God’s Gift of Exhortation
There are moments when life can feel - well? … unbearable – insurmountable even. Mistakes kind of pile up, setbacks multiply, losing – seems to be inevitable! The scoreboard tells a tale! – There's a "big fat ZERO" flashing on your side of the board! – In those moments of seeming despair - people don’t need more shame and a laundry list of all the stuff they’ve done wrong – or worse - empty optimism. What they need is someone who will step into the “halftime locker room,” look them in the eye, and say, “Hey - this game is not over.” –“God’s not finished here yet”! - That’s the gift of exhortation.
In Romans 12, Paul describes the seven motivational gifts given to believers by the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Giving, Administration, Mercy, and Exhortation. These aren’t just church roles or titles. They are Spirit-enabled instincts that compel us to respond in a certain way - when someone is in need.
Romans 12:8 says, “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.” That word translated “encourage” carries more meaning than just a simple pep talk and slap on the back. He uses a Greek word that indicates - “coming alongside someone” - to comfort, strengthen, urge, counsel, challenge and re-direct - (to walk it out with them). It is the word Jesus used for the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Comforter – The "Paracletos" (Greek: paráklētos) - "one called alongside to help". The gift of exhortation is the Spirit-given ability to come alongside people with comfort, courage, and practical direction so they can keep growing in Christ instead of giving up.
An exhorter brings three important things.
A powerful biblical example of this gifting at work is found in the life of Barnabas. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.”
When Saul, a former persecutor of Christians, became a believer, the disciples were afraid of him – and for good reason – he was “breathing threats and murder against them”. But after Saul's encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus - Barnabas stepped in, brought him to the apostles, and vouched for him. –Barnabas stood up for him when no one else would - and told them - how God had transformed his life. While others saw Saul’s past - Barnabas saw God’s future.
Later on - Barnabas also encouraged the young man - John Mark. After Mark had abandoned both he and Paul on their first missionary journey together. Paul vehemently said “no way” - is this 'quitter' - Mark going along on our next journey. Yet - Barnabas just as vehemently - believed in Mark – and insisted that he go. As a result - Paul took Silas one way and Barnabas went a different way with Mark. Again - Barnabas saw God’s future in Mark and knew in his heart that God was still at work in his life. That was proven true when - years later, Paul would describe Mark to Timothy as "extremely useful to him in ministry" - so ... he told Timothy to be sure to bring Mark along when he came. The one he had written off became an MVP on his team again. Barnabas saw a diamond in the rough - where others only saw the "rough"!
That’s what exhorters do. They see potential where others see a problem. They help people get back up – dust themselves off and go again! We live in a very discouraged and discouraging world. A world where - people are tired, overwhelmed, and carrying burdens we may never realize. Holy Spirit is challenging Exhorters to see others and their Godly potential - even though they may not be "fully-baked" yet. The church should be a place where people hear, “You are not done. God is still at work in your life - try these next steps.”
If you have this gift, use it intentionally and humbly. I want to challenge you - to ask God to show you - who needs to be "filled with courage" today. As well - if someone has been a Barnabas to you – I want to challenge you to tell them thank you! - Thank them today.
It is a most amazing gift - this gift of Exhortation - we need more encouragers in the body of Christ today than ever before!
God is not finished with you yet ... and with those He’s placed (and yet to place) in your path.
Be the coach!
Amen!
Blessings,
Pastor Bob
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
There are moments when life can feel - well? … unbearable – insurmountable even. Mistakes kind of pile up, setbacks multiply, losing – seems to be inevitable! The scoreboard tells a tale! – There's a "big fat ZERO" flashing on your side of the board! – In those moments of seeming despair - people don’t need more shame and a laundry list of all the stuff they’ve done wrong – or worse - empty optimism. What they need is someone who will step into the “halftime locker room,” look them in the eye, and say, “Hey - this game is not over.” –“God’s not finished here yet”! - That’s the gift of exhortation.
In Romans 12, Paul describes the seven motivational gifts given to believers by the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Giving, Administration, Mercy, and Exhortation. These aren’t just church roles or titles. They are Spirit-enabled instincts that compel us to respond in a certain way - when someone is in need.
Romans 12:8 says, “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.” That word translated “encourage” carries more meaning than just a simple pep talk and slap on the back. He uses a Greek word that indicates - “coming alongside someone” - to comfort, strengthen, urge, counsel, challenge and re-direct - (to walk it out with them). It is the word Jesus used for the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Comforter – The "Paracletos" (Greek: paráklētos) - "one called alongside to help". The gift of exhortation is the Spirit-given ability to come alongside people with comfort, courage, and practical direction so they can keep growing in Christ instead of giving up.
An exhorter brings three important things.
- 1st. - They bring comfort. Not comfort that denies reality, but comfort that says, “You are not alone, and God has not left you.” 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us that God comforts us in our troubles so we can comfort others with the comfort we have received from Him.
- 2nd. They bring courage. I like to say .... "to encourage - means to ... fill with courage”. An exhorter sees what is possible when others only see failure. They say, “Don't quit ... God is still working.” and "You got this and God's got you"
- 3rd. They bring direction. True exhortation is not empty platitudes or flattery. To exhort is to help someone to take the next step. It applies Scripture practically and walks with people as they find their footing again.
A powerful biblical example of this gifting at work is found in the life of Barnabas. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.”
When Saul, a former persecutor of Christians, became a believer, the disciples were afraid of him – and for good reason – he was “breathing threats and murder against them”. But after Saul's encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus - Barnabas stepped in, brought him to the apostles, and vouched for him. –Barnabas stood up for him when no one else would - and told them - how God had transformed his life. While others saw Saul’s past - Barnabas saw God’s future.
Later on - Barnabas also encouraged the young man - John Mark. After Mark had abandoned both he and Paul on their first missionary journey together. Paul vehemently said “no way” - is this 'quitter' - Mark going along on our next journey. Yet - Barnabas just as vehemently - believed in Mark – and insisted that he go. As a result - Paul took Silas one way and Barnabas went a different way with Mark. Again - Barnabas saw God’s future in Mark and knew in his heart that God was still at work in his life. That was proven true when - years later, Paul would describe Mark to Timothy as "extremely useful to him in ministry" - so ... he told Timothy to be sure to bring Mark along when he came. The one he had written off became an MVP on his team again. Barnabas saw a diamond in the rough - where others only saw the "rough"!
That’s what exhorters do. They see potential where others see a problem. They help people get back up – dust themselves off and go again! We live in a very discouraged and discouraging world. A world where - people are tired, overwhelmed, and carrying burdens we may never realize. Holy Spirit is challenging Exhorters to see others and their Godly potential - even though they may not be "fully-baked" yet. The church should be a place where people hear, “You are not done. God is still at work in your life - try these next steps.”
If you have this gift, use it intentionally and humbly. I want to challenge you - to ask God to show you - who needs to be "filled with courage" today. As well - if someone has been a Barnabas to you – I want to challenge you to tell them thank you! - Thank them today.
It is a most amazing gift - this gift of Exhortation - we need more encouragers in the body of Christ today than ever before!
God is not finished with you yet ... and with those He’s placed (and yet to place) in your path.
Be the coach!
Amen!
Blessings,
Pastor Bob
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
HOPE Blog ... Pastor Bob DeFelice
Sometimes random - sometimes not - some things I think - measured against scripture.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
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