Encouragement

Encouraging Others (Acts 4:32-37, 11:20-26) The Greek word for "encourage" may be translated as comfort, console, inquire, beg, plead, counsel, urge or challenge. It involves the replacing or replenishment of courage that has somehow been lost. Romans 12:8 indicates that some people have a special gift or Holy Sprint-given ability to encourage. God directed Moses to encourage Joshua (Deut. 1:37-38) When Paul & Barnabas prepared to go on their 2nd missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark but Paul refused (Acts 15:36-39). What was the result of Barnabas' encouragement of John Mark? 1. He went on to write the Gospel of Mark. 2. Even Paul later recognized his usefulness (2 Tim. 4:11). Who needs encouragement? Those who have experienced some form of failure (i.e. everyone!) Behind most successful people there is a person or people who encouraged them Can you think of such a person in your life? Are you an encourager or a discourager? (Do you build others up or tear others down?) You may never know what a word of encouragement from you may mean to another person (God does! So follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to encourage others!) Encouraging others costs you nothing but it can prove invaluable to others. An important part of process of encouraging others is seeing them not for who they are or for what they have done but for what they are capable of doing by the grace of God.