A KEY SOURCE OF STRENGTH
Acts 15:30-32 NKJV
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
Not everything was miracles and revival for the early church. They had some serious issues to work through. One of the biggest challenges was what to do with these Gentile converts.
The fifteenth chapter of Acts primarily deals with the council of leaders in Jerusalem. Their mission was to decide what to hold these new Gentile converts accountable for. Some in the church wanted them to be circumcised and to keep the law of Moses. Thankfully, with the guidance of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, the council arrived at a decision. No circumcision, and the believers were to stay away from things offered to idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality.
So the council sent Judas and Silas back to the new believers, spelling out what was required. And when the Gentile church heard the proclamation, they rejoiced. Not having to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses was a huge relief.
Judas and Silas were not only messengers for the council they were prophets of God. They had the grace and equipping to build up the church, and that is exactly what they did. These two men exhorted and strengthened the believers with many words. We might use the words comfort and encourage instead of exhort and firmly establish instead of strengthen. But the main point is that words, especially anointed words, have the ability to comfort, encourage, and establish.
APPLICATION
In these short verses lies a key to staying strong spiritually. We are greatly impacted by the words that come into our lives. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. And we have quoted that for years with the realization that death and life can be in our words. That is a correct interpretation of the verse, but there is another application. Death and life are in the power of other people's tongues as it applies to what we hear spoken.
The words we hear affect us. All of us have had moments when everything was fine until words were spoken that hurt us or struck fear in our hearts. When Joy was very sick, I encouraged her to stay away from some individuals who thought it was their job to talk Joy out of believing for God's healing in her life. Their words were not firmly establishing Joy. They were trying to erode her faith.
And because of the power of words, we cannot underestimate the value of churches that proclaim the gospel of God's grace, which has the power to encourage, strengthen, and build us up.
So, when you are feeling low and weakened, this is the time to listen to good messages, read your Bible, and fellowship with people who will encourage and strengthen you with their words. Words matter, and the right words can make a major difference in your life.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for the people in my life who speak words that encourage and strengthen me. And help me to be that person in the lives of those in my world.