Text: Hebrews 10:23-25

• We can change some ones life by encouraging or discouraging them.
  • Illustration Point:  Story of Karen Carpenter. Negative criticism about her weight (“Richard’s chubby sister”), was supposedly the start of what led to a battle with anorexia that eventually claimed her life.
• Let me ask you this question today. Are you an encourager? Do you enjoy encouraging other people?
• Let me give you the punch line at the beginning of the sermon today.
  • If you encourage some one in the church to do something for the Lord, you might be helping them but you are helping the Lord Himself even more.

 

• We all know that the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. If we encourage someone to do something for God we are helping the kingdom of God.
• In this sermon’s text we see that there is only one reason sited here for our gathering together - Exhorting one another or encouraging one another.
• Read the list of the gifts of the spirit in 1Cor 12:7-11 (Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues)
  • Notice that there is no such thing as the gift of encouragement. It is something that is required of us as we gather together. It is what we do for each other on a daily basis.
• The word encourage means: to give courage or confidence; to advise and make it easy for someone to do something.
• What form does encouragement take? It can take many forms. Consider Barnabas, one life in the bible that exemplifies encouragement. See Acts 4:36 - "Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet."
  • The apostles must have seen something in Barnabas that made them give him that name!

 

• Here are some of the things that Barnabas did.
  • 1. He Encouraged with his Finances.
    • Click to Read an Illustration Story
    • Proverbs 11:24-25
    • Barnabas had sold some land that he owned and given the money to the apostles to be distributed to the needy.
    • You say how can I encourage with my finances? Sometimes it doesn’t take a whole lot to make the difference in some one else’s life. If you can give a few dollars to some young person to go on a mission trip or something of that sort do it - it could be a long term investment in their lives.

 

• 2. He Encouraged with Fellowship.
  • Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of the early church and had them tortured and even killed. Then he had a conversion experience . After Saul was converted to Christ, the Scripture says in Acts 9:26 “When he (Saul) came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was really a disciple.”
    Those Christian people were afraid of Paul. They had heard of his persecution of Christians, his murderous ways. They did not believe the stories about his conversion. Acts 9:27 “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Encouragers believe that people can change.
  • Click to read an Illustration Point from our church
  • Barnabas was not only helping Paul but he was helping the whole church of Jesus Christ. Barnabas encouraged the believers to take Paul in and 2/3rds of the New Testament was written!
  • Encouragers see potential in other people and take an interest in them. Sadly today many are interested in what others can do for them and not what they can do for others.
  • Encouragement is no business for those who are insecure. Barnabas could see the potential in Paul and probably knew in his heart that Paul would have a more prominent place in the church than him. But he helped him anyway.

 

• 3. He Encouraged those Who had Failed.
  • Acts 15:36-39  Talks about John Mark who had failed on a previous Missionary journey. Paul refused to take John Mark with him on another and so he took Silas and Barnabas took John Mark.
  • Are we willing to give second chance to those who have failed? We serve the God of the second chance. How many chances has God given you and me?
  • Sometimes failure is the stepping stone to greatness. Guess what?  The gospel according to Mark!
  • Scottish minister, Henry Drummond, once said, “How many prodigals are kept out of the kingdom of God by the unlovely characters of those who profess to be inside.” Do you kick people when they are down? If you find a wounded soldier in God’s kingdom do shoot him or her and put yourself out of your misery or do you try to heal the wounds.
  • Listen to what Paul wrote to Timothy later on. “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” II Tim. 4:11

 

• Let me ask you simply this morning, are you an encourager?
  • If ever people needed encouragement it is today.
  • Encouragement is not only for the church. What about those you work for, or with, or those who might be working for you.
  • Click to read an Illustration Example about Abraham Lincoln
  • Click to read an Illustration Example – Poem
  • William Arthur Ward put it this way:

          Flatter me and I might not believe you.

Criticize and I might not like you

Ignore me and I might not forgive you

Encourage me and I will not forget you.