An Encouraging Word

Encourage means to put courage in. To discourage means to take courage out.  

In the Bible, a person who was known for his or her encouragement was known as a prophet.  

Did you know that God wants you to be known for your encouragement?  

Let's start this story by talking about something wonderful that happened to Moses. 

    

Numbers 11:24-29 (NKJV)

24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle.

25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, though they never did so again. 

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came and went. It was a one time thing. 

26 But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. 

27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!”

29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? 

Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

In the Old Testament, Moses wished that everyone could have the gift of Prophecy.  Moses's wish came true in the New Testament.

1. In the New Testament, believers are all  prophets.   

Acts 2 is a fulfillment of Moses's prayer.  

Acts 2:16-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:31 (NKJV)

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

Prophecy means to give a message of encouragement from God to others. If you can all do that, you can all hear God to do it.

John 1:31-33 (NKJV)

31 I (John the Baptist speaking) did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 

33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

When the Holy Spirit came in the New Testament, He can to remain. 

2. Prophecy is not manipulative.  

Jeremiah 23 (NKJV)

26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? 

Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 

30 “Therefore behold, I am against the (false) prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor. 

31 Behold, I am against the (false) prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’

Ezekiel 22:28 (NKJV)

28 Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken.

Be careful of saying thus says the Lord.  You might say that I was praying for you, and felt impressed this way instead. 

Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

You should not take a selfish or vain desire and tie God's name with it to manipulate others.    

You should have a discerning antenna up when someone comes to you claiming to speak for God. 

You must check it out with Scripture and mature believers first.

3. Prophecy is encouraging. 

1 Corinthians 14:1,3 (NKJV)

14 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 

We must do all (1) purse love (2) desire spiritual gifts (3) desire prophesy.  

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

1 Corinthians 14:31 (NKJV)

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

Why would God say that you can all prophesy when you can't?  

If you can all prophesy, you can all hear God.  

Acts 4:36 New King James Version (NKJV)

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement)

Joses means exalts, but he was known for his encouragement or exalting others and not himself. 

Acts 15:32 (NKJV)

32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 

Have you ever moved in prophesy and didn't know it?  

Have you encourage others?

The desire to encourage others comes from God. 

If God makes encouragers, He must be an encourager. 

  

What's the Holy Spirit saying to you through these words?  Do you need to learn and mature in this area? 

Holy Spirit will you draw the reader of these words to you?

Notes taken from Robert Morris, Gateway Church

http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/events/frequency-2016/session/2016/05/07/im-a-prophet