Be An Encourager!

2 Chronicles 35: 2: "And Josiah set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them
to the service of the house of the Lord."

This verse tells us how Josiah went to work, and it should be a pattern for us.
His first act was to get every man in his proper place, and then, for every man to have
a good spirit in his place of service.
This message is intended to encourage our Christian workers to do their work for the Lord
without being discouraged.
This message will speak to different people who are discouraged in the work of the Lord.
I would hope to encourage the discouraged, and to give hope to those Christian workers
who are down and encourage them to keep on.

I would encourage those who think that they can do nothing.
There are people who believe that they can do nothing at all.
Let us not take that for granted, but let us make sure that they cannot do anything.
It is possible that there are those who cannot do anything.
But we all know that many times, "cannot," often means "will not."
Sometimes, not to have been triumphant in Christian service means "not to have tried".

There are those who have been so discouraged that they have dismissed themselves
from any service, and their inaction has grown into indolence -- or just plain laziness.
Just go for a few weeks without using your right hand or your right arm,
and then a few weeks -- months -- that time will come when your and and arm
will stiffen and you will be unable to use it.

There are those who cannot actively serve.
There are some who are ill, and others who are shut-in.
Then, there are those who are aged.
That are those who suffer pain daily and are weary.
They wish they could serve the Lord with other Christians.
They would love to be faithful in church each week.
They would love to serve as others are serving.

Let us remember the law of David.
The law concerned the spoils of war.
There were those who were lame, and others for many reasons incapable of action.
And David left them to look after the equipment.
He said, "You are very weary and ill so stay in the camp; take care of the tents,
and the ammunition, while we go and fight."

But when the time came to divide the spoils, the men who went to war, and who did the fighting,
claimed all the spoils.
They said, "These people have done nothing; they have been lying in the trenches;
they shall not have a share of the booty."

But David established a law.
The law was that not only would those who stayed in the camp share in the spoils,
but they would share equally.

Let us look at that law in the light of our sick and shut-in, or those, if for other reason like age,
are not able to enter into active service.
If you are a soldier of the cross, and would fight if you could, you shall share with the best
and the most active of God's warriors.
We must remember a law of the kingdom of heaven:
"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward."

There are those who think that they are not serving God unless they're serving in the activities
within the church building itself.
They would say, "I cannot serve God for I cannot teach in Sunday school, and I am unable
to serve on a committee."
It is as if these were the only forms of service.

Do you think a Christian mother who is nursing her baby is serving God? She is!
The Christian son or the Christian daughter vacuuming the house is serving God.
The Christian wife or the Christian husband, as the case may be, preparing the meal is serving God.
The Christian businessman taking care of his business is serving God.
The Christian father who is taking batting practice with his son is serving God.
All of these every day matters ought to be done in the service of the Lord.

Though it would be great if everyone could teach or... etc.
We must hallow our common every day work with our souls attuned to heaven.
"Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks unto God and the Father..."

So, let the stream of our common life as it flows on, obscure, unobserved,
be holy and courageous, and we will find that "they also serve who only stand and wait."
We should remember that those who simply sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His words
are also serving God, and some can do no more.

There are those who have gone through great sorrow, and God uses these Christians
to sympathize with others.
Those who have suffered a great loss know how to comfort others.
So, no Christian should say that they cannot do anything.
When you tried to cheer that neighbor who was going through a difficult time,
you were serving God.
When you tell others of God's goodness to you, you are serving God.

Encouraging other Christians is one of the highest services in which anyone can be occupied.
God will send prophets to his servants at times when they need to be rebuked,
but usually when God wants to comfort them, he sends a Christian to do the comforting

Comforting is not ordinary work.
So, when you console and encourage that person who is cast down, you're doing
a most blessed work for God.
What a wonderful work!
Pray for that ability!
And you thought that you could do nothing!
There is something that every Christian can do.

Now let us consider those who have been placed on the sidelines.
Here is a Christian who used to be useful, but circumstances have changed,
or one might have changed his or her residence, or they are new and unknown.
They have done little or nothing lately, and they would like to get back to serving God.
Everyone is needed.

Some of God's best workers have been set aside for long periods.
Remember Moses.
When you find yourself retired or inactive, prepare for the service that God is ready to give you.
Use the time to prepare for that time when God will use you again.
God uses prepared people.

When you are inactive, pray for those who are active.
Encourage them! Help them!
Above all, do not get into that small, miserable frame of mind which complains
and undervalues the work that is being carried on.
Please, don't be like that.
That doesn't please God!

Pray to have a right attitude that has determined that if you cannot help, you will not hinder.
And pray that you will not hurt, but that you will encourage those who are serving.
There are those who are serving under great difficulties, and are encountering opposition
when you are trying to serve God -- it's not easy.
But when you meet with opposition, encounter it with prayer, and ask God to strengthen your soul.

There are those who believe that they are never appreciated.
There are those who can receive the smallest slight, and they become overly sensitive.
If you listen closely, you can almost hear them say, "I do my best, and nobody thanked me."
(In other words, there was no applause.)
This individual sees himself or herself as a martyr.

We must serve Jesus, but not for the recognition or the applause.
We must serve even if others do not appreciate our efforts.
Remember Joseph!
His brothers couldn't bear him, and yet, he saved the family, and fed them in time of famine.

Remember David!
His brothers didn't appreciate him.
They left him in charge of the sheep, and they go off to battle.
Yet, it was David who had to go and take the head of Goliath.

We must learn the lesson.
The lesson is that we must not pay attention to what others have to say of us.
We must just get busy.
Staying busy doing the right things is the best answer to undeserved criticism.

Did you enter into the work of Christ in order that people would honor you and praise you?
If so, stop it -- this is a rotten motive -- in fact, it is an evil motive.
So, don't ever be disheartened when you hear no applause.
All you want to know is that you did your best, and God is pleased.

Then, there are those who are discouraged because they have had so little success.
Are those here who are afraid they have served in vain?
Of course we shouldn't be pleased with just planting the seed, we should also desire
to see good results.
God would not have any of us to stop sowing just because one season proves to be a failure.
How tragic it would be if our farmers would abandon farming just because they had a bad crop this year.

If we were to measure our future prospects by present failure, it would be a great pity.
If we have preached or taught or served with little success until now, we must not come
to the unfounded conclusion that we will always be unsuccessful.
Non-success is a trial of faith.
Remember the disciples toiled all night and caught nothing.
Remember that our Lord taught us that some seed would fall on stony ground,
and some among the thorns, and that from these, there would be no harvest.

It is our business to be faithful!
It is our business to scatter the seed!
Our Lord never demands more of us that we can do, but He does demand that
we do what we can.

When an American General was involved in a continuous battle with the enemy,
he was asked, "What are you doing?"
He answered, "I am not doing much, but I keep pegging away."

That's what we must do!
We might not see great results, but we must keep pegging away.
Galatians 6: 9: " And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Our business is to live for God, not for self or for others.
So, let us determine that we will live for Christ all of our life and keep on serving until He calls us home.
Humble service brings glory to God.

Sermon adapted by Dr. Harold L. White