Lesson 

The Ministry of Encouragement is a ministry that God has raised up in the Church to encourage believers to trust in God and to do good works (Romans 12:8).

If it is ENCOURAGING, let him ENCOURAGE; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
(Romans 12:8)

Everyone in the Church needs encouragement to grow in God and to fulfill God's plans for his life.
All believers, including church leaders, need encouragement to press on into the plans and purposes of God for our lives, individually and corporately.

All of us will meet with grief, disappointment, discouragement, defeats and failures in our life and ministry time and again, and it is at these times that we all need encouragement.
Those who are thus encourages can in fact become great and mighty men of God later in life.

All believers are called to serve in this ministry, to always encourage one another to grow in God and to do good works.
It is God's command to all of us to encourage one another so that we will not stop doing God's work (Hebrew 10:24-25).

And let us consider how we may SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us ENCOURAGE one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10:24-25)

However, some will have a greater anointing to encourage others because of a special calling by God.

E.g. Barnabas was a leader of the early church at Jerusalem who was used by God to encourage many, including Paul when Paul was a new believer in Jesus.
UP to that time, Paul had persecuted the Christians, and when he came to know Christ, many believers were afraid of him and shunned him, except for Barnabas.
In fact, the name "Barnabas" means "Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4:36; 9:26-27).

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
(Acts 4:36-37)

When he [Paul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul [Paul] on his journey had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
(Acts 9:26-27)

The following are attitudes and steps we can adopt in order that we may have an effective ministry of encouragement.

Every believer is a child of God whom God has called to bear witness to Jesus..
God has a special calling for every believer, to serve God and the body of Christ, to build up the kingdom of God.
Every believer's ministry is important in the kingdom of God.

It is our duty then to encourage every believer to fulfill God's calling upon His life.
Never despise any believer ans say that he is of no use to the kingdom of God.
Never look down on him or give up on him.
When we despise our brother, we are despising God, who has saved him and called him to serve Him.

God purposely chose people who are nothing in this world so that He can shame the wise people of this world (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
It is not our abilities, but God's power in us, that enables us to serve Him fruitfully and effectively.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were CALLED. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the FOOLISH THINGS of the world to shame the wise; God chose the WEAK THINGS of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the DESPISED THINGS -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

When we speak words about another brother or to another brother, it must be words of encouragement, words that will build him up and strengthen him, so that he will continue to serve God with zeal and joy.

We must never discourage another believer and his ministry by cursing him, criticizing him, slandering him, despising him, mocking him, judging him, attacking him, or scolding him in anger (Luke 6:37).
If a brother has sinned against you, you are commanded to settle it with him according to the procedure prescribed by Jesus our Lord in Matthew 18:15-17.
However you are not allowed to judge and condemn him and his ministry.

Jesus said, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
(Luke 6:37)

If we like to judge and criticize another brother and his ministry, we are being used by the devil to destroy him instead of building  him up.
We are being used by the devil to destroy the Church of God with our evil tongue instead of building up the Church to the maturity of Christ.
And if you keep on doing so, then God will discipline you and destroy you before you do more damage to the Church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone DESTROYS God's temple, God will DESTROY him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are the temple.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

To be a good encourager and to be one who shows concern for others in the body of Christ, we must gather together regularly with others.
Only in this way can we know about the crisis other are facing and only then can we lead them a helping hand and strengthen them with words of encouragement.

And let us consider how we may SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON toward love and good deeds. Let us NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us ENCOURAGE one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Older believers who do not gather together with others are being disobedient to God and are also selfish -- thinking that they have no need of the help of other believers.
They are in fact showing little concern or care for their weaker brothers, especially the new believers.
However, God will deal with them harshly, for sooner or later their wrong attitude will open a door for the devil to put severe problems in their lives where they will need the help and prayer of their brothers in Christ.

Whenever we see a brother in need, encourage him to turn to God for help in prayer, for God will hear our prayer whenever we cry out to Him (Hebrews 4:16).
And only He has the power to solve our problems.
Therefore always pray for the brother in need and also pray with him as well.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may received mercy and find grace to help us in our time of needs.
(Hebrews 4:16)

In this way, God will cause His wisdom, strength and favor to flow into our lives and allow us to walk in victory and to continue to serve Him.
In this way, God will get all the glory.

Discouragement is the devil's greatest weapon in causing a believer to give up on serving God and following after Him.
This happens when a believer is overwhelmed by his problems and loses sight of God's promises and enters into unbelief.

Thus whenever we encourage others, we are to strengthen them once again with God's words and His promises.
Hearing the word of God will cause us to believe in His promises again (Hebrews 3:12-13).
This will then allow the life and zeal of the Holy Spirit to come into our spirit again so that we can continue to serve God.

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful. UNBELIEVING heart that turns away from the living God. But ENCOURAGE one another DAILY as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
(Hebrews 3:12-13)

Some of the promises you can use to encourage another believer are:

(a) God cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
(b) God will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
(c) God will work all things out for the good of all who love Him and who have been called by Him (Romans 8:28).
(d) God hears all our prayer and answers them when we call to Him (John 16:23-24).
(e) God will help you and deliver you from the wicked (Psalms 37:39-40).
(f) The meek will inherit the earth and enjoy great peace (Psalms 37:11).
(g) Those who are wicked will be cut off and fail in their evil plans (Psalms 37:34-36).
(h) God will not forget the work that you do for Him; your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
(i) God will reward your labor if you do not give up; do not become weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9).
(j) By the grace of God, you will succeed in your work and ministry.

Older believers should share their testimonies about God's help, strength and victory in their times of need.
This will encourage the new believers as well as the older ones who are discourages by the difficulties they are facing.

When we are able to do so, we should offer tangible help to a brother who is discouraged and is in need of material, financial or physical help.
In this way, we will show that our faith is not dead, but that the love we show to one another is sincere and genuine (James 2:14-17).

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
(James 2:14-17)

When a brother has been discouraged, it may take him some time before he aligns himself with the plans and purposes of God for his life again.
Be patient and do not give up on him.
Pray for him regularly.

Encourage him as often as possible, and believe that God will indeed strengthen him and perfect the good work He has begun in him.
God will keep from falling and will perfect him in due time (Jude 24-25).
And as we believe in God's word for such a brother, God will revive him and use him again mightily.

To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, not and forevermore! Amen.
(Jude 24-25)

 

Your thought

1. What would you like another believer to do for you to encourage you when you are discouraged?
   List down some practical steps, and learn from one another.
   

2. Share any experience of yours where you were able to come out from a time of discouragement.