Hebrews 10:24
Let us Encourage God Works
Sun, July 13th 2008
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found
difficult; and even more – misunderstood... and therefore left untried.” - true
 How does one live out this Christian life – correctly
 That is in part what I want to talk to you about today
First – we need just a bit of background
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We are at a transition or application stage in the Book of Hebrews
What has gone before – some of most amazing realities of Christ
Sums up in two great statements marked with “having” v.19 & 21
Sets out the application with three “Let us statements” v.22, 23 & 24
Having
 v.19 – Having Access to God (His presence, holiest, best, highest)
o By His blood- Jesus died, it is finished – all our sin, gone
o By New, Living way – Christianity, New Birth – have to come thru
 v.21- Having Jesus as our Royal High Priest
Stop, pay attention – key thought – if His…these things are yours
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Not holding a carrot out of what can be yours…is yours
This is the Power of the Christian life – begin here
Here is also a Problem- how do we then live, live this out
Whole life BC governed by fear, guilt – Heb 2:14-15
o But with those removed – are removed- how do good?
o Cults, Religion uses fear, guilt – problem – it works, but not good
 But we are not under bondage, fear again – Rom 8:14-15
o Gal 5:1,13 – specifically warn us from becoming in bondage again
Let us – Respond – responsive Christianity
 Let us Draw Near – 1st and foremost a relationship, all else is second
 Let us Hold Fast – key to not be moved from simplicity in Christ
 Wish I had emphasized this better – effective, abiding, walking
 Holding to Him, clinging, abiding – causes– fruit, naturally Jn 15:4-5
 Let us Encourage God Works
 Not a typo – mean God works…not just good works. – Talk of today
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1. Positionally – not first or highest
a. The most effective impact for Christian living – knowing God, draw near
b. Secondly the effect of just abiding, walking with God – fruit
c. Yet…after these – place of encouragement is absolutely huge
2. Personally
a. In my life – it has been huge. Wonder if the same for you?
b. People who saw in me the gift of teaching and encouraged it
c. People who saw my call as a pastor, open doors – encouraged
3. Biblically
a. Would there have been a Paul without a Barnabas, Joshua, etc
b. Acts 4:36; 9:27; 11:25; 12:25; De 31:7,23; Jo 1:6,7,9,18
4. Contrastingly
a. Sometimes easiest to see something’s value – looking at opposite
b. Opposite work – to condemn, accuse…work of satan - Rev 12:10
c. If one of satan’s main tools is accusation – see power of opposite
Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.
Good work can never be expected from a worker without encouragement. No one ever
climbed spiritual heights without it. No one ever lived without it."
George Matthew Adams
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1. Internally –in body of Christ
a. Notice “Let us” and “one another” - talking to believers, for believers
b. Amazing study in looking at “one another” verses, calls
2. Consciously –intentional, continual
a. Word speaks of something done – intensively, intentional – think about
b. Word is in a continuous present position – ongoing
c. We are called intentionally to think about one another often, continually
3. Purposefully –positive, not accusing
a. satan is the accuser – we don’t want to be like him, do his work - 2 Tim 3:1-3
b. Rom 14:1,4 – let God judge, handle – not you, catch yourself
c. Gossip, criticism – huge sin…so often accepted by Christians
d. Many Sunday’s lunches are Roast Pastor, Worship Leader, Christian
e. J. Vernon McGee used to say, “The only exercise some Christians get is
jumping to conclusions and running others down.”
4. Provokingly –spur, challenge
a. Stir is good…perhaps not strong enough, wrong impression–provoke in KJV
i) Picture of kids provoking one another. Acts 15 – sharp disagreement
b. AMP.. stir up (stimulate and incite); NASB… to stimulate ….; HCSB… in
order to promote; NIV ..may spur …; NLT… think of ways to motivate
c. Prov 27:17 – Like iron sharpening iron
d. Confrontive – firm – meant to challenge one onto something, in something
1. God works
a. This is the title that I have given them today – distinctively God things, ways
2. God works are labors of love
a. Heb 6:10; 1 Th 1:3, 1 Cor 13:1-3 – without love, meaningless
b. Understand – guilt, fear – can be successful…but not with God things
3. God works are good
a. Our works – are filthy rags – Isa 64:6
b. Without Jesus – we can do nothing good - Joh 15:5
c. Our works will be tested in the end – good will stand 1 Cor 13:13-15
d. Simply – we want to encourage people in those things…not wood, stubble
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1. For all is some, for some is most
a. Bible says we all have a Spiritual Gift – a major part we play
b. Gifts are a major in what all minor in (giving, mercy, etc)
c. All of us need to be encouragers – needs to be part of what we are
d. For some – this is your key role in body of Christ – so needed
e. Counters the work of satan…so powerful
f. Did study 3 ½ years ago on Barnabas – Wanted Encouragers – get CD
2. Encourage by Example
a. One of the most powerful encouragements is to see someone living
b. For me – as grew in Christ – so often was shocked, awed by, drawn by
c. 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Tim 4:12
3. Encourage by Prayer
a. By praying specifically for this in others, sometimes letting them know
b. Think of Gay, of Eleanor
c. Colossians 4:12
4. Encourage by Worship
a. Actually one of the purposes of worship is encouragement – Col 3:16
b. Lets see if I can follow our text in doing this – no condemnation
c. But many are missing what worship is, can be – late all the time. I don’t
understand it – worship is so effective for me
d. I encourage you to make it so – on time, but more – participating
5. Encourage by God’s Word
a. Often you find God and others encouraging by reminding of Bible
b. God’s word is powerful – sharp, effective
c. Good to just give people verses, especially laid on your heart
6. Encourage by Words
a. I suppose this is all we are saying, but want to say specifically
b. Story of the man who thought highly of his wife and never told her
c. Take time – in person, phone, letter, email, texting – to encourage what see
7. Encourage by Works
a. Actions at times are some of the best encouragement
b. 2 Cor 7:6 – ministry of presence – just being there
c. Phil 4:10 – doing something, supporting financially.
i) For me, couple that committed to buying me books each month
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Conclusion
Homework
Encourage 3 people by end of the day
• 2 can be already serving
• 1 encourage potential you see in them
• Love & good works – No guilt
Encourage 14 people by end of the week
All of this – for believers, to believers “one another”
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If you are not a Christian – impossible
You cannot do love, you cannot do good works – filthy rags
We could encourage you – no basis – like encouraging flog to fly
All of this – comes off of what we have in Christ – is ours
The way – Him, call you to Him
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