11^th April 2012

The RSV in Colossians 2v.2 is ‘knit together in love.' Like ladies knitting! ‘Encouragement' is often in Acts and N.T. Letters. We shrivel for lack of it or are built up by it.
1) The SOURCES:

(a) Our Triune God, Father God and Son Jesus, Rom 15:4-6; Phil 2:1,5; II Thess 2:16-17 and the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) The Counsellor - Greek ‘paraclete' means ‘called alongside'. See Acts 9:31 too.

(b) The Scriptures, Rom 15:4. It leads to hope as we live in and by Bible truth.

2) The CHANNELS are God-possessed, Christ-centred Spirit-filled Christians.

(a) Christian Leaders. See Barnabas whose name means ‘son of encourage- ment' in Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-27. In 11:22-23 being sent to Antioch he saw the grace of God and encouraged them, v 24 describes him, in vv 25-26 he sought Saul (later ‘Paul') with such potential and affirmed his leadership. See Paul in Acts 14:19-22 - stoned, left for dead, but encouraging others. In 20:1-2 after a tough time, he encouraged others and reaching Greece. Paul had colleagues Timothy in I Thess 3:2 and Tychicus in Col 4:7-8 and Eph 6:21-22; Judas and Silas in Acts 15 who took the Jerusalem Council's Encouragement Letter and also spoken encouragement to others (30-32). But read also about of the
(b) ‘Ordinary' Christians as Philemon verse 1. In Acts 28:15 Christians in Rome encouraged Paul and Romans 1:12 mentions ‘mutual encouragement'. Spot the ‘each other' and ‘one another' verses in the N.T. as Hebs 3:13 and 10:25.

3) The GOALS - now, and the Second Coming. In Hebrews 3:12-14 encourage- ment is ‘so that no-one is hardened by sin's deceitfulness'. Hebs 10:25 says don't neglect ‘meeting together' as some did - and still do - ‘as you see the DAY approaching.' What about worship, Bible Study & Prayer Groups and mutual encouragement in other ‘means of grace'? All that is ‘so that we may live with Christ' (I Thess 5:10-11). Note I Thess 5:14 ‘Encourage the timid'; they need it!

4) The METHODS. Back to Hebs 3:13 stressing encouragement daily. Pray for daily opportunities: face-to-face, letters, Greeting Cards, telephone, faxes and emails, mobile SMS messages. Spot the Letters in the Bible from Paul and others. The Council of Jerusalem sent encouragement in Acts 15:31. See also Acts 18:26-27, Priscilla and Aquila's letter commending Apollos. ‘Letters of commendation' were in the early church (II Cors 3:1-3) and we Christians are ‘living letters from Christ' read by others. BE encouraged yourself by our Triune God and in Scripture, then encourage others.

And be encouraged by this lovely old hymn, ‘Channels only blessed Master' by Mary E Maxwell

(Tune by Ada Rose in ‘Songs of Victory', 329)

How I praise You, precious Saviour
that Your love laid hold of me.
You have saved and cleansed and filled me
that I might your channel be.

Chorus: Channels only, blessed Master,
but with all your wondrous power
flowing through us, you can use us,
every day and every hour.

Just a channel, full of blessing,
to the thirsty souls around;
to tell out your full salvation,
all your loving message sound.

Emptied so that you can fill me,
a clean vessel in your hand;
with no power but as you give it
graciously with each command.

Witnessing your power to save me,
setting free from self and sin.
You have bought me to possess me;
in your fullness Lord, come in.                             

Jesus, fill now with your Spirit,
hearts that full surrender know;
that the streams of living water
from our inner self may flow.

Rev Perry Smith, Belmont, NSW.