Ministry of Exhortation
A practical application via small
things around us
Written: 16 April 2006
Disclaimer: I haven't do thorough editing process for this article. Thus
grammatical, structural or spelling errors are expected...
1. Definition
The term `exhortation' is usually
interpreted as pure `advising'. However, the meaning of exhortation
extends beyond that. Let's take a look at several translations: In
Greek, the term `exhortation' is called `parakaleo' (comforter), a
similar word with the Holy Spirit: a comforter. In Indonesian, the term
is called `menasihati' (to advise). In English, the term can be
translated to `encourage' or `advise'. To be precise, I will adopt the
definition of `exhortation' as
in dictionary.com, especially the 2nd definition:
- The act or an instance of exhorting.
- A speech or discourse that
encourages, incites, or earnestly advises.
Therefore, the `ministry of exhortation' is
defined as a ministry for encouraging, inciting, or earnestly advising
fellow believers, to point him / her back to Jesus Christ. It is
not merely `teaching', not just showing the other believers what
they must do, but also to help them to do it.
2. Scope of this writing
Exhortation is mentioned many times across
the New Testament, from Jesus's words and especially from Apostle Paul's
in his letters. The discussion about this subject can be very broad, and
therefore I should set certain constraints for this writing:
First constraint is that the object of this
ministry is fellow believers only, as it is difficult (even though not
impossible) to exhort non-believers using biblical statements, e.g.
``God will make a way'' to a desperate non-believer who is unable to see
a way out of his / her problems, ``God will never leave nor forsake
you'' to a broken-hearted non-believer who has just been dumped by his /
her girlfriend, etc.
The second constraint is that in this
writing, I will only discuss how to practically conduct this kind of
ministry in our life. Another angle of discussion can be found in [2].
-
It is true and it is very logical that before one is
able to conduct ministry of exhortation, a form of ministry of listening
(or observation) should be done first.
How to exhort others if you don't know their struggles or don't see
their shortcomings. Thus, the third constraint is that I assume you
already have the
ability to listen or observe other's needs or shortcomings.
3. Benefits and Difficulties
In Romans 12:8, Apostle Paul, the one who
popularized this ministry, encouraged that those who has the gift of
exhortation to exercise it with humility. The benefit of ministry of
exhortation is simply this: That Christian living will be much better
and will be a good testimony for others if we express our love to one
another via this ministry.
However, when I ponder this verse, I
realized that it is not easy to conduct this ministry.
When you are exhorting, you may run into
these difficulties:
-
Giving `too much' advice will make you
disliked by people you advise as the effect of exhortation will diminish
over time if repeated too often (make him / her either faint-hearted or
hard-hearted to your advise).
-
Giving `wrong' advice may end up hurting
those whom you want to exhort. In fact, anyone who is being advised will
get a sense of `discomfort' as that people need to change (this seems to
be a 'contradiction', as exhortation is meant to be comforting, but this
happens).
-
Giving `wrong' encouragement can actually
discourage rather than encourage.
Ministry of exhortation also carries
danger to the exhorter himself / herself. The dangers include:
-
Self Pride (exhortation can be misused for
getting noticed, i.e. the hidden agenda),
-
Hypocrisy (you don't practice what you
preach),
-
Imbalance (only advising without
comforting or vice versa).
Such difficult ministry can only be done
when the exhorter himself / herself are in good shape, i.e. good
personal relationship with God. Moreover, the exhorter himself /
herself, as a human, will be unable to perform it at all time as he /
she will one day need to be exhorted too.
4. Learning from Apostle Paul
Knowing these difficulties, I spent some
time to conduct simple research on how to conduct this ministry in a
practical manner. I studied the way apostle Paul conduct
this ministry via his letters. And these are what I learnt:
Paul actually listened (heard) or observed
the condition of the churches addressed in his letters.
He praised what is to be praised in that
particular congregation,
But he also encourages congregation while
in hardship (e.g. persecutions) and pinpoint errors to direct the
congregation towards a better
condition.
Paul wrote very carefully. He usually
write safe statements, e.g. in forms of: if A then do this, else if
not A then do that. For those who are not familiar with mathematical
logic: the union of {A} and {Not A} is basically the whole
possibilities. Thus such kind of statements are safe statements.
He exhort congregation with wisdom, by
speaking the right thing, at the right moment, with the right motive.
While we may not have the privilege to attain his level of wisdom, this
indirectly imply that ministry of exhortation should be done carefully.
-
He exhort using encouraging
biblical verses (God's Word), or his own encouraging statements which are biblical.
5. Practical Tools
However, we are not apostle Paul and I
know that not everyone has the gift of exhortation. However, by learning
Paul's ways, I suggest several things that many of us can use to take
part in this ministry:
1. Biblical Verses
God's Word carries a lot of power.
Therefore, it
is very good if you can remember important verses that you can call to
mind to exhort yourself (or others) at certain situations, e.g.:
Verse |
God's Word |
Recite When |
Psalms 23:1-6 |
God is my shepherd, I shall not be in
want... though I walk in the valley of the death, I will not be
afraid... for thou art with me... |
When you are afraid or lonely. |
|
There are many more
verses in Psalms that can be re-cited for exhorting yourself or
those whom in need. |
|
Lamentations 3:19-26 |
I remember my affliction
and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them
and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind, and
therefore I have hope. Because of he Lord's great love we are not
consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every
morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ``The Lord is
my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'' The Lord is good to
those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to
wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. |
You need to self motivate yourself
because of you remember your problems. |
Habakkuk
3:17-18 |
Though the fig tree does not bud and
there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and
the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and
no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be
joyful in God my Savior. |
When you are yet to see the fruit of
your labor. |
John 3:16 |
For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. |
When in need of the assurance of salvation. |
|
Jesus many other words, as recorded in the 4 gospels
or recited in other NT books... |
|
Romans 8:28 |
And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. |
When something goes awfully wrong |
|
Paul, in my opinion, is the one who
popularized this ministry of exhortation. It is shown in almost all
his letters, where he exhorts, encourages, teaches the early
churches... His words are really deep and still practically
applicable until today. |
|
Hebrews 13:5b |
... because God has said, ``Never will
I leave you; never will I forsake you.'' |
When God seems far away |
2. Encouraging Songs
Research shows that human soul can be soothed using
appropriate songs. Christian songs basically can be
classified as praise & worship songs, which more to vertical
side and songs `to encourage us', more to comfort or strengthen the
faith of us, believers. What I meant in this case is the Christian songs
`for encouraging believers', e.g.:
Song |
Part of the
Lyrics |
Recite When |
Mengingat AkanMu |
... Whatever happens, they will make us
remember You ... |
Something bad happens |
Allah Peduli |
... Nothing going to
happen without God fail to notice it ... |
In trouble |
Yesus Kekuatan |
... Your help will never be late for
me ... |
In need of assurance |
JanjiMu Seperti Fajar |
... Your promise is like a sun rise in
the morning
... Your promise is like a flowing river |
Doubting God's promise |
God Will Make A Way |
... God will make a way, when there
seems to be no way ... |
In trouble |
3. Short Messages
Simple biblical messages (even though not
biblical verses), which can be communicated via direct speech, sms, msn,
etc, can surprisingly be an effective tool to exhort others... e.g.:
Short Messages |
Recite When |
When you see a cross, what do you
think?
Have you ever thought about God's love?
And why He died for us? |
Around Easter, to encourage others
to reflect on the meaning of Easter. |
Meaning of Easter is Hope
Spirit of Easter is Light
Essence of Easter is Love
Promise of Easter is Life |
Easter |
Easter?
Is this just our self-enjoyed joy,
while millions of people face judgment without ever hearing the
message of Easter?
Easter will be more meaningful when believers share the Easter
message to those who has yet to hear... Luke 24:44-48
Let's be Easter witnesses |
When Easter celebration is reduced
to simply celebration among believer and that's it... |
SoMEdAy
u'll 4get abt me
my naMe
my VoiCe
who I AM
& WHO I AM 2 U
but knowing U
once in a lifetime
is already a gift from God
Thx 4 all u have done 4 me |
Expressing thanks to someone
(important) |
B-egin ur day w/
L-ove in CHRIST
E-xpect blessing
S-hare goodness
S-hine like d sun
I-nspire some1
N-ever 4get that
G-OD is w/u all d time |
Good for encouraging someone in
the morning to start his / her day |
MORNING is a wonderful blessing...
Either stormy or sunny, it stands for hope...
Giving us another start of what we call LIFE.
Have a lovely day |
Same as above (idem) |
Today I will walk with my hands in
God
Today I will trust in Him and not be afraid,
for He will be there.
Good morning, may you experience His love today |
Same as above (idem) |
From my...
("v")
'v'
I wish you...
one
beautiful
day...
and hope that
the blessings
& guidance of
Jesus
_|_
|
|
be with you... |
Same as above (idem) |
Without JESUS days are:
moanday, tearsday, wasteday, thirstday, frightday, shatterday n
sadday.
So be with JESUS everyday.
Have a blessed day in Christ Jesus! |
Same as above (idem), perhaps to
start a new week? |
,//,
c ".) Friends
(,)) are special
c-.; treasures of
the heart.
They make u feel loved,
needed, and secured.
It's often not said but felt. |
For your important friend |
When it seems like life isn't
getting any better-remember that each act of obedience to God
shortens the distance to any miracle you need.
(Isa 1:19; Deut 28:2) |
When in struggle |
Every TRIAL is a call to PRAYER
Every BURDEN is a bridge to the LORD
Every difficulty is an invitation to bend our knees
Each make us a better person!
Be strong! |
Same as above (idem) |
They
say
as long as
at
least
1
person
cares
4U
life
isn't
a waste.
So, when things go
terribly wrong
& U feel like
giving up
please remember:
Jesus care!
and I care! |
Same as above (idem) |
You will be in my prayer. (or: I
will pray for you). |
Same as above (idem) |
Sometimes...
days r 2 busy
hours r 2 few
second r 2 fast
but now...
I spend a little time
.... 2 pray &
( ", ) hope u
(")(") get <...fill in the blanks...>
GBU |
To express your hope to your
friend |
.+==+.OD is
== ""OOD and
== "==REAT!
"+==+
keep HIM alive
("v") in ur
'v'
HEART every...
====+.
== ==ay of
== == ur
====+"LIFE... |
When you want to praise God |
When you ask God for a gift, be
thankful if He send u not diamonds, not pearls, not riches, but the
LOVE of real people around U! |
Reminding others about the value
of friendship / love. |
6.
What's Next?
Now after all have been said, I exhort
you, the reader of this page, to try practicing this ministry of
exhortation to your friends, families, relatives, cell group members,
perhaps to missionaries that you know too, etc. Either by using some
tools that I've listed above or use your own style.
Get ready, as you will never know when you
will be required to this ministry. For me, I will read the Bible more
thoroughly and remember more verses, listen to more encouraging songs,
and write more encouraging messages...
May God give you wisdom as you speak to
exhort others... I believe that Christian living will be much better and
will be a good testimony for others if we express our love to one
another via this ministry =).
BTB
7. Disclaimer Again...
I am still learning and will continue
learning how to apply this ministry effectively to serve my brothers and
sisters in Christ. :)
References
1. NIV Study Bible
2.
http://www.consideringchrist.org/page271.html
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