Empowering Encouragers

Had breakfast this morning with a person whom I did not know three months ago, but now consider a close ally, mentor, and friend. And it's such a God thing that we connected when we connected.

This guy has learned and forgotten more than I ever will learn about leadership, starting something from scratch, fund-raising, success/failure, and following Jesus through it all. His only mode is "dream big" and he stretches me every time we talk.

In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan had a bizarre idea: rather than sitting around waiting on the numbers to make sense, maybe my teenaged armor bearer and I can take on an entire Philistine outpost by ourselves. Oh, and we'll have to scale two cliffs and the valley inbetween to get there, but no worries, God is able to work mightily on our behalf.

I love the armor bearer's response:

"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

With that, they go and God does in fact show up mightily on their behalf. Not only do they take out the entire outpost, but God sends an earthquake that sends the entire Philistine army into total confusion. The story ends in verse 23:

"So the LORD rescued Israel that day..."

God used one guy who had an audacious vision to rescue a nation. But what if the armor bearer said, "No." What if the armor bearer questioned his sanity and told him to go back to bed? What if the armor bearer told him, "You can't do that - it's not in the rules."

So much of what God wants to do in and through us hinges on who we surround ourselves with. We don't need "yes" men and women as much as we need encouragers. Encouragers don't just pat you on the back, tell you you're perfect, and confirm all your ideas as God's ideas. True encouragers push, pull, poke, challenge, ask questions, give advice, offer suggestions...all with the end of EMPOWERING you to go do what God has put on your heart to do.

I don't know what I would do without the empowering encouragers God has brought into my life. When I approach them with questions, dreams, ideas, etc. and say, "I need your help," the avalanche of wisdom, experience, and encouragement most definitely empowers me. I came out with of my time today with a napkin full of notes and a heart full of encouragement!

Look around you and decide if you have at least one empowering encourager. If you don't, go find one...NOW!

Comments

[J.D. Richards]

Sounds like you had breakfast with Steven Furtick? I know that is a favorite passsage of his as well.

I am living this truth right now. I am a youth pastor and am looking to bring a few new leaders onto our youth staff. I am experiencing the benefits of this type of encouraging relationship with two people in perticular and it is a huge blessing.

I wish I had embrased this truth years ago. It would have saved me a lot of effort and pain.

[jayhardwick]

jd -

very perceptive guess, but i did not have breakfast with steven today. the guy i met with today is an entrepreneur in north carolina who i met when i preached in his church a few months back. we just clicked from the beginning and now it is very obvious why.

God brought that story in 1 samuel to life for me on a mission trip in romania in 2004. He takes me back to it every 6 months or so and every time, there is something new to learn. gotta love God's Word!

glad to hear God is surrounding you with some "armor bearers." life and leadership have too much at stake for us to try to go it alone!

[J.D. Richards]

I have this on a post-it note at my desk right now -

"It is not a sign of strength to carry the weight alone. It is a sign of stupidity!" I have no idea where I read that, but WOW I am stupid sometimes.

I know in ministry it is easy shoulder the weight alone at times. I pray that God continues to bring strong leaders around you to encourage, push, and help carry out the vision God has given you! One day I want to hear about this vision in more detail. Maybe I need to make the drive to Sandhills sometime soon.

[jayhardwick]

j.d. -

thanks for the prayers!

c'mon over...there's room at my table and plenty of coffee to go around! :-)