Hebrews 3:13 says, “Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today: lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Compare this with I John 1:7, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son purifies us from all sin .’’
These verses have references to sin and the way to be cleansed. In the first, it is exhorting and in the second it is walking in the light. Putting them together: If we exhort one another while it is called Today and thus walk in the light as He is in
the light, we will not be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin but have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son will keep purifying us from all sin. Keeping sin away by exhortation is essential for fellowship.
Let’s consider why we fail to exhort properly.
The moment we notice a shortcoming in the other, our heart is filled with remorse rather than concern. This attitude completely blocks the mind. Concern is love for betterment of a person whereas remorse kills concern. We should practise condemning such a spirit in ourselves so that every time we notice a flaw in the other our immediate reflex will be one of concern for the person. This is not difficult when we look at him as a member of the Body of Christ through God’s eye. See him as God sees him. One day James and John approached Jesus with the recommendation of their mother for places at His right and left sides. “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant against the two brothers” (Mt 20:24). Not one of the ten thought to have a talk with the two to correct and exhort them. Jesus understood the ambition of James and John as also the indignation of the ten as natural, and instead of condemning them he embraced the opportunity to teach them a good lesson on lowliness. Obviously Jesus was not shortsighted but His focus was afar and His aim was to build up the twelve in all heavenly virtues. The more concern you have the more tireless should your exhortation be. Paul for three years ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (Acts 20:31).
A heart full of concern brings out exhortation but a heart full of remorse builds up a cynical spirit. Often in an enthusiasm to exhort we end up criticizing. The attitude of our exhortation must be one to calm him down to think over his action rather
than to kindle in him a revolting attitude. Your aim must be to edify him rather than faultfinding. In other words, if we are not very careful we will “judge” rather than exhort. This is the grievous sin Jesus warned us about in Mt 7: 1-5. This is the disciples’ destructive attitude. But Jesus rebuked them and said that our spirit must be one not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them (Lk 9:54-56). How often our spirit is one of destruction rather than saving! While exhorting we must take care to salvage his spirit, body and soul, and not to put him down. Often by “proving” that he is wrong and we are right the whole purpose of exhortation is lost and we are content to believe that we have “exhorted!” But Paul and Silvanus and Timothy exhorted, “as a father deals with his own children” (1 Thess 2:11). “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He leads justice to victory” (Mt 12:20).
Many a time we hold our tongue for fear of being misunderstood or losing the friendship. Exhortation may cost you something. For John the Baptist it cost him his head. But fear is a snare. We were once hosted by Mr. and Mrs. X. The very next day Mr. Y who visited us said that the couple drink and also serve drinks at parties. I was shocked at this information and for two days I was greatly disturbed. A battle went on within me. Should I just pray for them and leave it at that? Or, should I exhort them and earn their enmity? Finally I decided to open it up, let come what may. I very gently asked Mrs. X if they drank. Immediately her eyes were filled and she said in all their 15 years of stay there they had never tasted a drop nor did they serve. She also added that many spread rumours about them. To the glory of God the next day when we prayed for Mrs. X, she received the Holy Spirit. My next job was to meet Mr. Y and ask him how he knew they drank. He hesitated for a moment and said, “Someone told me.” I told him never to rely on hearsay and pass on the information to the other. I had the most wonderful sleep that night. How important is exhortation to dampen backbiting. Had I feared misunderstanding I would have misunderstood and believed a lie and might have backbitten, and missed a glorious experience too. Even if it had been true I dare say I would have exhorted them for I went well prepared for that! Perfect love casts out fear.
Exhortation is reciprocal. “Exhort one another.” All of us love to exhort. But few love to be exhorted! Why?
A plank lying in our lower lid prevents us seeing ourselves but allows us a margin over it to see others. How clearly Jesus says in Mt 7:1-5 that we are unconscious to big sins and errors in ourselves. He says “first” to remove the plank i.e. be ready to
be exhorted first rather than to exhort. “Then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” i.e., if you receive exhortation you become fit to exhort. In other words, one who cannot be exhorted cannot exhort. Paul’s message to
Timothy was to “give attention to exhortation” (1 Tim 4:13).
King David was so humble that nearly anyone could go and exhort him. Prophets, his servants and even a woman exhorted him (2 Sam 14). No wonder God gave him a tongue like the pen of a ready writer to exhort multitudes. As James says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak” (1:19).
In the previous occasion we fail to recognise our shortcomings. But here we know we are wrong, we know we need to be corrected. Yet we hate others pointing it out. We are so touchy that when we are doing something “this way” and somebody exhorts us to do it “that way,” no matter how advantageous “that way” is, we are so offended that we adamantly stick to our old way giving ever so many reasons. This is nothing but pride in mufti. A correction either brings tears to our eyes or mind-your-own-business
answer. Read Proverbs 11:2. A Touchy person will not trudge along too far in true fellowship because no one will dare exhort him for fear of retorts. This kind manifests in practical life in two ways. If you are the junior and feel bound to accept the correction, you exhibit your resistance by way of reaction by jumping to the other extreme. The disciples often behaved so. They would either that men enter the Kingdom of heaven with all their riches or conclude when exhorted, that it was impossible for anyone to enter! (Mt 19:24-26). They would either marry and put away any number of wives or decide when exhorted, not to marry at all! (Mt 19:7-10). On the other hand if you are the touchy senior, you just throw a scornful remark at the junior’s face. David once fell in this sin but his heart smote him for his attitude (2 Sam 24:4). A mocker does not listen to rebuke (Prov 13:1).
One who is keen on growing towards spiritual maturity will always receive exhortation readily. This is the way for one who is holy to be holier still at His Coming (Rev 22:11), and the exercise He has given us for such a progress is “exhortation.” The stronger we believe and the earlier we expect His Coming, the more we should exhort. “Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13). One who has no aspiration to grow will not only be dwarfed but start to wither away. Paul enumerates exhortation along with ‘grace gifts.’ “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us… exhortation” (Rom 12:6-8). This is one of God’s gifts to the Church for “the perfecting of saints;” “that the man of God may be perfect” (Eph 4:12,13).
1. Humbly: Paul then sets down rules for the operation of these grace gifts. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves” (Rom 12:10). The same rule applies to the operation of ministerial gifts also in the Church. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing one another in love” (Eph 4:2). The “small” disciples were fighting “who should be the greatest” but the two great ones set a majestic example. Christ born of a woman said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11:11), while the “man sent from God, whose name was John” said, “He must become greater; I must become less. The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all” (Jn 3:30,31). Oh, how I would love to see them exhorting one another! No wonder the church today is limping, “receiving praise one from another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from God only” (Jn 5:44)
2. Rightly: Beware also of erroneous exhortation. Take care to keep yourself in the centre of God’s will while exhorting and being exhorted. Often out of love and concern we exhort our brother apart from the truth. Peter loved the Lord so much that at
the mention of His sufferings and death he rebuked Him, “not having in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mt 16:22). Unconsciously we do this, especially when we seek to sympathise with the person who confides in us. A practical example will
be: When a member of one ministry starts backbiting another minister of God, all the other members always seem to say amen to him and hardly ever have the guts to cut him short with an exhortation.
3. Scripturally: Use the Word for exhortation, to avoid pitfalls. “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work ... correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim 3:16-4:2). Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The natural outcome of being filled with the Word is exhortation. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another” (Col 3:16).
4. Spiritually: As being filled with the Word, being filled with the Spirit has the same effect here. “Be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another” (Eph 5:18,19). By practising exhortation you manifest an aspect of the spiritual gift of prophecy
for “he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” (1Cor 14:3). It may not be the sensational outburst as one imagines but here is the operation of the gifts in day-to-day life in a natural way. This was the prophetic ministry
of Judas and Silas. “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted the brethren with many words, and strengthened them” (Acts 15:32).
5. Privately: When your brother has a shortcoming or fault in him, the scriptural way to correct him is to go and tell him his fault when you are “alone” with him (Mt 18:15).
“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.” But “whoever loves instruction loves knowledge” (Prov 29:1; 12:1).
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbour frankly so you will not share in his guilt” (Lev 19:17).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Hebrews 3:13 says, “Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today: lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Compare this with I John 1:7, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son purifies us from all sin .’’
These verses have references to sin and the way to be cleansed. In the first, it is exhorting and in the second it is walking in the light. Putting them together: If we exhort one another while it is called Today and thus walk in the light as He is in
the light, we will not be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin but have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son will keep purifying us from all sin. Keeping sin away by exhortation is essential for fellowship.
Let’s consider why we fail to exhort properly.
The moment we notice a shortcoming in the other, our heart is filled with remorse rather than concern. This attitude completely blocks the mind. Concern is love for betterment of a person whereas remorse kills concern. We should practise condemning such a spirit in ourselves so that every time we notice a flaw in the other our immediate reflex will be one of concern for the person. This is not difficult when we look at him as a member of the Body of Christ through God’s eye. See him as God sees him. One day James and John approached Jesus with the recommendation of their mother for places at His right and left sides. “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant against the two brothers” (Mt 20:24). Not one of the ten thought to have a talk with the two to correct and exhort them. Jesus understood the ambition of James and John as also the indignation of the ten as natural, and instead of condemning them he embraced the opportunity to teach them a good lesson on lowliness. Obviously Jesus was not shortsighted but His focus was afar and His aim was to build up the twelve in all heavenly virtues. The more concern you have the more tireless should your exhortation be. Paul for three years ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (Acts 20:31).
A heart full of concern brings out exhortation but a heart full of remorse builds up a cynical spirit. Often in an enthusiasm to exhort we end up criticizing. The attitude of our exhortation must be one to calm him down to think over his action rather
than to kindle in him a revolting attitude. Your aim must be to edify him rather than faultfinding. In other words, if we are not very careful we will “judge” rather than exhort. This is the grievous sin Jesus warned us about in Mt 7: 1-5. This is the disciples’ destructive attitude. But Jesus rebuked them and said that our spirit must be one not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them (Lk 9:54-56). How often our spirit is one of destruction rather than saving! While exhorting we must take care to salvage his spirit, body and soul, and not to put him down. Often by “proving” that he is wrong and we are right the whole purpose of exhortation is lost and we are content to believe that we have “exhorted!” But Paul and Silvanus and Timothy exhorted, “as a father deals with his own children” (1 Thess 2:11). “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He leads justice to victory” (Mt 12:20).
Many a time we hold our tongue for fear of being misunderstood or losing the friendship. Exhortation may cost you something. For John the Baptist it cost him his head. But fear is a snare. We were once hosted by Mr. and Mrs. X. The very next day Mr. Y who visited us said that the couple drink and also serve drinks at parties. I was shocked at this information and for two days I was greatly disturbed. A battle went on within me. Should I just pray for them and leave it at that? Or, should I exhort them and earn their enmity? Finally I decided to open it up, let come what may. I very gently asked Mrs. X if they drank. Immediately her eyes were filled and she said in all their 15 years of stay there they had never tasted a drop nor did they serve. She also added that many spread rumours about them. To the glory of God the next day when we prayed for Mrs. X, she received the Holy Spirit. My next job was to meet Mr. Y and ask him how he knew they drank. He hesitated for a moment and said, “Someone told me.” I told him never to rely on hearsay and pass on the information to the other. I had the most wonderful sleep that night. How important is exhortation to dampen backbiting. Had I feared misunderstanding I would have misunderstood and believed a lie and might have backbitten, and missed a glorious experience too. Even if it had been true I dare say I would have exhorted them for I went well prepared for that! Perfect love casts out fear.
Exhortation is reciprocal. “Exhort one another.” All of us love to exhort. But few love to be exhorted! Why?
A plank lying in our lower lid prevents us seeing ourselves but allows us a margin over it to see others. How clearly Jesus says in Mt 7:1-5 that we are unconscious to big sins and errors in ourselves. He says “first” to remove the plank i.e. be ready to
be exhorted first rather than to exhort. “Then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” i.e., if you receive exhortation you become fit to exhort. In other words, one who cannot be exhorted cannot exhort. Paul’s message to
Timothy was to “give attention to exhortation” (1 Tim 4:13).
King David was so humble that nearly anyone could go and exhort him. Prophets, his servants and even a woman exhorted him (2 Sam 14). No wonder God gave him a tongue like the pen of a ready writer to exhort multitudes. As James says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak” (1:19).
In the previous occasion we fail to recognise our shortcomings. But here we know we are wrong, we know we need to be corrected. Yet we hate others pointing it out. We are so touchy that when we are doing something “this way” and somebody exhorts us to do it “that way,” no matter how advantageous “that way” is, we are so offended that we adamantly stick to our old way giving ever so many reasons. This is nothing but pride in mufti. A correction either brings tears to our eyes or mind-your-own-business
answer. Read Proverbs 11:2. A Touchy person will not trudge along too far in true fellowship because no one will dare exhort him for fear of retorts. This kind manifests in practical life in two ways. If you are the junior and feel bound to accept the correction, you exhibit your resistance by way of reaction by jumping to the other extreme. The disciples often behaved so. They would either that men enter the Kingdom of heaven with all their riches or conclude when exhorted, that it was impossible for anyone to enter! (Mt 19:24-26). They would either marry and put away any number of wives or decide when exhorted, not to marry at all! (Mt 19:7-10). On the other hand if you are the touchy senior, you just throw a scornful remark at the junior’s face. David once fell in this sin but his heart smote him for his attitude (2 Sam 24:4). A mocker does not listen to rebuke (Prov 13:1).
One who is keen on growing towards spiritual maturity will always receive exhortation readily. This is the way for one who is holy to be holier still at His Coming (Rev 22:11), and the exercise He has given us for such a progress is “exhortation.” The stronger we believe and the earlier we expect His Coming, the more we should exhort. “Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13). One who has no aspiration to grow will not only be dwarfed but start to wither away. Paul enumerates exhortation along with ‘grace gifts.’ “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us… exhortation” (Rom 12:6-8). This is one of God’s gifts to the Church for “the perfecting of saints;” “that the man of God may be perfect” (Eph 4:12,13).
1. Humbly: Paul then sets down rules for the operation of these grace gifts. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves” (Rom 12:10). The same rule applies to the operation of ministerial gifts also in the Church. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient bearing one another in love” (Eph 4:2). The “small” disciples were fighting “who should be the greatest” but the two great ones set a majestic example. Christ born of a woman said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11:11), while the “man sent from God, whose name was John” said, “He must become greater; I must become less. The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all” (Jn 3:30,31). Oh, how I would love to see them exhorting one another! No wonder the church today is limping, “receiving praise one from another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from God only” (Jn 5:44)
2. Rightly: Beware also of erroneous exhortation. Take care to keep yourself in the centre of God’s will while exhorting and being exhorted. Often out of love and concern we exhort our brother apart from the truth. Peter loved the Lord so much that at
the mention of His sufferings and death he rebuked Him, “not having in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mt 16:22). Unconsciously we do this, especially when we seek to sympathise with the person who confides in us. A practical example will
be: When a member of one ministry starts backbiting another minister of God, all the other members always seem to say amen to him and hardly ever have the guts to cut him short with an exhortation.
3. Scripturally: Use the Word for exhortation, to avoid pitfalls. “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work ... correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim 3:16-4:2). Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The natural outcome of being filled with the Word is exhortation. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another” (Col 3:16).
4. Spiritually: As being filled with the Word, being filled with the Spirit has the same effect here. “Be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another” (Eph 5:18,19). By practising exhortation you manifest an aspect of the spiritual gift of prophecy
for “he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” (1Cor 14:3). It may not be the sensational outburst as one imagines but here is the operation of the gifts in day-to-day life in a natural way. This was the prophetic ministry
of Judas and Silas. “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted the brethren with many words, and strengthened them” (Acts 15:32).
5. Privately: When your brother has a shortcoming or fault in him, the scriptural way to correct him is to go and tell him his fault when you are “alone” with him (Mt 18:15).
“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.” But “whoever loves instruction loves knowledge” (Prov 29:1; 12:1).
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbour frankly so you will not share in his guilt” (Lev 19:17).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
