Encouragement: The Context for Change

Review

Our words are the tools we must use to encourage others.

From two weeks ago: Encouragement is:

From a heart of love

Directed at the fears of others

This means that the goal of our words to others must not be self-interested. What we say must be

For the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

For the building-up of others, Eph. 4:29

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

A Question - What Changes People?

Of course, the Holy Spirit is the efficient cause (the one Who actually produces the change). That’s not the question; rather, the question has to do with what the Holy Spirit normally uses to change other people.

The Holy Spirit uses the truth of the Word of God to change people, spoken by a “preacher” to change people. God uses means, Rom. 10:13-15.

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

So, this seems simple enough, right? Take the truth of God, and preach it so that people hear.

However, it is not that simple. Not only are we to speak the truth; we are to speak the truth in love, Eph. 4:15.

The Holy Spirit is not bound to any means. Yet, the means which He uses—and even commands us to use—is truth through love.

In order to be a catalyst of the truth of God for change in others’ lives, we must love other people.

More than that, the whole community must be characterized by the “truth in love”.

We’ll see first what truth looks like without love, then we’ll see what truth looks like with love.

Truth without Love

If we speak the truth to someone without love, or even if the context / culture of the church is not one of love, then we are placing stumbling blocks in front of others.

Truth spoken to someone’s layers.

This leads to:

Conformity, or

Complacency, or

Callousness

That’s not to say that the Holy Spirit cannot use the truth here; it simply means that He doesn’t promise to own this means. Christ has promised to build His church, and it will happen. See Php. 1:15-18, where Paul talks about preachers who preach the gospel without a heart of love:

Philippians 1:15–18 ESV

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

However, we should fear the Lord, and seek to keep His commands.

Truth with Love

If we speak the truth to someone with love, when there is a context / culture of the church that is one of love, then we are being faithful to obey the commands of Christ.

Truth spoken through someone’s layers, addressing someone’s fears.

This leads to:

Growth, or

Rebellion

The Lord is sovereign over the responses to our preaching the gospel. What is our responsibility? To be obedient. It is not in our power to change people; it is in our power to obey Christ. We must obey Christ and trust Him with the results.

“But isn’t all this just for preachers?”

No! We all must “preach.”

What is preaching? At root, preaching is proclaiming or heralding the truth in love. This is something every believer must do at a basic level.

Yes, there is a kind of preaching that only pastors do, when they address the church on the Lord’s Day in public worship.

But we all must preach Christ to one another. 1 Pet. 2:9 is addressed to all believers:

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In the context, Peter is speaking about proclaiming these things to outsiders.

But an argument may be made from the lesser to the greater; if we are to proclaim His excellencies to unbelievers, how much more are we to proclaim them to fellow believers? Gal. 6:10

Galatians 6:10 ESV

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.