{"id":3265,"date":"2014-06-08T12:33:37","date_gmt":"2014-06-08T12:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/?p=3265"},"modified":"2014-06-08T12:33:37","modified_gmt":"2014-06-08T12:33:37","slug":"kinda-sorta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/?p=3265","title":{"rendered":"Kinda Sorta"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"books\"<\/a>This is my first blog post from my new office! I\u2019m kinda sorta settled. While my computer and desk are up and ready to go, there are stacks of books still waiting to be placed on their shelves. I have no idea where my coaster is\u2026but an empty CD holder works perfectly (yes, that is a Christmas mug I’m drinking coffee from today). Maybe today I can get a bit more organized!<\/p>\n

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What a perfect day to read about encouragement! I pray that you\u2019ll find something in this repeat blog post that speaks to your heart today. I say, let\u2019s have a great day!<\/p>\n

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Encourageme\"coaster\"nt \u2013 Part Three<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I really never intended this to be a series on encouragement, but as it turns out I think it just might be! This is part three and we are not nearly done.<\/p>\n

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I found seven specific passages where Paul was encouraged. Now he speaks a lot about encouragement and I believe those things encourage Paul as well, but these seven passages show how he<\/em> was encouraged.<\/p>\n

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Over the next few days I will get into the other passages on encouragement. Yesterday we looked at the first three ways Paul was encouraged. Today, we will discuss the last four.<\/p>\n

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So let\u2019s look at these texts and see how we can bring these elements into our own lives to encourage men and women in ministry or on the mission field.<\/p>\n

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Four<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul was encouraged by physical fellowship, but also by spiritual fellowship. When Paul remembered the people in the churches he planted, he was encouraged by their faith and their faithfulness. In Philippians 1:3-5 (NIV), Paul tells the Philippian believers, \u201cI thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Paul met so many people, started so many churches, and saw so many people come to God for salvation. And yet, he was encouraged by individuals who remained faithful to their salvation. He was encouraged each time he thought of them. What a blessing memories are. What a blessing Christian fellowship is. What a blessing faithful Christians can be to their mentors. Paul knew these blessings and was encouraged.<\/p>\n

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Five<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hearing news from the churches encouraged Paul. Philippians 2:19 (NIV) says, \u201cI hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.\u201d<\/em> I envision Paul hearing stories from young Timothy of the Philippian Church. Paul would listen and would laugh through the funny portions, clap at the victorious, cry during the painful, and rejoice with the joyful.<\/p>\n

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Paul was encouraged by news from his fellow brothers. Hearing of their day-to-day struggles and victories cheered Paul.<\/p>\n

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Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another passage in Philippians shows yet another way Paul was encouraged. \u201cYet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.\u201d <\/em>(Philippians 4:14-16 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n

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This group of believers not only encouraged Paul spiritually, but they encouraged him physically. They gave money and supplies to help with his ministry. No one else did (at least at this point in time). They were the only church who felt the need to share with Paul. Indeed, the Philippian Church was a great encouragement to Paul.<\/p>\n

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Seven<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul was encouraged by the Church at Thessalonica as well. Their faith and faithfulness brought joy to Paul. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (NIV) shares the feelings Paul had for these Christians. There are phrases like, \u201cpleasant memories,\u201d \u201clong to see you,\u201d \u201cwe were encouraged,\u201d \u201chow can we thank God enough,\u201d<\/em> and \u201cjoy we have in the presence of our God because of you.\u201d<\/em> In verse 10 (NIV), Paul says, \u201cNight and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Paul not only was encouraged by this group of Christians, but he was encouraged that they were still eager to learn. That he would one day be able to continue to share the gospel with them and see even more spiritual growth.<\/p>\n

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As we have looked at these encouraging moments in Paul\u2019s life, we can better understand what encouragement is all about. By using Paul\u2019s examples, how can we encourage those in ministry or on the mission field?<\/p>\n

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How You Can Be an Encouragement to Your Minister or Missionary<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Encouragement Four<\/strong><\/p>\n

Give them reason to thank God each time you are thought of. Be a blessing to your minister. Be a blessing to a missionary. Be an encourager.<\/p>\n

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Encouragement Five<\/strong><\/p>\n

Share your news. Send letters, cards, and emails. Whatever method you wish to use, use it. There is nothing better than hearing news from \u201cback home\u201d or from special friends. For a missionary, this is a great life line. For a local minister, it is an encouragement to know what is happening in your life. They want to rejoice with you. They desire to cry with you. They are willing to celebrate the victories. They just need to know about them!<\/p>\n

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Encouragement Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

Support them financially. The local congregation and the mission field each deserve our financial support. Yes, we\u2019ve had some hard times in our economy lately, but we must continue to support the work of God. Whenever and wherever we can.<\/p>\n

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Encouragement Seven<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remain faithful and continue our own spiritual growth. There are four things the early Church devoted themselves to. \u201c\u2026the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the braking of brad and to prayer.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:42 \u2013 NIV) These four elements will promote spiritual growth within our lives. Let\u2019s stick to them. Let\u2019s remain faithful. Let\u2019s grow spiritually. You never know who you might be an encouragement to.<\/p>\n

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These are the seven things that encouraged the apostle Paul. I don\u2019t believe I\u2019ve missed any, but I could be wrong. If you happen to come across others, please let me know. I\u2019d love to hear from you!<\/p>\n

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We aren\u2019t done with this study on encouragement. I pray that you\u2019ll continue this biblical journey with me over the next few days as we learn how to encourage one another.<\/p>\n

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Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n

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Donna<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is my first blog post from my new office! I\u2019m kinda sorta settled. While my computer and desk are up and ready to go, there are stacks of books still waiting to be placed on their shelves. I have no idea where my coaster is\u2026but an empty CD holder works perfectly (yes, that is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,16,17,18,26],"tags":[393,2472,2478,2471,2473,2474,2475,2476,2477],"class_list":["post-3265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-believing-god","category-following-god","category-obeying-god","category-pleasing-god","category-serving-god","tag-acts-242","tag-encouragement-part-three","tag-how-to-encourage-one-another","tag-kinda-sorta","tag-new-office","tag-organzed","tag-philippians-13-5","tag-philippians-219","tag-philippians-414-16"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3265"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3270,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3265\/revisions\/3270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}