Encouragement has been defined as something everyone wants and needs, but very few know how to give, or readily will. If we are honest, I think we would each admit to wanting and, in fact, needing it.
Webster’s dictionary defines it as: to inspire with courage and hope; to stimulate, foster and incite courage.
In our Western culture this necessary nutrient for our well being is sorely lacking. The body to be properly nourished distributes nutrients through the circulatory system. The circulatory system for the Body of Christ, the church, is fellowship/relationships in Jesus. So, it is a sad commentary to think of encouragement as lacking in the Body of Christ.
Please understand I did not say that encouragement comes through teaching! Particularly not platform to spectator type instruction based in the transfer of data, knowledge, and information about the bible or even about God. NO! NO! It comes through the circulatory system of relationship and fellowship in Him, in His Body, sharing life in knowing Him.
I think, sometimes, it is lacking in the Body of Christ because we don’t see others as “needy” for being encouraged.
This stands, I suspect, grossly opposed to the early church where they had to encourage one another just to hang on. They had to encourage one another on an ongoing basis because they were persecuted and had problems. They had to encourage one another in order to just stand and hold on to their hope. They had to have those kinds of relationships with one another.
May I be so bold as to suggest we are blindly kidding ourselves if we do not see ourselves and others as needy regarding encouragement. We, the ekklesia, today still need ongoing encouragement to just stand for Him and hold on to our hope in Him, in the face of a darkening culture, existentialism, humanism, and more.
I taught, in a more traditional pastoral position back in 1982, that I was convinced the most important thing we could do to build up one another in the Body of Christ is encourage one another regularly and often. I still think this is true!
If you want to see the Body of Christ come into the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ Jesus, and If you want to see the body of Christ functioning in growing itself up in love (see Ephesians 4:13,15-16), If you believe God has purpose for that to happen, and for that to be a part of our passion for the ekklesia… Then, encouragement is the nutrient for that maturity and growth. And, it is delivered in the “one another” relationships and fellowship we have in Jesus.
God has placed within each of us, in the makeup of man, a desire to be needed. We want to feel important and necessary to someone or something. I believe the LORD has put that in us to cause, or drive, us to find purpose in Him. We will not find that He/God needs us. Or, that we are necessary to Him. Because He is complete and sufficient in Himself. But that desire moves us to search out our origin and purpose. To one day ask: “What is it all about? Why am I here?” Existential philosophy and Humanism will leave you empty. In fact, outside of finding life and purpose in Christ Jesus, all else will be empty. But in Christ, as a believer and functioning member of His body, we not only find salvation from judgment; we find purpose in co-laboring with, or in Him, in the eternal purpose of God. It is, in fact, why the gospel has been preached.
[1Peter 4:6-11 NASB95] 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to [the will of] God. 7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober [spirit] for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, [is to do so] as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves [is to do so] as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The gospel has gone forward, preached to dead men – those dead in sin and judgment – that they might live in the Spirit (“according to”- Greek “kata” in, as, by, daily with)God. NOTE: the “one another” stewardship that is oulined – love, hospitality, service with gifts given you specifically by God, speaking of and for God, service with God enabled strength! All that God may receive Glory through Jesus personally, and through us as His body. All these acts are ways that are a part of ministering to/encouraging one another. And none are primarily done at or through traditional church meetings or platform-to-spectator teaching!
With that said let us consider the place of encouragement.
[Hebrews 10:19-25 NASB95] 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since [we have] a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging [one another;] and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
This passage starts out with an overlooked word: “SINCE” … because, because this is the reality… certain things are true and established. With that in mind let’s discover what follows.
We, believers, now have confidence by the blood of Jesus to enter the holy place. The place of God’s presence, His glory, His mercy, His provision – all the provision the ark symbolized – the holy of holy is now open. Jesus has made a new and living pathway through the veil that once kept us out. As His flesh was pierced the veil in the temple was torn.
And another Since.… because… we now have a great high priest, and intercessor, in Him/Jesus; Let us (we can) draw near with full assurance of faith, hearts cleansed by the sprinkling of blood cleansing an evil conscience, and bodies washed with pure water to minister before God. Let us (we can) hold our hope without fear or wavering.
These things set up by Since… because this is true … are foundational. They are the foundation for our moving in relationship with our Holy God and IN Jesus in relationship to one another. Since – We have been cleansed, We have a high priest, We have forgiveness and righteousness in Jesus and before God, the end result is four things:
1) Let us (we can) draw near
2) Let us (we can) hold fast the confession of hope
3) Let us (we can) consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds
4) Not forsaking ( we ought to be) getting together, but doing so for the specific purpose of encouraging one another
The outworking of encouragement is to work these four things into, and through, our relationships.
Through encouragement we can be aiding one another in developing a personal relationship with the LORD, drawing near to Him. Speaking of His faithfulness, His love and mercy, His ways, even His just judgments and holiness, about who He is and knowing His nature and character. Let us speak to one another of Him the way that David and the psalmist did, speaking to their souls, moving our soul – mind, will, and emotion, toward Him in all circumstances. Battles, trials, and high times of intimate praise/worship.
Through encouragement we can build up one another in fundamental truths and our hope. Confessions regarding knowing that we are saved and have eternal life, the surety of His coming, the resurrection, communion, His purpose in the church, and more.
Through encouragement we can stimulate one another to love and good deeds. The word stimulate here means provoke. Literally, if you will, “egg one another on”. I picture Mohammed Ali … how he would provoke his opponent in the boxing ring to come after him…”Come on. I’m so pretty, and fast.. come on… bring it on! Just see if you can touch me!” Only we’re saying …“Come on… love me, love that brother….serve that sister… help that one… speak to that situation. Your God in you is more than enough!” A part of this is considering another’s trials, difficulties, and their weaknesses and strengths. Then, provoking active love to deal with one another where they/we are. Provoking active love for one another. And, provoking practical service to one another in good works.
Ephesians 2:10 indicates that we have been purposed for and called to good works in Christ. Let us also encourage specific calling and gifting in others, like Jonathan to David. Stimulate one another to hold to what God has called them to and given them to do.
In verse 25… not forsaking assembling. We generally take this to mean large once a week gatherings, so called “church meetings”. I don’t think the early church met in large buildings with large parking lots (camel and donkey corrals) and only on the Lord’s day. They met house to house. They were often persecuted. So, I believe the instruction here is more about groups on a smaller basis and more often. The writer was simply saying don’t stop getting together….small or large gatherings, or otherwise – one or two, persecuted or not. In fact, get together all the more, in the day of troubles.
Christianity was never meant to be walked out alone. We are a body, a family, a community. We need one another, and we find our place and purpose, reason for being here, in fellowship and relationships in Him.
Finally, There is safety and security in our encouragement of one another.
[Hebrews 3:12-13 NASB95] 12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is [still] called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Clearly encouragement is the defense and shield against unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin. We must stand together because we cannot stand alone, and were not intended to.
Revelation 12 says the accuser of the brethren accuses them day and night. We live in a time when such inspiration to unbelief, and sin’s deceitfulness is as near as a cell phone, t.v., computer and any media screen. Let us encourage one another day after day. We often hear of prominent leaders falling, and “Christian” celebrities “deconstructing” their faith.
Without much exposition … let me suggest you read Numbers 14 where the people wanted to turn back and were appointing leaders to take them back to Egypt after the spies returned from a look at the promised land. Be Caleb, be Joshua. Encourage people to hope in God and go forward for the promise is good and near, and God is for us. They may want to stone you for your confidence, but when you stand for Him…. the glory of the LORD may appear and be obvious to all.
[Numbers 14:6-7, 9-10 NASB95] 6 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. … 9 “Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” 10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.
You may think you are not equipped to encourage others because you are not a preacher, teacher, or don’t know enough. Let me encourage you. You are equipped. The Holy Spirit is the The Encourager. Jesus promised He would send a Helper, a “parakletos” – one called alongside to help, an advocate, a defending attorney. He is in you for this very work of encouragement.
Again, encouragement is, perhaps IMHO,The Most Important thing we can do to build up the Body of Christ. For years, since the 80’s, I’ve suggested, sometimes strongly, believers use the technology we have at hand – phone calls, letters, cards, visits, e-mail, text, visits, breakfast-lunch-dinner-coffee meet ups- etc. as tools for encouragement. By far and in large part, without wanting to condemn anyone, I’ve not seen much change. I continue to do so even now, because I believe that in most fellowships, if each one were simply making 3 calls per week to other believers (or in some way contacting or practically serving a couple of others), we could move most fellowships from meeting focused to relationship focused. How much time does a few calls or text take? Our technology and transportation advances make this an easy thing. Eventually, if the church is building itself up in love and the full stature of Christ, we can turn fellowships, and even cities, upside down, as we provoke the world to jealousy over how we love one another.