Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV

Maybe you've had one of those seasons of discouragement when unexpected things came your way or certain interactions trended in a direction you really wish would've panned out differently.  When I found myself in one of those situations recently, my mind replayed what-if scenarios that really couldn't change the past, and my emotions slid toward heaviness of heart about what lay ahead in the future.  It didn't help that I was already running low on sleep that week.  But what DID help was a steady stream of messages, calls, and conversations from friends who were aware of my difficulty and took the initiative to express support.  Of course, I also found strength in prayerfully casting my cares upon the Lord who promises to sustain us (Ps. 55:22), but there's something beautiful about a community of encouragement that God wants us to experience for ourselves and extend to those around us -- life on life, person to person.  And in the book of Acts, we see how this dynamic of personal effort and individual encouragement spurred the early church on toward fulfilling God's purposes.  

THE SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT

As we explored in last week's sermon, Barnabas wasn't his actual name.  It was the nickname given to Joses because to the early church he was the embodiment of encouragement.  He was someone whose life was all about coming alongside others and gifting them with support.  Soon after Saul converted from persecutor of Christians to preacher of the risen Christ, he found himself escaping Damascus for his life and seeking refuge among the Christian community in Jerusalem.  Those believers, however, were hesitant to embrace the one who had previously brought so much trouble to the church.  They were all afraid of Saul and withheld the hand of fellowship...except for one:

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:27, NKJV

We're not told what Barnabas said to Saul, but the fact that he could declare Saul's story to the other disciples indicates that Baranbas took time to hear him out.  Barnabas was large-hearted enough to listen.  The reality is that sometimes the most encouraging thing we can do for someone who feels disconnected from God or from God's family is to simply listen.  

We may not have scripted words to share or powerful counsel to offer, but we can offer the gift of understanding.  

We can listen to others' experience and thereby express affirmation and validation that may or may not be accompanied with words!  To be known and understood through the simple, sincere act of leaning in and listening can be all the encouragement someone needs.

THE CHARIOT CHASER

Philips wasn't trying to be creepy, just obedient.  When the Holy Spirit led him to travel a particular road and then further instructed him to "go to that chariot and stay near it" (Acts 8:29), Philip ran into a divine appointment.  It was the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch who just so happened to be reading through the Hebrew Scriptures, specifically prophecies in Isaiah about the anticipated Messiah.  Confused about the prophecy, the eunuch welcomed Philip's guidance.  I love how the Bible describes what happens next:

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Acts 8:35, NKJV

If you're like me, you tend to think of the powerful preaching of Peter and Paul in the book of Acts as the things that moved God's kingdom forward.  But here, we see a one-person audience hearing and receiving the good news of Jesus.  As a result, this eunuch exercised faith in Christ, was baptized, and "he went on his way rejoicing" (v. 39).  All because Philip was obedient to the Spirit, humbly heard the eunuch's questions, and pointed him to Jesus.  As we seek to be a community of encouragement in our household, neighborhood, school, or church, let's listen for the leading of God's Spirit and the timing of the Spirit.  

When we make ourselves available, He'll direct us to those who need encouragement.  

"Yeah, but what if they have questions I don't have an answer to?"  The good news is that even if we may not be an expert in those moments, we can still be an encouragement.  How?  By preaching Jesus.  By sharing "the good news about Jesus" (v. 35, NIV) we've found to be true in our own experience, sharing the promises of His Word we've seen God prove faithful to, telling about "the great things the Lord has done" for us personally (Mk. 5:19).

These are just two of the many portraits of person-to-person encouragement, but hopefully the picture is clear.  We can encourage one another and build each other up simply by listening to one another's stories and being willing to share our own.  It doesn't take much, but it does have significant impact.  Let's be a people who are constantly listening to God's leading and make ourselves available to come alongside each other's chariots.  May God use us all to help others move from disconnect to discipleship and from confusion to rejoicing.