In 2 Corinthians 7:6, Paul describes our God as One “who encourages those who are discouraged . . .” (NLT).
Indeed, if we are going to live in a godly fashion, we will find that we are called to be encouragers of others. God comes alongside the discouraged to offer encouragement. We, therefore, reflect the heart of God when we make an intentional effort to come alongside those who could use some encouragement.
“One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement. It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.” - William Barclay
Today, I want to encourage you to surrender your life as a Christian to the one ministry to which every one of us is called - the ministry of encouragement.
“So encourage each other and build each other up . . .” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11a (NLT)
But how do we go about the ministry of encouragement strategically? Let’s see what we can learn from Paul’s final words in Colossians.
1. Encourage those who are sacrificing - v. 15
We encourage those who are sacrificing by acknowledging their sacrifice.
That’s what Paul did as he greeted Nympha, who sacrificially opened her home up to be used as a meeting place for the church at Laodicea. Paul didn’t take Nympha for granted.
Like Nympha, there are folks within our church that do the same things week in and week out; and do them so regularly and routinely, we scarcely notice their regular sacrifice, except for those weeks when they are not here to do what we typically take for granted.
In acknowledging Nympha, Paul was saying “thank you” to her for her faithful sacrifice. When’s the last time you said, “Thank you” to someone else for their faithful sacrifice that blesses you, inspires you, and yes, encourages you?
2. Encourage those who are struggling - v. 16
We encourage those who are struggling by reminding them of God’s truth.
Paul was writing to congregations in Colossae and Laodicea that were struggling with understanding truth, with countering heretical teaching, and combating those who wanted to take control of their congregations to lead them astray. What better way to encourage them than with God’s truth?
Likewise, as we see those around us who are struggling in their faith, what better way to encourage them than to remind them of God’s truth? And what better truth to remind our struggling brothers and sisters of than the truth of God’s promises in His Word? It is estimated that there are over 14,000 promises to be found in the Bible for the believer to take and claim. Indeed, as Adonirum Judson observed, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”
To understand the power of his statement, you need to understand some of the details of his life. On February 19, 1812, only days after getting married, Adoniram Judson and his wife Ann, set sail to join the Baptist Missionary William Carey of England, who was in India. They left India and eventually settled in Burma. William Carey warned them of the hostility and savagery of Burma, and advised them not to go there. On their journey, their ship was tossed by a 3-week monsoon. Ann became sick, and had a baby that died and was buried at sea. It was 6 years after arriving before they saw the first Burmese convert to Christianity. They had arrived in Burma 17 months after their marriage, when Adoniram was 24 and Ann was 23 years old. In less than 14 years since their arrival in Burma, Judson buried his wife Ann, and all their children. Eventually, 2 of Judson’s wives (he remarried) and 7 of his 13 children, along with several colleagues died there.
This is the man who said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” And as it turns out, at Judson's death, when he was 61, Burma had 63 Christian churches, and 7,000 converts to faith in Jesus Christ. Today, it is estimated that the Myanmar (Burma’s new name) Baptist Convention has 3,700 congregations today, with estimates of 617,781 members and 1,900,000 affiliates.
Indeed, “The future IS as bright as the promises of God!” There is no better way to encourage those who are struggling than with the truth of God’s Word!
3. Encourage those who are serving - v. 17
We encourage those who are serving with the reminder to “finish well.”
This is what Paul told Archippus. Based on Philemon 2, many scholars suggest that Archippus was the son of Philemon and Apphia; and that Epaphras had told Paul about his feeling called to full time ministry. This word needs to be given to those in ministry today.
Consider some of these statistics provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, Schaeffer Institute of Leadership Development, Lifeway, and Pastoral Care, Inc.
80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. 53% of pastors report that the seminary didn’t prepare them for the ministry. 75% of pastors report significant crisis at least once in their ministry. 54% of pastors find the role of a pastor overwhelming. 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once in the last year. 80% of pastors expect conflict within their church. 70% of pastors report they have a lower self-image now than when they first started. 70% of pastors do not have someone they consider to be a close friend. 250 pastors leave the ministry every month. 1 out of every 10 pastors will actually retire as a pastor.
But as we think about encouraging those who are serving, I think we shouldn’t just restrict this to those in vocational ministry, but to every child of God. After all, we are each called to full-time ministry as believers, regardless of our position or role within the church.
Sadly, however, there are many within the church who will speak to you of how they used to serve, but do so no longer; and there are too many who have never gotten involved in service at all. How might we encourage them?
A. Remind them who we serve (Colossians 3:24b). Sometimes Christians do not serve because they feel they weren’t appreciated. But remember, we are not serving for the recognition of others, but for the glory of Christ.
B. Remind them that their service will bring about results. Paul encouraged the Galatians to not be “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9) for, he said, at the proper time (in God’s time) you will reap a
harvest.
C. Remind them that their service counts for eternity. Christ will one day acknowledge everything done in service for Him in eternity (Matthew 25:23).
“When all that is of earth is passed, all that’s done for Christ will last.”
D. Remind them of the principle of “times and seasons” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Some believers are discouraged because they can no longer do what they used to when younger, or when they were more able bodied. But a wise person discerns the times and the seasons of life and follows God’s guidance accordingly. Just because someone cannot do what they once did 10 years ago, doesn't mean they cannot do something of eternal value in service to Christ today.
E. Remind them of how God guides through the members of His body (Ephesians 4:16). Just like the eye sees something that needs picked up, sends the message to the brain, and it is done by the hand, sometimes, God will lead a body of Christ to develop a whole new area of ministry that they hadn’t been involved in before, because God brings it to the attention of someone within the body. Feel free to approach church leaders with an idea for a new ministry that you feel called to pursue. Just because we’re not doing that, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be doing that!
F. Remind them of how that taking on the role of a servant is to be more like Christ.
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” - Philippians 2:5 (NLT)
Paul goes on to speak of how Jesus took on the form of a servant. Therefore, to not want to serve is to not want to be like Jesus.
4. Encourage those who are suffering - v. 18
We encourage those who are suffering by not forgetting them.
That is how Paul wanted the Colossians to encourage him. That’s what he meant when he said, “Remember my chains.” At the very least, Paul wanted them to remember him in prayer, but additionally, when possible, he wanted to hear from them and see them, as Epaphras had been sent to him.
There’s an old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Sadly, that can be all too true for us. Especially when someone is suffering in sickness, or poor health, or changing circumstances, or in persecution, they are often “out of sight” and therefore, not on our mind.
Conclusion:
Perhaps this is one of the best ways we can observe what we have come to call, the “Golden Rule”:
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” - Luke 6:31 (NLT)
“I have never met anyone too encouraged. Never once.” - Ray Ortland
Let’s answer the call to be ministers of encouragement!
