Encouragement
By Apostle Aje Pelser, 13th Feb 2022
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Giving is a form of encouragement in ministry that grows the church, supports the priests, and finishes the temple.

Examples of encouragement through giving:
1. Son of Encouragement
Act 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,
Act 4:37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2. Encouragement for the Devotion of the Priests to the Law
2Ch 31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.

3. Encouragement to build from the book of Ezra
Ezr 1:3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 1:4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 1:5 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 1:6 And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

There are different sources that deliver spiritual encouragement for any challenge we face.
1. Encouragement through Apostolic Decrees and perspective on living.
Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
Act 15:29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Act 15:30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
Act 15:31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

2. Encouraging yourself in the Lord when all seems to be lost.
1Sa 30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
1Sa 30:4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
1Sa 30:5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
1Sa 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

Encouraged Himself means H2388 châzaq [pronounced: khaw-zak’]
to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer: – aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong (-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.

3. We are reminded of the gift of prophecy that brings comfort bv the Spirit of God through yielded vessels that stir of their gits.
1Co 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

4. Encourage those who are about to inherit the promises, like Moses did for Joshua
Deu 1:38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deu 3:28 But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.’

5. Sent ones bring encouragement to churches and regions that are facing persecution and opposition to the truth.
1Th 3:1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,
1Th 3:2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,
1Th 3:3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

6. There is a ripple effect of faith that returns the encouragement back to those who sent it.
1Th 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—
1Th 3:7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.