5 Things For Wednesday - Encouragement

1. God uses encouragement to strengthen us, when we're at the part of our journey where we think He's lost sight of us. #HeSeesYou

2. When the pressure is on you'd better not be hung up on titles/status, because God will use ANYONE He chooses to send you help & encouragement.

3. Some people have no concept of encouragement. They miss the purpose of their ministry call. They're UNDERTAKERS, not UPLIFTERS.

4. You have an opportunity to plant powerful SEEDS of encouragement today. Speak answers kindly. Don't magnify the problem. #GraceWords

5. People are starved for encouragement. The Bible said this would happen in the last days. Be an ENCOURAGER! Criticism takes no effort!

Be A Barnabas

Let's take a look at mentorship in the life of Barnabas. As we look at his life we discover that...

Barnabas was the ideal mentor because he was an ENCOURAGER. 

He was part of the multitude of believers who were of one HEART and of one SOUL (Acts 4:32-35).  

There was a spirit of SHARING among them, but Barnabas was especially noted for his GENEROSITY. (Acts 4:36-37).

His name was Joses, but he was nicknamed “Barnabas” which means “SON OF CONSOLATION.” 

Consolation means “the act of emboldening another in believe or course of action, encouragement, exhortation.”

• Barnabas did something in emboldening others to act in a similar manner.   
• He did something that was an encouragement, a help, an example to the other Christians.
• The apostles were amazed by his spirit and his example and called him the basically “THE ENCOURAGER.”

From Barnabas, we learn that if we are going to mentor others, we must be willing to:

• ENCOURAGE others to and MOTIVATE them to serve the Lord especially with the Word of God.  
  Hebrews 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
  
  
• Set a GOOD EXAMPLE for others to follow. 
  1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
  
  
• GIVE generously of what we have to help others. 
  2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
  
  
• Mentors are willing to TRUST when others won’t.
  
  
• Mentors are willing to TAKE RISKS when others are afraid.
  
  
•  Mentors BELIEVE when others doubt.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

If we are going to mentor and disciple leaders, we must be willing to HELP those that no one else will help, BELIEVE in those that others won’t believe in, and TAKE RISKS on people.

Barnabas sought out and believed in Saul when others did not.

Saul was not trusted by the disciples at Jerusalem (Acts 9:23-26).  Running for his life from the Jews at Damascus, He came to Jerusalem.  But the church there would not let him join them because they were afraid of him and did not believe he was a true disciple.

Barnabas REACHED OUT TO SAUL when no one else would (Acts 9:27-31).  He took a risk and brought Saul to the apostles.  He told them how he had seen the Lord in the way, how the Lord had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached at Damascus in the name of Jesus.  The apostles accepted the word of Barnabas, and Saul was with them COMING IN and GOING OUT at Jerusalem.

From Barnabas, we learn about BELIEVING in people.

Encouragement Is a Shot In The Arm!

All of us desire to be approved, appreciated and affirmed.  Mark Twain expressed how much the affirmation of others meant to him when he said, "One compliment can keep me going for a whole month."

The need to feel appreciated and valued is rooted in our human nature.  Children desire it from their parents.  Parents desire it from their children. Adults desire it from their peers, etc. 

No matter how great, how famous or how successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for affirmation.

It's the need for encouragement that causes us to keep thank you cards, emails and letters of encouragement on file.  We refer to them during challenging or discouraging times.  It is said that Abraham Lincoln used to carry around a newspaper article in his pocket that described him as a great leader.

• Proverbs 12:25 says, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad."

Most leaders that I meet aren't seeking for "the glory of men" their merely like Apostle Paul who was:

• ENCOURAGED by Titus (2 Corinthians 7:6)
• REFRESHED by Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:16-18)
• STRENGTHENED by the brothers from Rome when they came out to welcome him to their city. (Acts 28:15)

I love the Amplified version that says, "When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage."

Encouragement is a shot in the arm!  But what happens when people don't encourage us?  What happens when they don't appreciate our efforts?  Honestly, it's a little disheartening when you've poured your life into someone, only to discover that as soon as you've helped them through their crisis (or crises), they now feel "led" to another church. 

David learned that you can't always count on people to reciprocate your kindness appropriately.

• Psalms 35:12 says, "They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul."

Apostle Paul said, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (2 Corinthians 12:15)

Friends, we all benefit from the encouragement of others, but there has to be something far greater than human response that motivates us or sustains us in our ministry - especially when others do not respond with appreciation or gratitude for what we do.

ANOINT YOUR OWN HEAD WITH OIL!

There was a time in David's life when no one was encouraging him, as a matter of fact, everyone around him wanted to kill him.

• 1 Samuel 30:6 "but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."

Sometimes you just have to talk to yourself!  Of course, make sure you're careful about what you say to you!

Ultimately, people will never be able to meet our deepest needs.  Only GOD can do that.  He is the ultimate rewarder!

I love Paul's words in Hebrews 6:10-12, "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Feel free to enjoy the expressed appreciation that people give you.  However, realize that the accolades of men (or lack thereof) do not constitute your purpose for being or staying in the ministry.

The appreciation of people can give us momentary gratification, but it is the praise and the commendation of God that will give us lasting and eternal satisfaction!

Be encouraged today!  Heaven is cheering you on!  Take that knowledge and give some heaven to others through APPROVAL, APPRECIATION and AFFIRMATION!