Who Packs Your Parachute?

[Richard Kennebeck] The spiritual gift, that's the topic of my sermon today, is one that possesses great power. It can be used mightily, and apostles of old used it mightily, as well as others of old used it mightily, and it's powerful as for today. When we think of gifts of the spirit, we often think of prophecy and teaching and giving, and leadership, and miracles, and healing, and faith, exhortation. And we may wonder, "How do we go about getting these gifts of the spirit?" And maybe we wonder, "Well, which ones did God give to me?" But God's given every single one of us the ability to use this gift. And you can use it whether you're baptized or not, though having God's Spirit helps immensely.

But we all have this from the very youngest child who barely speaks and gives that tired mother a big hug. To the oldest of us that may give a pat on the back of somebody who's done a job well. What gift am I talking of? It's the gift of encouragement. The gift of encouragement, it can have a powerful effect in those around us. Maryann Gilbert humorously shows how powerful this can be in a little short piece she wrote in the Reader's Digest many years ago.

She says, "One morning, I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange, little dog with a paper, our paper in its mouth. Delighted with this unexpected delivery service, I gave him a treat. The following morning, I was horrified when I open the door to see eight of my neighbor's newspapers on my front doorstep. I spent the rest of the morning returning them to their owners."

Encouragement can have a great effect on everyone and it can be used powerfully. So, let's go ahead and take a little look at it today and see through the life of one of the apostles what we can learn about encouragement. Let's start today in Romans 12, Romans 12 beginning in verse 5. Paul starts in this chapter writing to the Romans, exhorting them to be living sacrifices. And then he goes on to talk about spiritual gifts.

Romans 12:5, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who that exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; and he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." In verse 8, that word "exhorts" or "exhortation" can be translated, encourage and encouraging. As the N.I.V. actually does, it says, "If, it, the person's gifts is encouraging, let him encourage."

When Paul wrote these words he was writing them in Greek and he used the word parakaleo. It's a Greek which literally means come up alongside or make call being close to, close and personal. And the idea is somebody coming to an aid of somebody who is in need and maybe even helpless and needs help. It was often used by Greek writers when they talked about reinforcements in armed conflict. For somebody, an army was in need of reinforcements, and reinforcements would come up alongside to help. They were encouraged. I'd like to tell you a little story about parakaleo, or the coming up besides somebody to encourage.

When my wife and I were first married, we were college students and lived on a shoestring. We didn't have a car, so for the first year of our marriage, we bicycled three miles each way to school and back, to church and back, to formal dances and back. That was interesting. The way in was downhill for three miles to get to school, the way back was uphill for three miles. As we were riding home, a lot of times as we got along my wife would start getting tired and I would literally bicycle up beside her, come up beside her, grab the back of her seat and push her forward. Which would then take me back a ways, I'd catch up to her and I'd push her forward.

One night as we were coming home, I wrecked my bike. It took probably two or three months before I could afford another bicycle so I ran the three miles in and the three miles back every day to college. Believe it or not, as we were coming home, as we were bicycling home in the evening, I would run up beside her, grab the back of her bicycle and push her forward. That's coming up beside, encouraging, helping for the other person's benefit. How often do we need that encouragement when we go through life and it's difficult? We've had a hard day, we've had a bad day, we've had a bad week, we've had a bad month and we need some encouragement.

You know, when I was a young father, we would go to church and I felt like I never got to listen to a sermon. I was either cleaning one of the kids, changing one of the kids, or quieting one of them down. And I always felt like, "Well, what's the use of going to church?" But, you know, all of us parents would encourage each other that this too would pass. And it does, but it was encouraging to help each other in our spiritual relationship. You know, the English word "encouragement" means to put courage into something, to give somebody courage, to strengthen them, to strengthen their heart and their soul.

There are two places in the New Testament I'd like to look at that talk to us as Christians and how we're supposed to encourage each other. Let's turn to 1 Thessalonians 5 first, 1 Thessalonians 5 beginning in verse 9. Paul's writing to fairly new Christians here, encouraging them in their faith. And then the last chapter, chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians, Paul give some final advice concerning this new life in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 he says, "For God did not intend… or did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” verse 10, "who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

So, Paul is encouraging these Thessalonians that God is not a wrathful God. He's not an angry God but He wants to see us succeed, He wants to give us salvation. Verse 11, "Therefore comfort," that's the same word as encourage, come alongside, "comfort each other and edify one another, just as you are also doing." That word "edify" here is paired with encourage and it's kind of an interesting word in the Greek because it actually means to construct or to build, to build up. It literally means to be a house builder. It literally means to be a house builder. To encourage us to be builders of houses, builders of homes, builders or relationships, to encourage one another.

Continuing in verse 14, "Now, we exhort you," again encouragement, "we exhort you… now, we encourage you, brethren, warn…" I think it's interesting in this scripture, this word "warn." When I think of warn I often think of some sort of stern thing. Something is going to come down hard on me, but that isn't what Paul is actually saying here. This word "warn" here is a softer touch, it's gentle, it's admonish. It's an encouraging way of admonishing somebody, "warn those who are unruly, comfort…" It's the same meaning as encourage, "comfort the faint-hearted, uphold the weak,” the Greek word "uphold" here means to support, but it even goes deeper than that.

Its meaning is actually to adhere to. To adhere to, we have to encourage each other by supporting each other and helping them. And then it finishes up in verse 14 with, "be patient will all." Encouraging and supporting each other is an important aspect of our Christian life. It's part of our Christian duty. Next, let's turn to Hebrews 3 for a second scripture. Hebrews 3, it shows our responsibility to encourage one another. We'll begin in verse 12 of Hebrews 3:12. It says, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;” verse 13, "but exhort" it's the same word as encourage, "exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

Verse 14, "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,” again, in Hebrews, encouragement is linked to salvation, just as it was in 1 Thessalonians 5. And it tells us that we're supposed to exhort and admonish, and encourage each other on daily. It's a daily need that we all need. You can begin turning through Acts 9 because we'll stay a little bit in Acts this afternoon. In Acts 9, we read the story of this man who started out as a great Pharisee. He persecuted the early church. He breathed fire, he breathed threats, murder against this new church. He wanted Jerusalem to go back to the old way.

He wanted Judea to be like the old ways it was. This new religion was turning the whole place upside down. And he even went from house to house and he dragged people and put them into prison. That man's name was Saul. And while he was persecuting the Jews, he went up to Damascus to persecute them up there and he struck down and blinded by Jesus Christ on the way, on the road to Damascus. And that was a life-changing event for him. He changed his life dramatically. This man who hated the Church, who hated Jesus Christ, did everything he could to discourage this new way of life. God would later use this powerful apostle to spread his truth.

You know, but after Saul's conversion, he had a very difficult time being accepted by the Church. Let's go to verse 13 in Acts 9. Verse 13 in Acts 9, because Jesus asks the disciple Ananias in a vision to go to Saul so that he can receive his sight back. And Ananias, he doesn't understand this, this man who persecuted them and now he's supposed to go to him. So, we can see what he says to Jesus in that vision. He said, verse 13, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." Ananias didn't want to go to Saul. He knew his reputation.

But Jesus tells Ananias to go because he's chosen Saul to do a special thing, a special work. So, Ananias goes to Saul. We see a wonderful example of encouragement in verse 17. "And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said…" I'd like to pause just one moment. This is the man Ananias is laying his hands on, Saul who persecuted and killed many down in Jerusalem. This is the man that a few short days was coming up to Damascus, possibly with letters to even take people like Ananias and put him in prison. This is the first time Ananias is going to meet Saul, enemy of the Church, enemy of Christ.

And notice what he says in verse 17, "Brother Saul… Brother Saul," what wonderful words of encouragement. "Brother Saul," in those two words Ananias is saying, "Welcome, welcome. You're no longer my enemy, you're my brother." In effect, Ananias is saying, "Saul, come walk beside me. My brother, Saul." And when we read through the next several verses, we see Saul did mighty works in Damascus. But eventually, the Jews in Damascus tried to kill him. So, Saul finally wants to leave and he wants to go to Jerusalem. And then the disciples in Damascus lower him down over the walls in a basket so he can escape.

When Saul reaches Jerusalem, tries to connect with the Church and the disciples, they're all afraid of him. It's difficult. He can't meet with them, they won't meet with him. They're terrified of this man. In Acts 9, beginning in verse 26 though, we can see what finally brings Saul into the fold of the Jerusalem's church. Acts 9:26, "And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple." Verse 27, "But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus."

When it just seemed like Saul was getting nowhere with the local church, this man, Barnabas, steps in. And he takes Saul to the Church, to the people of the Church and he says, "I'm putting my reputation on the line here. I'm going to vouch for Saul. He's a changed man now. He's different." And because of this process that Barnabas did, this encouragement, the Church accepts him. So let's take a look at this man, Barnabas. Let's take a look at him. If you turn with me to Acts 4, beginning in verse 37. Acts 4:37, Acts tells of a time in the early church, before this conversion of Saul that we just talked about. We get a little glimpse of what this man, Barnabas, was like.

Because we'll spend much of our time here in Acts talking about Saul and Barnabas, and encouragement. Acts 4:36-37, "And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,” verse 37, "having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." This is the first mention of Barnabas in the Bible. And this shows that he had a gift and a talent of encouragement, what a wonderful thing he had. And it's so evident that his real name, Joses or Joseph, they didn't use that name for him, they called him Barnabas. What a wonderful nickname, Son of Encouragement.

And from these verses, in Acts 4, we can learn a few things about Barnabas. He was a Levite, he lived in Cyprus, which is a pretty large island northwest of Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. Some scholars feel that Barnabas came from a fairly wealthy family. He had land and that some of his family were Christians, we know at least his mother and his cousin, at a least a cousin were Christians. And how did Barnabas practice encouragement? Well, let's take a look at Barnabas' life because we're told in the book of Acts several different things about Barnabas. There's at least five different ways that he showed encouragement and we're going to look at those today.

The first way Barnabas showed encouragement was he encouraged with words. Barnabas encouraged with words. In Acts 4, we can see that Barnabas was so well known for encouragement that they actually called him Son of Encouragement. I'm sure he encouraged a lot with words and his speech. That's the easiest way for us to encourage each other. It doesn't cost us anything but time. It's easy or hopefully, it's easy to help somebody give them courage as we encourage them. Proverbs 15:4 says, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,” that's what our tongue should be. As we face challenges and difficulties in life, it sure feels good when somebody comes up next to you and says, "You can do it."

Or if you've done something good they say, "Well done. I'm thankful you're here with us." Those things really help and mean a lot where I really believe you can do this. That can give you a lot of encouragement. A second way that Barnabas encouraged was through his material resources. Barnabas was gracious and generous. He used his resources to bless others and to help others, and encourage those that were in need. And we need to be doing the same. In Acts 4 when we looked earlier at the scripture, we saw that he had some land and he sold that, and he gave those moneys to the Church to help others, and he sold that.

Sometimes words aren't enough, sometimes we need physical goods. Life's lows aren't only just emotional, they sometimes are physical and financial. And God doesn't expect us to just say and pray, "Be filled and be warmed." He expects us to help and to do our part in it. When people are hungry, we should help them. Whey they're in need, we should help them. James 2:15-16 say, "If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, 'Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled,' notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what does it profit?"

So, if you want to encourage others, you need to look for ways to help them even physically and financially. You know, but just a little gift, a card can do wonderful things and uplift others. Let's look deeper into this though, a little bit deeper. Let's turn to Luke 10. Luke 10 because what we're talking about here is a way of life. It's a philosophy in how we treat others. Luke 10, because there are three different ways of life that deeply impact how we encourage others and relate to others. Begin in verse 25, as we glean from this parable. Early in this parable, there's a lawyer that comes to Jesus and asks Him, "What should I do to inherit life?" And Jesus asked him, "Well, how do you interpret the law?"

And the lawyer answers, “Jesus," by saying in verse 27 of Luke 10, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And then Jesus says, "You've answered correctly." Then the lawyer asked, "Well, who's my neighbor?" You know, he did wonder if he wants more detail on this, but it might be a way that he's trying to find some sort of leap hole, you know, who really is… or loophole, "Who really is my neighbor?" And Jesus gives the parable of the Good Samaritan here. And this parable tells us about three philosophies of life and how we treat others.

The first way is found in Luke 30… or Luke 10:30, Luke 10:30, and it says, "Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." These robbers beat up this man and pushed him aside, throw him over into the ditch to die. It shows us that first philosophy of life, that way of get. The way of get says, "What's mine is mine, what's yours is mine, and I want it." "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine, and I want it." Then in the next 2 verses, 31 and 32, we see a second way of life and how we relate to others.

Verse 31, "Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side." 32, "Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side." That's the second philosophy of life and that it's not my problem. It's not my problem. "It's not my problem," he says, "It's your problem. Don't bother me with it." It's your problem, don't bother me with it. This priest and this Levite should have known better. They should have been an example of how to treat others, but they didn't, they passed right by. In fact, they even distanced themselves by crossing over the road. It's not my problem.

The third way of life can be found in verses 33 through 35, "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring out oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Verse 35, "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’" That's the third way of life or philosophy of life of how we can treat people. It's the way of give.

The way of give says, "What is mine is ours and I'll share it. What is mine is ours and I will share it." Samaritans despised all Jews, but yet this Samaritan helped. He took mercy on this man and was willing to give of his own goods to help him. And at the end of the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer, "Which of these men… or people was the neighbor? Which one loved his neighbor as himself?" To which the lawyer says or replies, "The one that showed mercy." It was that one that helped the man that was hurt. That was the true neighbor. We need to have the same philosophy of life, encouraging others through our deeds and our actions, and our goods when needed.

Let's return to the different ways we can see that Barnabas encouraged others. A third way that Barnabas encouraged others is by giving others a chance. Giving others a chance. Barnabas was willing to give people their first chance at something. We all know it's so difficult that first chance. Like if you want to have a job and you have a certain talent that must be learned, you can't get the job because you don't have the talent, but you can't get the talent because you don't have a job to teach you and give you the skill. Barnabas knew that this was a problem in life and so he was willing to give people their first chance at something. He was willing to go on in a limb for people.

Remember, we read back just earlier in Acts 9 about how Barnabas helped Saul and gave him first chances. Barnabas was willing to give Saul that first chance. He was willing to encourage the situation to help Paul connect with Jerusalem and with the Church in Jerusalem. We all need a bit of encouragement from time to time to have that first chance, to do that first thing, to give that first sermon or sermonette, to sing in the choir, to do special music, to go on a first date with a girl or to dance the first time with a boy. We all need that kind of encouragement and it helps when we encourage each other.

And give them courage to do these things for the first time, to go out on a little bit of a limb, to get out of their comfort zone a little bit. We need to look at who people can be and not necessarily who they are. And that's what Barnabas was willing to do with Saul. He saw Saul a changed man and said, "Let me give you a chance." Because when we change we should be looked at as that new person. At 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone; the new is here." And that's the way we need to look at people. We need to look at people and allow them to grow and to encourage them to do things the first time and to give them the first chance.

But, you know, Barnabas wasn't all about first chances. Barnabas was about second chances. He was about second chances in life. He was encouraging people to that second chance. We all need second chances in life, we all fail. We need to be given another chance from time to time. Let's turn to Acts 15. I'd like to read about this second chance that Barnabas gives. I think it's a beautiful example of Barnabas and how encouraging he was. And how his even life-changing probably in somebody's life. We'll read about this, about the story of Barnabas giving a second chance in Acts 15:30-41.

In Acts 15, we're at the conference in Jerusalem, the apostles and elders had come together about the decision on circumcision. And after that decision was made, they sent Paul and Barnabas to take a letter to the Gentiles, to the Gentile regions, and give them what the decision has been. So, let's go ahead and continue that story in verse 30 of Acts 15. "So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch;” this is Paul and Barnabas, "and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement." Verse 32, "And now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted" or encouraged, "and strengthened the brethren with many words."

So, Paul and Barnabas, and Judas, and Silas, not only took the letter, but they also encouraged and strengthened the Gentiles, and the brethren. But after spending some time in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas decided to visit those churches they had gone to in a previous mission. So, the band began preparing for that trip. Let's read about that in verse 36. "Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.' Now, Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark." Verse 38, "But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to do the work."

Verse 39, "Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed,” the back story of this you can find in Acts 13 but we won't actually turn there. Basically, what happened in Acts 13 is John Mark abandoned Paul and Barnabas, and returned to Jerusalem when they were on their first trip, missionary trip. We don't know the reason why John Mark left, but apparently, it had left enough of an impression on Paul that he no longer wanted John Mark to go with them. He was afraid that John Mark would not stick it out and continue, and finish the missionary trip.

But Barnabas took a chance as we saw. Such a conflict that they even split over this, Paul and Barnabas. But, you know, Barnabas said, "John Mark, you've changed. Come along beside me and go with me on this trip." John Mark had apparently changed so much and had continued to change throughout his life. So much so, that we find later on that Paul specifically asks for John Mark to come to him and help him. This man that Paul said, "I don't want to be with me on a trip," he specifically says, "Bring him to me, I need him." That's in 2 Timothy 4:9-11. 2 Timothy 4:9-11, Paul says, "Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica— Crescens for Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia."

Verse 11, "Only Luke is with me." Then I love this next statement because it shows that Mark had changed. "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry." This man that Paul had given up and Barnabas had taken along his side and encouraged was now a changed man, so much more so that Paul said he wanted him. He's going to be much use for his ministry. Barnabas had given this man, John Mark, a second chance. We don't know for sure, but that encouragement may have changed his life. We benefitted from now. The Bible that you hold in your hands, Matthew, Mark. That man, Mark, wrote the book.

Second chances, encouragement. We need to make sure that we give second chances to people when they fail. And encourage them and help them, and they hopefully, will grow and be able to work powerfully in God's work. A fourth way that Barnabas encouraged was by encouraging others to be faithful to Christ. Encouraging others to be faithful to Christ. Primary goal of encouragement isn't to make somebody feel good. That's not the reason for encouragement. It really is to help them improve their life. That's the real reason for it and that's what we need to be doing for each other, encouraging each other, strengthening them, and helping them to remain faithful to God's way of life.

Acts 11:19-24, we'll turn there, Acts 11:19-24. We see Barnabas in action. This is after the death of Stephen and many in Jerusalem have scattered and they've gone to many regions around the known world at the time. And Acts 11:19 it says, "Now those who were scattered from the persecution that arose after Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus." Verse 21, "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.”

"Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch." Verse 23, "When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord." Verse 24, "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." So, Barnabas as an encourager, but he didn't do it just to encourage people to feel good about themselves, his purpose was to encourage them that with purpose of heart, with conviction, they should remain strong in the truth and in the Lord.

That was what he was encouraging them and talking to them about. We need to be doing the same is encouraging and talking to each other. And helping each other to remain faithful, faithful to what God has ordained our potential to be. Sons and daughters, that we can receive salvation. We need to help each other remain steadfast in the truth. Times of weakness, we need to be there to help each other. Need to keep that vision alive within us and help others to see that vision during their dark times. A fifth way that Barnabas encouraged was by standing up for the truth, which encourages others in the Christian faith.

Standing up for the truth which encourages others in the Christian faith. Our example for being fully engaged with God and His way encourages others to remain steadfast, to remain faithful. Reading Hebrews 11, doesn't that give you a feeling of excitement about the future and seeing that they, in Hebrews 11, all those men of faith, what they went through should encourage us to remain faithful and to have the same reward that they have? Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas they're in Antioch of Pisidia. And they're opposed by the Jews, and Paul and Barnabas stand up for the truth. And in so doing, they encouraged many to believe in Jesus Christ.

Acts 13, beginning in verse 44, Acts 13:44, "On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul." Verse 46, "Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.'" Verse 47, "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' Now, when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.”

“And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." Verse 49, "And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region." Barnabas and Paul sticking up for the truth and remaining steadfast before the Gentiles and the Jews encouraged others to look into the truth of God and to begin to take part in the understanding. For us who are already of the knowledge and of the way of God, it should encourage us also as we see others stand up for the truth, to remain faithful to God's way. And should encourage us in God's way to help us remain strong. To help us in life, we all need encouragers, we all need people that are helpers.

As we go through life, God doesn't want us to be isolated. He wants us to be a part of a vibrant community. Encouraging each other, helping each other, being together, interconnected as a spiritual body. We all need helpers and encouragers. You know, I promised you at the beginning of this sermon, as we went through it, we would travel through the topics of house building and parachutes, and robbers, and lawyers. We've got one left, parachutes. So, in conclusion, I'd like to talk about parachutes. Charlie Plumb graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964. He was soon assigned to the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, and he flew 74 successful combat missions over Vietnam during the height of the war.

On a 75th mission, just 5 days before he was going home, he was shot down. Charlie Plumb ejected from his airplane at low level but he survived it. He was captured and lived for six years in a communist prison. He survived that ordeal and now is a motivational speaker who gives speeches throughout the whole country, talking about his experience. Years after his release from prison and he had been speaking motivationally to the public, he was traveling one day to one of his engagements, and he relates what happened on an occasion. And this comes from a video from 2014 U.S. Naval Institute History Conference that he gave.

And he says this is as far as what happened on that day. He said, "Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant in Kansas City. A man about two tables away kept looking at me. I didn't recognize him. A few minutes into our meal, he stood and walked over to my table, looked down at me, pointed his finger at my face and said, "You're Captain Plumb." I looked up and said, "Yes, sir. I'm Captain Plumb." He said, "You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier, Kitty Hawk. You were shot down, you parachuted into enemy hands and spent 6 years as a prisoner of war." I said, "How in the world do you know all that?" He replied, "Because I packed your parachute." He said, "I was speechless.

"I staggered to my feet and I held out my very grateful hand. This guy came up with just the proper words. He grabbed my hand, he pumped my arm, and he said, 'I guess it worked. I guess it worked.' ‘Yes, sir, indeed. It did,’ I said, ‘And I must tell you, I said a lot of prayers of thanks for your nimble fingers. But I never thought I'd ever have the opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude in person. Let me ask you a question,’ I said, ‘Do you keep track of all the parachutes you'd pack?’ ‘No,’ he hesitated… or he responded, ‘It's enough gratification for me to just know I've served.’"

Then he goes on to tell the audience about what must have been thankless long hours that this man must have spent in the bowels of the aircraft carrier, folding those parachutes and the lines, and getting them just right while they were used by top guns who got all the glory. And he says, "How many hours did he,” this man, this is Charlie talking. This man “spend in the long wooden tables and the bowels of that ship, weaving the shrouds and folding the silts of those shoots? I could have cared less until one day, my shoot came along and he packed it for me." At this point, Charlie Plumb usually asked his audience, "Who packs your parachute? Who packs your parachute?”

We need to ask ourselves that next question. Who helps you through your difficult times in life? Who packs your parachute? It's primarily, God the Father and Jesus Christ who pack our parachute, who help us through the different times. But we also have a part in that ourselves. We need to be packing each other's shoots and helping them through the difficulties. We need a pack as part of those shoots. Encouragement, to help them, to support them, to exhort them, to remain strong. We all need that. As we're falling through the desperation of life, sometimes, it seems like a life is a free fall, who packs your parachute?

Hopefully, somebody will send you a card or do a word, give you a word of encouragement, to help you through that. You know, some years ago, a Christian psychologist, Larry Crabb, spoke at a convention where he said that in his opinion, the hurting people of this world, the men and the women, and the boys and the girls, discouraged from the Murphy's Laws of life, they did not always need to see a psychologist. Their primary need was the love and care of a Christian community, where they could find brothers and sisters in the Lord who can nurture and encourage them. We've all come through those times when it's been very difficult where we've had that free fall and we've pulled that cord in our life and hope that we'd have a parachute that works.

God won't ever let us fall without a parachute but we need to do our part to help each other. We need to encourage each other as we pack their parachutes, with encouragement and with help, and with love, and with kindness. We all need to emulate the life of Barnabas in our lives, to be encouragers and to increase others. Who's parachute have you packed lately?