Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0023
ENCOURAGEMENT RELEASES THE HOLY SPIRIT
Encouragement is a key to releasing the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life!
As I sit here and write, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that to be successful in God’s Kingdom means giving. And what can we all give? Encouragement!!
Discouragement has been a major tool the devil has used to minimize and ultimately destroy the lives of many Christians. What is more, he sometimes even uses people around us and closest to us to discourage us. The root of discouragement ultimately divides and destroys.
What can we do about this?
Be encouragers ….
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and teach us. In so doing, He encourages us, and the encouragement we receive from Him, is for giving to others. By preferring one another – and seeking the best for each other – we release the ministry of Jesus through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. Encouragement released through us (and with the Holy Spirit) breaks the strongest bondage and melts the hardest heart. The Holy Spirit is released in our lives to minister to others from this foundation of encouragement.
Jesus is the restorer and the builder of marriages, of families, of churches, of communities. He champions the ministry of reconciliation and heals the broken hearted. Now you, me, and the Holy Spirit, together, are the ministry of Jesus today!
Releasing the ministry of the Holy Spirit in us by purposefully encouraging others will also bring healing to your body, soul and spirit. This is a principle in God’s family that as we give, we also receive, “pressed down, shaken together and running out all over” (Luke 6:38).
Galatians 6:7-10: A man reaps what he sows. Sowing to the sinful nature leads to destruction. Sowing to the Spirit leads to eternal life. Let us not become weary doing good; if we do not give up we will reap a harvest. As we have opportunity let us do good to all people.
In conclusion, we must bring our faith into perspective, that despite our best endeavours and faithful efforts to grow the Kingdom of God, the real Kingdom is built in the hearts and lives of people. In this sense, the greatest legacy of Christian leadership and ministry is men, women and children, who are directly encouraged and impacted by our investment into their lives. Program and activity comes to nothing, unless the Kingdom of God is firmly planted and thriving in the lives of those who live around us, and are influenced by our leadership.
Take an opportunity today to speak words of encouragement into those around you, and follow it up tomorrow with more. Watch them grow and take steps in the plan and purpose of God for their lives. Continue with encouragement, believing in them and speaking this into their lives.
And for you,
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
Be encouraged, as the best is yet to come - Tony Donaldson.
Bible Readings: 1 Thessalonians 1; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; Philippians 1:9-11; Hebrews 6:10-12; Hebrews 10:23-25.
Please Pray This Prayer:
Dear God, In Jesus’ name, I ask You to help me overcome every weakness and excuse I have struggled with in seeking to encourage others. Help me to take the initiative and see others as more important than myself. Help me to see the opportunities You bring my way, so that I can be part of their answers to life through my positive input of Jesus into them. There is so much that I can do in Your name today to bless and encourage others. By Your grace I will release more of Your goodness. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, Who gives me the ability to release You out of my life in so many creative and wonderful ways.
In Jesus’ name I pray these things, Amen.”
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
