One of the primary jobs of a leader is to encourage, literally to bring courage to.
We can often feel that our primary role is to manage the church or to preach the word or administration the finances. All good and worthy!
6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1 : 6-9
God takes this approach as He leads Joshua into a new role. God believes more of Joshua than Joshua believes of himself – otherwise there would be no need for encouragement Joshua could just get on with the Job.
God takes the same approach with Gideon.
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6: 11-12
Gideon is not behaving like a warrior, it is probable that no-one who knew Gideon would have recognised him from the angel’s description. God saw what no-one else saw and drew Gideon into his destiny, step one here in the passage was to encourage.
Two things are necessary if we are going to follow God’s example to encourage – both come form God
1) Discernment – who are the warriors in waiting
2) Faith which draws that out of those we disciple
It is a Father’s heart that believes for his children. He is looking to see any spark of gifting or talent which he can encourage.
In a world where there are ‘few fathers’ let God’s leaders take up the challenge and encourage!!