I think today some people need to hear this….
ENCOURAGERS – YOUR GIFT MATTERS!!
I know many sisters and brothers in Christ with the gift of encouragement or some call it exhortation. Often this beautiful gift is overlooked. They are just recognized as being “really nice”.
No – YOU’RE CRITICAL – HANDS ON – BATTLING FOR AND BUILDING UP THE WOUNDED WARRIORS!!!
While we are all called to encourage…
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
For some, this is their unique gifting and they excel at rebuilding the wounded. You are the EMTs in The Spirit. Our spiritual medics! You help those wounded in spiritual battle recover. You bandage the victims. You speak LIFE where others may have spoken death.
YOU ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS!!!
The word encouragement in the Greek is parakletos which can mean to exhort, come alongside of, comfort, and encourage. The Holy Spirit is referred to as our Paraclete in John 14:16 as One who comes alongside the believer to comfort and help in times of need. THIS GIFT IS HOLY SPIRIT WORKING THROUGH YOU!
One of the strongest examples found in the New Testament is Barnabas. The name Barnabas means SON OF COMFORT. Barnabas sold his field (all that he had) to give the money to the church (Acts 4:36-37). He later helped bring Paul into the church as a leader. God revealed his giftedness through his selfless life lived for Christ.
Another example can be found in the life of Moses. He was commanded to encourage Joshua who would be the leader to take the Israelites into the Promised Land: “Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it” (Deuteronomy 1:38). Moses was a type and shadow of JESUS!
King Josiah is another. When King Josiah helped return his people to the Lord in the Old Testament, he used encouragement to assist in the process: “He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 35:2).
ENCOURAGERS WE CAN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!!!
Thank you for your service to The Kingdom and for doing your part in the battle for souls!!
To learn more about Heidi and her Kingdom passion, visit Kingdom Come Home
Featured Image by Deepthi499 from Pixabay
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