20-07-08 WE ALL NEED AN ENCOURAGER

WE ALL NEED AN ENCOURAGER.
‘Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

DEFINITIONS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Websters Dictionary:
The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
Persuasion to do or to continue something.
Biblical Definition of Encouragement
To replenish one’s courage (en-couragement)
Restore one’s confidence (when its depleted by life’s experiences)
To revive hope: One of the best examples of encouragement from God is to Joshua when he said: “Be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1).

OUTLINE OF THIS STUDY
What is encouragement?
Why is encouragement so important to God?
Why we need encouragement.
Characteristics of a good encourager.
How to encourage people.
The dangers of discouragement and the power of discouragers in your life.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO GOD THAT WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER?
Hebrews 3:13
I Thess. 4:18; 5:11

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Our chief want in life is to find someone who will make us do what we can.” Life is breathed into the “can” we can do by the right person, with the right word, at the right moment, delivering an essential truth in a loving and gracious way.

We don’t have to wait until someone has died to share our appreciation of them. They might need to hear our encouraging words today!
Encouraging words have a way of bringing life, courage, hope and truth or clarity to the recipient.
Prov 12:25; 15:13, 23; 16:24; 27:9; Col 4:8

Dr John Gottman suggests that in healthy relationships there will be at least five positive interactions for every one negative one. That means if we ever criticize people or give negative feedback, we need to be at least five times as good at encouraging and speaking positively.

EVERYONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT

WHY DO WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT?
Because God knows we need it…why? Life is hard…

John 16:33
I Peter 4:12
John 15:20
2 Tim 3:12; Matt 10:22-23; 2 Cor 2:15-16

WHY DO WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT?

We need each other to help us stay “on track.”

Hebrews 3:13 (7-13); 4:11; 10:24-25; Rom 13:11-14; 2 Pet 1:12 – going astray starts in the heart

WHY DO WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT?
I can’t make it alone, and neither can you.
It is not good that man should be alone – Gen.2:18
We all need other.
No-one can make it alone.

WHY DO WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT?
You are too close to your own problems.

We all have blind spots. How many of us can clearly see the answers to our problems.
The way of a man is right in his own eyes… Prov 12:15; Luke 16:15

In the multitude of counselors there is much wisdom… Prov 11:14; 24:6

WHY DO WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT?
Encouragement was a regular part of the early church’s life together. Acts 13:15; 16:40; 18:27; 20:1-2; 27:36
They spurred one anther in
faith Acts 14:22;
hope Rom 15:4;
unity Rom 15:5; Col 2:2;
joy Acts 15:32;
fruitfulness Heb 10:24-25; faithfulness I Thess 2:12; perseverance Heb 10:25

WHY DO WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGERS?
Because this is what God wants us to do: Every Christian must be an active encourager—meaning, continually involved in encouraging others. Mutual encouragement is a HUGE part of our corporate responsibilities as Christians.
Heb 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom 1:11-12; 2 Tim 4:2; Acts 11:23; Acts 15:32; Acts 16:40; Acts 20:1-2; 1 Cor 14:3, 31; Eph 6:22

5 QUALITIES YOU NEED TO BE A GREAT ENCOURAGER BY JIM AKERS
Everyone can be a great encourager by developing and nurturing five qualities.

1—A Genuine Heart for People. Encouragers demonstrate a real and loving concern for people. …

2—An Empathetic Ear. …

3—An Eye for Potential. …

4—A Consistent Source of Hope. …

5—Setting a Positive and Inspiring Example.

A GENUINE HEART FOR PEOPLE
Encouragers demonstrate a real and loving concern for people. They are keenly aware of when changing conditions and circumstances ignite fear, break hearts and rob you of your passion. Rick Warren says, “The first job of leadership is to love people.” The condition of your heart is a measure of your willingness and capacity to encourage.

AN EMPATHETIC EAR
Encouragers actively listen with empathy. Meaningful encouragement is grounded in understanding—being able to accurately interpret what other people are saying. Great encouragers consistently seek to understand people. They are as comfortable with your fears and failures as they are with your hopes and dreams.

AN EYE FOR POTENTIAL
Encouragers see people as storehouses of untapped potential because they don’t see you where you are but have a vision of where you can go. By looking at people as a work-in-progress they provide coaching, feedback and mentoring that enables the discovery and development of your unique gifts and talents.

A CONSISTENT SOURCE OF HOPE
Encouragers see circumstances and conditions as changeable. They are prayerful problem-solvers and help you create solutions and pursue positive change. They know that resistance and failure are the inevitable companions of lofty goals and dreams and consistently deliver words of hope that support your race to the finish line.

SETTING A POSITIVE AND INSPIRING EXAMPLE
In every role of their life they are consistently the same because they are comfortable mixing with people from every area of their life because they are the same publicly, privately and personally. Great encouragers become pictures of humility, authenticity, compassion and action.

LET US PRAY