hope - injecting fresh, godly courage into our soul...... .... encouraging us.

Encourage one another -- Can you do it?

The Bible calls all of us to encourage. Not to spend time criticizing each other, running each other down; looking for the dirt marks, weak spots and splintered corners in each others' lives.

running each other down; looking for the dirt marks, weak spots and

splintered corners in each others' lives.

There's enough of that in life without brothers and sisters beating on each other, too.

each other, too.

You can do it. You must do it! Interesting, that the Bible doesn't allow a lot of room for negotiating.

Nothing about - please encourage, or possibly some of you may want to encourage, if you have nothing better to do perhaps you can encourage, appoint an encouragement committee.....

Just this - encourage one another.

The challenge is there for all of us.

IF WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEM. IF WE CAN GIVE, WE SHOULD BE GENEROUS. IF WE ARE LEADERS, WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST. IF WE ARE GOOD TO OTHERS, WE SHOULD DO IT CHEERFULLY.

ENCOURAGERS

IF WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEM. IF WE CAN GIVE, WE SHOULD BE GENEROUS. IF WE ARE LEADERS, WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST. IF WE ARE GOOD TO OTHERS, WE SHOULD DO IT CHEERFULLY.

Maybe you have that gift.

If you've seen people gain fresh courage to honour Jesus because of interacting with you.

If you are glad, and gain refreshment when people who need comfort and counsel seek your help.

If Christian work has been stimulated because of your encouragement

Then you probably have the gift.

If you find yourself sensitive to suffering, trouble and discouragement in others' lives, and find yourself wanting to help them seek God's answers willing to spend patient time with others.

sensitive to suffering, trouble and discouragement in others' lives, and find yourself wanting to help them seek God's answers willing to spend patient time with others

Then perhaps God has given you the seeds of this gift in your life and it's waiting to be explored and exercised.

Encouragement, It's vital in order to retain our enthusiasm and energy as believers.

Encouragement. It's vital in order to retain our enthusiasm and energy as believers.

Encouragement. It's vital in order to retain our enthusiasm and energy as believers.

No matter how strong a person's ego, words of encouragement and support bring renewed joy and commitment that are necessary for all of us to carry on our work.

We all as church members need encouragement. Even Mr. or Mrs. Super-Christian can get by without it.

Are you an encourager or discourager?

ENCOURAGERS

Are you an encourager or discourager?

THE YOUNGER SON GOT UP AND STARTED BACK TO HIS FATHER. BUT WHEN HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND FELT SORRY FOR HIM. HE RAN TO HIS SON AND HUGGED AND KISSED HIM.

TO HIS FATHER. BUT WHEN HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF,

HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND FELT SORRY FOR HIM. HE RAN TO

HIS SON AND HUGGED AND KISSED HIM.

I want you to look at , an encourager. The Father

If you read on you will see that the father was always looking and always waiting, he believe in his son.

always waiting, he believe in his son.

The father did not come to him and say, I told you so, instead he brought him in and feed him and clothe him. He threw a party welcoming him (HOME)

brought him in and feed him and clothe him. He threw a party

welcoming him (HOME)

You see, there’s a lot of people that just need to be encourage, need a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on, but does not need Mr. frozen chosen one, who has all the answers.

helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on, but does not need Mr. frozen

chosen one, who has all the answers.

Let’s look at the discourager: The Older Brother

THE OLDER BROTHER GOT SO ANGRY THAT HE WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO THE HOUSE. HIS FATHER CAME OUT AND BEGGED HIM TO GO IN.

WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO THE HOUSE. HIS FATHER CAME

OUT AND BEGGED HIM TO GO IN.

BUT HE SAID TO HIS FATHER, "FOR YEARS I HAVE WORKED FOR YOU LIKE A SLAVE AND HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED YOU. BUT YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN GIVEN ME A LITTLE GOAT, SO THAT I COULD GIVE A DINNER FOR MY FRIENDS.

HAVE WORKED FOR YOU LIKE A SLAVE AND HAVE ALWAYS

OBEYED YOU. BUT YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN GIVEN ME A

LITTLE GOAT, SO THAT I COULD GIVE A DINNER FOR MY

FRIENDS.

THIS OTHER SON OF YOURS WASTED YOUR MONEY ON PROSTITUTES. AND NOW THAT HE HAS COME HOME, YOU ORDERED THE BEST CALF TO BE KILLED FOR A FEAST."

MONEY ON PROSTITUTES. AND NOW THAT HE HAS COME

HOME, YOU ORDERED THE BEST CALF TO BE KILLED FOR A

FEAST."

He was not very happy about the younger son homecoming. You are blessing him and he has waste all the inheritance on living an evil life.

ENCOURAGERS

He was not very happy about the younger son homecoming. You are blessing him and he has waste all the inheritance on living an evil life.

You would never give me a party.

I want you to understand tonight it not always what you say to that person, but it what you say to others about that person, and you attitude toward them.

Why would we not be willing to help people to the cross?

You see, you are either gathering or scattering, you are encouraging or discouraging.

So - we stand by each other when we take the first hesitant steps into a direction that we believe God is calling us. We stand by each other when we fall. Stand by, rather than criticize, complain and walk away.

We refuse to turn our back on them. No muttering as we leave about how incompetent and incomplete and poorly immature they are.

Encouragement requires that we be willing to live as Jesus, and to draw close to people.....

Even those people with whom we don't always agree, and those who dress or smell or behave a little strangely, and those with whom we may not be terribly comfortable or have too much in common.

even those people with whom we don't always agree, and those who dress or smell or behave a little strangely, and those with whom we may not be terribly comfortable or have too much in common.

There is a lot of people who fall in the crack of church as average, church as normal.

There’s a lot of people fight battles that need a friend to lend on. A friend that will be there to listen, and pray. I call them spiritual warriors.

In Acts ministry, we have the Encouragers team.

ENCOURAGERS

In Acts ministry, we have the encouragers team.

1. Visitation Team

a. Visitors

b. Members and attendees

c. Post card & letters

d. E-mail and Text

e. Crackers- ones that have slipped thru the crack, struggling with Spiritual battles.

Encourage one another - You can do it!

Encourage one another - You can do it!

Tap someone beside you right on the shoulder and say "Thanks for your work. We're behind you. We're praying for you."