The Ministry of Encouragement Part 13

This Preaching in Shorts sermon series is about the Ministry of Encouragement.

You can listen to this message by clicking here
or you can watch it below:

As we wrap up this initial series on the Ministry of Encouragement I want to talk about another encourager named Nehemiah. God used Nehemiah to encourage the nation and people of Israel who were in an extremely discouraged place. How he did it will help up get practical with our Ministry of Encouragement.

1.) It starts with a call

Nehemiah 1:1-4 (NIV)
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

I believe that God has called us into this Ministry of Encouragement. We have laid out the foundation for it and the reasons why over the last twelve weeks. My hope is that you are ready now to fully respond to the call of God on your lives to the Ministry of Encouragement.

2.) It takes selflessness

Nehemiah 2:1-5 (NIV)
1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

While I believe whole heartedly that engaging in the Ministry of Encouragement will be a tremendous blessing for everyone that gets involved, our motivation for doing it will have ultimately be one of selflessness. It will be about laying down life to find it. Not our will, but His will, not my way but His way.

3.) You make a plan

Nehemiah 2:11-16 (NIV)
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. 13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

Nehemiah went and surveyed the situation and then he came up with a plan. Many opportunities to be distracted were presented to Nehemiah, but he stuck to the plan and the walls were rebuilt!

4.) The Encourager’s Plan

a) Get Focused – Hebrews 10:19-25

Either read or recite the foundational verses to help get you focused on what it is all about.

b) Thankful for five things (thankful5)

Once you are focused, think about five things you are thankful for.

c) Take a Stand – Ephesians 6:12-18

Either read or recite the verses that will prepare you spiritually to do the ministry. We will be digging into this in our next series called “Take a Stand”

d) Encourage two people (encourage2)

Do it!

e) Connect (www.encourage2.com)

Talk about it! Read about it! Listen! Share what you are thankful about, or talk about how you were encouraged, or how you were able to encourage someone else.

Do you remember this quiz from week 1?
How Prepared are You for the Ministry of Encouragement?
1. Do I speak more words of encouragement than I do of criticism, complaint or correction? Y / N
Be honest with yourself. What is the ratio?
2. Are people more cheerful when they are around me?
Y / N
Do people like to be around you or do you actually draw all the air out of the room?
3. Would my family consider me to be an encouraging person? Y / N
This is where you would go to see if your answer to number one is correct.
4. Do I apologize to people after I have been negative or discouraging or complaining? Y / N
When you realize you have fallen into the grumpy trap, do you go and make it right?
5. Have I been diligent in encouraging people I am regularly in contact with? Y / N
People at work, people in church, Winn Dixie cashiers.
6. Do I pass along good news and let gossip stop with me? Y / N
Or do you do the opposite? Good News stops with you, but gossip flows like a river.
7. Is my conversation with friends generally building up other people? Y / N
Are you bonding illegitimately by judging other people with other people?
8. Have I recognized how encouraging God is to others as well as to me? Y / N
Or am I in the trap of the grumpy 24 hour a day bad news cycle?
9. Does my impatience/anger/selfishness get in the way of encouraging other people? Y / N
Is it all about me and what I want?
10. Am I patient in spending time with and listening to God so He can encourage my heart? Y / N

Let’s go and encourage the world!

Related posts:

1. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 12
2. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 1
3. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 9
4. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 2
5. The Ministry of Encouragement Part 10

Tags: encourage, encouragement, encourageomics, Jesus, Jesus moment, ministry of encouragement, Preaching in Shorts

Category: Preaching in Shorts