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​Unlocking God's Word

The Gift of Exhortation

5/23/2023

5 Comments

 
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Till I come, give attention to reading,
to exhortation, to doctrine.
​1 Timothy 4:13
​

Dictionary.com says this about the meaning of the word exhortation – “an utterance, discourse, or address conveying urgent advice or recommendations.” The word used in Greek for exhortation is paraklēsis. According to Vines Expository Dictionary, it means something slightly different - “a calling to one’s side” (para, “beside,” and kaleo, “to call”), and so it is often translated as comfort, consolation, entreaty or encourage. So what exactly is the “gift” of exhortation, and how does one use it?
Biblical exhortation means more than conveying urgent advice or recommendations on a particular subject. While those who have been called to teach often use the gift of exhortation in this way. They use it to expound on Scripture, “calling” on those listening to give urgent heed to what the Scriptures are instructing. But it is more than just a gift for teaching. While those who teach use it to build and edify the church, it is also used to offer encouragement, consolation and comfort. So people with this gift often find themselves in the position of counsellor, pastor, teacher, or even worship leader. They will undoubtedly be on the visitation committee (if your church has one) to visit the sick and those in the hospital. For it is their heart’s desire, their passion, to come alongside members of the church body to lend an ear, offer a word of encouragement or advice, and instruct, using Scripture and bringing comfort where needed most. Those with the gift of exhortation are the “glue” that holds the body of Christ together when it falters.

I have a dear friend in her eighties who seems to have endless energy. She utilizes her gift of exhortation and does it in several ways. Always the first to lend a hand (or an ear) to those in need, she flits here and there throughout her day, visiting friends and family, encouraging and comforting them in their faith. When she was younger (in her 70s), she taught ESL and led a weekly bible study for those ESL students. She has only recently begun to slow down.

If you are down, she makes it her goal to “build you up,” another aspect of the gift of exhortation. I have dozens of letters or cards of encouragement from her “just because.” She also has the gifts of hospitality, encouragement and helps, which complement her gift of exhortation and make her one of the best friends you could ever hope to have. 

She loves to teach from the Word of God and encourage and comfort everyone she meets in their faith. At our church, if you took a poll and asked the ladies who their best friend in the church was – I have no doubt they would all say, “Carol.” For that is how she makes you feel like you are her best friend – encouraged, comforted, edified and built up in the Lord – rightly making use of her gift of exhortation. 

If you love to teach from the Word of God and seem to have a knack for comforting and encouraging others, you probably have the gift of exhortation!
5 Comments
Christie link
3/20/2017 01:07:16 am

Thanks for this Laura! I have never really know what the gift of exhortation is. I am still slightly confused about the different between exhortation and encouragement - is exhortation more Biblically-based?

Reply
Laura
3/20/2017 01:29:37 am

Christie, because exhortation in the Bible means "calling to one's side" the act of exhortation is one of encouragement and comfort, with a sense of urgency. So those who preach from the Scriptures use their gift of exhortation to convey a message from the Lord, exhorting or calling everyone to listen. The Word of God is often used to provide us with comfort and encouragement in our faith.

It works the same way when we try to encourage or comfort someone who is hurting. We are coming alongside them as it were, exhorting them with words of comfort and enouragment. It is that heart-felt deep desire you get when you urgently want someone to understand that you care or empathize with them. You want to get your message across to "give comfort", so you are "coming alongside" exhorting with words of comfort and encouragement. Does that make sense?

Reply
Christie link
3/21/2017 01:36:44 pm

Yes, I think I'm seeing it now. Thank you for explaining!

Maree Dee link
3/23/2017 01:03:24 am

I am loving learning all about gifts. Thank you for your thorough teaching on exhortation. I was a little off on what I thought it meant.

Reply
Laura Davis
3/23/2017 11:19:10 am

Maree, I'm currently working on the gift of giving and I find I'm absolutely blown away at the real meaning behind this gift. I'm so excited that I almost posted two gifts this week! As I go through each gift and dive further into the context and original Greek words used, I am more and more amazed at how "knit together" the body of Christ is with these gifts we've been given and how God graciously distributes them throughout the body.

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