Encouragement

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“Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow.” --Richard Baxter

INTRODUCTION:
    By now, some of you may be feeling the strain of the needs of some of those around you.  Both those ‘up front’ needs, right down to the fact that your prayer lists and encouragement file continue to lengthen.  Let us be reminded that we EACH asked to be used of God to make His presence known in the highways and hedges of life.  All work in the kingdom is joyful, but all work in the kingdom comes at a cost!  Salvation IS free; but discipleship--including the duties of it--take a long time to teach.
    1.  It will cost you time and effort.
    2.  It will cost you the forfeiting of creature comforts and pet sins.
    3.  It will cost you ease and promotion.
    But, the eternal ‘bennies’ are out of this world…and Jesus IS coming back!

REMEMBER: IT’S OK TO TAKE TEN:
    Jesus Christ himself found the time to relax and take ten during some difficult and overwhelming days in his earthly ministry.  Yes, there were times when he went off to pray.  Yes, there were times when he took the time to heal all those who sought Him.  However, he did manage to catch a nap in a boat on a stormy sea.  He managed to visit with friends (Mary, Martha and Lazarus).  He ate with publicans and sinners.  IF Jesus could pay attention to the ‘basic’ needs of life, what’s wrong with those of us in His service doing the same?  Don’t fall into the trap that the work can’t get along without us.  IF we don’t take the time to ‘take ten’ every once in a while, we won’t be ready for service.  As a wise man once said during a lumber competition: “Take the time to take a break, if for no other reason than to sharpen your axe!”

PRAYER--THE REALITIES:
    *Prayer Changes Things:  Genesis 26:24-29  (Entire for Devotion)
Impossible to measure the changed wrought by REAL prayer.  However, important to state that you can’t underestimate the NEED for prayer…which is what Satan HOPES the Christian will do in stressful or ‘seemingly’ impossible situations’.  Burgess and Proudlove in their volume “Watching Unto Prayer” comes up with three things as takeaways about this situation:
        Violence (v17-23)  Vision (v24-25)  Victory (v26-28)
**NT Question: “Are you displaying the grace gifts (II Cor. Chs 8 & 9)?  Are you displaying the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians, Ch. 5)?  Are you adding to your OWN faith (II Peter 1:5-10)?  THESE are the marks of a Christian that will surface when the REAL heat is on!

ENCOURAGEMENT--THE JOYS:
    One of the beauties of Ruth, Chapter 3 is that Naomi has taught and encouraged Ruth, the Moabitess, how to be a woman of quality.  Boaz saw these qualities, and was encouraged by the fact that Ruth was a virtuous woman.  However, Ruth’s other qualities--that of being obedient to her mother-in-law Naomi, as well as being respectful and patient for the prize of marriage to Boaz were other qualities that came through.  Those who need encouragement, at times, must be challenged in their behavior.  Are they constantly ‘talking’ negative?  Are they NOT virtuous?  Are they doing people dirty?  Just these three items will impact on your ability to encourage them out of their ‘funk’ and into the next level of sunshine.  Sometimes, an inventory must be taken of the person we are seeking to encourage BEFORE we bless them with what God has for them!

SMOOTHING IT ALONG PRAYERFULLY--THE P. A. E. C. WAY:
    *Take the time to make your personal space an island of calm in the stormy seas of the day-to-day grind.  Keep your praise music handy on tape or CD or MP3.  Get rid of the clutter and post a few small posters spotlighting qualities needed for encouragement.

    Mike Ramey is a Minister, Book Reviewer, P-School Ranger, Modern Street Gangs Specialist and Syndicated Columnist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “The Overcomer Case Files” is meant for those of the Body of Christ who are serious about bringing in the harvest during these dark days.  This is one of a variety of columns that Ramey has in cyberspace.  To drop him a line--or a whine--the address is still the same:  [email protected].  ©2020  Barnstorm Communications.

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