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Offer hope that prompts action October 23, 2007

Posted by reformedville in : Theology , trackback

 In today’s contemporary church culture one of the elders spiritual gift of the New Testament church is being cast as impatience, unloving and a stumbling block. However, like much of today’s “love train” culture, the intrepretation of love is not the biblical one. It is one of “being nice”.  and never offending or challenging anyone with scripture.

One example I see over and over again I will relate to the military. When we enter the military we go to basic to learn who we are in the US Armed Forces and where we fit and what is expected. We go to basic training one time and then are placed in the regular service. From that time on, we are expected to be able to act and be ready in season and out,  Everytime a situation arises we have been trained and are to act, not to have to wait and see, or operate out of fear of the enemies reaction .  Our leader has trained up and raised us up to serve Him and we are expected to .

The gift of exhortation is “the ability to bring encouragement, to help others see the relevance of Scripture, to give insightful counsel, to motivate, to comfort, and to offer hope that prompts action. ” Exhortation comes from the same Greek word translated “Helper,” “Counselor” and “Comforter” in John 16:7.

Exhorters exhort Christians 1) to warn, 2) to comfort, 3) to uphold, 4) to be patient. Here’s a sound-bite description of the gift of exhortation: Exhortation is used to motivate people towards achieving inward transformation/spiritual fulfillment and outward manifestation of godly fruit in their lives.

Transformation is the goal of exhortation: to see the person growing more in his spiritual life and becoming more like Christ.

The one who exhorts is person-oriented, disciple-directed, program-preparing. Let me explain.

  1. ♦ He is person-oriented – he cares about people and desires to help them in their spiritual growth and maturity.

     

  2. ♦ He is disciple-directed – meaning that he directs his attention to those who are disciples of Christ or those who are becoming disciples of Christ. Also, he often has a relationship with those disciples.

     

  3. ♦ He is program-preparing – in other words, he may offer advice, an outline for solution, a program for progress.

The one who exhorts takes this Scripture to heart: Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Therefore, he sees an urgency to life’s problems and situations and wants to take immediate steps to solve the problem. Because of his understanding of the problem and his recognition of the solution, the person with the gift of exhortation often offers a series of steps to reach the desired outcome.

The gift of exhortation discerns the problem or situation, visualizes the potential, and outlines steps action to achieve spiritual growth. The exhorter knows that the only way to get from where you are where God wants you to be is to take a step and he strongly encourages the person to take that step.

  1. Jeremiah 11:7
    For I earnestly exhorted your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, rising early and exhorting, saying, “Obey My voice.”
    Jeremiah 11:6-8 (in Context) Jeremiah 11 (Whole Chapter)
  2. Luke 3:18
    And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
    Luke 3:17-19 (in Context) Luke 3 (Whole Chapter)
  3. Acts 2:40
    [ A Vital Church Grows ] And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
    Acts 2:39-41 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)
  4. Acts 13:15
    And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
    Acts 13:14-16 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)
  5. Acts 14:22
    strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
    Acts 14:21-23 (in Context) Acts 14 (Whole Chapter)
  6. Acts 15:32
    Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
    Acts 15:31-33 (in Context) Acts 15 (Whole Chapter)
  7. Acts 18:27
    And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
    Acts 18:26-28 (in Context) Acts 18 (Whole Chapter)
  8. Acts 20:17
    [ The Ephesian Elders Exhorted ] From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
    Acts 20:16-18 (in Context) Acts 20 (Whole Chapter)
  9. Romans 12:8
    he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
    Romans 12:7-9 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter)
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:3
    But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
    1 Corinthians 14:2-4 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter)
  11. 1 Corinthians 16:13
    [ Final Exhortations ] Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
    1 Corinthians 16:12-14 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 16 (Whole Chapter)
  12. 2 Corinthians 8:17
    For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.
    2 Corinthians 8:16-18 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 8 (Whole Chapter)
  13. 2 Corinthians 9:5
    Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
    2 Corinthians 9:4-6 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter)
  14. Colossians 4:16
    [ Closing Exhortations and Blessing ] Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
    Colossians 4:15-17 (in Context) Colossians 4 (Whole Chapter)
  15. 1 Thessalonians 2:3
    For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
    1 Thessalonians 2:2-4 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 2 (Whole Chapter)
  16. 1 Thessalonians 2:11
    as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
    1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 2 (Whole Chapter)
  17. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
    [ Plea for Purity ] Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
    1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 4 (Whole Chapter)
  18. 1 Thessalonians 5:12
    [ Various Exhortations ] And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
    1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter)
  19. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
    Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
    1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter)
  20. 2 Thessalonians 3:12
    Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
    2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (in Context) 2 Thessalonians 3 (Whole Chapter)
  21. 1 Timothy 2:1
    [ Pray for All Men ] Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
    1 Timothy 2:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
  22. 1 Timothy 4:13
    Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
    1 Timothy 4:12-14 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
  23. 1 Timothy 5:1
    [ Treatment of Church Members ] Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
    1 Timothy 5:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 5 (Whole Chapter)
  24. 1 Timothy 6:2
    And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
    1 Timothy 6:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)
  25. 2 Timothy 4:2
    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
    2 Timothy 4:1-3 (in Context) 2 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)

  26. Titus 1:9
    holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
    Titus 1:8-10 (in Context) Titus 1 (Whole Chapter)
  27. Titus 2:6
    Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
    Titus 2:5-7 (in Context) Titus 2 (Whole Chapter)
  28. Titus 2:9
    Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
    Titus 2:8-10 (in Context) Titus 2 (Whole Chapter)
  29. Titus 2:15
    Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
    Titus 2:14-15 (in Context) Titus 2 (Whole Chapter)
  30. Hebrews 3:13
    but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
    Hebrews 3:12-14 (in Context) Hebrews 3 (Whole Chapter)
  31. Hebrews 10:25
    not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
    Hebrews 10:24-26 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter)
  32. Hebrews 12:5
    And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
    Hebrews 12:4-6 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter)
  33. Hebrews 13:20
    [ Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell ] Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
    Hebrews 13:19-21 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole Chapter)
  34. Hebrews 13:22
    And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
    Hebrews 13:21-23 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole Chapter)
  35. 1 Peter 5:1
    [ Shepherd the Flock ] The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
    1 Peter 5:1-3 (in Context) 1 Peter 5 (Whole Chapter)
  36. 1 Peter 5:12
    [ Farewell and Peace ] By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
    1 Peter 5:11-13 (in Context) 1 Peter 5 (Whole Chapter)
  37. Jude 1:3
    [ Contend for the Faith ] Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
    Jude 1:2-4 (in Context) Jude 1 (Whole Chapter)

    38. You will also find that pastoral staff from many disciplines will have a hard time utilizing the exhorter, as we tend today not to have nt testament elders but “super deacons” or trustees.  I deal with a lot of pastors and church leaders, (most likely because of being a pastor’s son and church planters step-son-yet being one who left the church for 15 years being turned off to religion.) I don’t view pastors as larger than life but co-laborers and co elders. Many have problems with that and I never realized the reason may be a trust factor and was not my issue but theirs.

      I recently was speaking with a good pastoral friend about this and a recent situation I had dealt with  in a elder government setting and he shared the following:   “You could be (have been) a major step for him being able to trust lay-leadership. Perhaps he never encountered lay-leadership that would disagree but be able to do so in a helpful way and still remain supportive. That kind of lay-leadership is rare. I think that’s why a lot of (edited) pastors don’t like the idea of “elders”, because the only lay-leaders they know of are either interfering do-nothings or, worse, constant critics. If that’s all one has ever known from lay-leaders, then after a while one is suspicious of all lay-leaders.”

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