Encouragement as Spiritual Warfare

"So you're moving back to Central Asia just to pray for folks?" The well-meaning western friend asked me.  He didn't understand what pastoral ministry on the front-lines - where missionaries working among unreached-people groups - entails.  While prayer is crucial, the Bible has strong words when we don't encourage the Body.   

Ezekiel 13:5 states, "You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord."  

There were tasks the leaders were to do that were not being done, and God was communicating his divine displeasure. Let us take a fresh look at 4 reasons we are to become people of encouragement so we do not also incur his displeasure.

1. To Encourage is to be like God.  He is the “God of encouragement” (Rom. 15:5, RSV) and we are commanded to imitate Him (Eph.5:1-2, I Thess 5:11). Part of being like Him includes being men and women of encouragement.  It is not just for those spiritually gifted in encouragement.  It is a learned skill.  Encouragement, when Biblically rooted, re-frames and gives perspective – in light of God’s character demonstrated in his Son. The more we study to understand God’s ways, the more we will become like him and help point others to be like him.

By paying attention to how he works, we learn his ways.  In Genesis 13:17-18 “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle."  He is not an "efficient God" by human standards but a God who knows our weaknesses and that often we need the long way. 

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”   In the context of this verse, it is the promise of the coming of Christ which is to serve as the reason to encourage acceptable behavior among his followers, keeping this promise constantly in mind. Let us be passionate second-advent Followers of the Way. He is coming back soon!

2. Encouragement is for All in the Body, “Romans 1:11 – 12 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. He wanted them to be mutually encouraged for service, for warfare, for holiness, for steadfastness, for all times and in all walks and at all ages, for all people. Encouragement is NOT just for those in professional ministry.

BUT, we can only give out of what we are and have received

Psalm 106:7 – Psalm 106:7 “Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.”  

They did not consider, they did not have understanding and they did not remember.  The Israelites were blunted by cruel slavery which had grounded them down to mental sluggishness.  The lack of understanding was one of the main indictment’s against Israel. The sin of not  considering and understanding leads  to the sin of forgetfulness.  

What is not understood will soon be forgotten.  

How good are we at helping our children, spouse, and others comprehend and remember God’s faithfulness in the past and present so they are better prepared to face future adversity? 

3. Encouragement is protection from sin.  Hebrews 3:13 – “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.”  What sin is the author referring to here?  The sin of not remembering God's faithfulness, of not reviewing His power, rule, sovereignty, patience, mercy, forgiveness, of not trusting His goodness. This leads us to very dangerous ground quite quickly - the lie that we are all alone, no one understands. We become isolated sheep, and the enemy attacks ferociously once we "buy" the lie we are alone.  The battle is in our minds. 

4. Encouragement is Standing in the Gap. In battle, if the enemy made a hole in the city wall, defenders would stand in the gap. They would take the place of the wall and the enemy would not get in until the defenders retreated or were killed. Likewise in spiritual warfare, God looks for believers who will stand in the gap and defend against Satan’s snares. 

In Ezekiel 13:5, we see two distinct images. There were breaches in the walls of Jerusalem, literally and spiritually, and the leaders of Israel, the false prophets, had not been as “repairers of the breach” (Isa. 58:12; Ps. 106:23). The hedge of the vineyard of Israel had been broken through (Isa. 5:5), and they had done nothing to restore it. Ezek. 22:30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.  They had no crisis ministry (v. 5). They could not strengthen the breaks in the walls or fortify broken lives.

Nahum 2:1 commands us:  "The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength."    There is a battle raging around the world for the hearts and minds of  men, women, and children.  Standing in the gap means we are placing ourselves in the firing line, too.  We must stand alert, firm, and always ready.  So what gaps do you have?  What gaps do you need to be listening for, asking about in your own life as well as friends, colleagues, and those for whom you are responsible? 

Where are you or others being snared with lies and oppression? How equipped are you with the knowledge of how to put on your spiritual armor and the skills needed to fight off oppression and direct attack by the enemy?

Is 58:12  says, "And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in."  

Let us be remembered as men and women who were “Repairers of the Breach,”who by our encouragement and example others to stand firm to bring the light of His kingdom to the dark places of the world.