An encourager is born and matured from their own suffering and sacrifice. They have more empathy for others who are discouraged and in pain because they know and have experienced pain.  But an encourager’s pain, sadness over disappointing responses from those loved, circumstances beyond their making, do not overtake them.  An encourager is one who has given all to be all that pleases the Lord.  An encourager is at peace because of the peace given as a gift from their Savior and Lord—Jesus.  The best and most trusted agent of encouragement that truly helps others is one who believes and is fully committed to Jesus.

Paul has become an encourager to all who believe and to all who have yet to believe in Jesus.  His life is Jesus.  His actions result from the prompting of God’s Holy Spirit.  Paul has indeed “shared in the sufferings” of his Savior and Lord and now helps others be lifted up from their pain in Jesus Name. (See Philippians 3:10-11)

Acts 20, The Message

Macedonia and Greece

^1-2 With things back to normal, Paul called the disciples together and encouraged them to keep up the good work in Ephesus. Then, saying his good-byes, he left for Macedonia. Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.

^2-4 Then he came to Greece and stayed on for three months. Just as he was about to sail for Syria, the Jews cooked up a plot against him. So he went the other way, by land back through Macedonia, and gave them the slip. His companions for the journey were Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, both Thessalonians; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and the two from western Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

^5-6 They went on ahead and waited for us in Troas. Meanwhile, we stayed in Philippi for Passover Week, and then set sail. Within five days we were again in Troas and stayed a week.

^7-9 We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.

^10-12 Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

^13-16 In the meantime, the rest of us had gone on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we planned to pick up Paul. Paul wanted to walk there, and so had made these arrangements earlier. Things went according to plan: We met him in Assos, took him on board, and sailed to Mitylene. The next day we put in opposite Chios, Samos a day later, and then Miletus. Paul had decided to bypass Ephesus so that he wouldn’t be held up in Asia province. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem in time for the Feast of Pentecost, if at all possible.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul strengthened and encouraged those who were believers. He traveled to several recently planted churches and spent time with Christians there. Paul, knowing that he would never be back at Ephesus again, was careful to explain that his sacrificial love for the Ephesians was like Jesus’ love for the church.  His later letters burst with his love for all believers.  He seeks to build up whoever needs encouragement with the love of Jesus that lives deeply within his heart, mind, and soul. 

Max Lucado, an encourager, writes;

True Christianity is more than just going to church on Sundays. It’s a genuine love for other people—a sacrificial love.

Who wants to live with yesterday’s rubble? Who wants to hoard the trash of the past? You don’t, do you?

Or do you?

Not in your house, mind you, but in your heart? Not the junk of papers and boxes, but the remnants of anger and hurt. Do you pack-rat pain? Amass offenses? Record slights?

A tour of your heart might be telling. A pile of rejections stockpiled in one corner. Accumulated insults filling another. Images of unkind people lining the wall, littering the floor.

No one can blame you. Innocence takers, promise breakers, wound makers—you’ve had your share. Yet doesn’t it make sense to get rid of their trash? Want to give every day a chance? Jesus says: Give the grace you’ve been given.  (Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible)

Paul writes; “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11“

PAUSE TO PRAY BEFORE RESPONDING TODAY:

Let us perform an inventory of our caregiving and encouragement actions both locally and globally. Who gets our help?

Who do we notice first? What is our first thought about them?  Love and encouragement or judgement with guilt-producing “advice”?

What does it take for us to agree to meet someone’s need?

Ask God what He thinks our response of encouragement should be.   

Give something extra today—there are many unmet needs around us. 

TAKE ACTION!  Take 5 minutes to write an encouraging note! 

Pray first: Ask God who needs your encouragement.  He will answer this prayer!

The New Testament letters from Paul, Peter and others show us how to encourage others through writing:

• Tell them that you thank God for them and their fellowship in the gospel.
• Identify one or two traits that give evidence of God’s grace in their lives.  (“I see Jesus in you when you_____.”)
• Share a biblical truth or promise that speaks to their present situation.
• Show how they contribute to your life and the church.

Ian Hamilton rightly affirms; “Encouragers have Christ-like sight and a Christ-like heart. They are not blind to the sins and weaknesses of fellow Christians, but they recognize that “love builds up. . .. Encouragers are often our great High Priest’s means of ministering his divine sympathy to our bruised and lacerated souls.”

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).   

By investing five minutes per day for five days per week, it is possible to personally encourage through handwritten notes more than 250 people every year! It is also possible that God will use our example to foster a culture of encouragement throughout our churches!

Encouragement is something we all need to keep us motivated, loved, and feeling confident in ourselves and what we do. It’s something that is important for our mental and overall health and it truly can give us just the same amount of joy to give it to others as it is to receive it.

Because God created us and knows this about our personalities, he has provided countless verses in the Bible to not only encourage us but also to teach us the importance of lifting up those around us. Imagine how your community could change for the better with a little more encouragement between neighbors instead of community message boards filled with complaints. Or how strong your team at work could become if each person talked up their teammates’ work instead of their own accomplishments in order to get ahead. What a world that could be!

Here are a few encouragement verses to get us started:

Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalm 31:24, Psalm 121:1-2, Romans 15:2, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Romans 8:31, Romans 15:5, Psalm 90:17, Romans 1:11-12, 2 Corinthians 1:5, 1 Timothy 4:12 , 2 Corinthians 4:16, Isaiah 40:31, Joshua 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Timothy 1:7,  John 14:27, Philippians 1:6,  John 15:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 18:10, Galatians 6:2,

Lord,

May we be encouragers of your love, mercy, and grace.  You have given us all the help we need to be encouragers!  May we extend the grace give to us to others.  May we always point the way to you because of you living in us.  May our lives reflect your glory and goodness.  Help us to live so that others are drawn to your love growing generously in us.  May we be generous with our praise for you and our encouragement of others!

In Jesus Name, Amen