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Encouragement

By Bobbie Jean Merck

On Friday, July 8, 2005 while in earnest prayer for His perfect will as I would minister on July 10^th to Harvest Time Church International, Pastor Stacy and Sophia Carver, the word of the Lord came powerfully to me. God said if we would live by the Spirit and His Word in these ten principles we would always live a life in and of encouragement. I was absolutely interested and excited! Therefore I began my journey with God and His Word.

             Having taught on encouragement previously I wanted to have insight to and understanding of what God has to say for now. I did some research on encouragement. The anointing was and is on these synonyms. They are: to make stronger, furtherance, promotion, to advance, advancement.

             Then I knew! God was exhorting us to be in a state or condition of encouragement at all times for the above reasons.

             1.) Encouragement will make you stronger.  Discouragement will weaken you into fainting, weariness, giving up, and quitting.

             We must remain encouraged at all times.

            God is desiring to do great and mighty things for, in and through us.

             Encouraged reveals we have faith in God; we trust Him. Yes, David encouraged himself in the Lord when his closest friends and partners wanted to kill him. He received hope and strength from God.  (See First Samuel 30:6.) Ultimate encouragement comes only from the Lord.

             2.) God is wanting to take us further than we have been, and truly beyond what we have asked or imagined. To do so, He knows we must live a life of encouragement.

             You know, encouragement is of God and discouragement is of the devil. That's clear and simple.  Many times He told Joshua, “do not be discouraged.” Joshua had a mighty assignment and discouragement would cause him and the assignment to fail.

              Therefore, encouragement causes you to succeed; and discouragement causes you to fail. I choose encouragement and success.

               3.) It is God's “set time” to promote us, not for our own sake, but for His and His cause sake.

               You have heard it, “if we keep on doing what we have always done we will keep on getting what we have always gotten.”

 Let me say, “If we keep on staying where we've been, we keep on getting what we have gotten.”

 I am determined not to “sit here until we die.”  Promotion indeed comes from God.  But let's move, adjust, and change what is necessary, which gives Him substance (faith) to promote us. Man can't promote us, but God can!

 4.) Advance and advancement: God promises to advance us (verb) so that we can abide in that advancement (noun). I rejoiced with great joy at this strategic word's definition. Webster's New Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus defines advance and advancement thusly:

Verb:   1.) To move or bring forward or onward.

            2.) To purpose.

            3.) To aid the growth or progress of.

            4.) To make progress.

            5.) To raise or rise in rank, amount, or value.

            6.) To cause to occur sooner; hasten.

            7.) To pay (money) before legally due.

           Noun:  1.) The act of moving or going forward.

            2.) Improvement; progress.

            3.) A rise in price or value.

            4.) Advances. Personal approaches to secure acquaintance, favor, or agreement.

             There are more, but I am having a Holy Ghost revival in the above! Meditate on them for God has promised the “set time” for us to advance and be in a 24/7 condition of advancement to be now!

             The very first principle the Lord spoke for encouragement is to be found in Second Corinthians 13:14 Amplified. “The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).”

             Communion with the Holy Spirit is the beginning and ending and the launching pad for a life of encouragement, supernatural power and authority.  Our very beginning as the new creation in Christ Jesus began with the Holy Spirit (John Three) and the Word (First Peter 1:23).

              Communion's number one meaning is partnership. We see the truth and operation of this partnership and communion in Acts 15:28. “…the Holy Ghost, and us….”

             Partners help. Communion and partner means to be a partaker, a companion; and participation.  Everything that our Lord Jesus Christ said and did was in communion and in being a partner with the Holy Spirit.

             The apostles had observed this secret.  Therefore after the baptism in the Holy Spirit they had an unction and a passion to pursue communion, partnership, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  We see such a life of encouragement throughout the Book of Acts. Another beautiful example of this is noted in Acts 13:1-3. “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

             I love this! Communion also means to take responsibility for someone. When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit took the responsibility of us! Can you imagine? He, the Holy Spirit is responsible for us. Is it any wonder that we do not and must not grieve the Holy Spirit?

             “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:30-32).

             Life is such a joy when we understand the Holy Spirit is responsible for us.  Because He is responsible for us He never gives up on us, and will perfect all that concerns us. 

             Then, there is absolutely no need for worry, anxiety, and fretfulness, or fear!  These are works of the flesh and they are habits that are created or formed in the mind by continuance.  Instead of existing in this habit (which assuredly produces discouragement) we will think God-Word-thoughts. We will apply God's appropriate Word and our faith in our minds rather than worry about the problem.

             We will roll over or cast upon the Lord our problem-burden-thoughts.

             “Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT).

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (First Peter 5:7).

             These things we will do as they are necessary!  Let us make the Holy Spirit happy!

             Another outstanding, strengthening, and prosperous principle of encouragement is found in Philippians 4:14.  “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”

             Note the word communicate in this scripture.  It is another use of the Greek word koinonia.  Paul commended them for their generous gift to his ministry. Paul had poured his heart and soul into helping churches other than the Church at Philippi.  But this church was the only church that continued to communicate, fellowship, partnership, and commune with Paul.

             The Philippians “only” were the church that took responsibility for Paul. The amazing truth in this is that their partnership of giving to Paul came during the time he was in the Roman prison. One would think Paul had no need or needs in prison. But out of their love and partnership they gave. What an encouragement this was to Paul!

             We learn in this that we must not look at the “natural” circumstances and assume they need nothing. Neither do we give by emotion based on an emotional plea. We give as a partner in fellowship.

             We only act upon that which and when and in whom we believe.

             They did not forget Paul. Out of sight - out of mind did not rule here. They remembered Paul by giving to him! Paul responded, “…and the RESPONSIBILITY of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

              The Holy Spirit will take responsibility and care of you IF you will ask Him and let Him do so. Let Him be your Helper and Partner every day.

             Encourage one another! Plant a seed of encouragement today and daily. When no one helps or encourages you, the enemy can defeat you!

             Encouragement insures makes certain, no defeat!

             Yes, God spoke nine other principles in living a life of encouragement. But time and space will not permit me to continue. If it is the leading of the Holy Spirit for me to continue in other Overflow issues, I will do so.

             Be Encouraged!!!

              “The victory is certain. The Captain on whose side we are who knows no defeat” (Second Corinthians 2:14 Conybeare).

             As John Wesley whispered (which took all the strength he could muster) on his death bed as his dying words, “The best of all, God is with us!”

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