Together # 27
A Together that Strengthens
A Together that Strengthens
Encourage One Another
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Place inside of one another the courage to tackle God's assignments. Remind each other that God has many ways of providing for success in the tasks He assigns.
Rom 1:12; Phil:14; 1 Thess 5:11; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:25
Encouraging one another is so important that it is mentioned as a primary reason to meet together as Christians.
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 another. . . .
Hebrews 10:24-25
toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another. . . .
Hebrews 10:24-25
We usually think of encouragement as saying something positive or being pleasant, but it is much more than that! It is not just a friendly greeting or affirming statement. A lot of things are called encouraging in the popular sense of the word that do not instill courage. Encouragement has been watered down by popular usage to mean anything that makes another person feel good. This trivialization is tragic, for what is actually left out is the power of placing courage into one another. Encouragement is much more critical to getting the work of God done through the obedience of His people than to merely make people feel good.
Simply put, the command of Scripture is that Christians are to place courage inside of one another for doing the assignments of God. If you look at the word, this will become clear. "En" means "to put into". "Courage" means having the attitude to deal with things that are dangerous, difficult or painful without avoidance. Christians are to put courage into one another for things righteous, which clearly means the assignments of God. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, they consist of love and good deeds.
Can you understand how critical it is to remove encouragement from the "feel good" category of human interaction? How else will we Christians regain our bravery? How else will we help one another do the difficult things of life, things like helping our spouses grow in Christ in the areas they least want to face and yet have so much to gain if they do so, even though the interactions might turn defensive and uncomfortable? How else will we Christians love the unlovely or witness to the unreceptive who have just as much right to hear the gospel as those who are easy to talk to?
When the church first started, everyone needed courage to face hostility. The early church had its hands full with ever-present persecution in getting a religion started based on faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection rather than by being good enough for God. Therefore, they were told to meet regularly for a number of reasons, but especially to place courage into one another for the hard things they were facing.
Even though our situation now is not very similar to that of the early church, the truth of Scripture merely applies in a different way. Today, God wants to do thousands things through his people. And most of these assignments take more courage than we individually possess.
Europe was won to Christ by the response of believers to the black plague. Only Christians were willing to stay in the cities with those who had the plague, fully aware they would likely die. They were given courage to love sacrificially and live or die by the power of the Spirit of God and the encouragement of God's people. With each other's encouragement, Christians stayed with the sick and led many to Christ. Only one-third of people in Europe’s cities survived. Two-thirds of the Christians courageously died with the assurance of heaven. Their witness, those believers who died and those who lived, brought many who died and many who lived to God through Jesus. Thus, in the end, almost all who survived in the great cities of Europe were Christians. God used the plague and mutual encouragement among His people to bring a whole continent to Himself.
Where are the powerful Christians today? They are all around us, but without courage they will do only those things that are pleasant and safe. Our strength needs encouragement to get us off of our easy chairs and on to our assignments from God. Because they come from Him, they are bound to be assignments a little too big for our faith or confidence. God wants love and good works and the world needs them. So, we need to be continually encouraging one another at each and every one of our meetings together.
Encouragement is whatever it takes to empower another Christian to do loving good works for God that he or she lacks courage to do. Since each of us is different, there is not just one thing that encourages. The better we know one another, the more we know what will instill courage. Once we know one another and each of our assignments from God, then we can try different encouraging actions until something works. And more than one of us can work together to encourage others, including friendship groups, families and married couples.
This familiarity with one another is why encouragement must primarily be done in the Christian friendship groups, Christian families, and Christian marriages that make up a believer’s Christian Inner Circle. These long-term relationships are perfect for helping one another take on and succeed at one and then another difficult challenge. Over the years, we can encourage one another to do hundreds of important things that otherwise would go undone.
The instruction to encourage one another by meeting together was given when believers met in small groups in homes. But, we seem to have applied this instruction mainly to organized churches. While it is possible to place courage into one another in these larger meetings, there are serious limitations.
Christians in larger fellowship gatherings might occasionally supply beginning encouragement, but long-term encouragement is the responsibility of Christian Inner Circles. For example, sermons will impart knowledge regarding what God wants done and how to go about it. Unfortunately, this one-time, quick encouragement rarely overcomes the resistance to doing those things that require courage and bravery.
Ongoing and lasting encouragement for difficult assignments from God will require more frequent encouragement from close Christian friends who meet frequently or from a believer’s Christian family. These people know the really hard, scary and repulsive things that people will be facing in the next week or two, signaling the need for continual encouragement.
Therefore, members of a believer’s Christian Inner Circle should inquire about the difficult things to be faced so they can pray and offer specific kinds of encouragement. Prayer alone is often not enough. God knew this when the Holy Spirit led the writer of Hebrews to instruct encouragement at every meeting of Christians. Encouragement can take many forms, such as recounting successes in similar situations, giving feedback on strengths to draw upon and weaknesses to watch out for, sharing of biblical truth that is relevant and specific prayers for obedience and courage.
Often Christians cannot see their own assignments from God, such as to become a better father or mother. Or they might recognize what God wants but avoid them because of perceived difficulty. Thus it is very important for Christian friends and family members to set aside significant time to explore together the assignments God appears to have given each believer. Once assignments are identified, Christians can go on to place courage into one another so that God is obeyed and glorified. We can all encourage one another to "get on with God’s program."
How much is not done because encouragement is not forthcoming from Christian friends, family members and spouses? How many people have not grown beyond easy Christianity to fuller dedication to God, beyond Bible study to Bible obedience? How many people have not risked themselves to save a friend or family member’s job or marriage or course of life? How many have not gone on the mission field or spoken up for Jesus where they live?
Any honest Christian will readily admit that he or she lacks courage to do many things God asks. Not even considering special assignments, we all know that we should be better at marriage or parenting or being a good friend. We work on improving where it is comfortable, but we lack courage for so many important and difficult personal changes.
All of the Togethers have lots of room to grow. We need each others’ encouragement to pursue changes in our spirits which most often come from difficult obedience in relationships with people.
How can this encouragement best be done? There are many things that can empower people. A stirring sermon can inspire courage. But Scripture seems to place most emphasis on interaction between God's people for the instilling of courage. Encouraging is best done face-to-face. It is rarely done by strangers. It is often done among people who "are in it together", whether the "it" is spiritual warfare, teaching teenagers in Sunday school, or church leadership, to name just a few.
Perhaps we need to challenge a friend’s materialism or the way the spouse is treated. Or, we need to be patient with a son or daughter who is rebelling. Then again it might be that we need to make a difficult decision of some life-changing kind. There are thousands of things like those for which we need more courage.
Encouragement can be done by giving accurate feed-back regarding a person's abilities and similar successful accomplishments in the past. It is also encouraging when Christians remind each other of God's many ways of providing for success in their tasks. Sometimes it is encouraging to stress the critical nature of the assignment from God. Sharing specific Bible passages can be encouraging. Committing to go with the person can often supply that little extra courage needed. Helping a person think how to do something can encourage. Role-playing the situation until the person is confident can place courage into another. (A checklist of 21 ways to encourage follows this commentary.)
But, consider the added empowerment if encouragement comes from more than one person of a person’s Christian Inner Circle. Two friends approaching the person at church and expressing belief that he or she will do a good job spearheading a church picnic is more powerful than just one friend encouraging. A mom and dad working together to encourage their children to do their best in school is better than just one of them and the other not weighing in to encourage. And imagine a whole family, adults and all the kids, encouraging a grandparent to do what is medically necessary to try to beat cancer.
Encouragement, like almost all of the other Togethers, is not a quick and easy intervention. Christians should think in terms of an encouragement process that requires continuation over time rather than one-time actions. Even when Christians remember to encourage one another to do something difficult, they all too often forget to encourage over the long run. It would seem obvious that the harder the challenge, the more tenacious needs be the encouragement.
It must also be emphasized that we need to let others place courage into us. Let’s make it easier for those in our Christian Inner Circles to encourage us by not being defensive or acting like we are sufficient all unto ourselves. It is just as foolish to not let others encourage us as it is to not encourage others.
We need to be really careful with this responsibility to encourage one another in our Christian friendships, families and marriages. These are the people whom we care most that God’s will be done in their lives. We can occasionally encourage others outside of these groups, but it can address only a small portion of their lives. Encouragement can be much more extensive with those in our Christian Inner Circles where we will see things that need to be done differently in daily responsibilities as well as know of special assignments from God. Because we want to see these special people in our lives glorify God and receive the benefits, we need to be continually stepping up to do whatever will give them the courage to act.
Encouragement must be timely. If it is given too often, it might be perceived as pressure, complaining, or harping. But, if it is given at special points in time, it will likely be received well. Obviously, it is the right time when a person verbalizes struggle. In such a case, it will be good if we have already identified the need to encourage and are waiting for an opportunity.
Pointing out that something needs to be done is not necessarily encouraging. Wouldn’t it be great if just pointing out to one another things that would glorify God got done? However, most of the time long-term encouragement is called for us to act.
This Together of encouraging one another is very important. Let’s not say that we do enough of it!
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Simply put, the command of Scripture is that Christians are to place courage inside of one another for doing the assignments of God. If you look at the word, this will become clear. "En" means "to put into". "Courage" means having the attitude to deal with things that are dangerous, difficult or painful without avoidance. Christians are to put courage into one another for things righteous, which clearly means the assignments of God. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, they consist of love and good deeds.
Can you understand how critical it is to remove encouragement from the "feel good" category of human interaction? How else will we Christians regain our bravery? How else will we help one another do the difficult things of life, things like helping our spouses grow in Christ in the areas they least want to face and yet have so much to gain if they do so, even though the interactions might turn defensive and uncomfortable? How else will we Christians love the unlovely or witness to the unreceptive who have just as much right to hear the gospel as those who are easy to talk to?
When the church first started, everyone needed courage to face hostility. The early church had its hands full with ever-present persecution in getting a religion started based on faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection rather than by being good enough for God. Therefore, they were told to meet regularly for a number of reasons, but especially to place courage into one another for the hard things they were facing.
Even though our situation now is not very similar to that of the early church, the truth of Scripture merely applies in a different way. Today, God wants to do thousands things through his people. And most of these assignments take more courage than we individually possess.
Europe was won to Christ by the response of believers to the black plague. Only Christians were willing to stay in the cities with those who had the plague, fully aware they would likely die. They were given courage to love sacrificially and live or die by the power of the Spirit of God and the encouragement of God's people. With each other's encouragement, Christians stayed with the sick and led many to Christ. Only one-third of people in Europe’s cities survived. Two-thirds of the Christians courageously died with the assurance of heaven. Their witness, those believers who died and those who lived, brought many who died and many who lived to God through Jesus. Thus, in the end, almost all who survived in the great cities of Europe were Christians. God used the plague and mutual encouragement among His people to bring a whole continent to Himself.
Where are the powerful Christians today? They are all around us, but without courage they will do only those things that are pleasant and safe. Our strength needs encouragement to get us off of our easy chairs and on to our assignments from God. Because they come from Him, they are bound to be assignments a little too big for our faith or confidence. God wants love and good works and the world needs them. So, we need to be continually encouraging one another at each and every one of our meetings together.
Encouragement is whatever it takes to empower another Christian to do loving good works for God that he or she lacks courage to do. Since each of us is different, there is not just one thing that encourages. The better we know one another, the more we know what will instill courage. Once we know one another and each of our assignments from God, then we can try different encouraging actions until something works. And more than one of us can work together to encourage others, including friendship groups, families and married couples.
This familiarity with one another is why encouragement must primarily be done in the Christian friendship groups, Christian families, and Christian marriages that make up a believer’s Christian Inner Circle. These long-term relationships are perfect for helping one another take on and succeed at one and then another difficult challenge. Over the years, we can encourage one another to do hundreds of important things that otherwise would go undone.
The instruction to encourage one another by meeting together was given when believers met in small groups in homes. But, we seem to have applied this instruction mainly to organized churches. While it is possible to place courage into one another in these larger meetings, there are serious limitations.
Christians in larger fellowship gatherings might occasionally supply beginning encouragement, but long-term encouragement is the responsibility of Christian Inner Circles. For example, sermons will impart knowledge regarding what God wants done and how to go about it. Unfortunately, this one-time, quick encouragement rarely overcomes the resistance to doing those things that require courage and bravery.
Ongoing and lasting encouragement for difficult assignments from God will require more frequent encouragement from close Christian friends who meet frequently or from a believer’s Christian family. These people know the really hard, scary and repulsive things that people will be facing in the next week or two, signaling the need for continual encouragement.
Therefore, members of a believer’s Christian Inner Circle should inquire about the difficult things to be faced so they can pray and offer specific kinds of encouragement. Prayer alone is often not enough. God knew this when the Holy Spirit led the writer of Hebrews to instruct encouragement at every meeting of Christians. Encouragement can take many forms, such as recounting successes in similar situations, giving feedback on strengths to draw upon and weaknesses to watch out for, sharing of biblical truth that is relevant and specific prayers for obedience and courage.
Often Christians cannot see their own assignments from God, such as to become a better father or mother. Or they might recognize what God wants but avoid them because of perceived difficulty. Thus it is very important for Christian friends and family members to set aside significant time to explore together the assignments God appears to have given each believer. Once assignments are identified, Christians can go on to place courage into one another so that God is obeyed and glorified. We can all encourage one another to "get on with God’s program."
How much is not done because encouragement is not forthcoming from Christian friends, family members and spouses? How many people have not grown beyond easy Christianity to fuller dedication to God, beyond Bible study to Bible obedience? How many people have not risked themselves to save a friend or family member’s job or marriage or course of life? How many have not gone on the mission field or spoken up for Jesus where they live?
Any honest Christian will readily admit that he or she lacks courage to do many things God asks. Not even considering special assignments, we all know that we should be better at marriage or parenting or being a good friend. We work on improving where it is comfortable, but we lack courage for so many important and difficult personal changes.
All of the Togethers have lots of room to grow. We need each others’ encouragement to pursue changes in our spirits which most often come from difficult obedience in relationships with people.
How can this encouragement best be done? There are many things that can empower people. A stirring sermon can inspire courage. But Scripture seems to place most emphasis on interaction between God's people for the instilling of courage. Encouraging is best done face-to-face. It is rarely done by strangers. It is often done among people who "are in it together", whether the "it" is spiritual warfare, teaching teenagers in Sunday school, or church leadership, to name just a few.
Perhaps we need to challenge a friend’s materialism or the way the spouse is treated. Or, we need to be patient with a son or daughter who is rebelling. Then again it might be that we need to make a difficult decision of some life-changing kind. There are thousands of things like those for which we need more courage.
Encouragement can be done by giving accurate feed-back regarding a person's abilities and similar successful accomplishments in the past. It is also encouraging when Christians remind each other of God's many ways of providing for success in their tasks. Sometimes it is encouraging to stress the critical nature of the assignment from God. Sharing specific Bible passages can be encouraging. Committing to go with the person can often supply that little extra courage needed. Helping a person think how to do something can encourage. Role-playing the situation until the person is confident can place courage into another. (A checklist of 21 ways to encourage follows this commentary.)
But, consider the added empowerment if encouragement comes from more than one person of a person’s Christian Inner Circle. Two friends approaching the person at church and expressing belief that he or she will do a good job spearheading a church picnic is more powerful than just one friend encouraging. A mom and dad working together to encourage their children to do their best in school is better than just one of them and the other not weighing in to encourage. And imagine a whole family, adults and all the kids, encouraging a grandparent to do what is medically necessary to try to beat cancer.
Encouragement, like almost all of the other Togethers, is not a quick and easy intervention. Christians should think in terms of an encouragement process that requires continuation over time rather than one-time actions. Even when Christians remember to encourage one another to do something difficult, they all too often forget to encourage over the long run. It would seem obvious that the harder the challenge, the more tenacious needs be the encouragement.
It must also be emphasized that we need to let others place courage into us. Let’s make it easier for those in our Christian Inner Circles to encourage us by not being defensive or acting like we are sufficient all unto ourselves. It is just as foolish to not let others encourage us as it is to not encourage others.
We need to be really careful with this responsibility to encourage one another in our Christian friendships, families and marriages. These are the people whom we care most that God’s will be done in their lives. We can occasionally encourage others outside of these groups, but it can address only a small portion of their lives. Encouragement can be much more extensive with those in our Christian Inner Circles where we will see things that need to be done differently in daily responsibilities as well as know of special assignments from God. Because we want to see these special people in our lives glorify God and receive the benefits, we need to be continually stepping up to do whatever will give them the courage to act.
Encouragement must be timely. If it is given too often, it might be perceived as pressure, complaining, or harping. But, if it is given at special points in time, it will likely be received well. Obviously, it is the right time when a person verbalizes struggle. In such a case, it will be good if we have already identified the need to encourage and are waiting for an opportunity.
Pointing out that something needs to be done is not necessarily encouraging. Wouldn’t it be great if just pointing out to one another things that would glorify God got done? However, most of the time long-term encouragement is called for us to act.
This Together of encouraging one another is very important. Let’s not say that we do enough of it!
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
The company picnic is going along fine until two of Mary and John’s kids run up to them crying that their oldest son Mark hit them and took the ball they were playing with. John, who has a temper, begins to jump up to take his usual harsh “fatherly” action. The flash of anger on his face is noticeable to everyone. He is embarrassed by his son’s behavior in front of his friends from work who are sitting at the picnic table. Mary knows she needs to act.
Mary and John have been working together to curb John’s explosiveness. In calmer moments John knows that blowing up at the kids does not work. In fact, their son Mark has been in trouble at school for similar angry behavior. Mary knows that right now John needs more courage to hold himself in check and react calmly with more love, understanding, and, especially, patience. Mary reaches over and presses down on John’s thigh to keep him from getting up so fast. She looks at the others and says, “Excuse us for a moment. We are learning a new way to deal with our son.” Then she turns to John and says, “You can do this. Just like we’ve been talking about. Be calm, help him understand what he is doing wrong, and then help him understand the consequences. The Lord will help you do this and will be pleased with you.” John takes a deep breath, composes himself, and goes off to find Mark. John’s fellow workers are introduced to out-of-the-ordinary loving encouragement somehow connected to “the Lord” whom they suspect must be God. They will have to ask John about that some day at work. |
Jesus put courage into his disciples in that Upper Room where they met the night he was betrayed.
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me
will do the works I have been doing,
and they will do even greater things than these,
because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12
will do the works I have been doing,
and they will do even greater things than these,
because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12
When we obey the command to encourage one another, we are being like Jesus. And, the tougher the assignments we encourage one another to take, the more we are like Jesus. Think about how Jesus placed courage into the disciples and afterward they lived boldly, even though they suspected painful death was ahead.
Would we have the courage ourselves to encourage anyone in our Christian Inner Circle to respond to an opportunity that might glorify God but bring pain? That is what Jesus did. How can we get ourselves to do the same, if Jesus tells us to? We can if we remember that God is sovereign and that everything works for the good of those who are called into His kingdom.
Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has been placing great courage into listeners to face life from God's perspective for over 2,000 years. Can’t we hear Jesus saying, “You can do it” throughout that sermon? Reading Matthew 5, 6,and 7 should give Christians plenty of evidence that Jesus’ words will instill courage to change spiritually and act more like Him.
Once we decide to really love those Christians we are closest to, we will pay attention to the growth in faith they need. Encouraging one another is almost always needed when we examine one another closely and identify specific shortcomings of faith that hold our friends or relatives back from successful lives with God. The most important thing in all eternity is honoring God by pursuing change of our spirits into the likeness of Jesus our Savior.
Once in a while we will know that our friend, family member or spouse will not comfortably welcome what we recognize could be a critical improvement in faith. Maybe we are not sure we want to experience the defensiveness that is likely to come. In that case, yet another Christian needs to place courage into us so we can carry out the assignment from God to encourage. Perhaps two or three can join us, and we can face the resistence better together.
I was 27 years old and married three years when in 1967 my wife Jean stood by me with encouragement. I was in the Army working as a therapist at the maximum security military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas when I stood up for justice and was going to be sent to Vietnam as punishment, most likely to be killed. A friend warned Jean that if I did not stop speaking up, I would be in great danger. Jean replied that I had to follow what God told me to do. On a later occasion, as a Captain I broke rank and exposed an evil officer two ranks my superior who then tried to find a reason to court martial me during my last four months in the military. In both situations, Jean’s encouragement was absolutely necessary. As a result of my actions some people were kept from harm. And, God protected me until I completed my military obligation and left, without an invite to stay in, but with the Army Commendation Medal for things I had accomplished in spite of my “out of order” bold behavior.
There were good times in the military. But, through the trials of being an officer in the Army during the Vietnam War and responding as I understood following Jesus required, I became more like Him. And, Jean became more like Him by encouraging me.
Let’s not shy away from effective encouragement. To do more and more of it makes us increasingly like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
Would we have the courage ourselves to encourage anyone in our Christian Inner Circle to respond to an opportunity that might glorify God but bring pain? That is what Jesus did. How can we get ourselves to do the same, if Jesus tells us to? We can if we remember that God is sovereign and that everything works for the good of those who are called into His kingdom.
Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has been placing great courage into listeners to face life from God's perspective for over 2,000 years. Can’t we hear Jesus saying, “You can do it” throughout that sermon? Reading Matthew 5, 6,and 7 should give Christians plenty of evidence that Jesus’ words will instill courage to change spiritually and act more like Him.
Once we decide to really love those Christians we are closest to, we will pay attention to the growth in faith they need. Encouraging one another is almost always needed when we examine one another closely and identify specific shortcomings of faith that hold our friends or relatives back from successful lives with God. The most important thing in all eternity is honoring God by pursuing change of our spirits into the likeness of Jesus our Savior.
Once in a while we will know that our friend, family member or spouse will not comfortably welcome what we recognize could be a critical improvement in faith. Maybe we are not sure we want to experience the defensiveness that is likely to come. In that case, yet another Christian needs to place courage into us so we can carry out the assignment from God to encourage. Perhaps two or three can join us, and we can face the resistence better together.
I was 27 years old and married three years when in 1967 my wife Jean stood by me with encouragement. I was in the Army working as a therapist at the maximum security military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas when I stood up for justice and was going to be sent to Vietnam as punishment, most likely to be killed. A friend warned Jean that if I did not stop speaking up, I would be in great danger. Jean replied that I had to follow what God told me to do. On a later occasion, as a Captain I broke rank and exposed an evil officer two ranks my superior who then tried to find a reason to court martial me during my last four months in the military. In both situations, Jean’s encouragement was absolutely necessary. As a result of my actions some people were kept from harm. And, God protected me until I completed my military obligation and left, without an invite to stay in, but with the Army Commendation Medal for things I had accomplished in spite of my “out of order” bold behavior.
There were good times in the military. But, through the trials of being an officer in the Army during the Vietnam War and responding as I understood following Jesus required, I became more like Him. And, Jean became more like Him by encouraging me.
Let’s not shy away from effective encouragement. To do more and more of it makes us increasingly like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
“I think the Lord wants me to apply for a supervisor position at my company” Jason declared as he put the fifth worm on his hook. (So far that day the fish were winning.)
“You should do it. What have you got to lose?” Jason’s friend George reeled in his line to give another worm the thrill of its life. Moments later, the boat rocked back and forth as George shifted his position for another hopeful cast. “What I have to lose is not getting the promotion. If I am turned down, it will be embarrassing. And, I will be disappointed, especially because Debbie and I can use some extra money.” The conversation went on, back and forth, until George got the picture that his friend did not have the courage to stick his neck out and put in the application for the promotion. Then George knew what to do. He had to put courage into his friend because Jason felt the Lord wanted him to apply for the position. “The Lord is sovereign over your life, Jason. You can be brave enough to apply. And, you can be courageous enough to be turned down for the job. Nothing matters, and this is hard for me at times also, nothing matters but to follow the path Jesus leads you down. Proverbs 16:9 says that the Lord is to direct our steps. I think it says something like, ‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.’ And, besides, you applied for lots of jobs before you got this one. Debbie and your friends, and the Lord, of course, stood behind you and helped you keep looking. You can do this. If God is saying to do it, you don’t want to not do it. So, when we get back home this afternoon, with or without fish to fry, do you want me to sit down with you at your computer and encourage you while you fill out the online application?” And, that’s what happened. But, Jason did not get the promotion. God did not want it for him, at least not yet. Perhaps God knew Jason’s application would put the seed of thought in his superiors for a later advancement. Anyway, the Bible does not speak of success, only obedience. Jason obeyed God’s leading even though he did not understand the reason he did not get the promotion. George obeyed and encouraged his friend as an act of worship that was like Jesus and thus reflecting back to God his own loving character. And, it all started in a boat on a lake. The fish were not biting to allow the God-appointed conversation. |
The Bible is full of examples that God encourages his people. When we encourage others, we reflect back to God his own character and offer great worship.
God particularly encourages Christians through his words recorded in the Bible. As a sample of hundreds of things God says to us in Scripture that are encouraging, look at these three passages.
God particularly encourages Christians through his words recorded in the Bible. As a sample of hundreds of things God says to us in Scripture that are encouraging, look at these three passages.
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
Ps 118:5-7
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
Ps 118:5-7
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Christians have many opportunities to reassure close Christian friends, family members, and spouses in the same way Isaiah did, possibly even quoting Isaiah 40. Certainly saying the same things God has said in order to strengthen another Christian is reflecting Him back to Himself and is therefore worship.
Let’s memorize some Bible passages for times when another Christian needs God’s encouraging words. The Bible is God’s Word. So, quoting Scripture to let God encourage is important worship. It not only reflects back to God his own character, but it reflects back to Him his very words.
Friends are invaluable in helping Christians move out of their comfort zone to do things for which they do not have enough courage. What would happen in the world if every friendship put courage into two or three people of the friendship to do something that was not easy but that God wanted done? Would this be a better society? Would God be more glorified by His people? Would Christianity become more vital to those bored in their church routines?
In every Christian family, God has given assignments for which family members do not have sufficient courage. How much does not get done for God’s glory because Christian families do not realize the power within the family to encourage?
Husbands and wives have plenty of things that they avoid doing for lack of courage. They can do much to impart courage to each other to do the harder things God asks of them. God’s married people have wisdom and power to accomplish things better in quality and greater in scope — if they will help each other muster up the courage to do them.
God has given us influence in our closest relationships to encourage one another to do difficult things for God. When we place courage into one another for the assignments of God, we worship God by acknowledging his sovereign right to give tasks and by reflecting back to Him the Holy Spirit’s encouragement that empowers God’s people.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Let’s memorize some Bible passages for times when another Christian needs God’s encouraging words. The Bible is God’s Word. So, quoting Scripture to let God encourage is important worship. It not only reflects back to God his own character, but it reflects back to Him his very words.
Friends are invaluable in helping Christians move out of their comfort zone to do things for which they do not have enough courage. What would happen in the world if every friendship put courage into two or three people of the friendship to do something that was not easy but that God wanted done? Would this be a better society? Would God be more glorified by His people? Would Christianity become more vital to those bored in their church routines?
In every Christian family, God has given assignments for which family members do not have sufficient courage. How much does not get done for God’s glory because Christian families do not realize the power within the family to encourage?
Husbands and wives have plenty of things that they avoid doing for lack of courage. They can do much to impart courage to each other to do the harder things God asks of them. God’s married people have wisdom and power to accomplish things better in quality and greater in scope — if they will help each other muster up the courage to do them.
God has given us influence in our closest relationships to encourage one another to do difficult things for God. When we place courage into one another for the assignments of God, we worship God by acknowledging his sovereign right to give tasks and by reflecting back to Him the Holy Spirit’s encouragement that empowers God’s people.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
The Lobowitz Family is using the Family Together with Jesus Discipleship Kit from LambsBride.org. They are picking just one Together at a time that seems particularly needed. At their Family Devotional Meeting for this week, they are continuing to learn how family members and the family as a whole can place courage into those who need it for some task God seems to want them to do. This is their third family meeting focusing on encouraging one another.
The fourth exercise from the Encourage One Another card reads, “Ask each family member to pick one assignment he or she would like to do but for which he or she does not yet have the courage. Then, as a family, everyone say things that will help the person feel strong enough and courageous enough to get started.” Twelve-year-old Joey has not been successfully encouraged for something important that everyone knows God wants done. For a few months Joey has been telling the family about the bullying that goes on at school. He is not a target, but a few of the smaller sixth graders are being bullied. He has told the family that it seems the teachers are not paying attention. Without knowing it, the family has accomplished one of the other Togethers, that of spurring one another on to love and good deeds. They have talked Joey into asking for a meeting with the principal and two of his favorite teachers. He committed two weeks ago to confront these people about not doing anything to stop the bullying. Since he has not been able to carry out his plans to request the meeting, the family acts to help him have the courage needed. Dorothy who is a year behind Joey and in fifth grade reminds him that the teachers and principal like him, and because he is not one of the kids who gets in trouble, they will meet with him and listen. Don who is a junior in high school says, “This is something God would have you do. God would not want the bullies to get away with what they are doing.” Five-year-old Judy declares, “I hate bullies!” Mom adds, “Think of the rewards in heaven for doing this and helping those being picked on.” Dad asks the family to give Joey ideas of what he can say when he gets to ask the principal for the meeting. After the family discusses various ways to go about asking the principal for the meeting, the family as a whole votes on the words they most recommend. Then, at Mom’s urging, the family has Joey role play the initial contact with the principal, promising to also role play the actual meeting once a time is set. The family commits to be in this assignment with Joey all the way, and then they pray for Joey to have the necessary courage. Joey is now ready for action. |
We have seen in Hebrews 10 that placing courage into one another is so important that it is declared a primary reason for Christians to meet together often. That is because the devil is constantly warring against God and trying to destroy the church. God’s people are empowered through the Holy Spirit to interact together to fight Satan’s strategies.
However, we often seem not to have the courage to go along with our strength in Jesus. There are so many needs that we Christians have made invisible by isolating ourselves from those who face daunting challenges.
We group ourselves in churches with people of similar financial means, presumably because we will be more comfortable and find people who can afford to do things with us. Think what could be done for God’s glory if a middle-income church partnered with a lower-income church where those with more economic resources helped poorer members of the less-financed church. For this to ever happen even to 25% of capacity, would take a whole lot of encouragement of one another to follow in Christ’s footsteps. Many Togethers would be applicable, including sharing with one another (Together #24), hurting with one another (Together #31), carrying one another’s burdens (Together #34), enduring trouble and hardship together (Together #60), and looking out for one another’s good (Together #62). Friendship group by friendship group, family by family, and marriage by marriage, huge contributions to the welfare and success of those with less income would be made and tremendous growth into likeness with Jesus would occur for those with more financial assets.
We get overwhelmed with life. Once upon a time we went to work on our farms before the sun rose and came in from the fields after the sun set. We were tired, but not overwhelmed. Now, because we want so much enjoyment from life, we don’t have time for the biblically important things. We have cell phones and choose to play games on them or read the news that we can do so little about or just search for interesting tidbits of information. That eats up the time it would take to make a phone call to encourage someone or to visit a shut-in elderly person from church.
If Christians placed courage into one another to serve God now and to build a better future for themselves in heaven, think of all the good works we could do and how the unsaved world would take notice.
However, we often seem not to have the courage to go along with our strength in Jesus. There are so many needs that we Christians have made invisible by isolating ourselves from those who face daunting challenges.
We group ourselves in churches with people of similar financial means, presumably because we will be more comfortable and find people who can afford to do things with us. Think what could be done for God’s glory if a middle-income church partnered with a lower-income church where those with more economic resources helped poorer members of the less-financed church. For this to ever happen even to 25% of capacity, would take a whole lot of encouragement of one another to follow in Christ’s footsteps. Many Togethers would be applicable, including sharing with one another (Together #24), hurting with one another (Together #31), carrying one another’s burdens (Together #34), enduring trouble and hardship together (Together #60), and looking out for one another’s good (Together #62). Friendship group by friendship group, family by family, and marriage by marriage, huge contributions to the welfare and success of those with less income would be made and tremendous growth into likeness with Jesus would occur for those with more financial assets.
We get overwhelmed with life. Once upon a time we went to work on our farms before the sun rose and came in from the fields after the sun set. We were tired, but not overwhelmed. Now, because we want so much enjoyment from life, we don’t have time for the biblically important things. We have cell phones and choose to play games on them or read the news that we can do so little about or just search for interesting tidbits of information. That eats up the time it would take to make a phone call to encourage someone or to visit a shut-in elderly person from church.
If Christians placed courage into one another to serve God now and to build a better future for themselves in heaven, think of all the good works we could do and how the unsaved world would take notice.
For we are God’s handiwork,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Eph 2:10
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Eph 2:10
Does God want kids needing foster homes to be in Christian families? Surely that would be His preference. Does God want kids still unprepared for life when they get too old for public foster care to have Christian families take them in or otherwise help them become successful, law-abiding adults? Of course He would. Does God want homeless addicts and mentally ill to sleep on the streets? No, He would rather they have a Christian home take them in and show them love like they have never seen before. Is there risk in doing these things? Certainly. Would there be phenomenal growth of our spirits for enhanced eternal life in heaven? Definitely, yes. It would be worth sacrificing ourselves that way at least for a few years of our lives.
Some of us gave the military a few years of our lives for the good of the country when it wasn’t a voluntary decision as it is today. We survived. We do not regret the loss of those years. In the same way, Christians could give up some significant freedoms for the sake of God’s glory.
Friends could strengthen their relationship by taking on a weekly service project, like spending time with a teenager in trouble with the law. Even every other week could make a world of difference to some kid who is short on love. These two friends would probably spend more time together this way because they would have something of higher priority than meeting for lunch.
Families could devote one Saturday a month to serving those who because of illness cannot take care of their homes. That would be the least they could do. And, there could be great benefits as well. (My family took in as a foster child when she was ten years old my “daughter” who has brightened our lives for 39 years now. If asked, she would guarantee that her life would have turned out worse if we had not given her a home and family.)
Many Christian husbands and wives find themselves short of ideas of how to spend time together. This is a shame because there are so many lonely people in every community. If they cannot be found in church, they can be located through home health care agencies and other social programs desperate to find help and resources for people in need of something. Especially empty-nest couples can devote one night a week for such service, even if they are in a weekly church program of some kind.
Pastors and church leaders can design programs to get people involved, but usually that recruits only a few. If those same pastors and church leaders would teach Christians that it is their duty to encourage one another to love and good deeds, many more would glorify God by their devotion to spread His love in one way or the other.
All of the Togethers of Scripture defeat Satan in one way or another and require courage, some more than others. Therefore, Christians are to place courage into one another to implement the Scriptures together. It takes 2 or 3 with Jesus to encourage obedience to the Scriptures of the Togethers, personal change, tithing, repairing relationships, and denying self of pleasures for the work of God.
The Togethers, what God commands us to do together for Him, attack the devil’s plan to destroy our individual and corporate faith. To name a few battle strategies of the army of God, we contend for the faith together (Together #48), examine one another’s faith (Together #38), and disciple one another (Together #41). These require us to place courage into one another to stand up for the faith, lovingly scrutinize one another’s walk with the Lord, and live transparently to disciple one another. Individuals who do not receive encouragement will not be diligent at these tasks.
The Togethers also attack the devil’s attempts to destroy our solidarity, a force that can defeat him. (Remember we were created by God to be strong enough to defeat Satan only together.) To name a few battle strategies of Christians, we help one another live as citizens of heaven (Together #14), pursue unity together (Together #16), and are humble with one another (Together #18). Therefore, we must place courage into one another to reject the rights and privileges of the world that are contrary to God’s kingdom values, make Jesus Christ the bond between us rather than lesser things like interests, and eliminate pride and selfish ambition in our friendships, families, and marriages. Individuals who do not receive encouragement will not be diligent at these tasks.
Furthermore, the Togethers attack the devil’s attempts to stop us from countering his harm of mankind. As the army of God we spur one another on to love and good deeds (Together #30), act together to be the salt of the earth (Together #44) and the light of the world (Together #47). For us to stop Satan, we need to help one another see and do good in our various situations, be the taste of salt or a breath of fresh air wherever we are, and know how to present the gospel in life and words. We need to place courage into one another to do these things. Individuals who do not receive encouragement will not be diligent at these tasks.
Furthermore, the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6 is for the offensive, for attacking the gates of Hades which will not be able to stand against us.
Some of us gave the military a few years of our lives for the good of the country when it wasn’t a voluntary decision as it is today. We survived. We do not regret the loss of those years. In the same way, Christians could give up some significant freedoms for the sake of God’s glory.
Friends could strengthen their relationship by taking on a weekly service project, like spending time with a teenager in trouble with the law. Even every other week could make a world of difference to some kid who is short on love. These two friends would probably spend more time together this way because they would have something of higher priority than meeting for lunch.
Families could devote one Saturday a month to serving those who because of illness cannot take care of their homes. That would be the least they could do. And, there could be great benefits as well. (My family took in as a foster child when she was ten years old my “daughter” who has brightened our lives for 39 years now. If asked, she would guarantee that her life would have turned out worse if we had not given her a home and family.)
Many Christian husbands and wives find themselves short of ideas of how to spend time together. This is a shame because there are so many lonely people in every community. If they cannot be found in church, they can be located through home health care agencies and other social programs desperate to find help and resources for people in need of something. Especially empty-nest couples can devote one night a week for such service, even if they are in a weekly church program of some kind.
Pastors and church leaders can design programs to get people involved, but usually that recruits only a few. If those same pastors and church leaders would teach Christians that it is their duty to encourage one another to love and good deeds, many more would glorify God by their devotion to spread His love in one way or the other.
All of the Togethers of Scripture defeat Satan in one way or another and require courage, some more than others. Therefore, Christians are to place courage into one another to implement the Scriptures together. It takes 2 or 3 with Jesus to encourage obedience to the Scriptures of the Togethers, personal change, tithing, repairing relationships, and denying self of pleasures for the work of God.
The Togethers, what God commands us to do together for Him, attack the devil’s plan to destroy our individual and corporate faith. To name a few battle strategies of the army of God, we contend for the faith together (Together #48), examine one another’s faith (Together #38), and disciple one another (Together #41). These require us to place courage into one another to stand up for the faith, lovingly scrutinize one another’s walk with the Lord, and live transparently to disciple one another. Individuals who do not receive encouragement will not be diligent at these tasks.
The Togethers also attack the devil’s attempts to destroy our solidarity, a force that can defeat him. (Remember we were created by God to be strong enough to defeat Satan only together.) To name a few battle strategies of Christians, we help one another live as citizens of heaven (Together #14), pursue unity together (Together #16), and are humble with one another (Together #18). Therefore, we must place courage into one another to reject the rights and privileges of the world that are contrary to God’s kingdom values, make Jesus Christ the bond between us rather than lesser things like interests, and eliminate pride and selfish ambition in our friendships, families, and marriages. Individuals who do not receive encouragement will not be diligent at these tasks.
Furthermore, the Togethers attack the devil’s attempts to stop us from countering his harm of mankind. As the army of God we spur one another on to love and good deeds (Together #30), act together to be the salt of the earth (Together #44) and the light of the world (Together #47). For us to stop Satan, we need to help one another see and do good in our various situations, be the taste of salt or a breath of fresh air wherever we are, and know how to present the gospel in life and words. We need to place courage into one another to do these things. Individuals who do not receive encouragement will not be diligent at these tasks.
Furthermore, the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6 is for the offensive, for attacking the gates of Hades which will not be able to stand against us.
. . . on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Mt 16:18
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Mt 16:18
Gates do not move, so if the gates of Hades will not overcome the church, then we must be attacking. When we think of marching against Satan’s fortress, we imagine the glory of the fight, but we should also recognize that we need more courage than we express in our bravado.
In our culture with its unbiblical emphasis on individual faith, we tend to think that we each put on the armor of God independently. But the context of a letter written to a church and the hidden Greek plurality in the English translation of Ephesians 6 must mean that we put on this armor together (Together #49). By doing it together, we place courage into one another much more than we would if putting on the armor alone.
In our culture with its unbiblical emphasis on individual faith, we tend to think that we each put on the armor of God independently. But the context of a letter written to a church and the hidden Greek plurality in the English translation of Ephesians 6 must mean that we put on this armor together (Together #49). By doing it together, we place courage into one another much more than we would if putting on the armor alone.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God,
so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes,
you may be able to stand your ground
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Eph 6:10-13
Put on the full armor of God,
so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes,
you may be able to stand your ground
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Eph 6:10-13
We need to set straight any one of us who thinks he or she has enough courage alone to take a stand against the devil’s schemes. All of the other Togethers are needed, and not in their easiest expression. We certainly need others to place courage into us continually.
Let’s place courage into one another to stand up to the devil together (Together #52) and watch him flee. Let’s celebrate every battleground victory and then encourage one another for yet another attack against Satan.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Let’s place courage into one another to stand up to the devil together (Together #52) and watch him flee. Let’s celebrate every battleground victory and then encourage one another for yet another attack against Satan.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Melody is the kind of person who lives to encourage others to take advantage of their opportunities. This is obvious in her relationship with her children. She sees so many things God has set in front of her kids to enjoy. Therefore, Melody continually does things to place courage into each of her sons and daughters so they will try things they would like to do but lack self-confidence.
Melody does not realize it, but she is preparing herself for a wonderful ministry in heaven. When she goes there, she will be invaluable to many citizens of heaven who yearn to take advantage of heaven’s opportunities but are a bit reticent to act. And, she will enjoy being the focus of others in heaven who will encourage her, since before death no one paid much attention to the things she was fearful of doing. |
By learning to place courage into one another now with the opposition of sin, we develop a spontaneous tendency to push people toward the good things of God. Just as parents want their children to do well in school and extracurricular activities and must continually encourage them, so God wants us to put courage into one another for anything God wants us to do.
We seem to understand this desire of God for His people to encourage one another. It is normal to encourage our Christian friends and family members to see a certain movie, try some type of fun activity or take some time off work and go on a vacation. Most of us are more hesitant to place courage into another to exercise and lose weight, but we at least hint about it.
But, when it comes to assignments from God to do anything that might be difficult, expensive, or involve suffering, our responsibility to encourage one another usually falters. Yet, these things count more than the others with respect to our spiritual development and our eternal life in heaven with rewards and stored-up treasures.
It seems very likely that heaven will present unlimited opportunities beyond our courage. What makes us think that when we are perfected in heaven that we will have the courage to do everything? Our perfection is from sin, not necessarily from caution or trepidation.
Is it true that to resist becoming an auto racer is sin if we do not want to do it for lack of courage? No, there are thousands of non-sinful things to do that we do not have courage to do. Not wanting to scuba dive for lack of courage is not sin. Not wanting to ask for a raise at work for lack of courage is not sin unless God has convicted a conscience to do it. Jesus did not have to pay the penalty of death for our lack of courage to do many things that are not instructed by Scripture. God places many opportunities before us but does not consider it sin if we do not do them for lack of courage.
Therefore, it is not sin to be without courage unless it is for something God has instructed. If we do not have the courage to ski the advanced slopes when we have never skied an easy slope, that lack of courage is wisdom, not sin. So, will it not be similar in heaven where all kinds of endeavors will require levels of courage not yet gained? What fun would skiing be in heaven if we could extreme ski off of cliffs without ever having skied before? Isn’t there joy in learning to get better and better?
It only makes sense that there will be many opportunities in heaven for which we will have desire but not enough courage. Thus, the need to encourage one another will be in heaven, just a little different than it is now. Presently, we need to place courage into one another to obey Scripture. In heaven there will be no sin and all need to encourage one another to not sin and live righteously will disappear.
Instead, Christians will encourage one another in heaven to partake in an endless array of exciting opportunities. For example, after a thousand years you may notice that I have not yet visited the planet Zork in Galaxy 5832. Heavenly encouragement may be needed to get me on the next flight out.
Just as floating forever on a cloud as portrayed in cartoons is not attractive, so is a heaven with nothing new to be accomplished. Even throwing a party in heaven will take work. We may need to be encouraged to imagine an exciting ambiance with creative design. Without such encouragement to go beyond what has already been done before, things could get rather tedious and humdrum in heaven.
In light of these possibilities, encouraging one another now gives us a particular level of ability to encourage others in heaven. We will have the ministry of placing courage into one another to try things we want to try that do not fall into the category of “must do” righteous living. What fun it will be to help others try new things they want to do!
We do this now, and isn’t it rewarding? Friends and family members suggest a new menu item at a restaurant or a new vacation destination or a new way to cook spaghetti. Those who want to try the suggestion but do not have courage to make an attempt receive encouragement. When people say, “Oh, I don’t think I can do it.”, they are indicating that they need more courage. And, we try to give it to them. And, we will continue to do this in heaven to the level of skill we have developed now before death.
Let’s prepare for heaven by seriously considering how to place courage into our Christian friends, families and spouses. Let’s not settle for easy encouragement but find effective ways until the other person or persons actually do the hard things that God is asking of them.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
We seem to understand this desire of God for His people to encourage one another. It is normal to encourage our Christian friends and family members to see a certain movie, try some type of fun activity or take some time off work and go on a vacation. Most of us are more hesitant to place courage into another to exercise and lose weight, but we at least hint about it.
But, when it comes to assignments from God to do anything that might be difficult, expensive, or involve suffering, our responsibility to encourage one another usually falters. Yet, these things count more than the others with respect to our spiritual development and our eternal life in heaven with rewards and stored-up treasures.
It seems very likely that heaven will present unlimited opportunities beyond our courage. What makes us think that when we are perfected in heaven that we will have the courage to do everything? Our perfection is from sin, not necessarily from caution or trepidation.
Is it true that to resist becoming an auto racer is sin if we do not want to do it for lack of courage? No, there are thousands of non-sinful things to do that we do not have courage to do. Not wanting to scuba dive for lack of courage is not sin. Not wanting to ask for a raise at work for lack of courage is not sin unless God has convicted a conscience to do it. Jesus did not have to pay the penalty of death for our lack of courage to do many things that are not instructed by Scripture. God places many opportunities before us but does not consider it sin if we do not do them for lack of courage.
Therefore, it is not sin to be without courage unless it is for something God has instructed. If we do not have the courage to ski the advanced slopes when we have never skied an easy slope, that lack of courage is wisdom, not sin. So, will it not be similar in heaven where all kinds of endeavors will require levels of courage not yet gained? What fun would skiing be in heaven if we could extreme ski off of cliffs without ever having skied before? Isn’t there joy in learning to get better and better?
It only makes sense that there will be many opportunities in heaven for which we will have desire but not enough courage. Thus, the need to encourage one another will be in heaven, just a little different than it is now. Presently, we need to place courage into one another to obey Scripture. In heaven there will be no sin and all need to encourage one another to not sin and live righteously will disappear.
Instead, Christians will encourage one another in heaven to partake in an endless array of exciting opportunities. For example, after a thousand years you may notice that I have not yet visited the planet Zork in Galaxy 5832. Heavenly encouragement may be needed to get me on the next flight out.
Just as floating forever on a cloud as portrayed in cartoons is not attractive, so is a heaven with nothing new to be accomplished. Even throwing a party in heaven will take work. We may need to be encouraged to imagine an exciting ambiance with creative design. Without such encouragement to go beyond what has already been done before, things could get rather tedious and humdrum in heaven.
In light of these possibilities, encouraging one another now gives us a particular level of ability to encourage others in heaven. We will have the ministry of placing courage into one another to try things we want to try that do not fall into the category of “must do” righteous living. What fun it will be to help others try new things they want to do!
We do this now, and isn’t it rewarding? Friends and family members suggest a new menu item at a restaurant or a new vacation destination or a new way to cook spaghetti. Those who want to try the suggestion but do not have courage to make an attempt receive encouragement. When people say, “Oh, I don’t think I can do it.”, they are indicating that they need more courage. And, we try to give it to them. And, we will continue to do this in heaven to the level of skill we have developed now before death.
Let’s prepare for heaven by seriously considering how to place courage into our Christian friends, families and spouses. Let’s not settle for easy encouragement but find effective ways until the other person or persons actually do the hard things that God is asking of them.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Serena grew up on the South Side of Chicago and never quite got out of her impoverished African American neighborhood before she died the victim of a random bullet in a drive-by shooting. She went to heaven instantly at the age of 42.
Ever since she was a teenager studying American history she wanted to build a log cabin somewhere in the woods, an environment she only knew from books and her imagination. In heaven she answers her doorbell and finds a Russian named Ivan who lived in the Caucasus Mountains in the twelfth century. The two of them greet each other as two citizens who both love the Lord, one of them in her 21st century business suit she wore as a school teacher and the other dressed in rough clothing sewn by hand and warm as was necessary in his mountain culture nine centuries earlier than the start of Serena’s life. Ivan explains that God has sent him to encourage Serena to build a log cabin now, in heaven. He says that since he built a few cabins before he died, he will coach her and give her courage for the task. Serena is excited to have the chance finally to pursue one of her dreams, and thinks, “Isn’t heaven great!” Ivan suggests a forest on the 734th mile high segment of the New Jerusalem, a 1500 cubic mile geologic marvel described in Revelation 21. This is 340 mile-high stories above Senena’s home on what is called“Holy City, Level 394”. “Holy City Level 734" is a 1500 mile square park, most of it virgin wilderness. A perfect place to build a cabin. As with all of the levels, it is not lit by a sun but with the glory of the Lord (Rev 21:23). Without Ivan placing courage into Serena, as well as giving instruction, she would never accomplish her dream. But, this is the way of heaven. Everyone encourages everyone else to pursue dreams. |
There are times when we have been overwhelmed with so many possibilities. How about choosing a meal at a new restaurant with an extensive menu? Or the number of things to do at Disney World with only one day? Heaven will have thousands more options than a restaurant or an amusement park. How exciting it will be to have so many things to do in eternity, many of them so unique from the creative mind of God that we cannot now imagine them.
Surely with such variety, some of the things possible in heaven will require more courage. No matter. There will be those who took encouraging others very seriously in life before death. They will be there to help us sometime, some year, some decade, some century, to get to doing what up until then has been daunting and untried.
If, on the new earth God will in time create, we want to climb the new Mt. Everest, won’t we have to work out at the gym to become strong enough? If so, we will need encouragement to keep to the task of building muscle. Won’t it be great if enough Christians now, before death, took the command to encourage one another so seriously as to be quite adept in heaven at putting courage into us in that gym? There are more fantastic adventures waiting for us in heaven than we can count and for which we will need encouragement to prepare for and do.
Okay, so it might not be a trip to Zork that strikes our heavenly fancy. But what about smelling a new flower God has just created on the side of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa? Or training a kangaroo some tricks? Let’s imagine things we would love to do in heaven and recognize that we just might need others to encourage us to do them.
And then there is the joy that comes from seeing the happiness others experience once they accomplish something for which we gave them courage. Heaven will have many joys, and this is one type of joy we will cherish. That is if before death we learned to do lots of encouraging and felt the joy that came when it produced happiness in another.
God has prepared heaven with all of its endless adventures for us to enjoy so that He can delight in our joy. So, let’s look forward to encouraging others to partake in these wonderful adventures and savor their excitement and accomplishments. Additionally, let’s look forward to others placing courage into us as well.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
Surely with such variety, some of the things possible in heaven will require more courage. No matter. There will be those who took encouraging others very seriously in life before death. They will be there to help us sometime, some year, some decade, some century, to get to doing what up until then has been daunting and untried.
If, on the new earth God will in time create, we want to climb the new Mt. Everest, won’t we have to work out at the gym to become strong enough? If so, we will need encouragement to keep to the task of building muscle. Won’t it be great if enough Christians now, before death, took the command to encourage one another so seriously as to be quite adept in heaven at putting courage into us in that gym? There are more fantastic adventures waiting for us in heaven than we can count and for which we will need encouragement to prepare for and do.
Okay, so it might not be a trip to Zork that strikes our heavenly fancy. But what about smelling a new flower God has just created on the side of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa? Or training a kangaroo some tricks? Let’s imagine things we would love to do in heaven and recognize that we just might need others to encourage us to do them.
And then there is the joy that comes from seeing the happiness others experience once they accomplish something for which we gave them courage. Heaven will have many joys, and this is one type of joy we will cherish. That is if before death we learned to do lots of encouraging and felt the joy that came when it produced happiness in another.
God has prepared heaven with all of its endless adventures for us to enjoy so that He can delight in our joy. So, let’s look forward to encouraging others to partake in these wonderful adventures and savor their excitement and accomplishments. Additionally, let’s look forward to others placing courage into us as well.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
Tahnoon, a Christian Bedouin from the Arab ethnocultural group who lived in the Arabian desert, and Kaito, a Japanese Christian, are encouraging each other in heaven to get better and better in the high jump for the upcoming Heavenly Olympics. Jesus happens along and reminds them that He encouraged everyone to believe in Him rather than their false religions. The King of Kings compliments them on similarly placing courage into each other to do something difficult. He knows from perfect experience the challenge of encouraging others and feels close to Tahnoon and Kaito as a result of their learning the lifestyle of encouragement in the sinful environment prior to their deaths.
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Imagine walking with God in heaven in the same fashion that Adam and Eve did before eating the forbidden fruit. He asks us if we have tried swimming a waterfall. He has a twinkle in His eye, happy that He has made such a challenging adventure for us. We reply that we have not yet had the courage to do so. He smiles and promises to send some others who have already done it to give us the necessary courage. He wants to see how we enjoy it.
Wouldn’t we like to see God smile after we have finally done something that required encouragement from another citizen of heaven? We don’t know how often we will see God smile in heaven, but we will find out after death. However it is, won’t that closeness with God be quite a thrill?
Also, if we want to bond with Him through empathy in helping others achieve, we need to practice encouraging others as much as we can. God is constantly encouraging His children, so we can follow His lead and every day be looking for people into whom we can place courage.
Like God, we have to not give up encouraging even the most stubborn Christians. He does not give up. When we do likewise, we open up even more valuable empathy with God. In fact, it is just those Christians who stubbornly resist our encouragement who need it the most. When we finally succeed in placing courage into them and they successfully do an assignment from God, we have achieved an accomplishment worth talking about.
There will most likely be times in heaven when we encourage another and get a sense of extra closeness to God, the Master Encourager. For that to happen vividly, we must encourage now before death when it is difficult, when we have to fight the forces that both get in the way of our putting courage into other Christians and interfere with others accepting our encouragement and acting upon it.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Empowering Lord, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to want to meet often with those in our Christian Inner Circles and encourage them. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we put courage into one another to live for You and do the more difficult things You want us to do.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and continually encourage one another. Like Jesus did with His disciples and those who came to hear Him, make us excellent at determining what specific encouragement other believers need as we interact with them.
May our lives worship You more because, as You do, we encourage those in our closest relationships to holy living, especially where it is very difficult for them. Help us to know Scripture that we might repeat Your encouraging words to other believers.
Make us strong in Your power to encourage one another in battle to defeat the devil who is constantly trying to make Your people powerless. Through the Holy Spirit, make us effective in putting courage into one another so that we join together to fight Satan’s evil strategies.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to provide encouragement to other Christians to take hold of the things of God. Guide us to get more and more skilled at placing courage into one another now when things are scary because of evil to be able in heaven to be really good at encouraging others for opportunities that are scary, but not because of sin, but because they are new.
Wouldn’t we like to see God smile after we have finally done something that required encouragement from another citizen of heaven? We don’t know how often we will see God smile in heaven, but we will find out after death. However it is, won’t that closeness with God be quite a thrill?
Also, if we want to bond with Him through empathy in helping others achieve, we need to practice encouraging others as much as we can. God is constantly encouraging His children, so we can follow His lead and every day be looking for people into whom we can place courage.
Like God, we have to not give up encouraging even the most stubborn Christians. He does not give up. When we do likewise, we open up even more valuable empathy with God. In fact, it is just those Christians who stubbornly resist our encouragement who need it the most. When we finally succeed in placing courage into them and they successfully do an assignment from God, we have achieved an accomplishment worth talking about.
There will most likely be times in heaven when we encourage another and get a sense of extra closeness to God, the Master Encourager. For that to happen vividly, we must encourage now before death when it is difficult, when we have to fight the forces that both get in the way of our putting courage into other Christians and interfere with others accepting our encouragement and acting upon it.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Empowering Lord, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to want to meet often with those in our Christian Inner Circles and encourage them. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we put courage into one another to live for You and do the more difficult things You want us to do.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and continually encourage one another. Like Jesus did with His disciples and those who came to hear Him, make us excellent at determining what specific encouragement other believers need as we interact with them.
May our lives worship You more because, as You do, we encourage those in our closest relationships to holy living, especially where it is very difficult for them. Help us to know Scripture that we might repeat Your encouraging words to other believers.
Make us strong in Your power to encourage one another in battle to defeat the devil who is constantly trying to make Your people powerless. Through the Holy Spirit, make us effective in putting courage into one another so that we join together to fight Satan’s evil strategies.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to provide encouragement to other Christians to take hold of the things of God. Guide us to get more and more skilled at placing courage into one another now when things are scary because of evil to be able in heaven to be really good at encouraging others for opportunities that are scary, but not because of sin, but because they are new.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.