Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Our God of All Encouragement”
Introduction
Most of you could complete the lyrics of this old song. “Where seldom was heard….” Today’s culture broadcasts plenty of discouraging words. Today’s environment generates abundant discouraging circumstances.
Most people struggle with some level of discouragement about life. The Chico family has encountered our share of discouraging life circumstances in recent months and days. Because of that I felt drawn to explore the topic of encouragement today. The dictionary defines discouragement as a feeling of having lost hope or confidence.
We have all experience those feelings. They range from slight to severe; light to heavy. Other terms describe varying levels of feeling, depression, dismay, despair, hopelessness, disappointment, gloominess, disheartened, downcast, dejected, melancholy. The cause varies from other people’s discouraging words and actions to the world’s traumatic circumstances. Whatever the source, it robs us of an enthusiasm for life. It sucks the air out of our soul. It supplants courage with fear and generates feelings of despair that can paralyze any positive progress in our life.
Everyone desires and appreciates en-couragement. Rather than losing courage i.e. dis-courage. We need someone or something to en-courage; restore our hope, revitalize our enthusiasm for life, replenish our diminishing strength. The Bible clearly and often addresses this need of people living in a broken world. The section of the Bible I invite you to explore with me today is one such place. The word “encouragement” appears ten times in only five verses.
Paul first called the Corinthians to bless the God of all mercies and encouragement.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in all our affliction so that we will be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our encouragement is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; or if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our encouragement. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Paul then testified concerning his own need and experience of encouragement.
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Since the noun “encouragement” and the verb “encourage” appear so many times in these verses, it would be advantageous for us to explore that term more closely. Most translations opt to translate the original Greek term by the word “comfort”. Hopefully you will understand why I prefer translating it by the broader term encouragement. The Greek term comes from a combination of the verb “to call” and the preposition “beside”.
The word means to be by the side of another; to relieve and support; to give solace, consolation, and encouragement. But there is always an underlying meaning to the word. There is the idea of strength, an enabling, a confidence. It consoles and relieves a person, but it strengthens him at the same time. It charges a person to go out and face the world.
It communicates the idea of urging or imploring someone to do the right thing. It was used to describe a pleading for help. It describes coming along side another with positive words of encouragement. It describes someone coming along side in troubled times not just to console but to strengthen. It references someone sent to advocate on our behalf; like a lawyer. Not one English word communicates all these ideas.
The translators translate the same term by “urge, beg, comfort, exhort, encourage, advocate, counsel, help, ask.
The noun and verb appear nearly 150 times in the New Testament. God does it. People practice it. God commands the church to practice it toward one another. Jesus does it. It is the central function of the Holy Spirit. Other terms like inspire, motivate or influence capture the sentiment of the term.
Today I want to focus on God’s encouragement of us although it is difficult to separate it from encouragement by the people who God tasks with encouraging. Next week I will continue our exploration of this significant function among Jesus followers with a focus on our encouragement of each other. Paul called the Corinthians and us to offer praise to the God of all encouragement.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement…
To “bless” means to speak well of or praise. Paul expressed his positive feelings toward God for the encouragement he had experienced amid some quite devastating circumstances. He expanded a well-known Jewish call to worship by adding a reference to Jesus. He identified God as the “Father of mercies”. His use of the plural acknowledges the variety of expressions of mercy flowing from a loving father. He urged (encouraged) the Romans to offer themselves to God considering the abundant display of God’s mercies in saving sinful creatures. (Rom 12:1)
He also identified God as the “God of all encouragement”. Not just some encouragement but ALL encouragement. God is the one who comes along side of us. God is the one who inspires, consoles, comforts, urges. Basically, God comes along side of us in our struggle to provide whatever we need. Paul reminded the Philippians that there is “encouragement in Christ Jesus.
I want to walk back through the passage and offer some observations.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement…
Observation 1
God’s encouragement flows out of God’s nature. It is who He is. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement
the One encouraging us in ALL our affliction.
The word affliction is a common term referencing pressure (literal or figurative) affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble
Observation 2
God’s encouragement addresses ALL our troubles.
We may not always recognize His involvement, but He is not only aware but present in times of difficulty.
the One encouraging us in ALL our affliction
to empower us to encourage those in ANY affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.
Observation 3
God’s encouragement empowers us to encourage others who face affliction.
The word “empower” means to enable, make possible. God empowers us, so we can encourage others. Notice that it doesn’t even have to be the same affliction; it is ANY affliction. Sometimes it helps to identify with others struggle but the coping principles are the same.
For just as the suffering of Christ abounds to us So also, the encouragement abounds to us through Christ.
Observation 4
God’s encouragement mirrors our suffering.
This is basically a restatement of the ALL our affliction principle. Do we ever have more suffering than encouragement? Not according to this passage. Where suffering abounds, encouragement equally abounds.
Observation 5
Our encouragement comes because of our connection with Christ.
If we are being afflicted
Then it is for your encouragement and salvation
AND
If we are being encouraged
Then it is for your encouragement
Observation 6
God’s encouragement is others centered.
We get so disturbed by our own trouble; why me? We get so delighted by our own encouragement; yeah me!
The reality is that both suffering and encouragement have a higher purpose. It is never JUST about us!
It is about coming along side others.
It is for your encouragement
Energizing in you an endurance of the same suffering we suffer.
Observation 7
Encouraging others energizes endurance in others
As we encourage others out of our suffering, we energize them to endure their suffering. The term translated “endurance” means to remain under. It is not a teeth-gritting resolve to get through something unpleasant. We willingly submit to trial with faith that God orchestrates a positive outcome.
And our hope for you is unshaken
Knowing that as you share in our sufferings
You will also share in our encouragement.
Observation 8
God’s encouragement inspires hope.
Again, Paul expressed confidence that God’s resources correspond to our suffering.
Paul then shared his own experience regarding encouragement.
For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life. Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through ?the prayers of? many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Paul described his deep feelings at the time.
Completely overwhelmed
Driven beyond human ability to endure
Despaired of life.
What could have caused such trauma?
He shared some of it later in the letter.
I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Paul described God’s encouragement in chapter 7.
When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy! 2 Corinthians 7:5-7
Paul equated God’s encouragement with the encouragement of people. Encouragement comes from numerous sources. Inspiration, motivation, renewed enthusiasm, positive outlook come from at least four elements.
DIVINE PERSEPCTIVE
A significant aspect of encouragement involves words. In times of difficulty we need God’s perspective on life in a broken world. Twisted thinking often lies at the cause of our struggles. The Scriptures are the major source of perspective change.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
Biblical perspective can come from personal study or the counsel of other people who help us understand Bible principles. In times of difficulty, we need divine perspective on our past, present and future. God’s encouragement helps us to address things that happened in our past. It is helpful to reflect on God’s provision in our past or His work among His people. The writers of the Psalms frequently referenced God’s past work as an inspiration to trust Him in the present. Paul referenced a past deliverance by God as motivation to believe God would deliver him in the future. Paul encouraged the Romans to consider God’s past work to trust He would also orchestrate their present difficulties into something for His glory and their good. God inspired and superintended the accurate recording of His word to enable us to frame life in this fallen world from a divine perspective.
The motivation to endure difficulty or move on comes from a renewed thinking. It comes from seeing things from God’s perspective as found in the Scriptures. We understand the character of God, people, Satan, sin, destructive behavior, salvation, purpose. Encouragement comes from a DIVINE PERSPECTIVE.
DIVINE PURPOSE
We find encouragement from understand the divine purpose in life. Sometimes if we see a reason for something we find motivation to endure. Paul referenced the possibility of encouraging others as a point of motivation. He also referenced the motivation of energizing others to endure their struggles. Paul understood that his struggle enables him to keep his focus on Jesus as the source of life and deliverance rather than self. Many passages addressing trials and tribulation appeal to the outcome of those trails as motivation for enduring.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
Just be aware that God sometimes does not reveal the purpose. God did not let Job in on the back story or cause of all his tribulation. We trust an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God who has ultimate control.
DIVINE PRESENCE
What we long for when struggling to make sense of this world is “presence.” What a difference a sense of God’s presence would make. Jesus encouraged His disciples shortly before He was about to leave.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3
He promised connection, presence.
In the meantime He promised the presence of one just like Him.
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Encourager, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
Many translations use the word Helper or Comforter to describe the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised ANOTHER just like Me. Just as Jesus spent three solid years encouraging the disciples with His perspective, purpose and presence, the Holy Spirit would come and do the same. Encouraging, prompting to do the right thing, inspiration, correction, truth, urging are all primary functions of the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer. We struggle with the fact that we don’t always sense His presence. We don’t always sense God’s presence in our circumstances. King David often cried for a manifestation of God’s presence.
Too often, we allow the noise of the world to obscure the sense of God’s presence. God urges us to “cease striving (be still) and know that I am God.”
A fourth element to encouragement has to do with the people God uses in our life.
DIVINE PARTNERSHIP
The Bible references our mandate to encourage one another often.
But exhort (encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13
The passage we explore today is very clear that God encourages us so that we can encourage others. That will be the subject of next week’s message.
