Attributes of the Exhorter

Week Five -- has it really been that long???


________________ Attributes of the Exhorter




Greek word – Parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh'-o) to call to one's side, call for, summon
to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
to admonish, exhort
to beg, entreat, beseech
to strive to appease by entreaty
to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
to receive consolation, be comforted
to encourage, strengthen
exhorting and comforting and encouraging
to instruct, teach
One of these Bradford Pear trees is farther along in fall colors, yet they stand side by side within 20 feet of each other. The Exhorter will stand side by side, arms around a sister or brother in Christ, helping and urging progress in Spiritual Growth. They never tire in encouraging. Saints with this gift are rarely in the Evangelism business... Discipleship is their forte' and they are extremely good at it.
In John 16:7, Jesus says… “If I do not go away then the helper/comforter will not come to you…”

Biblical example of this gift is the Apostle Paul as in:

Colossians 1:28-29 “He it is whom we proclaim. We admonish everyone without distinction, we instruct everyone in all the ways of wisdom, so as to present each one of you as a mature member of Christ’s body. To this end I am toiling strenuously with all the energy and power of Christ at work in me.”
Paul was in the Evangelism business, but he invested more time in the discipleship of believers often spending a year or two with each new church, instructing in The Way.
The Greek word translated “helper/comforter” means “one called to walk alongside”. It could also be translated Exhorter because it is actually the same word and means the same thing.

The Exhorter/encourager accepts people just as they are, however, they also recognize the potential in Christ others have and will encourage them to grow towards that potential. Their motivating goal is to see you growing in your Christian life.

Each of us would do very well to have an encourager as a friend…someone who will not let us “settle” for anything less than God’s best.
PERSPECTIVE…

Pierre and Boudreaux was flying Cajun Airlines. Boudreaux was flying da
Plane and Pierre was in da back foolin wit da cargo equipment an stuff.
Suddenly da plane hit some turbulence an started bouncing around an Boudreaux da pilot got knock unconcience…
Den da plane started driftin’. Pierre, him come runnin’ up to da front an Boudreaux was sprawl out over da steerin’ wheel. Well, Pierre don’t know no-ting bout flyin no plane and he start to get panakey. He grab da microphone and holla “May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 10210. Boudreaux him knock unconscience
an I don’t know no-ting bout flyin dis here plane!”
“Dis is da control tower,” someone answer Pierre. “Don you worry about nutin. We gonna splain how fo you to land dat plane, step-by-easy step, ah gar-on-tee! Jus leave arythin ta us. Fus thing, how high are you and what’s you
position?”

Pierre thought a minute, den say, “I’m five foot ten and I’m all da way to da front of da plane.”

“No! No!” answer da tower. “What’s you altitude and where’s you location?”

Pierre say, “Man ah got a po attitude, and I’m from Thibodaux!”

“No! No! No!” came an exasperated voice. “Ah needs to know how many feet you got off da ground and how you plane’s in relation to da airport!”

Pierre start to panic by dis time. He say, “Countin Boudreaux’s an mine we got four feet off da ground and I don’t believe dis plane’s related to you airport!”

A long pause…

"Ok, then we needs to know who you next of kin and where to send da flowers…”

An Exhorter will try and try to “get through” to a person, but needs to see some progress in order to continue with his encouragement and his “training”. Progress is the Exhorter's goal.

The Exhorter has a deep desire to urge others to find their full potential in Christ. They want to know what you are doing to grow: “What steps are you taking/doing?” They have the Spiritual ability to visualize Spiritual achievement for others in order to motivate them to action. It doesn’t take them long to see another person’s potential.

Exhorters have the ability to discern where someone is Spiritually. They may appear “nosy”, but they are only trying to discover where you are so they can encourage you toward God’s goal. They are extremely anxious for Spiritual growth and want to see that growth or they become discouraged. Their type of training is to give precise steps of action to help people reach Spiritual maturity or overcome stumbling blocks to growth. They won’t just tell someone what is wrong but they will always want to show you HOW to get where you need to be.

The tendency to welcome personal tribulation as a chief motivation to Spiritual growth is strong with Encouragers. God’s answer to Paul when he asked three times for Him to remove the thorn from his side was “My grace is sufficient for you…” Paul was well content with his weaknesses and he declared “When I am weak then I am strong in Him.” He learned the value of suffering and saw it as a tool in God’s hand. Paul saw it as a molding and making him what God wanted be and the Exhorter’s deep conviction is “Let’s learn what we need to learn and move on to the next level ever pressing forward, running the race to reach the goal. I will be right beside you--as long as you are trying!”

The Exhorter tends to avoid all systems of information (teachings, Bible studies, training) that neglect “personal application.” Their greatest sense of fulfillment is in giving you steps to take to achieve God’s ultimate plan for your life. The Exhorter desires face to face discussion and is grieved when shut out. He is just not interested in small talk but wants to get up close and personal…cut to the chase…get down to business…get to the meat but say the blessing first!

Discovering insights from personal experience which can be validated and amplified in Scripture is exactly what motivates the Encourager. He is interested in principles that give solid steps to growth. Unfortunately, he has a tendency toward lifting “proof texts” from Scripture without paying close attention to contexts. It isn’t that he is lazy, it is that details are not all that important…Biblical Principles rule the day in his mind.

This person desires to bring harmony between diverse groups of Christians and promotes awareness that harmony is the basis to Spiritual maturity. He is happiest when “right in the middle of it” and sees problems as challenges. He is truly delighted with the person that is willing to take appropriate steps of action and experiences real joy when that person exhibits growth and maturity even in the smallest increments.




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