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November 25, 2007AM
Romans 12:6-8
Exhorting to Excellence
We are looking at the one remaining spiritual gift Paul mentions in Romans 12.
God’s gifts enable us to be miraculous givers to God.
Are you giving to God in miraculous ways?
Or is your giving something you could do whether a Christian or not?
The presence of Jesus and the gifting of His Spirit should transform our giving.
Our giving should be so miraculous that we can take no credit for it.
All the glory of our giving goes to God.
The spiritual gift of exhortation reveals the heart of God.
It is a beautiful gift.
I do not think many gifts can be described as beautiful but this one can.
The parable of the prodigal son beautifully portrays the power of exhortation.
Turn to Luke 15 where this parable begins in verse 11.
As the story unfolds the son who left home reaches bottom.
He decides to return home knowing he deserves nothing.
He no longer feels worthy to be called the father’s son.
He expects to be treated like a servant if he is even taken in.
But the father is watching.
And when the son is a long way off the father sees him.
He runs to him and kisses him.
He calls him my son.
A banquet and celebration are made ready.
The story has a wonderful ending.
But it is not the ending.
I In this parable we find THE SETTING OF EXHORTATION.
In verse 25 the elder brother became part of the story.
He was the faithful, steadfast, obedient son.
He had never caused his father a day of anxiety.
He was dependable.
And he became angry over how his worthless brother was being treated.
If he had been one ‘calling the shots’ his brother would be a slave.
But notice what the father did in the face of his son’s anger.
Notice how he handled the stubbornness of the elder brother.
The father left the banquet personally.
He did not send one of the servants.
He went in person and did not scold.
He entreated his son.
He entreated his son.
The exact same word as Paul used in Romans 12:8.
Can’t you see the father going out to his pouting son?
Have you ever pouted?
I have done my share of pouting.
As a child I often arrived home from school in a pout.
There were many days at school when life was not fair.
In grade 7 and 8 we lived over 2 miles from school.
Often I would ride my bike to school.
I remember one day someone decided to put their lock on my bike.
I ended up walking home that night.
You can imagine the mood I was in by the time I arrived at home.
Another day someone let the air out of my tires.
That was even worse because that meant I had to walk my bike home.
I still remember arriving home angry.
And my mother would exhort me.
She would try and comfort me and try to hug me.
But I wasn’t interested.
I was mad and wanted to stay mad.
I wanted to pout and justify my anger by feeling sorry for myself.
I didn’t want to cheer up.
I didn’t want to be invited close.
Can’t you see the father going out to his pouting son?
He tries to embrace his elder son as he had embraced the younger son.
He invites him to come into the banquet.
He doesn’t want to see his son outside all alone.
His heart would break to have a son on the outside looking in.
He exhorted his son.
That is THE SETTING OF EXHORTATION.
II But we also see THE SALVATION OF EXHORTATION.
The father declares “I love you as I love your brother.”
He entreated his son to come celebrate.
The ‘entreating’ is the same word Paul uses in the gift of exhortation.
The gift of exhortation is from the same word as the Holy Spirit.
The Greek word for exhortation is paraclesis.
The Greek word for the Holy Spirit is the paraclete.
The Paraclete is the Counselor, the Exhorter, the Comforter.
The Holy Spirit is God’s exhorter.
When we exhort we enter the same ministry of the Holy Spirit.
It is to respond to those around us as God does.
It literally means to invite some one.
Don’t you just love to get an invitation?
It means some one is thinking about you and wants to include you.
To exhort means to call someone to come close.
They want you to be where they are.
To exhort is to implore them to receive fellowship.
It is to console or to bring comfort.
Is that not very much like God?
He exhorts us constantly.
“Come to me.”
“Go into the highways and by ways and compel them to come.
“The banquet is ready so take out the invitations.
“Exhort the guests to come.
“And if anyone says ‘no’ find someone who will come.”
God yearns for us to come to Him.
Notice what happens when we exhort one another according to Hebrews 3:12-15.
“My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called ‘today.’ If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let's hold tightly to our faith until the end. The Scriptures say, ‘If you hear his voice today, don't be stubborn like those who rebelled.’”
Exhortation SHATTERS the power of sin.
Exhortation SOFTENS the resistance to Jesus.
Exhortation SQUASHES the rebellion against God.
Exhortation SUMMONS us into God’s rest.
How is that possible?
How can the words that come from my mouth accomplish all of that?
What empowers THE SALVATION OF EXHORTATION?
III It is possible through THE SPIRIT OF EXHORTATION.
I can only exhort as God does when I am filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit crucifies my sinful nature.
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:6-11)
Forgiveness of sin does not destroy the sinful nature.
The sinful nature is destroyed in a second work of God’s grace.
And that cleansed heart becomes evident as we exhort others.
I cannot exhort if the sinful nature is still living and active.
Through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence we exhort as He exhorts.
We convince the world of sin and righteousness (Jn. 16:8).
We will guide others to the truth (Jn. 16:13)
We will glorify Jesus and declare His love and forgiveness (Jn.16:14)
God is reaching out to you with His love, compassion and mercy.
He wants you to enter into the celebration of His presence.
He is entreating you to come close to Him.
He is inviting you right now.
He wants to wrap His arms of love around you.
He wants to replace the hold of sin on you with His own embrace.
Don’t push Him away.
Accept His exhortation, His invitation.
Come gladly!
Let’s respond, “Yes Jesus, I’ll follow You to the celebration.
“Thank You for seeking me out and finding me.
“Thanks for not just allowing me to wallow in self-pity.
“Thank You for revealing to me my sin and my need for forgiveness.
“Thank You for inviting me into Your family.
Closing Video When It’s All Been Said and Done