Speaker Sermon/Lesson Title Audio   Video  Text     MS Word Bobby Stafford Exhort One Another

Exhort One Another

Introduction:

How many parents in the assembly today have ever sat in the bleachers or stood on the sideline urging their children to make that basket or hit that ball or make a touchdown – spurring them to play their best?  There are probably several.  With that thought in mind, let us read I Thessalonians 2:10-12.  “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” NKJV

Picture here one Christian exhorting and encouraging other Christians to be faithful and walk worthy of their God.  How extremely vital that is for us to do each and every day, to spur others on to live for Christ and work in His kingdom.

Body:

I.            The Need for Exhortation  The definition of exhort:  to admonish or urge one to pursue a particular course of conduct; to incite earnestly by use of words.  Notice what Paul and Barnabas did.  Acts 14:21-22.  “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 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.’” NKJV  Along with exhorting, we are to provoke – “to excite or stimulate to action” – stir up.  Read Hebrews 10:23-25. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 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.” NKJV  The writer is admonishing them not to go back into Judaism [It was dead.], but to be stronger in their Christian faith.  “Stir up” love and good works – one very important way of doing this was when they assembled!  Our exhorting one another needs to be done outside the assembly also. 

(Hebrews 3:12-13) “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” NKJV  This daily admonishing is to keep us from losing our faith and becoming hardened by sin.  So important!

II.          Examples of Exhortation

A.   Barnabas – “An exhorter”  (Acts 4:36) “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus.” NKJV  It was Barnabas who stood by Saul in Jerusalem when the others were afraid of him.  (Acts 9)  It was Barnabas who encouraged the Christians who had been scattered by persecution.  (Acts 11:22-24) “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.  When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with one purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.  For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And a great many people were added to the Lord.” NKJV  We need more like Barnabas.  (Romans 12:6-8) “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:  if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” NKJV

B.   Corinthians  (II Corinthians 9:2) “for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.” NKJV  “The desire the Christians in Corinth had at the beginning to help needy saints in Jerusalem stimulated others to do the same.”  Motivated others –

C.  Jude  (Jude 3-4) “Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.  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.” NKJV  He felt the need to urge the brethren to do what was necessary – inciting them to take action.

III.        The Practice of Exhortation

A.   In the Home – This is primarily father’s duty.  He must help the rest of the family, in every way he can, so heaven will be their home.  Encourage them to live for God each day; set an example before them of godly living.

B.   In Bible class – Our teachers need to exhort those in class to apply Scripture to their lives.  (II Timothy 3:16-17) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” NKJV

C.  Inside and Outside the Assembly – We exhort others by our attendance and participation in worship; we urge them to greater service by setting an example ourselves as well as talking about spiritual things when we are together.  We encourage others when we send cards and make calls.  We need to hold up each other.  (Hebrews 12:12-13) “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what s lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” NKJV  We must implore each other to remain faithful and try to bring back those who have become unfaithful.  (James 5:19-20) “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” NKJV  Let us never forget the importance of “exhorting one another.”

Invitation:

Moses continually exhorted the people to choose the right path.  (Deuteronomy 30:19) “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” NKJV 

What is your choice?

 

Bobby Stafford  March 18, 2018