1. The Simple Faith of Christmas
#4 : Faith for Encouragement AM

2. Who are the people of faith in the Christmas story?
The Simple Faith of Christmas
Mary – Luke 1: Faith for Enlistment
Joseph – Mathew 1, 2 - Faith for Enablement
Elizabeth – Luke 1: Faith for Encouragement
Zacharias – Luke 1:67-80 – Faith for Exposition (unveiling)
Shepherds – Luke 2:8-20 – Faith for Evangelism
Wise men – Matthew 2 – Faith for Expedition
Simeon – Luke 2:25-35 – Faith for Enlightenment
Anna – Luke 2:36-38 – Faith for Endurance (faithfulness)
Which faith describes you?

3. As illustrated In Elizabeth’s Life
Exercising Simple Faith Generates…
…Encouragement

4. The Need for Encouragement.
The Troubling Message
The Willing Maiden
The Promoter of Encouragement.
It is the Word of God with the Spirit of God that is the Great Encourager
It is the Will of God for you to be encouraged
It is the Spirit–led believer who is a tool of …
The Ingredients of Encouragement
The Message of the Angel
The Method of the Almighty
The Mentoring of an Associate
The Result of Encouragement.
Praise, Joy, Worship, Strength

5. Through simple faith…
…Elizabeth was able to provide encouragement for Mary.
May God use you to provide encouragement for someone this week.
Not encouragement to do what they want to do despite the will of God,
But to continue to follow the Lord, His Word, and His Church even in difficult situations.
The Holy Spirit is The Encourager – John 14,15
Barnabas was an encourager - Acts 4:36; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22; etc.
Encouragement is a spiritual gift given to some in the Church - Romans 12:8
All believers are to be encouragers – Hebrews 3:13