Encouraging Our BrethrenEncouragement is a crucial part of our worship. We must never be reluctant to give our brethren help from our heart. We will be judged by how convicted our heart is to doing what Yahshua taught. Men judge by physical appearance but Yahweh judges by the heart of a person. The mortal mind is enmity against Yahweh. We must be beyond a mortal mind we must be led by the spirit. The physical appearance is only skin deep. Yahweh's spirit is shown though our acts. We must encourage our brethren to use their talents. Our talents are a gift from Yahweh and are not to be squandered or stored away. Our talents used together make our family of brethren a perfect body. We must each shine and edify our family of Yah to grow in a righteous direction. Yahshua's return will complete the body. We are to follow Yahshua's footsteps by encouraging one another. Physical AppearanceThe wrong impression is given sometimes by the physical appearance of a person. The fault in visual impressions is that they are truly only skin deep. The people that follow Yahweh do not have talents necessarily that the world is in search for or talents that can be seen visually. A Biblical example of this visual selection was the choice of Saul. The people chose to follow Saul because of his appearance. (1 Sam. 9:2) Yahweh gave the people the kind of leader that they were looking for with a strong physical appearance and an upright character. Saul's leadership started with many victories and the show of a repentant heart. His lack of will to follow Yahweh without wavering was one of Saul's flaws. An example of Saul's defiance is when he with the help of Yahweh conquered the Amalekites. The problem was that he allowed his men to take spoils of the Amalekites even though Yahweh ordered Israel to destroy everything that the polluted Amalekites possessed. Even the king of the Amalekites was allowed to live and taken captive by king Saul. Samuel killed the king Agag of the Amalekites doing what Yahweh had ordered Saul. (1 Sam. 15) The next time that Samuel came before Saul was to tell him of Saul and Jonathan's impending death. (1 Sam. 15:35) We must look more closely to a person's character than their appearance. The people that follow Yahweh are not all going to be what the world respects. This means that we should be willing to go out of our way to make a brother comfortable within our fellowship. We must look to encourage our brethren no matter where they come from whether they are pale or dark skinned, or male or female. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yahshua. (Galatians 3:28 NKJV) It is not the economic status or the aesthetics that make them Yahweh's people. Truly the calling of Yahweh is what makes us brethren. (1 Peter 2:9) Called from all walks of life we love those that the world rejects. (Mat. 5:11) One day we will all be the rejects of the world for Yahweh's name. (Mat. 24:9) The death of Baptism has made us equal. (Acts 10:34) I am sure that we all have stories of persecution in this world. We must look at the heart of the individual. David comes to mind when I think of a man that no one would of chose. (1 Sam 16:6-13) We find that Samuel looked at Eliab and he said that surely this is the one that Yahweh chose. Yahweh said look at his heart not at Eliab's stature or his features that men respect. We too must do this when we fellowship. The heart that follows Yahweh is what we should be encouraging. We even find that Yahshua was able to disappear in a crowd. (John 8:59) Yahshua's physical appearance didn't set him apart from the crowds. It was that he was truly the son of Yahweh. Yahweh has a son that pleases him and Yahweh teaches that Yahshua's path is truly the path that we are to follow. (Mat. 3:17) A contrast of this is that Satan was of perfect beauty and it was maybe this beauty that led so many angels astray and led Satan to believe that he could be like Yahweh. (Ezek. 28:12) Heart of ManThe wrong spirit unfortunately too often leads the heart of man. Because the carnal mind is enmity against Yahweh: for it is not subject to the law of Yahweh, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7 AV) We must encourage in our brethren the upright heart. Our spirit is to be a light in this dark world, so that our spirit isn't our spirit at all but the spirit of Yahweh. (John 3:19, 8:12, 12:46, Ephesians 6:12) Yahshua showed this temperance of love through out his existence in flesh. Yahshua perfected the law in his life and on into his spiritual existence before Yahweh. (Hebrews 5:9) Yahshua's return will setup a rule that is long awaited but well worth the wait. Paul following the teachings and example of Yahweh the Messiah wrote that we are to encourage the fainthearted: And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ASV) Do not be discouraged by what you see brethren the task that Yahshua gave us should be considered every second. The word is understandable to so many of us that we need to share it with our brethren. (2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:21) The spirit of Yahweh empowers each of us to teach, to comfort, to love, etc. Yahweh has called us to be a different kind of people. (1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 3:1) We are to be disciples of the Messiah, Yahshua. DiscipleshipWe must encourage our brethren to be disciples. (Mark 14:26-27) Yahshua said that his disciples bear much fruit. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:8 AV) In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul lists what the fruit of the spirit represents. We must resemble all those things to even begin to live up to the discipleship of Yahshua. It is not beyond our grasp. (1Cor 10:13) If we plant our feet solidly on the rock we will have much to look forward. (Psalms 62:2, 62:6, 95:1) There are many places where Yahshua provided encouragement. (Mat 9:2, 14:27, 17:7) Yahshua encourages us to use our talents because they will be strengthened and increased. We each have something that makes us distinct and useful among the brethren. (1 Peter 2:5) The parable that Yahshua gave concerning the kingdom is an excellent example of this encouragement if we use what Yahweh has given wisely. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. "Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. "And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. "But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV) The person who is given talent must wisely use it to edify the assembly. The edification of the assembly helps brethren grow in a way that they would never grow alone. Just think of a team that has many parts to complete one task. Their maybe some among the group that could do the whole project alone but the out come would not be as great as the whole team working together. Just imagine if the three servants would have worked together. The eight talents could have yielded sixteen or more. This saddens some to see many assemblies working apart but leadership is not responsible for our salvation brethren. Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: (Proverbs 3:3 ASV) Leadership is responsible for the path that they teach. (Mat 5:18) Yahshua's judgment looks at how we use what we are given. As we go before Yahshua every day we are judged by our actions. (Rev. 2:2, 5, 9, 13, 19, 23, 26, 3:1, 2, 3, 15, 9:20, 14:13, 15:3, 18:6, 20:12,13 and that is just Revelation) We must make sure our path, as well as our brethren's paths, are clean and yet encourage our brethren when they are following Yahweh. (Mat. 18:13-17, 2Thes. 3:14-15) Our encouragement will help each one of us stay on Yahshua's path. The FutureWorking together is an important part of teamwork or in this case working as a body. (1Cor. 12:12-31) When Yahshua returns we should let him know that we put our talents together and achieved greater than we could have alone. This is a hard path brethren but it is the only path that will truly show our heart and mind. We are to be the body of Messiah. A body is not complete without you. At the same time we must be careful not to fall away from our body because the result will be our replacement. We must be on fire to teach and help our family because the family of Yah is truly the only family that matters. (Matthew 19:29) I have been discouraged in the past by leaders falling away. Leaders are the same as you or me but they are under a much heaver burden. We must encourage their strong will to follow Yahweh. Yahweh has given our leaders a harsher judgment so we must let them know that we appreciate their work for Yahweh. (Jer. 23) Yahshua's rule will be perfect. It is not something that we can know without his direction. The weekly Sabbaths and annual Sabbaths of Yahweh are maybe the closest we will come to the Kingdom of Yahweh without being changed to spirit. So many who haven't kept a feast of Yahweh ask what the feasts are really like. There is only one way to find out what the feasts are like and that is to come to the feasts. The feasts of Yahweh are not just a recommendation, they are a requirement, but as we increase in scriptural knowledge and fellowship with our brethren we find that the feast is a pleasure and an encouragement. When Yahweh's Kingdom is setup by Yahshua we will all be together as a family. (Zech. 14:16) SummaryI pray that this article encouraged you to open your Bible as you read and that you live like Yahshua with love and joy in your heart and righteousness in your actions. Our brethren should have a special place in our hearts. Encouragement of brethren is an important part of our worship. We must each take the time to edify the assembly. Talents are given as a gift from Yahweh and as a body of brethren with talents we can accomplish so much because Yahweh gives them. Yahshua lived a life of demonstrating at every bend that we are each to work for salvation. Yahshua's final decision will be made by the content of our heart not our status in society. The love for one another is not learned but given as part of the fruit of the spirit. The spirit of Yahweh must be allowed to lead us through our life. The only way that we can receive eternal life is to love Yahweh, love Yahshua, and love our brethren because on this love hangs all the commandments. The final scripture comes from probably one of the most intelligent men in the scriptures other than the Messiah. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it. (Proverbs 3:27 ASV) | 
