Covenant Series

“Blessing and Encouraging”

Scripture:

Romans 14:10 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

Introduction:

Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have come into a covenant with God. Christ’s blood establishes and seals this covenant. Because we are in covenant with God and He has brought us together to work toward the enlargement of His Kingdom, we are now also in covenant with one another. One of the tenants of the covenant is that we serve one another by blessing and encouraging them.

Proper definitions of the word covenant include:

1. An agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.

2. Ecclesiastical. A solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel.

I. We will never be a blessing to one another until we love one another with the same love that Jesus Christ has for us.

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

A. Our love for one another should be a fervent love.

I Peter 1:22-23 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth £through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

23having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides £forever,”

1. The meaning of the word “fervent”.

a. Having or showing great emotion or zeal; ardent

b. having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm,

2. Strong’s Concordance adds that fervent also means unceasingly.

B. What about the love that Christ has for us?

John 17:26 “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

C. A Love that goes even to the end with one another.

John 13:1 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

II. This fervent love impels us to serve one another by being a blessing.

A. It starts with being conformed to the image of God.

Matthew 7:9-12 “what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

B. The Greek word translated “blessed” means "spiritual well-being and prosperity."

C. In the Bible the word “bless” or the idea of blessing is closely tied to either praising someone or making them happy.

D. To bless someone actually means to go out of your way to insure that your brother has all he/she needs to be all God has called them to be.

E. This implies that we will endeavor to see our brothers and sisters reach their destiny and be released into their calling.

Romans 12:9-10 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” (Continue with Romans 12:11-21)

1. By meeting their needs.

2. By becoming hospitable people. (Greet one another, open our homes, and be nice.)

3. Don’t react negatively to negative situations.

4. Share in the successes or failures of your brothers and sisters.

5. Be considerate of another’s opinion.

6. Be a peacemaker.

F. Notice the blessing that God gave to Adam and Eve.

Genesis 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

1. Our prayers for one another should fit this pattern.

2. Our prophetic words should be given to fulfill this prophecy of God.

a. That they have fruitful lives.

b. That they continue to grow and mature into their calling.

c. That they come into the dominion lifestyle God has purposed for them.

III. We are in relationship with God and one another to see the Kingdom established. Therefore we serve and support one another by encouraging them.

A. An encouraging word spoken at the right time will refresh a person and give them a release to press forward in the intention of God for their lives.

Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

B. As covenant brothers/sisters my desire is to see you built up and strengthened in your faith.

Romans 14:19 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

C. The Apostle Paul encourages us to release our gift so that it can encourage others.

I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

D. We are encouraged to flow in the prophetic because of the power it has to lift and encourage those who hear it.

I Corinthians 14:31 “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”

IV. If God is into encouragement, then we so are we because we are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

A. God has brought us together; therefore I will get rid of anything in my heart that keeps me from being a blessing to you.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

B. Encouragement always looks to the potential in others and seeks to bring that out through the words said over or about that person.

C. Encouragement really is an expression of love.

D. Let’s seek to bless and encourage someone today.