ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER

ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER
Christians need to encourage, exhort, support, console and cheer for one another.
Romans 15:5
(5) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

With Or Without
I believe every Christian should be willing and committed to following Christ fully, even if they do not receive encouragement from other Christians. Believers can remain faithful in the face of conflict, even when no one is there to "lift up their arms" (see Aaron and Hur in Ex. 17:11-13), "root them on," encourage them, console them, exhort them.

A Real Need In The Church
There should be an an ample supply of encouragers in the church. However, my observation is that there are very few who are truly rooting their fellow believers on to victory. But when you find a church that is enjoying power and love and purpose, you will also find a church that has men and women who not only have been encouraged during their trials, but they also encourage other people in the local body.

Pastors, Parents, Parishioners
I think that pastors should be among the most active encouragers in a church. Though there are people who have been gifted for such work, everyone should be lifting up fellow believers. Encouraging others requires love of people, humility, desire to see others succeed, emotion, discernment, sensitivity, wisdom.

Whether or not a person is gifted to be an encourager, it takes deliberate focus, self denial and consistency to fulfill this ministry. Husbands and wives need to encourage one another. Parents need to encourage children.

Sadly, most of those who expend their energy stirring up other people to victory, don't usually get the same support.

Mutual Ministry
Some people do not encourage others because they are takers by nature, or because they are struggling with adversity. It should not be the job of only one person to build others up. The more people there are supporting others, the more victorious that church is. Encouragement should be mutually shared by believers.
2 Corinthians 7:6-7
(6) Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
(7) And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

Many Facets
Encouragement is not just words, but it is love from a pure heart, it is helping others bear their burdens, it is helping someone through a dark place, it is helping others accomplish their mission and fulfill their calling.