Spiritual Encouragement
Knowing what we are called to do
Part of our vision at Jubilee is to make disciples who change the world. This is part of what is known as the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20. In this post we’re going to look at one simple way we can play our part.
I often struggle with the idea of making disciples. What does it really look like? Is discipling reserved for certain people? What is my role in the church’s vision? Am I already doing this without realising it? Who has discipled me? You may have other questions or doubts. It’s best to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Spiritual Mothers and Fathers
On Father’s Day this year I felt God speaking to me about the discipling that comes from spiritual fathers and mothers. I sensed him say that age is not a barrier. I wondered whether describing people who disciple or mentor us as mothers and fathers can cloud our thinking. Or maybe that’s just me.
While it is biblical to describe people this way, we may assume that only older people will have this role. In the natural parents are older than their children, but in the Kingdom of God this is not always how spiritual encouragement works. Looking back over my Christian life, many of those who have parented or mentored me have been younger.
One of the most helpful and wise of these is my own son, who at nineteen had the maturity to support me through difficult seasons. I often sought his counsel.
Young People
If God doesn’t see age as a barrier, young people can also disciple others. They can support and encourage friends, mentor someone who is struggling at school or college, and model who they are in Christ. Their actions and attitudes can introduce others to Jesus even before a word is spoken.
Spiritual Encouragers
A key verse about encouraging one another is 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.”
Who can be a spiritual encourager? Men and women, young and old, single and married. Anyone can be used by God to mentor or spiritually parent others in the body of Christ.
One ‘Anothering’
There are over 50 verses in the New Testament featuring ‘one another’. We are commanded to love one another, to live at peace with one another and to be kind to one another.
In the context of spiritual encouragement, we are to:
Encourage One Another
• “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
• “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Build One Another Up
• “…and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11b)
Exhort One Another
• “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)
Instruct One Another
• “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)
Teach and Admonish One Another
• “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works
• “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)
Your role
Who are you encouraging?
Who are you mentoring?
Who are you discipling?
No matter the terms we use, ask God who you should be helping and in what way. If you’re unsure about the way forward as a discipler, start small. One person. One conversation. One step at a time.
If you are already following this call, ask God if there are others you can support.
If you still don’t know what you are called to do, ask God. Ask those you trust. Sometimes we don’t recognise that we are already operating in the thing we are called to do, but others can see it clearly.
Let’s all be people who know God’s purpose for our lives. Let’s all be part of Jubilee’s vision to make disciples who change the world – one person at a time.
