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LOST ART OF EXHORTATION

I've been in one-too-many churches were exhortation was barely done or was non-existant from the pulpit. And yet, it is one of the more important keys to building great churches. What's gone wrong?

The art and wisdom of exhortation has been lost!

In a loveless, self-centered society we live in today, we've forgotten this powerful force that can move people to great heights. We might do it to our children, but when it comes to others we hold back or don't care.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY EXHORTING?

Strong's Exhaustive gives us this defenition:

AV-beseech 43, comfort 23, exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3, vr besought

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 2d) to encourage, strengthen
exhorting and comforting and encouraging
to instruct, teach

In short, to exhort is to excite within another person the will to change or act for the better. That's what Jesus did to people! By His example and words, He was able to MOVE people to doing God's will. Imagine what could happen if we knew how to exhort in the same way? Our churches, lives, families and friends would all change for the better.

1 Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Notice how exhortation is closely linked to preaching or teaching and in the grandest scale, the ministry as a whole.

You might of heard that flattery will get you nowhere, but that's false! Flattery, with good and true intentions, will do much good. What once was a customary thing to do, it is now being downplayed by falsehoods.

EXHORTATION IN PREACHING

For the majority of Christians in typical churches, the service or Sunday school is where they get their spiritual food. And yet, exhortation is hardly used. Let me also add that condenming sin and a wicked way is not exhortation.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

As Paul set forth, reprove has it's place, rebuke also and exhortation. Each are different and must not be considered the same. Most often, preachers and teachers reprove and rebuke but fail to exhort. The listener walks away on a negative note. Weak Christians may be discouraged instead of encouraged. Like I said before, we all have problems and we don't need someone to tell us what they are, we may only need someone to encourage us to be better.

Exhortation offers hope. God told us about the consequences of sin but left us with the Gospel. The good news. You'll notice that when Jesus speaks of a sad subject, he always ends by offering hope.

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Exhortation keeps us from becoming turned off (in today's term). How many Christians have been turned off by the preaching? Too many! I myself left a church which only focused on the negative aspects of the Christian life. This should not happen. Building a great work of God is closely linked to how the members are exhorted to do God's work. Ask your people if they feel exhorted and compensate if there's a lack of it.

I'd like to add that the other extreme where sin is not dealt with, is not good either. Balance is what God wants.