“Help I Need Encouragement”
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
Intro: Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus…, was the kind of guy that everyone wanted to be around.
When someone felt defeated…, depressed…, or discouraged…
Joseph was the one who would remind them of the God given potential still inside of them.
When you were in the company of Joseph you could feel the enthusiasm, the hope, the incredible joy…,
I am convinced that Joseph understood that real…, lasting encouragement…,
the type of encouragement that it takes to get you through life…, comes first and foremost from God.
It is when we believe in God and persist in that belief in God…
That we eventually leave behind the old ways of discouraged and sinful thinking…
God gives us a new birth…, new life…, new heart…, and a different spirit of encouragement.
And then it is our Christian response to what God has done for us…
and it is our Christian duty for what God is doing in our life…
to encourage other people with love, compassion and concern.
What is encouragement?
If someone were to say to you, “Help I Need Encouragement.”
What would you say to them?
Today we are going to learn some ways to be an encourager of other people…
The first thing to think about is the word…
I. Comfort---It will be alright…, things will get better…, the cups half full…,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.
When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
The Greek word (parakaleÑw or parakaleo) for "encourage" is often translated as the word “comfort.”
In other words: Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
God is the Father of every mercy
And God is the SOURCE of all ENCOURAGEMENT.
To encourage someone is to comfort them…
Let’s think for a moment about some comfort foods…
When I feel discouraged…, I sometimes…, go to the kitchen cabinet…
I get out a large bowl…
I go to refrigerator / freezer…
And get out not just one scoop of ice cream…,
But three scoops of ice cream…
There is just something about Ice cream…, chocolate…, potato chips…, popcorn…, cake…
That comfort us…
But comfort food only comforts for a short time…
Soon too much of this kind of comfort can be trouble…
So we need to find another source of comfort…
Another source of encouragement…
That is where your faith in God and you as a Christian friend come in…
The bible says…
"If your gift is to encourage others, do it!
If you have money, share it generously.
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." Romans 12:8 (NLT)
Look at this list for a moment…
If your gift is to encourage others, do it…
We have all been on the receiving side of encouragement.
(Think about the times you have received encouragement.)
People have said things to us like…
--- You are not alone…, we are in this together…, you can do it, I know you can…,
Where would you be today…, if no one…, had ever said…, these kind of words to you?
What if all you ever heard was…
You are by yourself…
No one is going to help you…
You can’t do it…
I know you are going to fail.
But somebody has been a mentor to you…, a teacher…, a coach…, a pastor…, a Christian friend…,
And they have encouraged you along the way…
I believe everyone here today has the gift and ability to encourage others…,
And at the right time…, John 14:26 (KJV)
"the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost…,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
When the time comes…, to encourage others…, do it!
I believe the Holy Spirit will remind you…,
Will bring to your remembrance…, not only the Word of God…
But also the things that have been said and done… to encourage you…, throughout your lifetime…
So that you can share those same words that once comforted you…
With someone else who needs to hear them…
Let’s look at the list again…
"If your gift is to encourage others, do it!
“If you have money, share it generously”
(last Sunday even before I knew what I was going to preach on
I asked, 7 year old Gunner Floyd to pray a prayer during the opening of the worship service.
His mom sent me a message Friday on face book to confirm that he would indeed say the prayer…,
(“Gunner has been working on his prayer.
He will do it, oh and I told him I would give him five dollars if he did it is that bad???”)
No, money is good when it is given voluntarily…,
When it is given with love…
When it is given to encourage someone else…
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement)," "sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet." Acts 4:36-37 (NIV)
Joseph…, or maybe you know him better now…, as Barnabas…
Barnabas was the one who accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey…
In fact many scholars believe that if it had not been for Barnabas’ encouraging words and support
There might not even be an Apostle Paul
Because when Paul arrived in Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion…
It was Barnabas who was willing to risk his own life…,
to meet with Paul and convince the other Christians that Saul was now Paul a converted Christian…
That Paul was not out to capture and kill more Christians…
We might wonder what would have ever happened to Paul if it had not been for the encouraging Barnabas
Barnabas encouraged Paul and John Mark in the mission work of the church…
And not only did Barnabas accompany Paul in his first missionary journey…
but Barnabas also was a generous giver to the mission and ministry of the church in Jerusalem…
I am thankful for the United Methodist Church…, Benevolence “Our Mission Together” covenant…
It brings unity and opportunity for everyone to give money to missions and ministry and to share generously
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, the one nicknamed Barnabas…
sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for those in need…
and so by adding the money Barnabas gave
to the money others had given…
the unity and generosity of these early believers encouraged more believers and encouraged more support.
So every word of encouragement is multiplied and brings even more encouragement…
every act and good deed of encouragement bring more action and better deeds.
every positive thought, every encouraging joyful word,
every beautiful moment shared,
every bit of generous giving,
brings forth even more encouragement —it is all greatly multiplied.
"If your gift is to encourage others, do it!
If you have money, share it generously.
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
If you are a leader in the church…, take the responsibility seriously…
One of the greatest needs that people have is for leaders to be encouraging…,
Satan loves discouraged people…, they are easy targets for him to lead astray…
Christians Leaders…, we are to be…
Encouragers instead of discourages
Concentrate on people’s strengths and successes instead of weaknesses and faults
Compliment others on their good qualities instead of criticize
Build one another up instead of tearing one another down
And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." Romans 12:8 (NLT)
I don’t believe that you can do a good deed while grumbling and complaining…
I don’t think you can show kindness and then be sorry that you did it…
When you serve the Lord with you gifts…, it must be without regret…
Let’s lead with thankful hearts…, a delighted attitude and a pleased spirit…
Not only are we to Comfort one another…
We must Learn to be Constant in our encouragement…
Let’s think about the word…
II. Constant--- It means to persist…, Don’t give up---- I want give up on you.
"One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer
and to show them that they must never give up." Luke 18:1 (NLT)
This verse from Luke tells us the story about a widow who would not give up…
And teaches us that God does hear our cries and our prayers…
And God responds to our persistence in prayer and persistence in faithfulness…
There are times in life…, when we need to hear someone say…, don’t give up…, Never give up…
"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken.
We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit." 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)
"We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.
We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going." 2 Corinthians 4:9 (NLT)
Sometimes encouragement means giving a third chance… or a fourth chance…
"Then Peter came to him and asked,
"Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?"" Matthew 18:21 (NLT)
""No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!" Matthew 18:22 (NLT)
Can we do that? Can we forgive someone 490 times?
(or Seventy times Seven is a symbolic number for divine perfection or to forgive with a God-like forgiveness.)
Can we always look for the best in people?
The story is told about an old man who lived in a small town
He was known around town as one who never said any unkind words to anyone.
Every word that came out of his mouth was encouraging and positive.
And the people in the town couldn’t stand it because they liked to talk about other people.
So one day, a vicious, dog, who terrorized the towns people for years, died.
And so the towns people got together and began to say all kinds of bad things about the dog.
After a while, the people went over to the nice man’s house to see what he would say about the dog.
They thought surely he would have to say something bad about the dog.
So, when the town’s people asked him what he thought about the dog,
the nice man paused a moment and said, “That dog sure did have pretty teeth.”
We need to find the good in every person.
Last fall during the survey we took on What is the Mission of Liberty United Methodist Church
One of the respondents wrote: “To be a place to Refuel as an individual and Grow Spiritually…,”
If our Mission as a church is to be a place to “Refuel as an individual and grow spiritually…”
We must look for the best in people…
If you can’t say something good…, don’t say anything at all.
When we encourage someone…, we might just change their life…
It is important that people be told that they are doing something right…
So often in life we think that giving instruction is showing people where they have gone wrong…
But the most powerful instruction a person can give is to see someone doing something right
And then say it…,
you are right on,
I see what you are doing is good,
you are doing something right…
I’m talking to those who walked into this church today with you head hung down…
I’m talking to those who have been discouraged for so long.
What if someone were to ask you what are the most encouraging verses in the bible what would you answer?
Here are some Words of Encouragement
1. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
2. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (KJV)
3. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (KJV)
4. Psalm 139:7-8 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Wherever we are, whatever our situation, God is there. God is constant…
When we’re rejoicing in His presence, he is there.
When we’re in the hospital or at home, he is there.
When the sun is shining or when it’s raining, God is there.
God never changes.
He said, I am God and I change not.
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He never takes his eyes off of us.
He never leaves us alone.
He never forsakes us.
He constantly takes care of us.
The problem is we might not know who needs encouragement and when they need it the most…
And people might not come out and ask for encouragement even though they desperately need it…
Wouldn’t it be easier if you could just wear a tee-shirt that said, “Help I Need Encouragement”
PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM…
We need to be constant in our encouragement to others…
WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR THE BEST IN ONE ANOTHER…
Comfort, Constant…, and last but not least…
III. Cheer--- No matter what happens…happiness is based on what happens…but Joy comes from God.
"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,
and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord:
neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)
If you were to count all the happy people you know how many would it be? Two? Three?
Can you count four? Or maybe five truly happy people…
Even the cheer from family or friends will not last forever…
We need to find another source of cheer…
You see happiness depends on circumstance…, or happen stance…,
but true joy… comes from a difference source…
true joy comes from the Father of Encouragement…
the joy of the Lord is my strength…
“The joy of the LORD is my strength…, The joy of the LORD is my strength…,
The joy of the LORD is my strength…, Oh, the joy of the LORD is my strength.”
To cheer is to shout or to cry out with approval,
To shout encouragement, hurrah! or rah! rah! rah!
The bible encourages us over and over again… at least 10 different times… “be of good cheer”
1. "Jesus said unto them, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Matthew 14:27 (KJV)
2. "And now I encourage you to be of good cheer:" Acts 27:22 (KJV)
3. Jesus said… Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." Matthew 9:2 (KJV)
4. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
5. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (KJV)
Corrie Ten Boon tells an amazing story in her book "The Hiding Place".
She and her sister Betsy were in a Nazis prison camp for harbouring Jews in their home.
The conditions were terrible and beyond our worst imagination.
However during a prayer time Corrie’s sister Betsy began to pray "Lord thank you for the fleas!"
Corrie couldn’t understand why her sister was giving God thanks for the fleas…
So she stopped her sister and asked why?
to which Betsy cheerfully explained…,
"Corrie don’t you see…, The Lord provided the fleas…, so the guards will leave us along…
And not bother us in our barracks
so we can pray and worship freely".
In other words Betsy had the ability to see the cheerful side of a bad situation.
What we really need are the eyes to see the cheerful…, even in the most difficult of circumstances…
That doesn’t make all the suffering and pain go away…
But it does allow us to celebration and be cheerful and have joy…
Even in a world of oppression, injustice, suffering, and heartache…,
Real encouragement…,real joy…, real cheer is…, God…, in…, you…
Closing: Encourage one another with these word:
Comfort: It will be alright…, things will get better…, the cups half full…,
Constant: It means to persist…, Don’t give up---- I want give up on you.
Cheer: No matter what happens…happiness is based on what happens…, but Joy comes from God.
What a blessing…, and what great encouragement!
Suggested Hymn “Just When I Need Him Most…Cokesbury Hymnal 175”
