Locker rooms, family dinner tables and church huddles ought to be the greatest places on earth where encouragement is both given and received. This is where strength can be imparted to do what needs to be done in a world that wants to tackle us to the ground.

As Acts 15 closes, we find evidence of two men who knew the recipe to keep a great movement going. They huddled with a young team in Antioch, Syria, that needed a big boost. And they spoke just the right words.

Let’s take a closer look at the kind of message they brought that led to multiplied wins all over the place.

Three things stand out:

A MATTER OF AUTHORITY: Authority matters when we speak. Judas and Silas were prophets. Does that mean that their position gave them authoritative power? Not really.

Power doesn’t truly come from position. It comes from consistently speaking words of life, hope, wisdom. It comes from speaking grace and truth … like Jesus.

Authority comes from well-sourcing our words, from saying what God would say on any given matter. Authority comes from knowing His Word, the Bible, so well that it flows freely in us and through us to others.

And authority comes from living a life consistent to what He says, and therefore consistent with what we say. Indeed, life congruence adds great authority to our words.

Words spoken with loving authority will move people (Matthew 7:28,29).

SUBSTANCE OVER VOLUME: Judas and Silas were in Antioch only a short time, but Scripture here says that they “said much.” “Saying much” to someone doesn’t necessarily mean saying a lot. It simply means that what’s said carries weight.

Fewer words often punch hard. That’s because substance is more important than volume. Quality beats quantity.

SAYING WHAT’S NEEDED: Judas and Silas specialized in encouraging and strengthening others. That became core to their mission, not just the delivery of content.

Their words brought life. They knew the power of encouragement … and exercised it freely and fully. They strengthened others for the journey. Sometimes that’s all that people really need — strength and encouragement. Let’s remember this!

Reflect: Do people listen to you because you speak with authority, as someone who knows God and therefore knows a lot about life? Where does your strengthening and encouraging voice need to be heard?

A prayer to consider: LORD, Your words matter much to me. I’m looking and listening. Help my words say much to help others. I want to be known as one who strengthens and encourages.

Show me where I can speak life today in my locker room, at my dinner table and in all my huddles. I want Your authority governing my words -- for Your glory and my joy in You. Amen.