The Exhorter
Notes
Transcript
We now come to the fourth gift of the Spirit.
The Exhorter.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
In verse 12 we find a guideline for the exhorter.
Romans 12:12 (KJV)
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rejoicing in hope
Patient in tribulation
Consonant readiness for prayer
Paul is a great example of an exhorter in Scripture.
The Exhorter is also known as the encourager.
Teaching stimulates the mind; exhortation stimulates the will and faith.
The exhorter encourages spiritual growth through counseling and speaking.
Urges another to pursue a course of conduct based on Scripture.
Tells another how to apply God's truth to daily life.
The Greek word for exhorter is paraklesis, one who comes along beside.
I. Characteristics of the Exhorter
I. Characteristics of the Exhorter
A. Committed to Spiritual Growth
A. Committed to Spiritual Growth
The motivation of an exhorter is to see spiritual growth take place in practical living, and he is willing to become personally involved to see it achieved.
Paul said
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Paul further declared that he worked night and day to
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
A tendency to avoid systems of information which lack practical application.
B. Able to See Root Problems
B. Able to See Root Problems
An exhorter can discern the spiritual maturity of another person.
Based on this, the exhorter is motivated to search out hindrances in the lives of those who are not growing spiritually and to give further encouragement to those who are.
Paul saw the Corinthians as spiritual infants and therefore could not speak to them as unto spiritual but as unto carnal.
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
C. See Steps of Action
C. See Steps of Action
An exhorter has the ability to visualize spiritual achievement for another Christian and then help him work out practical steps to achieve it.
These steps are designed to remove hindrances and develop personal disciplines through which the Holy Spirit can work.
The emphasis on specific steps of action may appear to oversimplify the problem.
The exhorter often needs a “sounding board” for bouncing off his ideas and thoughts.
Thinks with his mouth.
Paul steps of action that Timothy needed.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
D. Raise Hope for Solutions
D. Raise Hope for Solutions
An exhorter tends to use examples from the lives of others to help Christians see the potential of daily victory.
Paul used the testimony of one church to motivate another church.
2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
He used his own life to illustrate God’s grace since he was the chief of all siners.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
E. Turn Problems into Benefits
E. Turn Problems into Benefits
Mature exhorters have learned by experience that God gives special grace during trials.
They have the ability to see how tribulation and suffering can produce new levels of maturity.
Based on this, Paul gloried in tribulation.
His credentials were the persecutions which he experienced and the counseling God gave him during his affliction.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
F. Desire to Be “Transparent”
F. Desire to Be “Transparent”
An exhorter knows that true growth will not take palce where there is guilt.
Paul told Timothy that his chief weapon was a clear conscience.
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
An exhorter desires an open life to gain a wider hearing for the Gospel.
Desires to clear up problems with others quickly.
Paul said.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
G. Gain Insight through Experience
G. Gain Insight through Experience
The exhorter is motivated to learn “cause-and-effect sequences and through them to discover underlying principle of life.
He studies both Scripture and experience to find these.
His motivation is to promote spiritual growth and to bring diverse groups of Christians together.
H. Urgency to Act on Clear Steps
H. Urgency to Act on Clear Steps
An exhorter tends to explain truth with logical reasoning in order to motivate people to act on it.
Often makes decisions easily.
Action people!
Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians 15 have been studied in law schools for their logic.
He reasoned with the Jews, the Greeks, King Agrippa and others.
I. Desire to Share Face to Face
I. Desire to Share Face to Face
An exhorter needs to see the facial expressions of his listeners in order to determine their response and to ensure a positive result.
Paul’s longing to see his fellow believers was constantly reaffirmed.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
He used personal conferences extensively.
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
II. Misuses of the Gift of Exhortation
II. Misuses of the Gift of Exhortation
A. Keeping Others Waiting for Them
A. Keeping Others Waiting for Them
An exhorter’s willingness to give people whatever time is necessary to help them grow spiritually often cuts into family time and personal responsibilities.
He often assumes that his family will understand, until major resentments surface.
Paul understood the sacrifices that he was making in his ministry;
however, if an exhorter is married hsi priority must be his marriage.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
B. Looking to Themselves for Solutions
B. Looking to Themselves for Solutions
As an exhorter gains experience and success in counselling, he tends to categorize problems as he hears them and arrive at conclusions before getting all the facts.
By failing to listen completely and sense direction from the Holy Spirit, an exhorter can be guilty of foolishness of giving wrong direction
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, It is folly and shame unto him.
BEING “CUT-AND-DRIED” IN PRESCRIBING STEPS OF ACTION
Because the exhorter desires so much to give good advice, he may easily fall into the trap of given “pat” answers.
He may counsel three people in a row with the same basic problem and, after prayer, prescribe the same steps of action for each.
If these three people are helped, when the fourth person comes along with the same problem, the tendency of the exhorter is to not bother to pray about what advice to give him, but, rather, to give him the same counsel that he gave to the other previous three.
However, in this case, his counsel, and advice, proves to be ineffective because it is not the advice and counsel that the Holy Spirit wanted administered.
C. Being Proud of Visible Results
C. Being Proud of Visible Results
When an exhorter gives steps of action, he assumes that they will be carried out.
He bases this expectation on the fact that he has “come alongside” and is working with the person to achieve agreed upon goals.
As spiritual growth becomes visible, it is easy for an exhorter to take personal credit for it.
He may also be tempted to settle for outward conformity rather than true inward change.
D. Starting Projects Prematurely
D. Starting Projects Prematurely
Exhorters tend to jump into new projects without finishing existing ones.
They use projects to motivate others, and then when others are involved, the exhorters find a better project.
After several projects, those who are working on them may become frustrated.
The exhorter, however, sees the projects as simply a means to accomplishing a bigger perspective.
E. Treating People as Projects
E. Treating People as Projects
The exhorter is constantly on the lookout for steps of action which will bring lasting results.
As he works with family and friends, they may get the impression that they are just another counselling project rather than real people who need personal attention.
TENDING TO INTERRUPT OTHERS IN THEIR EAGERNESS TO GIVE OPINIONS OR ADVICE
Exhorters often have much to say, and, while, normally, this may not be a problem, it becomes one when there is an ongoing interchange of conversation and the exhorter tends to interrupt, which can be a source of frustration for others.
BEING OUTSPOKENLY OPINIONATED
The exhorter is always ready to tell others what he thinks – and, while he may not be not as rigidly opinionated as the one who has the Motivational Gift of the Teacher nonetheless, he has strong opinions on the matters of life application that, coupled with a “well-oiled jaw,” make his opinions spill out readily.
F. Sharing Private Illustrations
F. Sharing Private Illustrations
The problem of treating family and friends as “projects” rather than people is made even worse as the exhorter shares private illustrations which came out of his counseling experiences.
Exhorters depend heavily on illustrations to communicate their message.
However when these are used without permission, listeners become uneasy and those who were counseled become resentful.
G. Presenting Truth Out of Balance
G. Presenting Truth Out of Balance
Exhorters tend to avoid heavy doctrinal teaching which does not have immediate practical application.
The result of this emphasis can be an imbalance of teaching which will eventually show up as doctrinal error.
So, the exhorter needs the balance of ministry of teacher.
H. Setting Unrealistic Goals
H. Setting Unrealistic Goals
Exhorters often visualize long-range projects and goals for people.
These are usually presented without reference to the amount of time that will be required to achieve them
Those whom the exhorter motivates assume that the projects and goals will be achieved much sooner than they can be.
This situation raises expectations and breeds disillusionment.
I. Giving Up on Uncooperative People
I. Giving Up on Uncooperative People
Exhorters tend to lose hope with people who do not quickly and consistently respond to the steps of action which are given for spiritual growth.
By surrounding himself with only those who do respond quickly, he loses valuable personal character training and insights which God must then teach in other ways.