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The Power of Encouragement

We can see in team sports how team members give encouragement to one another – how football, baseball, and hockey teams encourage each other by jumping up and down together, holding up the trophy, huddling around each other, and congratulating each other.

Dr. Gary Haines told of a baseball team he was on. He was a 13-year-old baseball catcher. He couldn’t run because of the effects he had from overcoming polio when he was 7 years old. His Dad encouraged him to try out for the team anyway, because he could hit, throw, and catch; he just could not run. Coach Mr. Witgen took it upon himself to go to all the other coaches and get permission for Gary to have a “pinch runner” from home plate; all the coaches agreed. Steve Lindsay was his “runner” and the fastest guy on the team. That year, Gary led the league in stolen bases and doubles. To this day, Dr. Haines is thankful to his father and Mr. Witgen for encouraging him. What an encouragement for Gary as a teenager to be able to participate on this team.

Fast forwarding life to the time Dr. Haines was called to prepare for the ministry at Nazarene Bible College, he told of when he went to Mrs. Audrey Williamson, one of his professors. He said to her, “I can’t say nice things to people anymore.” She asked Gary why. He said, “It’s in the Bible! A warning is throughout all the book of Proverbs not to have a flattering tongue!” She said, “Gary, I’m afraid that you have misinterpreted the scriptures! This is when flattery is used with an ulterior motive. But the Apostle Paul tells us to encourage one another in the faith! So, you keep doing that, ok?” What an encouragement Mrs. Williamson was when Gary didn’t understand the scriptures.

Satan, on the other hand, has a tool box of tools that he uses to destroy Christians. Do you know what the most expensive tool Satan has in his tool box? – the tool of discouragement.

Dr. Rick Warren, lead pastor at Saddleback Church, states 4 causes of discouragement: fatigue, frustration, failure and fear. Not leaving us there, Dr. Warren also gives 4 cures for discouragement: rest for your body, reorganizing your life, remembering that God will help you, and resisting discouragement.

The Bible tells us that encouragement is necessary. “Encourage one other” (Hebrews 3:13).
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Encourage one another and build each other up…” Barnabas, in the early church, encouraged the church to accept Paul and advocated for Mark to be given a second chance. He lived up to his name which means “son of encouragement.”

We must never lose our passion for what we are doing, for it is for the Lord. Be an encourager.

Notes from Dr. Gary Haines’ NBC Chapel - NBC National Public Relations Representative

Published: 08/30/2022

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