Mutually Encouraged
March 27, 2022      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Romans 1:11-12 (NIV)
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

“Sterizo” - establish, make stable, fix, strengthen

“Symparakaleo”
- To call upon
- To exhort at the same time together
- To console jointly
- To comfort together

“That I with you may be encouraged among you through the faith that is in one another - both yours and mine”

Encourage Why?
1) Fully Mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28-2:3)
Colossians 1:28-2:3 (NIV)
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
2: 1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2) To Keep the Shield Up (Hebrews 3:12-13)
Hebrews 3:12-13 (NIV)
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

3) To “spur on” - Serious Exhortation (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

To this end I strenuously contend — THAT we may present everyone fully mature in Christ

My goal (in prayer) is:
1) That they may be ENCOURAGED in heart and
2) UNITED in love so that
3) They may HAVE the full riches of complete understanding in order that
4) They may KNOW the mystery of God (namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge)

Encourage How?
1) Impartation of Spiritual Gifts (Romans 1:11-12)
Romans 1:11-12 (NIV)
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

2) Word of God (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NIV)
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

3) Words that “build up”
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

1 Corinthians 14:3,4, 31 (NIV)
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

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