How To Be An Encourager In Discouraging Situations Acts 11:22-26
Illustration:Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
William Arthur Ward.
1. Have you ever wondered how to encourage people during discouraging moments?
Barnabas was rightly called, the Son of Encouragement because he knew how to inspire people toward greatness. Barnabas is a fine example of a man who knew how to give courage, hope and embolden the hearts of those who really needed help. While others were suspicious of Paul, Barnabas staked his own reputation on the quality of the driven manâs commitment. Barnabas knew how to encourage the church leaders to accept Paul as one of their own. The encourager knew how to look beyond the surface to the depth of Paul’s love, determination and faith. Trust the Lord to help you to offer emotional, spiritual and social support for those who need encouraging.
Ask God to help you develop a ministry of encouragement to people struggling with discouragement.
Illustration:The Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, was not an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be desired. In his old age a young lady asked him what, if anything, he would do differently if he had his life to live over again. Wellington thought for a moment, then replied. "I’d give more praise," he said.
Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, p. 24.
2. Barnabas trusted God for personal encouragement so he could in turn inspire others. Do not think that you can make lasting change in the hearts of people unless your encouragement originates from the power of the Holy Spirit.
Phony encouragement quickly dissipates in the heat of adversity. Barnabas was a man who knew how to draw his courage from the Lord Jesus, His words and His promises. Unless we are consistently involved with drawing from the well of Christ’s living water we will be tempted to encourage ourselves without pure spiritual motivations.
Quote: From John Gill’s Commentary:
"for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content; (Phil. 4:12)
or "to be sufficient", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; or that that is sufficient for me which I have, as the Syriac version renders it; for the word here used signifies to be self-sufficient, or to have a sufficiency in one’s self, which in the strict sense of the phrase is only true of God, who is "El-shaddai", God all-sufficient; but, in a lower sense, is true of such who are contented with their present state and condition, with such things as they have, be they more or less, and think that they have enough, as old Jacob did, (Genesis 33:11) ; and such persons have a sort of an all-sufficiency in them; they are thankful for every thing they have, be it little or more, and in every state, whether of adversity or prosperity; and quietly and patiently submit to the will of God, and cheerfully take and bear whatever is assigned them as their portion; and such an one was the apostle: he was not only content with food and raiment, and such things as he had, but even when he had nothing at all; when he had neither bread to eat nor clothes to wear; when he was in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, as was sometimes his case; and therefore he does not say here, that he had learnt to be content with such things as he had, but (en oiv eimi) , "in what I am": and this he had not by nature, but by grace; it was not natural, but adventitious to him; it was not what he had acquired by his industry, but what he had "learned"; and that not in the school of nature and reason, while an unregenerate man; nor at the feet of Gamaliel, while he was training up under him in the law of Moses, and in the traditions of the elders; but he learned it of God, and was taught it by the revelation of Christ, and under the teachings of the Spirit of God, and that in the school of affliction, by a train of experiences, of many sorrows, afflictions, and distresses; for this lesson is learned quite contrary to all the rules and reasons among men, not by prosperity, but by adversity: many are the things that may excite and encourage to the exercise of this heavenly grace, where it is wrought; as the consideration of the unalterable will of God, according to which every man’s state and condition is settled, and therefore what God has made crooked can never be made straight; and of our case when we came into the world, and what that will be when we go out of it, naked and bare of this world’s things; and of our unworthiness of the least mercy at the hand of God: add to which, the consideration of God being our portion and exceeding great reward; of having an interest in Christ and all things in him; and of the profits and pleasures of a life of contentment; and of the promises which God has made to such; and of the future glory and happiness which will shortly be enjoyed: so that a believer may say, who has the smallest pittance of earthly enjoyments, this, with a covenant God, with an interest in Christ, with grace here and heaven hereafter, is enough."
Application: Ask the Lord to help you find your encouragement, sufficiency, courage and inspiration through a growing time in personal devotions, scriptural meditation and praise filled prayer. Get around encouraging people.
3. Barnabas knew how to encourage others to see the best points in people. By serving as an advocate for Paul, the early Christians learned how to focus on the latent potential of a former enemy of the church. Ask the Lord to help you to bring out the best in every person. Choose to look at the parts of each glass that are full rather than its empty or negative characteristics.
4. Barnabas had great credibility in the eyes of church leaders for three reasons: A). He was regarded as a good man indicating his benevolence to all regardless of their background. B). He was full of the Holy Spirit indicating that he was in complete submission to the will of God C). He operated out of a full and mature faith, coming out of a Levite background. Trust God to help you heighten your credibility.
Expect your encouragement to make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Ask the Lord to help you to grow in your credibility so that your encouragement will have a greater eternal impact.
5. Barnabas was able to encourage difficult people who were prone toward legalism and traditionalism. Here was a man who knew how to speak to people who were very resistant to any kind of change. The Jews were very proud of their traditions and laws, but Barnabas encouraged them to accept Paul as one who could teach everyone something about Godâs grace.
Ask the Lord to help you encourage difficult people toward more of an attitude of living by grace rather than by law.
6. Barnabas refused to give in to the prevailing discouragements in his circumstances. He went on two missionary journeys, despite a sharp disagreement with Paul, to help multiply the encouraging power of the gospel of Christ. Barnabas did not remain content to just encourage Christians, but he carried the good news of Christ to those who needed it most.
Ask the Lord to help you to take the encouraging message of Jesus to those who are prisoners of their own sins.
7. Barnabas knew how to give people second chances. Thankfully, Barnabas gave John Mark a second chance and even the apostle Paul eventually admitted that he was useful. We can thank Barnabas for encouraging John Mark to write the gospel of Mark that has encouraged billions. Barnabas was not ready to give up on someone who Paul considered to be too risky to accompany him on a second missionary journey. Do not be too hasty to give up on people because of a few disappointing episodes. Remember, how many times the Lord has given you many second chances.
Ask the Lord to help you encourage those who need a second or third chance.
A great friend is someone who steps in when everybody else abandons us.
Conclusion:An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
