Power Of Encouragement

Key Scripture:  “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”  Ephesians 4:29, The Message

Power Point:

     Picture, if you will, a group of friends sitting around a campfire. As night approaches they decide to sleep in shifts so that the fire will not go out completely.  It’s not an easy task. The guardian of the flame will get sleepy and will be tempted to “go to sleep on the job”. If he does that, the fire will go out and the wolves may come in to kill and destroy. They have to stay awake or others might perish.

     As I think about that, I see that there are times when we are the ones who need to sleep while others watch out for us.  And sometimes we are the ones who need to be the “guardians” of the flame. We have to keep it stirred up so that we can stay safe.

     Our command to encourage one another is the tool God gives us through the body of Christ, to keep our faith stirred up when the night comes.  Encouragement is the power of God to keep the enemy away. It changes everything. 

     Years ago I saw a movie about FDR. He was in a very bad place and he wanted everyone to join in on his pity party. His therapist looked him in the eye and said, “Franklin I can either get in the pit with you or I can pull you out.” That’s the job of the encourager.  They are to keep the flame of faith burning so that the one who is in danger can see the light at the top of their pit and climb out. Encouragers refuse to dwell on how dark and how deep the pit is and instead they let down a lifeline of light and Truth that will set the captives free. The word for “encouragement” means to strengthen, to make firm, and to support. Words of encouragement are always to strengthen us in the Lord.  They are not to focus on where we are but to where He is taking us.

     Our words are to paint of picture of hope and a future full of good things that God has planned for us.  It’s faith that gets us up and out of the pit, not sympathy. Encouragers nourish faith.

     Do you remember when Elijah was so depressed that he wanted to kill himself? The story is in I Kings 19. It’s a powerful testimony of how God encourages His children.

      Elijah has performed a tremendous miracle. But then he hears that Jezebel is out to kill him. He’s totally spent, discouraged and disheartened. He runs in the opposite direction and falls asleep. An angel awakens him with an offering of freshly baked heavenly bread. He eats and drinks and sleeps. Again the angel wakens him and says, “Arise and eat for the journey is too great for you.” He went in the strength of that heavenly food 40 days and 40 nights straight to the mountain of God. God first strengthened him physically and then he strengthened him spiritually. Not until that was accomplished did He speak to Elijah. His only words are, “What are you doing here Elijah?”

You may be an angel with a loaf of heavenly bread cooked on the flames of that fire right in front of you. You may be the strengthener that enables someone to run to the mountain of God and be strengthened in the Lord. You can’t run the race for them but you can offer them strength along the way. The angels directed Elijah to the presence of God. That should always be our goal as encouragers.

     Maybe you know someone today who needs a bit of encouragement to get back into the race. Stir up the flames of faith, give them the Bread Of Life, and offer them the roadmap to return to the Presence of the Lord. You can be the Light at the end of their tunnel. You can help them to see Jesus. And hear Him.

Power Thought:

“Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul.” George M. Adams, (1837-1920, US Representative from Kentucky.)