Encouragement's End

There are many goals of encouragement in our everyday lives. They all come from a motivation for the gold of the person we’re encouraging. If not, it is best a charade and at worst a means of coercion or control. So the good that we want for others ends up playing a role in our encouraging them. Why do you cheer on a toddler when she takes a first step, but not when she is 9? It is because the goals of a parent for a child is to see them achieve smaller goals that will be needed to achieve larger ones. If our children stoped at recognizing their letters and numbers, we would be concerned that something was wrong because we know a larger goal that is attainable and that is necessary for this life.

We cannot know the goal of encouragement until we know the goal of our existence. If the goal of our existence is for self, that’s the goal of our encouragement. If the goal, the end, of our existence is in God that will have very little overlapping areas of encouragement. You WILL have a goal in your encouragement, but are you aware what that goal is?

So too are the goals for our encouraging one another in this life. We will take a look at the ultimate goals of encouragement in this world and some of the

Goals

2 Peter 2:8 - being fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

Jude:

1 John 5:5 - overcoming the world (only those who believe Jesus is the son of God will)

3 John 11 - support whoever is from God (those that do good)

Jude 21 - eternal life (Received through mercy that waited upon while keeping in God’s love)

Ultimate Goal of encouragement in this world - Growing in Christ - Ephesians 4:15-16

Chief End of Man: Glorify God and enjoy him forever

V.16 Does it's work - metron (measured)

Beyond Us - Ephesians 1:10

Ephesians 1:10 ESV

as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

LPromoted by this world

self-affirmed pleasure

feelings

Barriers

Satan - put on the full armor (Eph 6:10-20)

Need Knowledge

Leads to hope Ephesians 1:16-23

Only through grace - Ephesians 2:4-10

Need Inner Strength

Ephesians 3:14-21

Intro

worlds encouragement vs christian

setup of Ephesians

context of Chapter 4 is the unity of the body of Christ based on loving him (chapter 3)

Goals of Christian Encouragement:

Planted (v14)

Challenges are Certain

not ignoring reality

Depth of knowledge is required

Progressing (v15)

yes, we are to be progressive, but not kind of progressive

Occurs through speech

already addressed actions in v12 “works of service”

‘Truth speaking’ Both truth & love are required

Eph 5:19

Ephesians 5:19 ESV

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Whole Growth

same word used in 1 Cor 3:6 - “God gave the growth”

Can be very challenging

kids: parents are teaching you to be grown up

Clear direction

We have a clear picture of who Christ is - the only one to have “Glorified God and enjoy him forever”

We also have a clear direction given by Christ

Missed Marks

Wayne Gretsky” you miss 100% of the shots you never take

Performing (v16)

According to Plan

passive - God is the one joining and holding

‘does it’s work’ (NIV) / ‘working properly’ (ESV) -

literally according to measure (metron)

the capacity of what it’s supposed to be - measure of … Christ (v12) /

Shared effort

Put together - joints / ligaments

Characterized by love

known by one another and seen by the world around us

Application

Seek Maturity (Do you want to be grown-up?)

you haven’t arrived yet

Encourage towards Christ

what effect are you hoping your encouragement to have?

Love your family well

Conclusion

since the beginning, encouragement has been part of the human experience. Whether it was the tower of Babel, the or within the Peoples Republic of China, encouragement will always be utilized to build and progress. As believers, we are called to fix our eyes on the Savior and encourage one another until we see him face to face. May our encouragement be useful and affective in the life of the body.

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