Exhorting One Another: Strengthening Our Faith Together

Devotional

Day 1: Exhortation as a Collective Duty

Exhortation within the body of Christ is a shared responsibility, not just for church leaders but for every believer. This collective duty is vital to safeguard against the danger of departing from the living God. In a world that often promotes self-interest, believers are called to consider one another, provoke each other to good works, and encourage one another daily. This daily encouragement is not merely a suggestion but a necessity, as emphasized in the scriptures. [03:55]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today to offer encouragement and support? How can you make this a regular practice?

Day 2: The Necessity of Daily Encouragement

In the early church, believers met daily, but in our modern context, daily physical gatherings may be impractical. However, technology provides us with the means to reach out and encourage one another, ensuring no one feels isolated or forgotten. Whether through a phone call, a text, or a message on social media, the act of reaching out can be a lifeline for someone who is struggling. It is a reminder that we are not alone and that we are part of a community that cares. [07:19]

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV): "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Reflection: How can you use technology today to encourage someone in your community? What specific message or gesture can you offer to uplift them?

Day 3: The Deceitfulness of Sin

The deceitfulness of sin is a real threat that can harden our hearts. Sin often appears attractive and promises fulfillment, but it ultimately leads to death. The antidote to this deceitfulness is the daily exhortation from fellow believers, which helps keep us accountable and grounded in our faith. By encouraging one another, we can help each other remain vigilant against the allure of sin and stay true to our spiritual convictions. [12:44]

Hebrews 3:13 (ESV): "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel vulnerable to the deceitfulness of sin? How can you seek accountability and support from fellow believers to guard against it?

Day 4: Holding Steadfast to Our Confidence in Christ

Holding steadfast to our confidence in Christ is crucial for our faith journey. It is not just about starting well but finishing well. The Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land serves as a cautionary tale of how easily one can fall away due to unbelief and disobedience. Our confidence must remain in Christ, who is faithful and able to keep us to the end. [20:15]

Hebrews 3:14 (ESV): "For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when your confidence in Christ was tested. How did you respond, and what can you do to strengthen your faith in similar situations in the future?

Day 5: God's Provision and Our Spiritual Standing

God's provision in our lives does not necessarily reflect our spiritual standing. We must examine our hearts and ensure we are living in obedience, as God's blessings do not equate to His approval of our actions. It is essential to align our lives with God's will and remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in the Lord's ability to see us through to the end. [42:48]

1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV): "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

Reflection: In what ways might you be mistaking God's provision for His approval? How can you ensure that your actions align with His will and reflect true obedience?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we are reminded of the profound responsibility we have towards one another within the body of Christ. The call to exhort one another is not limited to pastors or church leaders; it is a collective duty that each believer must embrace. This exhortation is crucial because it serves as a safeguard against the potential of departing from the living God. In a world that often promotes self-interest, we are called to consider one another, to provoke each other to good works, and to encourage one another daily. This daily encouragement is not just a suggestion but a necessity, as emphasized in the scriptures.

The early church met daily, but in our modern context, while daily physical gatherings may be impractical, we have the means through technology to reach out and encourage one another. Whether through a phone call, a text, or a message on social media, the act of reaching out can be a lifeline for someone who is struggling. It is a reminder that we are not alone and that we are part of a community that cares.

Moreover, the deceitfulness of sin is a real threat that can harden our hearts. Sin often appears attractive and promises fulfillment, but it ultimately leads to death. The antidote to this deceitfulness is the daily exhortation from fellow believers, which helps keep us accountable and grounded in our faith.

We are also reminded of the importance of holding steadfast to our confidence in Christ. Our faith journey is not just about starting well but finishing well. The Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land serves as a cautionary tale of how easily one can fall away due to unbelief and disobedience. Our confidence must remain in Christ, who is faithful and able to keep us to the end.

In conclusion, let us commit to exhorting one another daily, recognizing the urgency of today. Let us not be deceived by sin but remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in the Lord's ability to see us through to the end.

Key Takeaways

1. Exhortation is a collective responsibility within the body of Christ, not limited to church leaders. Each believer is called to encourage and provoke one another to good works, recognizing the potential danger of departing from the living God. [03:55]
2. Daily encouragement is essential, even in our modern context where daily physical gatherings may be impractical. Technology provides us with the means to reach out and support one another, ensuring no one feels isolated or forgotten. [07:19]
3. The deceitfulness of sin is a real threat that can harden our hearts. Sin often appears attractive but leads to death. Daily exhortation from fellow believers serves as a safeguard, helping us remain accountable and grounded in our faith. [12:44]
4. Holding steadfast to our confidence in Christ is crucial. Our faith journey is not just about starting well but finishing well. The Israelites' journey serves as a cautionary tale of how easily one can fall away due to unbelief and disobedience. [20:15]
5. God's provision in our lives does not necessarily reflect our spiritual standing. We must examine our hearts and ensure we are living in obedience, as God's blessings do not equate to His approval of our actions. [42:48]
** [42:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:30] - The Call to Exhort One Another
[04:11] - Considering One Another
[05:19] - The Importance of Encouragement
[06:29] - Daily Exhortation
[07:19] - Using Modern Means to Encourage
[09:16] - Genuine Care and Concern
[11:32] - The Urgency of Today
[12:44] - The Deceitfulness of Sin
[20:15] - Holding Steadfast to Our Confidence
[25:07] - Partakers of Christ
[30:27] - The Danger of Rebellion
[34:11] - Faith Produces Obedience
[42:48] - God's Provision and Our Spiritual Standing
[46:23] - Aligning with God's Will
[49:35] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Hebrews 3:12-14
Hebrews 10:24-25
Psalm 95:7-8

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Observation Questions:

According to Hebrews 3:12-14, what is the potential danger that believers face, and how can exhortation help prevent it? [03:30]
How does the sermon describe the role of technology in fulfilling the call to exhort one another daily? [07:19]
What examples from the sermon illustrate the deceitfulness of sin and its impact on believers? [12:44]
In what ways does the sermon use the journey of the Israelites as a cautionary tale for modern believers? [20:15]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of daily exhortation challenge the traditional view that only church leaders are responsible for encouraging others? [03:55]
What might be some modern-day examples of the "deceitfulness of sin" that can harden a believer's heart, as discussed in the sermon? [12:44]
How does holding steadfast to our confidence in Christ relate to the idea of finishing well in our faith journey? [20:15]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between God's provision and our spiritual standing? How can this understanding affect a believer's self-examination? [42:48]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate the practice of exhorting someone each day, even if it's just a simple message or call? [07:19]
Identify a specific area in your life where you might be susceptible to the deceitfulness of sin. What steps can you take to seek accountability and support from fellow believers? [12:44]
Think about a time when you felt your faith wavering. How did you regain your confidence in Christ, and what can you do to maintain that steadfastness in the future? [20:15]
Consider the ways you currently use technology. How can you leverage it more effectively to encourage and support others in your faith community? [07:19]
Reflect on the Israelites' journey and their failure to enter the Promised Land. What lessons can you draw from their experience to ensure you remain obedient and faithful in your walk with God? [20:15]
Examine your life for any areas where you might be mistaking God's provision for His approval. How can you ensure that your actions align with His will? [42:48]
How can you create a habit of asking others how you can pray for them, and what impact might this have on your relationships within the church community? [09:30]

Sermon Clips

We must exhort one another so no one is excluded from this responsibility. Now remember the problem is the potential of departing from the living God. So because that is a problem and a potential thing, we need to exhort, we need to encourage, we need to draw one another near, we need to speak to one another. [00:04:00]

We live in a selfish world where everyone is just in it for themselves, and yet we have a responsibility within the context of the body of Christ to one another. And it's not the preacher's job or not only the preacher's job or the elders or the leaders; it is everyone's job. [00:04:28]

We need to exhort one another and we say, well, you know, that was those days and they, because they came together on a daily basis, that says in the book of Acts, the church in Jerusalem, they broke bread in one another's houses day by day. They met every day. [00:06:44]

We have modern media, we have phones and texts and WhatsApp and all these kinds of things that we're able to use to encourage one another. We even have fake book, which is used for all sorts of nonsense and yet can be used very effectively to encourage one another, to encourage believers. [00:07:10]

We must ask the question, you see, because we say, well, you know, you need to pray every day, you need to read your Bible every day, but part of that deal is that we should be exalting one another every day. And you say, well, preacher, that's your idea. No, it's not my idea. [00:07:42]

I think that one of the things that we need to ask ourselves every day is have I exhorted someone today? Have I spoken a word of comfort to someone? Have I spoken a word of encouragement to someone? Have I just reached out and said, how are you? [00:08:09]

There is not one person in this church or in any other church for that matter who does not have needs that need to be prayed for. Every single one of us have things that need to be prayed for, and yet no one will reach out and say, brother, what can I pray for? [00:09:26]

We need to exhort one another daily while it is called today. So there's that whole concept again, not manana, not say, well, you know, I'll call him tomorrow. Call him today, exhort him or her today while it is called today because tomorrow is not today. [00:11:32]

The whole point is that today if you will hear your voice, his voice, harden not your heart. And so becoming hardened is a very real experience. It's something that happens to every one of us, and the antidote to becoming hardened is exalting one another daily. [00:12:44]

Sin is deceitful. You remember the very beginning, Adam and Eve, she looked at the fruit, it looked good, it was tempting, it was promising. Sin is never repulsive. It always looks good, but it's a deception. It also promises us all sorts of pleasure, but the deception is that when it produces its fruit in our lives, it produces death. [00:15:22]

We must hold our confidence. We must hold our confidence. Now, what does that mean? Well, confidence is just another word for trust or faith. What is it that you have confidence in? Well, we have confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have confidence in the work of the Spirit. [00:20:35]

We cannot measure our standing with God based on his provision in our lives. The fact that you have a job, the fact that you have a house to live in, the fact that you have the things that you have has nothing to do with your spiritual standing, absolutely nothing. [00:42:48]

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Exhorting One Another: Strengthening Our Faith Together

Devotional

Day 1: Exhortation as a Collective Duty

Day 2: The Necessity of Daily Encouragement

Day 3: The Deceitfulness of Sin

Day 4: Holding Steadfast to Our Confidence in Christ

Day 5: God's Provision and Our Spiritual Standing

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Exhorting One Another: Strengthening Our Faith Together

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