The Power of Encouragement

1
The Power of Encouragement

• Hebrews 1024-25

Sunday, February 27, 2011 Jim Beasley
2
The Power of Encouragement

• Hebrews 1024-25
• And let us consider how we may spur one another
  on toward love and good deeds, not giving up
  meeting together, as some are in the habit of
  doing, but encouraging one anotherand all the
  more as you see the Day approaching.

3
The Power of Encouragement

• Hebrews 1024-25

Sunday, February 27, 2011 Jim Beasley
4
What Is Encouragement?

• What does the word encourage mean?
• To encourage means to come along side of.
• John 1416
• And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
  another advocate to help you and be with you
  forever
• John 1426
• But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the
  Father will send in my name, will teach you all
  things and will remind you of everything I have
  said to you.

5
What Is Encouragement?

• Examples of encouragers
• Barnabas was known as the son of encouragement
• Acts 436
• Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles
  called Barnabas (which means son of
  encouragement),
• Jesus
• Luke 181
• "One day Jesus told His disciples a story to
  illustrate their need for constant prayer and to
  show them that they must never give up."

6
What Is Encouragement?

• Examples of encouragers
• Isaiah
• Isaiah 353
• "With this news, strengthen those who have tired
  hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
• Isaiah 416
• "They encourage one another with the words, "Be
  strong!"
• Hosea
• Hosea 63
• Let us acknowledge the LORD  let us press on to
  acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he
  will appear he will come to us like the winter
  rains, like the spring rains that water the
  earth.

7
How Do We Encourage Others?

• Get in the game with them.
• Acts 1536 39
• (NIV) Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, Let
  us go back and visit the believers in all the
  towns where we preached the word of the Lord and
  see how they are doing. 37 Barnabas wanted to
  take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but
  Paul did not think it wise to take him, because
  he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not
  continued with them in the work. 39 They had such
  a sharp disagreement that they parted company.
  Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

8
How Do We Encourage Others?

• Get in the game with them.
• 2 Timothy 49-11
• Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas,
  because he loved this world, has deserted me and
  has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to
  Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with
  me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he
  is helpful to me in my ministry.

9
How Do We Encourage Others?

• Display a positive attitude.
• Instill faith in others.

10
Why Do We Encourage Others?

• To keep the fainthearted from quitting.
• 1 Thessalonians 513-14
• Get along among yourselves, each of you doing
  your part. Our counsel is that you warn the
  freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage
  the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted,
  pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each
  person, attentive to individual needs. And be
  careful that when you get on each other's nerves
  you don't snap at each other. Look for the best
  in each other, and always do your best to bring
  it out. (The Message)
• Acts 1122 23
• When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this,
  they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things.
  As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind
  and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got
  behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest
  of their lives. He was a good man that way,
  enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's
  ways. The community grew large and strong in the
  Master.

11
Why Do We Encourage Others?

• To draw out potential in others.
• Joshua (Deuteronomy 137-39)
• John Mark (Acts 1536-39) 2 Timothy 411
• To help people see God in the tough times.
• James 12-4
• My brothers and sisters, when you have many
  kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, 3
  because you know that these troubles test your
  faith, and this will give you patience.4 Let your
  patience show itself perfectly in what you do.
  Then you will be perfect and complete and will
  have everything you need. (NCV)
• Romans 828
• And we know that in all things God works for the
  good of those who love him, who have been called
  according to his purpose.

12
Why Do We Encourage Others?

• To strengthen others.
• Philippians 114
• And because of my chains, most of the brothers
  and sisters have become confident in the Lord and
  dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without
  fear.
• Proverbs 2717
• As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens
  another.

13
Why Do We Encourage Others?

• To strengthen the church community
• Hebrews 1024-25
• And let us consider how we may spur one another
  on toward love and good deeds, not giving up
  meeting together, as some are in the habit of
  doing, but encouraging one anotherand all the
  more as you see the Day approaching.