Are You a Godly Encourager? -Part 2

In my last blog post I shared that I would write a follow-up article after the women’s conference I attended over the weekend. Let me simply say the fire of the Holy Ghost was in the house through all the speakers. The teaching, preaching, worship, and interpretive dance were all amazing. Now let's move forward.

Keep in mind the theme scripture was “⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”. (Galatians 6:9,10 NKJ)

Below, you will find seven key points that was shared from both speakers to help you with the journey Jesus has you on. I also added a few of my own thoughts. This is not in-depth, simply an overview of what was shared by each speaker.

  “In Due Time/Season, It Will Be OK!” -  v9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

 This means eventually at the right time, the appropriate time, God's time.

 Even though we don't see it God it's working.

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJ)

 We don't have to see it right away to believe - have faith and hope.

”Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

 What can you do while we're waiting for your “due season?”

 Wait - We must learn to do better in waiting. We must learn not to complain so much.

·       When we accept God's timing it leads to hope.

·      Live in hope while God is working. Hope fuels our journey.

·      You can't do the “God thing” without God.

·       In the Hebrew, the word “wait” paints the picture of being like a waiter/waitress. While we're waiting for the full order we are still serving.

     Keep Moving and Doing - while you're waiting.

·     The wilderness is not a negative place, it is a place of preparation. (That’s another separate teaching.)

·      Be willing to go through the process. None of use like the word process, but it’s part of the preparation.

Have An Expectation

·      It doesn't matter how many naysayers there are, keep believing and expecting.

·    When you go to church (every week) - go expecting. Expect a move of God.

·   When you live in expectation you are stronger at holding on to hope.

·    If God said it, believe it.

Don't Birth It on Your Own

·       In other words, don’t try to force it or do it in your flesh, your own strength.

·      When God does it, He gets the glory, and you will be able to be able to say, “I overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of my testimony.”  (Revelation 12:11 NKJ)

·       God has already provided everything you need.

·       Keep trusting God!

The Household of Faith – v10

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

 What is significant about “the household of faith?” Here are a few points to consider how we walk this journey in a balanced way.

Good to All - What does this phrase mean?

·       It's pretty simple…  While we're to be good to the homeless, the addict, or those facing financial hardship outside of the church. We cannot do so to the exclusion of the local church fellowship.

·    Some ministries get so caught up in doing their “good works” that they forget to take care of their local church family.

·   The church family is the priority because when God brings the harvest of the broken and lost to us, we need to be healed, prepared and ready.

·   Some people do things to look good but with the wrong spirit.

·    It is important when we gather for various church services or study groups during the week. Christianity is relational not individual. Too many have become accustomed to watching live streams or YouTube sermons instead of gathering with the church family.

·   You can’t encourage others or be encouraged and build relationships by staying home.

-Be in the House not on the couch-

 Count The Cost

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:2 NKJ)

·     Some want their due season to be easy, without meeting the biblical conditions.

 Take a moment look at two verses above our main text. Let's read – “⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7,8 NKJ)

·       To get your due, you gotta do. (Smile)

·       You will reap what you what you sow.

·  Know whose side you're on. Are you really living for the Kingdom of God or are you just trying to look good? Are you live for self or for God?

·  We must have an attitude of “by any means necessary.”

What does that phrase mean? It means do what you gotta do. Make up your mind that you're going to always live for God, no matter what.

·    Be the same person at home that you are at church don't wear a mask.

·    Sometimes it will mean changing the crowd to run with. If you have friends that turn you away from God, they're not real friends.

 Allow me to clarify that statement. We still need to be available to the lost to minister to them. But that is not where we should get our fellowship and our counsel.

 Yes, Jesus hung out with sinners. But He didn't change, they did. Think about it, are you being influenced in worldly ways or are you influencing people for the Kingdom of God?

 It's time to take a stand and count the cost.

 Wow! How do you end something like this?

 Hopefully, this has encouraged you and challenged you at the same time. Keep believing for the manifestation of your “due season” while at the same time being who you need to be in the House of God. Be consistent while you’re waiting.

There is hope beyond where you are! God sees us differently than we see us. He has planted good things in us, and they will be harvested at the right time. We just need to keep being watered by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God every day and stay in fellowship with the family of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are You a Godly Encourager?

 

Between devotional reading and my own private meditations, I've been pursuing a deeper understanding of the love of God for my life personally and in the body of Christ. All the chaos and division going on in the world seems to be affecting the church as well.

I am attending a women's conference this weekend and the theme scripture is Galatians 6:9,10 which says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  (NKJ)

Before I jump in to discussing the parts of the scripture that I highlighted let me just say this. This will be part one of this blog and after the conference when I review everything from each speaker, then I will pull together Part two. You might be thinking, why is there a need for it to be two parts?

I have two thoughts on that. First, it will be intriguing to see the confirmations that are shared. Then, not only the confirmations but the different perspectives that they will share from. I have a suspicion of what their emphasis will be.  I am sure we will all be encouraged!

When I first read this verse, something began to stir in me. I decided to read it in the Amplified Version. (AMPC) Wow! Talk some extra stirring taking place! Here is how it reads:

⁹And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

¹⁰ So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. (Emphasis mine)

 

If I had the space here, I would break down both verses phrase by phrase. For now, let’s take a few minutes to look at the highlighted words

 Weary - Many today are growing weary of pursuing their personal vision or the ways of the godly living in general. There’s no need to belabor this word because I think we all understand the idea of being weary. Here the apostle Paul is encouraging us to simply to not give up but to keep pressing on. We all need to be reminded occasionally.

Nobly - In the Merriam-Webster dictionary – “Characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals: lofty – Synonyms: Magnanimously, uprightly.

·         Let's capsulize that definition by simply saying “superior character” - toward others. Hmmm, is my character superior, ideal, upright?

 Courage - The definition here is - Fearlessness when facing change or a difficult situation, following difficult instructions. 

·         Obeying God's Word is not always easy, Necessary if we are going to endure to the end.

·         How quickly do we respond when God leads us when to encourage another person with their gift or calling? Especially when that doesn't make sense remember obedience doesn't require understanding. Simply obey.

 To All People - We don't need a dictionary definition for this phrase. I believe the challenge here is will we encourage anyone with their gift or calling? Not just family or somebody we especially like. It might be somebody in our church family we don't know that well or that we don't particularly like. Are you ready to encourage anyone?

·         That sentence goes on to say to do what is “good and profitable” for them. That might mean taking him to lunch, helping them do some sort of task, helping meet a financial need, etc. But the next phrase I highlighted takes us a bit deeper.

 Spiritual Good and Advantage – Hmmm, so we're also to encourage people for their spiritual good. What does that mean? How can we do that?

·         For those are not believers yet, we should do all that we can to be a witness, ready to share the Hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

·         But notice it says, “especially for those in the household of faith.” When you see someone in your church family or even in another church attempting to reach out to the community, to the lost, nursing home ministry, ministries within the church… We are to encourage and support them in every way that we can. Our pastors also need our encouragement. Being a pastor is not easy. It’s not a job, it’s a calling.

·         There is no room for jealousy and competition in the body of Christ. We must have a mindset that we're all in this thing together. It's not about a church or denomination. It's about the Kingdom of God.

·         It's not even about us in our little four walls of our church. It's reaching the broken, hurting, and lost that surround us to facilitate revival on the land.

 I'm going to attempt to wrap this up right now because it's already too long. Let me just share that on a personal note I have recently been challenged as I have watched brothers and sisters in Christ in other cities come together with believers from various backgrounds to reach their community for the glory of God. They have seen numerous souls be saved, healed delivered, restored, and rededicate their lives to Jesus.

One of my prayers for my local community and the surrounding area is that denominational and racial barriers would be broken down so that the world can truly see the fruit of the scripture that says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 NKJ)

 Before ending with the partial lyrics from a famous song I'm going to ask the question that I asked in the beginning… Are you a Godly encourager?

 “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord /We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord/ And we pray that our unity may one day be restored /And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love/Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.” **

 

**	© 1966, F.E.L. Publications, assigned to The Lorenz Corp, 1991