Dead Man Living

We are living in a day when we all need a word of encouragement, for there so many that are discouraged. A man told me this past Friday that he had lost his job of which was 6 figures. What do you say to those who need to be encouraged? I love what Paul says in Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul says "I am crucified with Christ "What does that mean? It means that he willfully dies to self. He forsakes his own desires that he may clear the way for more effective, supernatural power. Then he says "nevertheless I live "How can he die but be alive?" He explains "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me " Paul has died, but Christ within him continues to live through him as Paul rises up alongside of Christ. Now how does Paul do this? The answer is found next "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. " There it is do you see it? Paul tells us how he is able to live the crucified Christian life. He does it by the faith of the Son of God. It's not by a faith in Christ, but by the faith of Christ. So here are some encouraging thoughts. Webster says that the word encouragement means ENCOUR'AGEMENT, The act of giving courage, or confidence of success; Just reverse it - courage in. It means putting courage in people. You give them courage to take a risk, to trust God, maybe just to get through a very tough day. You put courage in someone when you stop and pray with them. You encourage a person when you give them specific praise for something they did or more importantly for something they are. In the book of Hebrews we read this Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke {encourage each other} unto love and to good works:

Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; {as some of you are doing} but exhorting {encouraging} one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. {Day of the Lord coming} You and I both should encourage each other; we should make it an important part of our day and look for the opportunity to do so. I read of a story of a black mother who heard the Ku Klux Klan horsemen outside. They broke down the door and came in and got her 17 year old son .They dragged him behind a horse down the street, hung him up and shot him full of holes. Then they dragged him back, opened the front door, threw his bleeding body into the house and apologized to her by saying they had gotten the wrong guy. That mother picked up her son and held him in her arms as he died. The next morning, she got up and went to work at the house on the plantation and bathed little white children. Cooked for a white family and it never entered her mind to put poison in their food. It never entered her mind to take a butcher knife and plunge it into the heart of one of those little white boys and take out revenge for her son who had just the night before been killed by white men. She was asked how she could go to the white man's house, wash and iron his clothes, cook his food and bathe his children when they had killed her son. Her answer, "because of the Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. {Let your name be kept holy}

Matthew 6:10
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is
in heaven.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. {Forgive us as we forgive others}

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Do you know someone you might have a word of encouragement for today? Go and encourage them and it will do you both good.