Encouragement

Today I'm just gonna talk about something that has been dear to my heart for some time now--encouragement.  The Bible calls it "exhortation."  

I was certain that I knew all there is to know about being a Christian and living the life, at least while other Christians were watching, when I moved from Pearblossom, California to Bullhead City, Arizona.  But while I was in Bullhead City I learned soooo much about living for Christ that I can't add enough "o's" to the word "so." Chuck Kelly one day in church mentioned the importance of encouragement, or Lynda did; someone encouraged me and I got encouraged to be a bigger encourager of others.  (Wow!  That's a lot of encouraging going on!) 

I thought I would share with you some of the scriptures here that talk about exhortation *(encouragement) in the Bible.  Before I do, here’s what the Strong’s Concordance says about the word, exhort.  Greek: ‘parakaleo’ (that’s right, like the paraclete, the Holy Spirit!) 

It can be interpreted thusly:

1) to call to one's side, call for, summon

2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.

a) to admonish, exhort

b) to beg, entreat, beseech

1) to strive to appease by entreaty

c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort

1) to receive consolation, be comforted

d) to encourage, strengthen

e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging

f) to instruct, teach

All of these meanings—you’re doing this when you encourage someone.  Look at the following verses with that in mind:

1 Thessalonians 4:5 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and *urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we *urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

2 Thess. 3:11-12 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and *urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can *encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Hebrews 3:13 But *encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

*(exhort/exhorted)

We talked about quite a few things last night at the Bible study, but one thing that came up was this topic of encouragement.  I was unaware of how many women I had affected with an excitement for fellowship, for church, for Bible study, while going to CCBHC.  

When I got ready to move to Washington, at the last TWIGS meeting (they’re having one tonight—without me!  Sniff) Tami got up and said that I had invited her to come to some fun thing we were doing in service to others, and that it made her a part in a special way. 

Other women went out of their way to tell me what a difference it had made that I had given them a word of encouragement-some at just the right time.  I was blown away by what simple obedience can do!  All I had done is looked for someone to be a blessing to, to speak a word of encouragement to, and God had done so much more.

I encouraged the women last night to look around them while at church for someone they could come alongside and lift up—encourage—in the Lord; someone to mentor, or befriend, or bless with just camaraderie. 

Today, I was taught, reminded, exhorted! and blessed by God in discovering another truth I had neglected to mention last night. 

When you serve God this way, YOU end up getting the most encouragement of all!

Today at work a lady called and said she could use a food box.  Because she is on crutches and isn’t supposed to drive, I told her I would bring her one.  I could sense she was someone about my age, who sounded lonely, lives alone most of the time, and was discouraged. 

I had fun putting together a box that would make sure she’d have a couple of meals she could make up, and some canned goods, some staples, eggs, and some fresh produce.  I put it all in the car and went over to her house.

She was blessed!  I helped her unpack everything and put it on the counter so she could see what she had.  She was so happy with the food, but I also had a few books someone had given me (I gave up my predilection for crime novels a while back) and since I saw she was a reader, I offered these to her as well.  Then I sat down and we chatted a few minutes.  She told me about her family and I told her about mine, and then I asked if I could pray for her. 

I could sense the joy building in my spirit as I spent time with her.   I walked out of that house on cloud nine!  It was amazing!  I totally get why Jesus would say, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”  It was that satisfying!  The challenge is, be an encourager.  In the end, the biggest winner is going to be yourself. 

Samaritan Harvest

John 4:39-42

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."  So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.  And because of his words many more became believers.  They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." 

Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman He had met at the well.  Her testimony caused them to look to Jesus.  This verse made me think about my own testimony.  Does what I say and do make others want to listen to Jesus?  She told her experience and they believed.  Do I tell others what Jesus is doing in my life?  The woman told what she’d seen and heard.  She wasn’t taught seven easy steps to evangelism, she just told her story.  She wasn’t eloquent, she wasn’t a seasoned speaker, but she gave her testimony—her witness—of Jesus. 

Part of the meaning of the word believed is ‘persuaded.’  They were persuaded that what she said was the truth, which made them listen to His words. 

Warren Wiersbe said of her testimony “she was a fruitful believer.  “Many believed” and then “many more believed.”  She continues to bear fruit today—no one knows how many have come to faith because of her witness recorded in John 4.”

Then they asked Him to stay with them, and He did.  Jesus always accepts our hospitality!  He delights in spending time with us, in fellowship with us.  That’s what we were created to do.  In the garden, Adam walked with God in the cool of the evening, but that fellowship was broken by his sin against God.  Jesus made a new path for relationship with God through Himself.  Have you ever invited Jesus to fellowship with you?  Apparently few of us do—even in the church!  Jesus calls out at the door. 

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

-- Revelation 3:20

Have you answered the door?  The Samaritans did, and now they believed for themselves.  What a joyful proclamation!  They became excited about their new faith in Jesus. 

When we’re raising our children we give them rules and discipline them.  We want them to learn how to obey without being told; the disciplines that we are teaching them will benefit them.  The ultimate goal is to teach them how to obey the rules or disciplines on their own—to use the things they’ve learned so they will live productive and contented lives.  In the same way we bring our children to church and teach them about God, so they can become disciplined to live a life of faith.  We want them to have their own belief in God.  We want them to become excited about their faith, just as these Samaritans did.

Jesus doesn’t have any grandchildren!  Everyone needs to believe for themselves.  It’s not easy to discipline children, especially as they become teens.  It can become downright unpleasant (I speak from experience!) but we cling to the promises in God’s word:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  -- Hebrews 12:11

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.  – Proverbs 22:6

The Samaritans had heard the words of Jesus, and now believed Him because they’d heard for themselves.  We want our own children to hear for themselves too. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  --Romans 10:17

Am I making sure my family hears God’s word?  Do I give them opportunities to hear about God?  They need their own faith!  Jesus told the Pharisees, “My sheep hear My voice;” we want our progeny to hear His voice and gain understanding on their own.   We need to be faithful, then, to present Jesus to our children and grandchildren, sharing what He is doing in our lives.  I don’t pray often enough for my kids and grandkids, my niece and nephew, and the kids I know.  This challenges me to tell about the faith I have learned over years, and share Who Jesus is in my life today.  It challenges me to pray fervently for their hearts to know Him, to recognize Him and hear His voice. 

Rather than become discouraged about what I’ve not been doing, I’m focusing on changing what I can do now—praying and believing God will work.  How about you?  Maybe you didn’t know Christ when you were raising children.  Maybe you’ve made mistakes in parenting, and left out the things which might have made for faith in your children’s lives.  God knows and forgives!  Begin now to pray for your kids and the other children in your life.  Don’t let the fact of past lapses make you stagnant in your mission now. 

Dear Abba,

Forgive me!  I forget to pray for my niece, nephew, kids and grand kids.  I forget to pray for the children I know.  Help me to be a faithful pray-er and to lay that foundation for future faith in their lives.

Help me to be a good witness of You to everyone I meet, especially the kids in my life.  Help me to remember to pray for them often, and to talk to them about the faith You’ve given me, and what You’ve done for me.  Let me be a witness of Your love and grace to them through my words and actions.

Your Child,

Donna

True Worshippers

Mt. Gerazim, Isael

John 4:13-26

Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst--but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." 

The last blog post on John ended with these verses—Jesus telling the woman at the Samaritan well that He could give her “living water.”  He meant that He could fill her up to overflowing with a living stream of life-giving Spirit that would supernaturally bless her life.  She didn’t understand this.   

The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 

She was at the well later in the day, which indicates that she was avoiding the company of the women who usually drew water earlier.  If I were in her position, I would have done the same.  She didn’t need to hear the whispers, the tittering behind the hands, see the sly glances and feel their snubs.  But it must have been hard, not having any real friends among the women of the town.  Was she lonely?  Did she miss female companionship?   

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 

The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."

Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband, in that you spoke truly."

The conversation took a downward turn here.  Now Jesus is touching the heart of her problems.  He forces the issue, and she admits her sin.  Wiersbe notes that this is the shortest statement the woman makes, “I have no husband” (4:17) and notes that before she could come to be converted she had to be convicted of her sin.  I notice a new tone to the conversation now—before she seemed almost flirtatious with Jesus; now she is more honest.      

The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

Have you ever tried to talk to someone about the gospel, and have had them throw out this kind of ‘red herring’?  She’s changing the subject, isn’t she?  Maybe you’ve been there—rather than talk about the real issue, have you been avoiding the topic altogether by bringing up less important ones?

The Samaritans were regarded as half-breeds, and they had been worshipping false gods.  A famine in the land forced them to look to the Jews for help.  They were introduced to the God of Jacob, but merely incorporated Him into their false religion.  Wikipedia explains-

The mountain is sacred to the Samaritans who regard it, rather than Jerusalem's Temple Mount, as having been the location chosen by Yahweh for a holy temple. The mountain continues to be the centre of Samaritan religion to this day, and over 90% of the worldwide populations of Samaritans live in very close proximity to Gerizim, mostly in Kiryat Luza, the main village. The Passover is celebrated by the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim, and it is additionally considered by them as the location of the near-sacrifice of Isaac (the Masoretic and Septuagint versions of Genesis state that this happened on Mount Moriah which Jews traditionally identify as the Temple Mount).  According to classical rabbinical sources, in order to convert to Judaism, a Samaritan must first and foremost renounce any belief in the sanctity of Mount Gerizim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gerizim

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

"You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 

Jesus explained that the significance of one mountain or another was nothing compared to the importance of personal worship.

I love how Jesus steps past our personal boundaries, our trite arguments and our petty bureaucracies, right into the seat of the issue we avoid.  The woman was not likely interested in how Jews worship.  She probably had little to do with Sabbath in the first place, for the same reason she avoided the well in the morning.  But Jesus told her “God is looking for people who will worship Him truly.” 

God wants us to worship Him.  He wants to be worshipped in a specific way.  He outlines the ways He wants to be worshipped in His word.  We sometimes ignore His word so that we can stay in our comfort zones and do worship our own way.

He wants to be worshipped in the Spirit. 

If you don’t have the Spirit of God, you can’t properly worship God.

The Spirit of God works like a lamp in our souls (Proverbs 20:27) allowing God to search our hearts. 

When you have the Holy Spirit in you God is able to communicate with you, and you are able to communicate with Him.  Without His Spirit, you wouldn’t be able to reach Him. 

Have you ever left church and said to yourself, “I didn’t get much out of worship today.”  I’ve done that.  I’m coming to realize that worship is not about me at all.  It’s about honoring God.  When was the last time you went to church with this in mind? 

I can guess the woman here didn’t much really care about religion, but if she could get Jesus into a debate about the Mt. Moriah (the temple mount) vs. Mt. Gerazim, she could avoid talking about her real problems.

But Jesus doesn’t make it easy.  He doesn’t let us off the hook, either.  If there are issues in your life that need to be addressed, let Him deal with them.  Offer them up as a matter of worship, and let Him take them. 

The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."  Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."   

There are only a few times in scripture when Jesus overtly claims to be the Messiah.  This is one of them.  Others are found in Mark 8 (when Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”) and when He proclaims Himself to the high priest in Mark 16:62; Martha professes Him to be the Messiah in Luke chapter eleven, and He answers Pilate in the affirmative when asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:2.)

We are all so lost without Him, but God made a way for us to be able to worship Him.  He stooped down to us, because He loved us.  How amazing is our God!  Are you a true worshipper?

Dear Abba,

Thank You for making it possible that I might have a relationship with You.  You went waaaay out of Your way to save me, and I have never given You anywhere near the reciprocal amount of attention.  Lord, I’m sorry.  Help me to love and worship You the way You deserve.  Make me able to worship You in Spirit and in truth.

Your Child,

Donna

Good Things

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory—no good thing will He withhold to those who walk uprightly.

The Life of the Upright

This is a promise with a condition.  If I walk uprightly, He doesn’t withhold anything good from me.  What I think would be good and what He thinks is good are often two different things!  But He’s always right, so I try to always let Him pick for me.

What does it mean to walk uprightly?  The word translated “uprightly” here means complete, sound, healthfully.  Walking uprightly means to live a life that is godly: sound faith, strong enough to stand against life’s tough stuff.    

People sometimes get confused about what faith is about.  Some people would identify having faith with going to church and doing “Christian” activities.  I think it’s more than that.  You can talk the lingo, but that doesn’t make you a Christian.  You can go to church, but that doesn’t make you a Christian.  You can obey the authorities, pay your bills, vote Republican, and keep your house clean (it’s not really next to godliness, but it is more pleasant than keeping it a pigsty!) but these don’t make you ready for heaven.  Being nice and being clean aren’t prerequisites.  Being godly means you’re God’s.  Peter says that Jesus paid the price for us:

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19.)

God says of His people, “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1.)  We are His because He bought us with the blood of Jesus on the cross.  Before that, we belonged to the devil—our father Adam sold us into slavery unwittingly when he chose to eat the forbidden fruit in the garden.  But now we’ve been redeemed from our “aimless way of life,” and have the opportunity to live for God.

What defines you as God’s?  If you belong to Christ, if you desire the things of God; you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead; and have asked Him to be Savior and Lord of your life and really meant it; if you have experienced the peace with God and the Spirit of God guiding and directing you; if you believe He is coming again, and have the hope of heaven, you are God’s. 

If you have never gone to church, never read the Bible, never been baptized, and never prayed in public, you can still be a Christian.  You may not be a very rich (spiritually) Christian, but you are still a Christian.  The criminal that hung next to Jesus never did any of those things, yet Jesus said to him, “Today you shall be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43.)

Good Things

This scripture reminds me of times in my life when I had a need for something “good.”  I thought of this scripture when I needed a car—we’d been driving my brother-in-law’s old truck, but when the engine began to act up and spit and sputter, and I had to nurse it home from work one day, we took it to the mechanic and spent $600 dollars in vain.  It would cost more than I was willing to spend to get that truck in good working condition.  My husband wasn’t a “handy” guy.  As far as we were concerned, it was a lost cause.  So I started looking into buying another car.

I had never purchased a car from a dealer before, and was a little worried that I might not qualify for a loan, but I spent some time before the Lord in prayer, and He directed me to this verse.  I decided that He was making me a promise, and held on to it with all my heart—nothing good would be withheld. 

As it turned out, I found “the car” and had no problem getting the loan.  I had that car for about five years, and sold it to a good friend who will probably drive it for another five years.  It’s a good thing.  (I even named her “Buena Cosa” which is Spanish for “good thing.”)

Jesus talked about our earthly fathers—that they know how to give us good gifts.  Here’s the scripture:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13.)

How much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.  Didn’t think to ask for that, did you?  Didn’t know you could! 

We ask for much, don’t we?  But sometimes we don’t get what we ask for.  Sometimes we ask for the wrong reasons, from the wrong motive.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures (James 4:3.)

I need to be sure I’m asking Him for what is good, truly good, for me.  I need to make sure I’m asking for what is healthy for me, especially spiritually.  I’ve got to stop asking for things that are going to make my relationship with Him more difficult—things that would hinder, not help.  And not just ask for “stuff.”  (He’s not Santa, after all!) 

I want to remember to ask Him for others to come into the Kingdom.  I want to ask for healing for my neighbor.  I want to ask for an extra measure of the Spirit so I can live a godly life.  I want to ask for wisdom and for more love for others.  These are prayers God runs to answer!  These are the “goods” I really want!

Dear Abba,

You are so good to give me what is best for me.  Thank you that You give me of Your Holy Spirit, so that I can choose what is good.

Help me to look to You first to see what You want for me.  Lord, You always pick what’s best. 

Love,

Donna

Grace and Glory

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory—no good thing will He withhold to those who walk uprightly.

Yesterday I blogged about how God is a sun and shield—He provides for me, gives me light and energy, and protects me.  Today is about the grace and glory He gives me—and you.

He Gives His Grace

When I consider the idea of grace—God’s favor directed at me, who in no way deserves it, I think of Ephesians 2:8:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God

The Lord gives grace—unmerited favor—to undeserving folk like myself.  He graciously looked past my sin and invited me to be His child.  This allowed me to be forgiven and then, through the cross, saved.  Through Jesus came the grace that led to eternal life:

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (Luke 1:17.)

Grace came to me because I agreed with God (confessed) that I needed a Savior.  I had to admit my need.  That can be difficult—the ego gets in the way.  But God, says James, gives grace to the humble.  James is quoting Proverbs: 

Proverbs 3:24 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.  Footnote: * Or grace

I didn’t deserve it and I didn’t earn it.  Paul tells the Romans:

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace (Romans 11: 6.)

I couldn’t earn it if I wanted to.  If I worked for it, it wouldn't be grace.  But we can’t be content to just enjoy God’s favor.  We do need to "work out our salvation (Philippians 2.)  We need to grow in Christ. 

But grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. --2 Peter 3:18

How would God have us to grow?

By speaking the truth in love we grow up in all things in Christ, who is the head (Ephesians 4:15.)

We need to crave spiritual things, especially to know the Word:

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2.)

Jesus asked that God would make us holy—sanctified:

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17.)

So we must desire the pure milk of the Word of God, growing up into Christ.  We speak the truth of Jesus, we learn in His Word, and as we do, we are made pure (sanctified) by the Word.  The process of growing up in grace leads to receiving more and more of God’s favor.  

He Gives His Glory

I’ve been “in the Lord” (a Christian in practice) for quite a few years now, and I find that God gifts me with His favor as I continue to live out my faith in Him.  He gives me a little of His glory.  It can’t be helped—as I spend time with Him, His glory rubs off on me.  That’s what happened to Moses (see Genesis 34.)  His face shone from being in the presence of God.


David said God was in his life “a shield for me; my glory.”  God’s grace shows on us, just like it did on Moses.  God uses this glory to bind us together.  It’s like a badge or seal.  We can see it on each other’s faces. 

I met my friend Darlene in a coffee shop where she is a waitress.  I could tell by her demeanor that she was a Christian.  Jesus shined in her! 

 

Jesus specifically asked the Father to give us His glory, so that we would be made one. 

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17:22.)

Several scriptures point to this glory of God on our lives:

We fall short of God’s glory, so that’s why we need Him-

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

As we come to Him in our need, we become His servants, vessels of His, used to display the riches of His mercy so that Jesus will receive glory-

And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, (Romans 9:23.)

Because we’re His, God supplies our every need through His glory-

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19.)

Many “sons” (and daughters!) will be brought to glory-

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10.)

When we are wise (come to God and receive eternal life) we get an inheritance of glory, not shame-

                                 

The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools (Proverbs 3:35.)

And when we share our faith, others can become our glory-

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and our joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.)

Instead of bragging about (glorying in) sin and the shameful things we once did when we didn’t know our Lord and Savior, we now glory in (brag about) Him!

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that as it is written, "He who glories let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31.)

Church family, let us seek the Lord.  Let us rely on His grace.  Let us glory in Him, and let His glory shine on, and in our hearts.  David wrote of us in Psalm 34:5-

They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.

You don't have to be ashamed.  You don't have to live like the devil.  He tells us there is no way out, but he's a liar and can't be trusted.  Instead, I hope that you will, with me, look to Him and find His favor, His grace, and then become radiant with His love, shining His glory to others.

Dear Abba,

Thank you for the grace and the glory You give as I walk with You.  Thank you for everything that You allow in my life that brings me closer to You.  I ask for more of Your Spirit, that I might honor You more in my life, bringing You more glory.

Love, Your Daughter,

Donna