An administrator or leader needs encouragement. He needs someone who will say enthusiastically, “Hey, you know, he’s right. We can do this!” Encouragement is crucial to keep a group going.
The person with the gift of exhortation and encouragement also has a corrective tone. “My friend, you really need to get your act together. Hey, we need to change and live for the Lord.” This aspect of the exhorter complements the teacher. While the teacher brings us to a point of understanding where we can say, “Oh yes, I see that,” the exhorter takes us to the point of commitment where we say, “Oh yes, I’ll do that!” This is why preaching and exhorting are closely related. Paul instructed Timothy to, preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. Not only was this pastor to preach, but he was to support his teaching with the power of exhortation.
Barnabas is a great example of an encourager. He was called the “son of encouragement” in Acts 4:36 (his name literally means “son of prophecy” but his character was one of encouragement). His encouraging character came into action when Paul tried to get together with the other disciples in Jerusalem shortly after his conversion. Rather than welcome Paul they rejected him and shunned him. It was Barnabas who went to Paul, encouraged him, and brought him to the Apostles. After explaining how the Lord had already used Paul’s evangelistic zeal the other Apostles accepted Paul and his ministry (Acts 9:26-28).
The gifted encourager reflects the character of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is called the paraclete, (the same Greek word for “encouragement”) meaning, “the comforter,” and “encourager.”[1] Just as the Holy Spirit comforts us, encourages us, even prods and exhorts us to live for the Lord, so too the person with the gift of encouragement, filled with the Spirit of God, encourages others.
A pastor friend of mine recently received a nine page “Dear Pastor, let me tell you everything you are doing wrong” letter, with a copy sent to every member of the board. Nine pages! My friend was pretty discouraged. It is amazing how one person can effectively destroy a church, a pastor’s heart, or a ministry. But the Lord has provided a special gift, the gift of encouragement, so that His body can keep going in the face of bitter criticism. A few words of encouragement are so important, so powerful, and so vital for the body of Christ. The mature always find ways to encourage others.
Conclusion:Encouragers and exhorters are God’s gentle servants to prod others in the body to be who God called them to be.
