The Call to Ministry of Christian Encouragement
This morning, I had the privilege of going to Men’s Prayer Meeting and Breakfast at North Love Baptist Church. Pastor Kingsbury spoke to us out of 1 Kings 19, on discouragement, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about the ministry of Christian encouragement.
Pastor Kingsbury was speaking about discouragement, and mentioned how everyone gets discouraged, even those in spiritual leadership, as Elijah was in 1 Kings 19. The third point of Pastor’s message to us was “compelled to a companion.” This companion was Elisha. There’s been plenty a message preached out of 1 Kings 19 about discouragement and about Elijah, but I would like to expound Elisha’s role in this passage of Scripture, as illuminated by the Spirit of God to me this morning.
Words of spiritual encouragement is a ministry that God has called many believers to. Take Elisha in this passage of Scripture. One thing that can be noted about him is that he came from a wealthy family. We know this because he was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. In order for his family to have 12 yoke of oxen, he had to come from a wealthy family. Not only was he from a wealthy family, he also had a strong work ethic. We know from real world experience that many times people who come from wealthy families don’t have a good work ethic.
How many of you are called to give words of spiritual encouragement? Christian encouragement is a ministry that God has called me to, and God solidified that in my heart. Not only will He call someone to be a personal mentor to me, and guide me in my walk with Him, and train me for full-time Christian service, but He is going to call me to a level of action during that time. I have a responsibility to minister to my mentor, and to be a constant source of encouragement to Him.
Also, what can be noted from the Scripture, is that it is important for each of us to have a strong work ethic. God has called each of us to work hard. He’s called us to live a life of rest, but living a life of rest is hard work on His behalf. It’s rest, because internally we have rest, we are not restless. We have rest because God provides peace, and we can stand strongly on His promises.
How many of you have the call to ministry of words of spiritual encouragement?