Who Me, Gifted?Sample

Examples of Exhortation

The gift of exhortation is given to many people in the body of Christ, far more than just those who preach and teach. Exhortation encompasses advising, pleading, warning, encouraging, strengthening, and comforting. The gift of exhortation can be used whether you encourage or admonish a person or a whole congregation.

At times, the gift of exhortation can be used by God to encourage and to undergird a weak believer who's facing a difficult trial or a persistent temptation in his or her life. Other times, the gift of exhortation is used to walk alongside someone who is grieving, someone who is discouraged, frustrated, or depressed.

Exhortation without biblical knowledge and understanding is a blind zeal. Zeal must be guided by knowledge of the Word of God. Zeal that is not guided by knowledge of the Word of God is a blind zeal.

You cannot exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit without the power of the Holy Spirit within you, especially the gift of exhortation. If it is exercised in the flesh, it is going to come across as harsh and critical and careless.

The ability to exhort is a gracious ability. It uses healing words rather than a sharp rebuke. It works with compassion, without the slightest condoning of the wrong-doing, the exhorter will help the wrong-doer to become an overcomer in Christ. That is the ultimate purpose of exhortation.

Prayer: God, thank You for the gift of exhortation. Thank You for those who have exhorted me in my walk with You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way" (Proverbs 19:2).

For more teachings, books, and downloadable resources from Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, visit us online at www.LTW.org.