Lifting others up #4 The Encouragement Gift

Just lift some people,. Just do it now!

Lift some people, lift the environment, lift the GC, the church. Just lift!

Numbers 13:30 NLT

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

Rom 12:3-8 NIV

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (4) For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, (5) so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; (7) if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; (8) if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

OT examples:-Joshua and caleb-

Numbers 13:30 Wycliffe Bible

-Then after these words, Caleb tried to calm the grumbling (the grouching, complaining, interrupted, called for silence) told the people in front of Moses to be quiet)  of the people, and said, "No matter! We shall go up, and take the land, for we be well able to get it.

Numbers 14:24 NIV

  But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

NT examples: -Jesus to Peter- 

Matthew 16:17-18 MSG

  Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

NT examples: -Paul- 

Philippians 1:3-6 MSG

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart.

Barnabus: Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), (NIV)