Lessons on Encouragement Part 1

Undertaking a Ministry of Encouragement has the potential to teach everyone who decides to get involved a lot about life. Yesterday was a very interesting day for me. I am not complaining, (if it sounds like complaining I apologize) but I had one of those days that felt like everything went wrong. During the day, I kept reminding myself that God is faithful and true and good, which was a help, but overall I would say that it was not an encouraging day. I also know that during the day, I didn’t feel like encouraging anyone. For the most part, I couldn’t wait for the day to end so I could just go to sleep.

As I was praying this morning, I felt impressed to read the parable of the soils. Take a quick look at these verses:

Matthew 13:18-23 (New International Version)
18″Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

So yesterday, I would have to say that I had an unfruitful day. I let the worries of this world choke out the message of the Kingdom of God in me. Today, even though I had the potential for another difficult day, I remembered the word (the message of the Kingdom of God) and understood it. What that meant for me was the realization that no matter what we go through in our day to day lives, the reality of the Kingdom is always more than anything we go through. In the Bible, the enemy is referred to as the “god of this age”, so when we let the worries of this world (age) discourage us we are letting the evil one steal life away from us. The good news is, I serve the Lord Jesus Christ, the GOD of the age to come. Understanding that, I would say that today was a fruitful day. So, I learned a good lesson on encouragement. I hope it helps you as well!

For a detailed teaching on the Kingdom of God and the Now and the Not Yet you might want to check out the Kingdom of God teachings I did that are available here on the site on the Preaching in Shorts Bible Studies page.

Related posts:

1. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 1
2. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 9
3. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 12
4. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 13
5. More on Encouragement

Tags: encourage, encouragement, Jesus, Jesus moment, now and not yet, Preaching in Shorts

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