so here He gives us the commission he says alright find those that are in a
place of weakness strengthen their hands they're not able to work as they're
supposed to strengthen their knees what does that look I don't know I just
remember years ago a friend of mine was fresh out of the military talked
about they would they would have to run these great distances and sometimes one
of their troops would would just lose all strength and collapse and so they
would run over to them because they're all graded as as a group one person who take
the backpack put it on top of their own backpack two other soldiers would take
the soldier by the arms and they would actually carry him the rest of the race
he didn't have the strength to finish the race on his own so two others that
had strength would carry him the rest of the race until they'd finished
maybe that's what it is maybe it's the fact that we stand with one another and
we hold each other up until our until our knees our strength until we're at a
place where we can carry out the very thing that God called us but it didn't
stop there with just physical service a touch a embrace holding somebody up and
moves into a prophetic realm that I don't think was I don't I don't see this
passage as somebody waiting to get a word from God so they can prophesy to
the friend instead I think this is an automatic decree that we owe to one
another because we know the nature of God and the overriding promise of God
for any situation in our life so what is it say to the one who is fearful don't
be afraid God is going to vindicate you with full recompense everything that's
been lost He will restore you why is that important it's not just it's not
just it's not just empty encourag- I mean you know what I mean when I say
empty encouragement somebody is trying hard but it doesn't hit the mark and it
doesn't fix anything this is actually the release of the grace of God into an
individual's life that helps to bring them into the very answer that they ache
for so look at it again say here I'm strengthening hands strengthening knees
now don't be afraid don't be afraid God's going to vindicate you there's
nothing that we are facing that He hasn't already provided a solution
He will fully restore everything to you and they may not have the ability to
face that thing on their own but it's alright because we got their arms and we're
standing there bringing that kind of encouragement why is this vital to me in
fact in my Bible I wrote Ephesians 4:29 down next to this passage because it for
me it perfectly illustrates a truth that that I saw in in Ephesians 4:29 here's
the verse I'll quote it - let no unwholesome word proceed out of your
mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of
the moment that it might give grace to those who hear all right no negative words
encouraging words only edifying words according to the need of the
moment so it has specific application that it might give grace to those here
that's the fascinating part to me is that I could come to you and give you an
encouraging word and somehow that would bring grace where does grace come from
it comes from God grace is what it's God's favor okay it work with me here
it's God's favor I take this individual I come to them with an encouraging word
I said don't be afraid don't be afraid God's gonna vindicate
you you fully supply whatever was stolen from you I will stand with you we're
gonna see this through God will fully vindicate every loss
you've ever suffered we make this decree but here's what scripture says when we
bring that word of edification according to the need of the moment it gives grace
where does grace come from God so let me put it in my language He sees me
choosing an individual to encourage and He says all right that is where I will
add grace I will now release divine favor where My son has shown favor
we don't manipulator control God but He's given us permission every person in
this room has been given the Ministry of reconciliation it's in first Corinthians
every person every one of us have certain overlapping responsibilities and
in this case is the responsibility to stand as one who believes in The
Vindicator I can't vindicate you I can't fully provide for you what was lost but
I can stand with you out of my confidence because I have hope out of my
confidence and who God is and His promise that prevails over my life over
your life and I can say He will fully vindicate