Sermon for 3/28/2004
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Introduction:
A. Vs. 8 in some translations talks about being sober. In many worship services we have that one down. Nothing will move us. This is not how people in the New Testament were. When Paul went before Festus, he called Paul mad. When the Holy Spirit came down, they accused the apostles of being drunk. This is not what is being talked about here when it mentions being sober.
B. We are to be enthusiastic
C. We are to smile.
D. Encouragement is a lacking element in our world. VS. 11
Thesis: This morning we are going to talk about three forms of encouragement; selfish-encouragement, selfless- encouragement, and Supreme encouragement.
For instances:
I. Selfish encouragement.
A. Remembering times in the past that have turned out good. (Heb 10:32 NIV) Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. (Isa 46:9 NIV) Remember the former things, those of long ago.
B. Clayton A. Pepper- As we drove up the steep, winding road to the Cave of the Winds near Colorado Springs, we came suddenly to a narrow passageway between high rock walls through which it looked as if the car could not possibly go. But facing us was a sign which said: “Yes, you can! Millions of others have!”
C. We are having twins again. The chances for us of having a set of fraternal twins are 1 in 39. After we had one set of twins the chances for us (just us) of having another set of fraternal twins was 1 in 5. Couldn’t find numbers for the chances vs. the general population of having two sets of fraternal twins. Now the chances of anyone having two sets of identical twins are 1 in 70,000.
D. We were told these numbers by the doctor (1 in 5). However, when we got married we wanted to have 3 children. We wanted to have a girl if possible. Our boys were past 3 and potty trained so let’s just have one baby. It would be cake just to have one baby. We have heard many people talk about how difficult having just one baby is and we laughed at them. Two babies is double everything. They are double trouble, double diapers, double the food, double the joy, double everything. To have one baby must be a snap. Nothing compared to what we have gone through.
E. Crystal told me we were expecting. That’s fine. One baby will be a breeze. Then she came home after her first ultrasound and said those words that still ring in my ears, “We are having two babies again.” We didn’t speak to each other for at least a week, so shocked. The Lord and I have had more than one conversation about the situation.
F. It is overwhelming. But you know what, we have done it before and we can do it again. WE don’t know any different. WE can do it and we will.
G. (1 Cor 10:13 NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
H. My problems are so unique. I am unlike other people. No one understands! Garbage, there is nothing new under the sun! If we look around we can find people in similar situations and many times in worse shape than we are.
I. Yes, this is a little vain, a little selfish to internalize all of this but it is needful in every life from time to time.
II. Selfless- encouragement.
A. People go out of their way to be rude and obnoxious.
B. Naturally people are discouragers.
C. To be able to encourage others is one of the callings of the church. If we do not encourage others, who will? The right kind of encouragement will not break people. It will put pep in their step and a smile on their lips.
D. If we accept a particular position and all we get is grief and no encouragement, we will quit.
E. A man visited a church service. It was his first time there. It was one of those mornings when the soloist, a tenor, must not have gotten out of bed on the right side.
As the newcomer listened to the faltering voice, he looked around. People were pulling out hymnals to locate the hymn being sung by the soloist.
By the second verse, the congregation had joined the soloist in the hymn. And by the third verse, the tenor was beginning to find the range.
And by the fourth verse, it was beautiful. And on the fifth verse the congregation was absolutely silent, and the tenor sang the most beautiful solo of his life. That is life in the [real] body of Christ, enabling one another to sing the tune Christ has given us. (5)
F. When things go well. Encouragement. Bill and his Aunt Caroline were at odds with each other. Bill was jealous because Caroline was the number one society leader in town. Caroline was jealous because Bill got more money when the family fortune had been distributed at the reading of the last will. Bill had received 100 million dollars. Caroline had only received 50 million. (Poor baby!)
Until the mid 1890’s, Bill and Caroline’s dispute was confined to childish, snide remarks at high social gatherings. But then the warfare intensified and became much more visible. In fact, it became the talk of the entire city.
You see, Bill and his Aunt Caroline lived right next door to each other. All that separated them was a beautiful and spacious garden. Caroline’s splendid 4-story house was easily the nicer of the 2 dwellings. This galled Bill. He had more money - he should have the nicer home.
So Bill tore down his house and built a beautiful 13 story hotel in its place as his home. This hotel would be the most elegant in the nation - and most importantly, it would dwarf Aunt Caroline’s puny house next to it. On March 14, 1893, Bill’s hotel was completed - and it, of course, was named after him.
For a while it appeared that Bill had triumphed over his Aunt Caroline - that is until her construction began. One day, Bill came home to find her house torn down. And in its place, a hotel began to be erected - bigger than Bill’s, with more rooms, more baths, and more stories.
Bill was incensed - and he immediately announced his plans to add on to his hotel, making it taller than his Aunt Caroline’s. Of course, Bill and Caroline’s childish game was the talk of the city. And how far it might have progressed we will never know – for, happily, for all concerned, Bill’s hotel manager showed more maturity and wisdom than Bill or Caroline did. He began a process of mediation between the 2 warring family members. After all, he reasoned they were family. And they were making fools of themselves before a whole city. Couldn’t they possibly work out an equitable agreement?
Bill and Caroline finally accepted his compromise. The two hotels would be joined physically. They would operate as one. And Bill and Caroline would share the profits equally. Instead of squandering their fortunes on childish rivalries, they both could become even richer.
The suggestion worked - and who can even count how many people have enjoyed the luxuries of that hotel that remains in use even to this day in New York City. The hotel that was a combination of buildings built by Bill Waldorf and his Aunt Caroline Astor - known today as the Waldorf-Astoria. (1)
To "edify" means to build up. At the center of Paul’s message to the church is that we are not to tear each other apart like Aunt Caroline and Bill – our mission is to build each other up, to edify.
G. When things don’t go so well. Comfort.
For many years a country church in Iowa set aside one Sunday annually for youth to conduct the entire service. The young people did it all; call to worship, invocation, prayer, special music, announcements, choir, and one young person would deliver the sermon. One year a 16 year old boy was told that it was “his year.” He practiced for days until he could give the sermon with the help of just a few notes written on one side of a three by five index card. Sunday morning arrived. The other youths did their parts exceptionally well. When it was time, the young man walked to the pulpit- and his mind went blank. He looked at the index card, spoke for two minutes, and sat down. As the congregation sang the closing hymn, the young man thought, “I am never going to speak in public again, absolutely, positively not.” As the service ended the young man dashed for the exit, only to be stopped by a man named Dale Bockes. Mr. Bockes said, “Son that was a fine job.” And the lad said, “Fine job? Why I only went about two minutes.” “Yes,” said Mr. Bockes, “but you said it so well. It was so clear. You are a good speaker. I look forward to hearing you again.” And the next year, that young man spoke again. Now, John Kline, that young man, is a motivational speaker who speaks worldwide. Mr. Bockes was a great encourager.
“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” – Mark Twain
III. Supreme encouragement.
A. Encouragement from above, from God. This is the supreme encouragement, nothing can top this one.
B. Be encouraged that we are all going home to be with the Lord forever. Chapter 4
C. Be encouraged that we will not suffer wrath but to obtain salvation. We deserve wrath but we receive salvation. Everlasting pleasure, not wrath, awaits the Christian Vs. 9 and 10.
D. (2 Th 2:16 NIV) May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,(2 Th 2:17 NIV) encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
E. John Stokes- I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game- a serious game- two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn’t know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing- I only wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient, as only children can be. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked the ball and missed it, but they didn’t seem to care… they were having fun! In the second period, the Team One coach, pullout out what must have been his first team players and put in the scrubs; with the exception of his best player, who he left at goalie. The game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you are five years old, because the Team Two coach left his best players in; the Team One scrubs were just no match for them. Team Two swarmed around the little guy at goalie. He was an outstanding athlete for five, but he was no match for three or four who were equally as good. Team Two began to score. The goalie gave it his all. Recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them. Team Two scored two quick points in succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac- shouting, running and diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he finally was able to cover one of the boys as he approached the goal. But, that boy kicked the ball to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time the young goalie repositioned himself, it was too late. They scored a third goal. I soon learned who the goalie’s parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office, tie and all. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field, and his parents on the sideline. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was no use; he couldn’t stop them. He didn’t quit, but he became quietly desperate- futility was written all over his face. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder- yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed; he became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay- to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling. After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I’ve seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed it to the referee- and then he cried. He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees, I saw his father start onto the field. His wife clutched his wrist and said, “Jim, don’t. You’ll embarrass him.” But, he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn’t supposed to for the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes, and all- he charged onto the field and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy. And he hugged him and kissed him- and cried with him. I have never been so proud of any man in my life. He carried him off the field, and when they got close to the sidelines I heard him say, “Scotty, I’m so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son.” “Daddy,” the boy sobbed, “I couldn’t stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried and they scored on me.” “Scotty, it doesn’t matter how many times they score on you. You’re my son, and I’m proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can’t. And son, you’re going to get scored on again, but it doesn’t matter. Go on, now.” It made a difference- I could tell it did.
F. When you’re all alone, and you’re getting scored on- and you can’t stop them- it means a lot to know that it doesn’t matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field, and they scored two more times; but, it was okay. I get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage. I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being- and Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees; sinful, convicted, helpless. And my Father rushed right out on the field- right in front of the whole crowd- the whole laughing world, and he picks me up. And he hugs me, and he says, “I am so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my child. And because I control the outcome of the game- I declare you the WINNER.”
