God's Cheerleader
Cheerleading is not a sport. A judge says so. But this isn't to throw cheerleaders under the bus. Not in the least. True cheerleaders play a VERY important role (I'm NOT talking about those who are so focused on their stunts and routines that they forget the crowd hasn't come to see them). True cheerleaders fire up the fans in order to encourage their team. Countless teams credit their home crowd with lifting them up to victory.
There was no greater cheerleader for Jesus than the Apostle Paul. Luke makes that abundantly clear in the first two verses of Acts 20. He is God's cheerleader.
The city of Ephesus is settling down after the riot that ended up in the city's massive amphitheater (Acts 19:23-41). Local craftsmen formed a lynch mob and hauled two of Paul's team in front of a fired-up but confused crowd. Eventually, the mayor quieted the riot and sent everyone home.
Dr. Luke tells us as "the uproar ceased", Paul wanted to meet with the other Ephesian Christ followers (v1). He calls everyone together to encourage them. The Greek verb here is parakaleo, to encourage, strengthen, comfort or console. It literally means to call to one's side. It has the idea of walking and talking next to someone. Think of someone cheering you on, letting you know that what you're attempting can indeed be done.
The man from Tarsus is hitting the road and heading to Macedonia. Before saying goodbye, he takes the time to let his Ephesian friends know that they'll be just fine. After spending the past three years telling them about Jesus (Acts 20:31), he believed in them. He had confidence in them. Paul's faith wasn't based so much in the people but the God they worshiped. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus could and would do unbelievable things through them through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Paul is God's cheerleader.
After sailing from Ephesus to Macedonia, the apostle no doubt travels through familiar cities such as Philippi, Berea and Thessalonica. He did much the same as he did much the same there as he did before leaving Asia. Paul gave "them much encouragement" (v2). There it is again: parakaleo.
He was not only confident of what God had done in these churches but of what He is continuing to do and will do in the future. He knew that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6). The apostle specifically encouraged these believers to participate in giving the relief offering for their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who were suffering a great famine (2Cor 8-9). Eventually, Paul arrives in Greece, specifically Corinth.
Paul is God's cheerleader.
We should never underestimate the power of encouragement. Think of it as "putting courage in" someone else. Again, this is not so much a faith in the strength and abilities of another person but in Christ and what He can do. Paul understood the importance of cheering on other believers. He knew what we need to know: that the very power that brought Jesus back from a dark, cold tomb now lives in every Christ follower.
Let's be God's cheerleaders.
Created 4 months ago
