Words - Encouragement
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Words - Encouragement, Rough Draft
Words - Encouragement, Rough Draft
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Romans 1:11-12
Intro - One of the top ten lies that we believe ...
Stick and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
Top Biggest Lie
Stick and stones will break my bones, but words will cut me deeply.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
“Unless the divine power has raised you up.... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that [abominable practice of slavery], which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.”
Words have a powerful effect on others.
Like drugs from the drug store can heal and drugs off the street can destroy.
Words spoken with love heal, but words spoken carelessly destroy.
Some of the greatest hurts in our life come form words spoken.
Some of the highest points in life come from words.
Our focal text today is...
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
The first thought that we see in our text today is this ...
I. Spiritual sharing is a gift of encouragement to others.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Paul desires to visit the believers in Rome and give them a gift -
A gift that strengthens and encourages.
This gift is so simple - it is the gift of sharing with each other what God is doing.
-Some of your here today are generous people, sharing people, kind people.
-You desire to give to others. You can give a spiritual encouragement.
-What is this encouraging word? What is this gift that I can give to others?
Anything I share about how God is working in my life.
God has been teaching me this about himself and how he works.
God has been convicting me of this sin in my life.
God has been helping me overcome this worry in my life.
God has challenged me to step up and do this hard thing I normally would not do.
When I read my Bible I realized this about God’s forgiveness.
I’ve been struggling with anger, and God has helped me.
I hadn’t realized before that … but then someone shared with me this.
God takes what you share spiritually & uses it as a gift to lift others up and to strengthen them.
Note - We are not talking about encouraging someone in how they dress, how their hair or make up looks or that they did a really good job at something.
We are talking specifically about sharing with at least 1 other person something that God is doing in your life.
There are specific times and places you can start sharing about what God is doing in your life.
Transition to application - Encouraging words are a two way road not a one way road.
-There are some sitting here today who in their heart deeply wish that someone would encourage you. However, you and I have no control over others spiritually encouraging words.
Application - When you are in a conversation one on one, or in a Sunday school class or with your family and God places an urgency on your heart to share something that is spiritually on your mind … share it.
You never know what kind of gift you are giving someone.
_________________________
To not share is to hold back a gift that God desires to give someone.
We give gifts of Christmas presents: toys, tools, clothes, hunting gear, gifts cards and cash … the greatest gift you can give someone is a spiritual gift...
Parents we make sure our children have the greatest education we can provide … that they play the sports they want to … we pay thousands of dollars to supply these things, but the greatest gift you can give your child is a spiritual gift.
Let your conversations one on one... and let your time in your Sunday School be times of generosity where you give spiritual gifts in abundance.
Transition - These gifts that we are called to give have a great purpose ...
II. Spiritual sharing helps grow others’ walk with Jesus.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Romans 1:11-12
I thess
10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
I thes
11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
A. Strengthen each others faith.
When you share spiritually with each other we strengthen each other.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
B. To help each other walk in holiness.
“A manner worthy of God. What does that mean
Sharing Spiritually specifically:
A. To help each other walk in holiness.
Help each other walk closer with the Lord.
Help each other love the Lord more passionately.
Help each other obey God more fully.
Help each other understand the greatness of God more deeply.
Sometimes we think that God couldn’t use us me to help someone else. That we should just keep our mouth shut.
Illustration - When I was in Youth Ministry - I would hear in middle school small group what God was teaching them,
God would place his finger on my heart and say, Listen!
A 7th grade boy may say, God is helping me see that you have to follow Him even when it is hard.
-I don’t care how many years you have known Jesus or been to seminary - everyone needs to hear that truth.
Here in Louisville, several times a month I will be in conversation and hear something that someone is experiencing spiritually.
-God will humble me and an urgency in my spirit will say - Listen close - this is for you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Most of the time - the person that shares has no idea how God has used that spiritual gift in your life.
Transition - Third, we see this
III. God desires hearts to be lifted to Him.
The command to spiritually share tells us about God’s desires (what He wants).
The command to spiritually share tells us about God’s desires (what He wants).
A. God desires for our souls to be lifted to Him.
There is a reason he wants us to share and to give each other this spiritual gift of encouragment.
Our souls need lifting. There is much that drags us down.
God wants your heart lifted to Him.
We see all through scripture that God wants our soul lifted to Him.
There is evidence for this all over scripture and not just in our text today.
He is for you.
He is for you.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Encouraging words of Jesus
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Is 40
4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
2 “Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Do you see this pattern? Lifting up, lifting up, lifting up...
It is God’s desire that we are lifted up to Him.
Spiritual sharing lifts us to Him.
Transition - We see the heart of God to lift us spiritually and encourage us spiritually when we look at the cross.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
III. The Cross is the greatest encouragement
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:10-11
Paul said in our focal text today - “I desire to see you to give you a spiritual gift - to strengthen and encourage you.”
Paul had much give and bless God’s people with.
Nothing lifts the heart of a person like Jesus did on the Cross.
Spiritually, you were laying on the bottom of the deepest trench in the ocean. Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, God reach down and when his knuckles struck bottom He lifted you up & breathed spiritual life into you.
Looking at where we were spiritually and how God has brought us to spiritual life should be the greatest encouragement that we have.
God did for you what you could not do for yourself.
He did this because He is the good shepherd.
He did this by laying his life down for the sheep.
If you are a Christ follower, consider how far Jesus has brought you and be encouraged.
As so many in this room can attest - He is the good Shepherd.
If you have never trusted in Jesus as your savior and surrendered to Him as the King of your life, God is extending His hand to you now.
If you have never trusted in Jesus as your savior and surrendered to Him as the King of your life, God is extending His hand to you now.
Close
III. The effect of my encouragement
IS 35
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
Sometimes it is obvious who has the weak hands and feebles knees - who has the anxious heart.
Let me tell you, there are more people in this room suffering on the inside who are experts at keeping their pain hidden than you would ever believe.
-
John Wesley wrote the following letter from his deathbed to William Wilberforce to encourage him in his prolonged fight against slavery in England:
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
Ps 69:
“Unless the divine power has raised you up.... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that [abominable practice of slavery], which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.”
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
Dictionary of Bible Themes 8415 encouragement, examples of
8415
encouragement, examples of
Believers can encourage one another to have greater confidence in God and so to be bolder in living out their faith.
In the OT
2Ch 32:6-7 King Hezekiah encourages his people. See also Jdg 20:21-22; 1Sa 23:16; 1Ch 11:10; 2Ch 30:22; 35:2 King Josiah; Ne 9:26; Da 2:18; Zec 8:20-22; Mal 3:16
In the NT
Ac 11:22-23; 1Th 2:11-12 See also Ac 4:36; 13:43; 14:21-22 Paul and Barnabas; Ac 15:32; 16:40; 18:27-28; 20:1-2 after Paul’s ministry in Ephesus; Ro 1:11-12 Paul to the church at Rome; 2Co 7:4,13; Eph 6:21-22 Paul’s fellow-worker, Tychicus; Php 1:14 Paul in prison; Col 4:8; 1Th 3:2 Timothy; 1Th 3:7; Phm 7; Heb 13:22; 1Pe 5:12
Encouragement as exhortation in the life of faith
Col 1:28 Paul describes his ministry. See also Lk 3:18 John the Baptist; Ro 12:1; 15:30; 1Co 4:16; 16:15-16; 2Co 2:7-8 dealing with a repentant member; 2Co 6:1; Eph 4:1; 1Th 4:10; Heb 13:19; 1Pe 2:11; Jude 3
Commands to encourage others
Isa 35:3-4
To Moses: Dt 1:38; 3:28
2Sa 19:7 to David; Isa 1:17; Ro 12:6-8; 15:2; 1Co 14:12; Col 3:16; 1Th 4:18; 5:11,14; 1Ti 5:1; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 1:9 the church overseer; Tit 2:15; Heb 3:13; 10:25
Failure to encourage
Eze 34:4 Condemnation of Israel’s leaders. See also Job 16:2; Ps 69:20; Ecc 4:1; Eze 16:49; Zec 10:2
Refusing to be comforted
Ge 37:34-35 See also Ps 77:2; Jer 31:15; Mt 2:18
Sailing across the Atlantic 13.5 foot boat
On May 24, 1965, a 13½ foot boat slipped quietly out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts. It would be the smallest craft ever to make the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to England. The Tinkerbelle was piloted by Robert Manry, a copy editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who felt that 10 years at the desk was enough boredom for a while. So he took a leave of absence to fulfill his secret dream.
Manry was afraid—not of the ocean, but of all who would try to talk him out of the trip. So he didn’t share it with many, just some relatives and especially his wife Virginia.
The trip was not pleasant; he spent nights of sleeplessness trying to cross shipping lanes without getting run over and sunk. Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless. Loneliness—that age-old monster of the deep—led to terrifying hallucinations. His rudder broke 3 times. Storms swept him overboard, and had it not been for the rope he had tied around his waist, he would never have been able to pull himself back on board. Finally, after 78 days alone at sea, he sailed into Falmouth, Cornwall, England.
During those nights, he had wondered about what he would do once he arrived. He expected simply to check into a hotel, eat dinner alone, then the next morning see if, perhaps, the Associated Press might be interested in his story. Was he in for a surprise! Word of his approach had spread far and wide. To his amazement, 300 vessels, with horns blasting, escorted Tinkerbelle into port. And 40,000 people stood screaming and cheering him to shore.
Robert Manry, the copy editor turned dreamer, became an overnight hero. His story has been told around the world. But Robert couldn’t have done it alone. Standing on the dock was an even greater hero—Virginia. She had encouraged him on when others would have discouraged him.
Being alone in this world is difficult. Being alone without Christ is unbearable!