Encourage one another
Encourage ON another…in the faith
We all experience trials in life. But we must know that even during these trials, we must remain constant in our faith. And every now and then, we need to be encouraged. And too, many around us, need our encouragement.
Peter tells us that we all have problems; we all will experience and share in the same sufferings. We believe we have problems, but when we see others, we realize just how miniscule our problems are. We can find joy in knowing that God is in control. And we must remain steadfast in our faith. Even while we experience times of suffering, when we need to be encouraged, we can encourage others, by our actions and by our steadfast faith.
Paul shares with us how to be an encouragement
1 Thessalonians 5:11-28 NKJV
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Thessalonians [excerpts from the Life Application Bible]
Paul wrote this epistle from Corinth to the people of Thessalonica to encourage them in their faith. Throughout the scriptures, we are told to encourage each other in the faith.
Paul has given us some very good points of encouragement.
Starting with vs 27, Paul says that he charges us by the Lord to read this epistle to all of you.
Vs. 11 Comfort and Edify – to build up each other
We are to point out someone a quality you appreciate in them.
Vs 12 Recognize – give honor to leaders/those in authority
We should look for ways to help them, cooperating with them in the work that they do.
Vs 13 Esteem them – think highly of leaders.
Too many times we are critical of those in authority. It’s easy to find faults with those we look to when we do not agree with them. We need to withhold those critical comments about those with great responsibility.
Highly in Love – this is to give a whole hearted love.
A simple ‘thank you’ for the efforts of those who lead.
Be at peace among yourselves – avoid quarreling
Search for ways to get along with others.
Vs. 14 Warn the unruly or the lazy
Perhaps your words will be a wake up call. Ms. Betty at the phone center is in a wheelchair. It is not unusual for her to challenge a young man by directly asking him ‘Are you Saved Boy!’
Warn the unruly, those with the lack of discipline...
They may need direction, or prodding.
We need to challenge someone to join us in a project we are working on.
Comfort the fainthearted or frightened.
We need to encourage those who are frightened by reminding them of God’s promises.
Illustration:
Two people may be sitting around and not doing anything. One out of laziness, the other out of fear of doing something wrong.
The Key is Sensitivity. Our understanding of being sensitive to the person. Understanding their need or lacking.
Sensing the condition of each person and offering the appropriate remedy for each situation. You can not effectively help unless you know the problem.
You can not apply the medicine unless you know where the wound is.
You can not put on the salve and bandage unless you see the abrasion.
We need to be sensitive to each others needs.
Vs 14 Uphold/Tenderly care for the weak
We are to support those who are sick and weak by loving them and praying for them.
Be Patient with all – practice patience with everyone
I know my patience is tried by many different things. You know what tries your patience. But if we can think about that situation that tries our patience, and plan ahead of time how to stay calm, we can be prepared.
Vs 15 Do not render evil for evil – We are to resist revenge
‘Vengeance is mine saith the LORD.’
Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.
Jesus said to turn the other cheek, but he also said to give them your coat.
Vs 16 Rejoice, be joyful
1 Peter 5 says that we are all suffering from some of the same things that other Christians are suffering. We all have problems. My friend Bob S. has been such an encouragement to me, but when I learned of his situation, I realized he had just as many problems as I did, if not more.
We can be joyful if we remember this…Remember that even in the midst of turmoil, suffering, sorrows… God IS in control.
This can give us the inner joy we need to carry on and encourage another.
Vs 17 Pray continuously
We do not need to be on our knees 24 hours a day. God is always with you, you can talk to Him whenever, wherever.
Vs 18 IN everything give thanks.
We are to be thankful, ALL the time.
If you were to make a list of all the things that the LORD GOD has done for you, for the gifts He has given you, give thanks to GOD for each one.
Vs 19 Quench not the Spirit. Do not smother the Holy Spirit.
How many times have you been going about your business and someone’s face appears in your memory? Perhaps the Holy Spirit is prompting you to pray for them, to lift them up. Perhaps even to call them and encourage them.
We are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit the next time he prompts you to participate in something, like a Christian gathering or meeting, Bible Study, or simply going to someone and speaking to them about the LORD. Or to encourage them.
Vs 20 Don’t despise prophesy. Don’t scoff at those who prophesy and bring you a message from the LORD.
We are to receive God’s Word from those who speak for Him.
BUT…
Vs 21 Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
Even the words that I speak to you on Sunday, check everything to God’s standard in the Word. We are to verify everything to see if it is in line with God’s Word. Testing All Things, and holding to that which is good and right and from the Lord.
Vs 22 Abstain from every form of evil. Keep away from evil.
One passage of scripture tells us to ‘Keep from the very appearance of evil.’
We are to avoid situations where we can be drawn into temptation. And we are to avoid even to be in a place where others may mistake us for doing some wrong.
Vs 23 A blessing. May God sanctify you completely and preserve you as blameless. How completely? Paul says, your whole spirit, soul and body.
Illustration:
In a race
As the runners near the end of a foot race, their legs ache, their throat burns, and their whole body cries out to them to stop. This is when supporters are most valuable.
Their encouragement helps you, the runner, push through the pain to the finish.
In the same way, Christians are to encourage each other.
A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between finishing well or collapsing along the way.
Look around you. Be sensitive to each others need for encouragement. Offer them supportive words or actions.
We know that we all experience some of the same problems. We all have problems, each and every one of us. But the Lord tells us to keep on going, and continue.
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7
1 Peter 5:8-11
We are to be sober and viligent, because the devil is looking for those who are weak.
We are to resist him, by remaining steadfast in the faith.
Knowing that we suffer some of the same things that other Christians experience.
Here is a blessing to all of us…
But we are told that the GOD of Grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after we have suffered for such a little while, will
perfect us,
establish us,
strengthen us,
and settle us.
And to Him be all glory, and honor and power and dominion for ever.
Let’s pray…
