Encouragement


Read this if you need encouragement!




1. David



1 Samuel 16:13 ~ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him (= David) in the midst of his brethren:


and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 



--> David was chosen by God, and then anointed to be king of Israel.


--> We may think that would have given David all the confidence he needed.


--> But HE STILL needed Jonathan to encourage him:




1 Samuel 23:15-17

15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.


16And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.


17And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee;


and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.



--> Life is easy when everything’s going well.


--> But we all need to be encouraged when the going gets tough!




Further reading

Deuteronomy 1:38, 3:28 (Joshua)

2 Chronicles 32:6-8, 35:2




2. Paul




FIRST EXAMPLE - Acts 9:26-27


26And when Saul (= Paul) was come to Jerusalem, he assayed (= attempted) to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 


27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he (= Paul) had seen the Lord in the way (= on the road),


and that He (= Jesus) had spoken to him (= Paul), and how he (= Paul) had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.



A. The disciples rejected Paul - but Barnabas helped him.


B. Paul went on to write much of the New Testament.


--> So when we encourage & help others, we have no idea what the impact will be!




SECOND EXAMPLE -  2 Corinthians 7:5-6


5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without (= outside) were fightings, within were fears. 


6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.



Q - How did God encourage Paul? 


A - Via Titus.




--> When God wants to encourage people, He uses folks like you & me.


Even Paul - with his outstanding ministry - still needed to be encouraged!




THIRD EXAMPLE


Romans 1:12 ~ That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.




--> Encouragement is often two-way.




Further reading about others encouraging Paul

Acts 28:15

1 Corinthians 16:17-18

2 Corinthians 7:13

1 Thessalonians 3:6-7




3. Q - Whom should we spend time with?



Proverbs 27:17 ~ Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.







Illustration

When top runners want to perform even better - they run with a partner who sets a fast pace.


In the same way - we should spend time with people who encourage us to go further in our walk with God.




Further reading

Psalm 119:63

Acts 14:21-22

Ephesians 6:21-22


Colossians 4:7-8

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, 5:11

Hebrews 3:13, 10:24




4. Q - Whom should we avoid?


A - Negative people!




Job 16:1-4

1Then Job answered and said,


2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.


3Shall vain words have an end? Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? (= What made you so bold, to talk to me like this?)


4I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.



--> Job felt worse - not better - after spending time with these ‘friends’:






Also:







5. What if we don't have anyone to encourage us?



2 Timothy 4:16-17

16At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.


17Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known,


and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.



--> If no-one else encourages us - GOD will.




Further reading

1 Samuel 30:6

Nehemiah 8:10


Psalms 1:1-3, 27:14, 31:24, 46:1-3 & 11


Isaiah 49:5, 61:1-3




6. Our 'spiritual heroes' from the past can also encourage us


It's encouraging to read about Christian pioneers such as:  David Livingstone, Mary Slessor & George Whitfield.


They all came from humble backgrounds, but greatly extended God's Kingdom on earth in very challenging circumstances.


If they did it - so can we!




7. What if we're discouraged by what's happening in the world?



Malachi 3:14-18 



Verses 14-15

14Ye have said, It is vain (= useless / futile) to serve God: 


and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance (= His requirements), and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?


15And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up (= prosper); yea, they that tempt God are even delivered (= those who test God escape unpunished). 




Further reading - 1 John 5:19






Verses 16-18

16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it,


and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.




17And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.


18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.





 



1 Corinthians 6:2-3

2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?


3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?




Further reading

Psalms 24:3-5, 53:1-2, 92:7-9, 119:36


Proverbs 16:4

Isaiah 45:7


Ezekiel 9:4-6, 44:15-16


Daniel 7:18 & 27

Revelation 2:2




Malachi  (cont.)  4:1-3

1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven (= furnace); and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble:


and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.




2But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.


3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.







8. What if we feel depressed?



Hebrews 12:2-3

2Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him


endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down (= seated) at the right hand of the throne of God.


3For consider Him that endured such contradiction (= opposition / hostility) of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.




 


Further reading

‘Tough times’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com




9. Next steps



Make a list of:


A. People we can encourage.


B. People who can encourage us.




Then try to spend more time with these people ...


... and see the difference it makes over the next few months!




Amen