The Lord Jesus Is My Encouragement And Strength

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you strong in the LORD?

Yes. Ephesians 6:10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers/unbelievers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to be nearer than before and inside GOD'S Presence so that GOD can hold us in His arms and gives us encouragement that will result in being strengthened in the LORD JESUS more.

IV. TEXT:

1 Samuel 30:6 (Amplified Bible)

David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged {and} strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You are my Encouragement and my Strength.

VI. TITLE:

The LORD JESUS is my Encouragement and Strength

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: unknown

B. Date written: After 1011 B.C.

C. Purpose: To record the founding of the Hebrew monarchy

D. To whom written: The nation of Israel

E. Keyword: king

F. Key verses:

1 Samuel 8:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them.

According to all the works which they have done since I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they also do to you.

1 Samuel 15:22 (Amplified Bible)

Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

1 Samuel 30:6 (Amplified Bible)

David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged {and} strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

A. The LORD JESUS is my Encouragement and Strength

Encouraged himself or "khaw-zak'" in Hebrew language meaning to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer: - aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengten (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong (-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand

Our encouragement or the Personified Encouragement is the LORD JESUS Himself and there's no one else to do the job of encouraging us rather than the LORD. His Very Presence commands encouragement. We have to fasten ourselves to Him to get encouraged.

How to encourage ourselves in the LORD?

1. Read, memorize, hear, medite GOD's WORDS and do to it as long as you put it into your system of thinking.

Proverbs 4:13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

2. Pray

Nehemiah 6:9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, Their hands will be so weak that the work will not be done. But now strengthen my hands!

Now when we pray for strength, GOD will command strength in us, but we have to use that Strength, His Strength in us to pray. It's a sort of covenant with Him.

Isaiah 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble {and} tottering knees.

3. Wait and hope in the LORD - this is a moment by moment waiting and hoping in the LORD.

Psalms 27:14 Wait {and} hope for {and} expect the Lord; be brave {and} of good courage and let your heart be stout {and} enduring. Yes, wait for {and} hope for {and} expect the Lord.

4. Be courageous - take courage

For example if other people will tell you to be brave, will you do it? How about if your wife says, "Be courageous!" Of course, I will. If human beings can say this to you and you obey, how much more if GOD says this to you? Will you be brave enough for JESUS?

Psalms 31:24 - Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for {and} hope for {and} expect the Lord!

5. Take hold of GOD's Strength not our own human strength

Isaiah 27:5 Or else [if all Israel would escape being burned up together there is but one alternative], let them take hold of My strength {and} make complete surrender to My protection, that they may make peace with Me! Yes, let them make peace with Me!