The Spiritual Power of Encouragement
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The Spiritual Power of Encouragement
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Discouragement is a big problem in life and I am going to talk about it today but we are actually going to look at encouragement because my subject is: The spiritual power and benefits of encouragement. How, if we will learn and will look at the scriptures and the biblical examples and show what God says, that is what we are going to do today. Each of us has within our hands and our minds and hearts and mouths an incredibly powerful tool. One word of encouragement can change a person's life and we will take a look at that today.
Transcript
Good morning, everyone. How are you this morning? Up early and awake and hopefully enjoying the rain. It is refreshing, as Mr. Myers said and it is certainly – and I know you do – and I certainly want to express that, I don't know if I have. I try to express that to Steve and Kathe, how much we appreciate them coming here to Cincinnati and becoming the pastor of the churches here and teaching at ABC and it also makes it easy to do the telecast and he was involved in meetings and recordings this past week and some new programs about the return of Jesus Christ. He can tell you about that himself but they even went downtown and interviewed people on the street, asking them, do you believe Christ is coming back. I don't want to give anything away Steve, so, it will be coming out and you can watch it but it should be a very powerful and effective series of three new programs for Television about the return of Jesus Christ.
So it is really wonderful to be here with all of you. I think we all are aware of moving forward in United, settling down. We know that our focus needs to be on God's Kingdom; doing our part in the work of God on this earth; of trying to take that precious truth about the return of Christ and God's Kingdom to this world while we still have time. We see many events in the world speeding up that way and in our nation, and it is a matter of how many years are left. We don't know. No one knows but we are thankful that God has blessed United and is opening bigger doors for the preaching of the gospel, not only to our nation but now nations all over the earth. It truly is an amazing thing to see the doors that God can open to us and you look at how small we are. It doesn't take a huge organization today. It takes a group of dedicated people, committed together and working together, co-operating together, on their knees, looking to God for the help that we need to serve Him and do His work.
So from my perspective, I am happy to say that we are making progress and moving forward in the United Church of God to accomplish the mission and the purpose that God has given us and I always remind people that United, from the very beginning, has always recognized that we are part of the Church of God, the true Church of God and part of the Work of God and that God has a great work going on, on this earth, and we are a part of it and we are thankful to be a part of it.
Discouragement is an issue in everyone's life. I don't have to tell you all that we live in a negative world, which is bombarded by discouraging news every day. I won't even ask you to raise your hands whether or not you enjoy watching the news on Television. I don't, but I do turn it on to keep up with what is going on in the world and of course most of it is always the bad news, the negative news, going on out there. It can have a discouraging effect upon you if you didn't understand what's going on, what it means.
Also every one, as we all are well aware of, has serious issues to deal with in their own lives, which can be discouraging. We all battle our flesh, we battle the world and we battle Satan's influence. Some battle pretty serious health problems, which can be discouraging. Getting old can be discouraging, right folks? For us to say the aging process - as we grow older we feel the weariness and weakness of our flesh and sometimes tend to have more health problems and that creates discouragement in people's lives.
Discouragement is a big problem in life and I am going to talk about it today but we are actually going to look at encouragement because my subject is: The spiritual power and benefits of encouragement. How, if we will learn and will look at the scriptures and the biblical examples and show what God says, that is what we are going to do today. Each of us has within our hands and our minds and hearts and mouths an incredibly powerful tool. One word of encouragement can change a person's life and we will take a look at that today.
As people struggle with their financial problems, their health problems, marriage problems, the loss of a mate – we have our dear beloved Angie Smith here today and she is still here. Her beloved, and our dear friend Ed, is resting in his grave until the resurrection. He's got it made, doesn't he? He is sealed for the Kingdom. At his very next conscious moment we know, from going to sleep, he is going to wake up and he is going to be there and see Jesus Christ and be glorified. That is a huge loss, one of the greatest losses especially when you have been happily married these many years as Ed and Angie were.
People lose a child sometimes, and it is devastating; or a dear friend, a good friend. My wife's sister Myrna lost her best friend at Ambassador College in a car accident. She was killed in a car accident and it was devastating to Myrna. We also know that members of God's Church and those that God calls out of the world struggle with various addictions in their lives. Satan is trying to get control of people whether it is through alcohol or drugs, or many, many different kinds of addictions.
My point here is, I think we are all well aware that we all deal with discouragement. I deal with discouragement. I try not to stay discourage but waking up in the mornings sometimes – If I don't sleep good, I don't feel good. It takes a while to get positive and start thinking right thoughts and to start waking up and feeling good. So discouragement is a big issue in many people's lives and discouragement, if it isn't understood and if it isn't dealt with or if you don't have people in your life who understand the power of encouragement, discouragement becomes deeper and deeper and becomes depression, which can become a more serious problem. Some are in various states of depression in life and in the Church and I guess we all are at different times, depending on what we are going through. We don't have to stay there.
So my subject today is actually a very positive one and that is: Let's learn how to use the spiritual power of encouragement and we will look at some of the benefits of encouragement. Today I am going to take a look at some of the research going on that scientist and researchers are discovering: the difference when you think positive or think negative or speak a positive word or negative word. Maybe that is critical or whatever and a bad attitude - the difference even upon the body's own chemistry and the body's health. Every thing scientists discover that is right and true just proves the Bible and God gives us many Scriptures; He's inspired it, for our good. He just doesn't explain all of the behind the scenes facts about why it may be good for us. We heard about the Ten Commandments.
We are going to begin by looking at the book at Proverbs and what it reveals about discouragement, depression and its causes and cures. So we will start in the book of Proverbs. Turn with me to Proverbs 12:25 – lets begin there as we explore what God reveals about some of the causes of discouragement and depression and some of the solutions to those situations.
Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety - and this is the New King James Bible that I'm reading from. If you were using the NIV or a New Living Translation, it might say an anxious heart. I am reading from the New King James.
V.25 - Anxiety in the heart – and the heart is where the seat of our emotions is. We have our intellect where we can think and reason and the heart and the brain, the heart and the mind, the Bible talks about that. God says, I am going to write My law in your mind and in your heart. Two different words, and so God's word reveals to us that anxiety is one of the causes of depression but it usually begins with discouragement.
Depression can be a deeper, more serious mental psychological emotional state and today I am not dealing with clinical, medical issues. Some times people do need professional counseling and professional help with some of those kind of issues and yet God does give, even for professionals, the true answers to those kind of problems. So here is one scripture that reveals that anxiety - or you could put in there worry or fear. When we worry about things and fret about things and have fears about things, which we all do as human beings, this causes or can lead to depression. You see it begins with negative feelings and negative emotions but it leads to depression but notice, God also gives an answer here.
V.25 – (Worry, fear and) anxiety in the heart causes depression but a good word makes it glad.
What changes depression, discouragement and anxiety, worry and fear would be just for somebody to come along and say, you know, I am praying about that situation and you know it is going to work out good. All it takes – it is amazing the power of somebody giving you, even though you know it, I know we've all experienced this, I have and you probably have too, I know it but there is just the power in the spoken word from someone who is really being sincere. Not someone who is playing games or flattering or buttering up or is political but people who really care, who really love you and who just come up and maybe they know you are struggling or have a problem, whatever it may be, and they've got a good word. Actually here, if you were to look it up and I have one of the Study Bibles that has four different translations: The King James, The New International Version, The New Living Translation and then one other translation. Different authorities in the Hebrew and Greek language will say, well it could be translated this way in the English or it could be translated that way. That is why you have different translations. There is more than one English word sometimes to use to try to get across what the original meant. So you could look up for instance The New Living Translation and it actually says: an encouraging word makes it glad – from the original Hebrew.
So an encouraging word is a powerful tool and I think we all know that. There's that old thing: Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but words will never hurt me, but that is not true. Words hurt a lot more than sticks and stones. Words can destroy a child's life growing up or an adult's life. It can tear people down and destroy them, as we will see.
Let's go on to Proverb 13:12. Here is another cause of discouragement.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred – now another word for hope deferred is disappointment. We all have experienced disappointments in our life. That is what hope deferred is. It is a disappointment. It didn't happen when you thought it was going to happen or the way you thought it was going to happen but what does hope deferred or disappointment do to a human being?
V.12 - … it makes the heart sick. The heart – inside a person, feelings, emotions, make them sick when things haven't worked out in their life they hoped they would or wanted them to. But notice the rest of the verse:
V.12 – The New King James is not as clear. It says: But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
That is why it is good and helpful to look it up.
The NIV says: When a longing is fulfilled it is a tree of life.
The New Living Translations says: When a dream is fulfilled it is a tree of life.
But hope deferred makes the heart sick. It is one of the causes of discouragement and even depression. So sometimes we can pray for people and help a longing, a hope, a dream to be fulfilled. Notice:
Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, - well, Mr. Myers certainly has that, doesn't he? He really does. Since this is a sermon on encouragement it is okay for me to compliment him or any of you if we want to do that sincerely, genuinely, but he always does regardless of how he is feeling. You know he sometimes might not be feeling that way but he is always upbeat and positive and has – I won't comment on his jokes here! He has some good ones, doesn't he? But that's what this is talking about.
V.13 – A merry heart - again the word heart. Whenever I think of my heart, either love or sad or discouraged, you tend to put your hand right there where your chest is but there is more to it than just the physical organ.
V.13 – A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, (but notice:) But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Sadness, and again the NIV translates this: Heartache crushes the spirit. Now who of you sitting here today has not had some heartache? Things that happened in your life that have broken your heart or hurt your heart; we all have.
But sorrow of the heart - or sadness or having heartache, it can crush the spirit. It can break the spirit and that causes discouragement, which can become depression in people's life but if you are around somebody or with somebody who understands the power of a merry heart, a positive word, it can change that. It can begin to heal that broken spirit and crushed heart and give them encouragement, the Bible says, and strength. That is what we are going to see as we go along with that encouragement, as we get to the New Testament and look at it. Encouragement strengthens a person inside.
Proverbs 15:23 A man has joy (it doesn't mean just a male. It means a human being) by the answer of his mouth. (That is why it is so important what comes out of our mouths). And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
You can look that up again, and it is more like a word spoken at the right time. Sometimes the right time the people need it is when they are down and discouraged and struggling, and words are powerful and positive. Words can lift the spirit, can't they? They do. So here is another one then from God's word, that man has joy by the answer of his mouth and if we learn to use words, which are really thoughts, feelings, expressions of spirit and essence, we can make a huge difference in people's lives.
I think these are probably pretty familiar Proverbs to many of you but they fit well under this message today.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb.
I love honey, all kinds of honey. LeeAnn and I, we start off the day with a cup of English tea. Good black English tea, black tea, because for five years we lived in Australia and served there. They are of course British influenced although I wouldn't say that to them there. They are Aussies. We were coffee drinkers up until then from America, but living there, they had more tea and so we learned to enjoy a really good quality cup of English tea and we love our tea with a little milk and honey. That is what we do every day and it is sweet and gives it just a little flavor there. So pleasant words are like that:
V. 24 – … Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
I will read something in a moment – we used to think that oh, that it is just kind of poetic: health to the bones. No, it means that literally. Positive words bring positive chemistry in the body and strengthen the bones and negative words, bad words, discouraging words do just the opposite and weaken the bones in the body. I will read some information in a moment on that.
Again the NIV here says: Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Man discovers that God's word is true. It really is literally true.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine.
The NIV words it: a cheerful heart is good medicine.
So a cheerful heart is as good as medicine. I take health magazines – I have from many, many years, various health magazines to try to keep up with scientific research on the mind and the body and the health so I can apply it and use it in my own life and help others. You discover more and more that this is exactly true, that people that have more of a cheerful spirit or strive for that, to be more positive, think positive words and all, it is as good as medicine. It is as good as medicine.
One quote that I have from a doctor: "What most people really need is human love and a touch and a hug and good positive friends in counseling and then most of them wouldn't need a prescription medicine."
Sometimes people do (need a medicine). We know that. We understand that in the Church and we are not saying that is bad or wrong but as you all know there is a lot of abuse and misuse of that in our society today. Thankfully there are doctors and hospitals who are beginning to use holistic medicine: look at the whole person not just the body.
V.22 – A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.
Literally this is what happens. Now where is that little quote about bones? "The bone is one of the most active tissues of the body." – I used to not know that. My bones, they just kind of keep my body together. "A bone is one of the most active tissues of the body. It cleanses the blood of harmful substances; it stores useful materials like calcium, phosphorus and sodium. A bone also contains red bone marrow where new red blood cells are made." Most of you probably know all of that. Our spirit and attitude affects the chemistry of the body.
Let's look at a couple of other scriptures here. This one is really powerful. They all are, but Proverbs 18:21 kind of sums it all up.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
Life and death - That's how serious it is and that is how much what we think, which are words and thoughts, our words – we may not be speaking them but they are thinking words. So thoughts are powerful. Bad thoughts, negative thoughts, wrong thoughts produce sickness, disease and death. God's thoughts, right thoughts, positive thoughts, encouraging thoughts produce life within the body, literally.
V.21 - … And those who love it will eat its fruit.
In other words, whether it is good or bad, whether a person is negative or positive, encouraging or discouraging, they will eat the fruit of their way of thinking and speaking. That's basically what it is saying. But that is a powerful scripture, isn't it? In other words we can choose to use this power, life and death. They are in the power of the tongue of words.
We can choose to use this power on the tongue and of words to be encouragers of other people. We can help give life. Now, while I am talking about this subject you might be thinking yourself: How often do I take the time, and many of you do, I know you do, you are God's people, but some of you are better at this than others. Some of you may– it's hard for you maybe to compliment others in a sincere way or do we think of, I am going to be an encourager rather than being this douer, sad, sorry, negative, discouraging person. I am going to choose to grow and use the power that God has given me of encouragement to help other people and in so doing you will encourage yourself as we will see. So, let me just read a little bit more information here from some of the material that I have.
Researchers, psychology researchers, their names are Childre and Martin, two psychology researchers, have reported that "as soon as negative or judgmental words come out of your mouth deadly chemicals are released into your blood stream. These chemicals weaken your immune system and disrupt the balance between your heart and your brain." This is not theory. This is a fact that they are discovering.
"Negative judgments simply aren't healthy. They create stress and incoherence in your biological systems. All those negative attitudes and feelings running though your body are toxic. The person who is negative and who judges and who is critical is the one who is hurt the most."
So when we allow ourselves to be critical and negative and judgmental in a wrong way because we are mad or angry or hurt, we actually hurt ourselves more than any one else. We weaken our body's immune system and weaken the health of our bones and we are more susceptible to sickness and disease and all kinds of problems because of it.
Many of you may be familiar with a new study – this is a Magazine I get, called: The Well Being Journal, and this is an article in it by Dr. James Baird, Ph.D. and Laurie Nadel, Ph.D. Two doctors. It is called "Epigenetics - changing your destiny." "Epigenetics: This field of science explores how genes behave when their environment changes. These changes can be either physical such as nutritional and exercise or non-physical, such as psychological or attitude shifts. Simply put, in our research we are discovering that genes do not represent concrete facts. They are multiple potentials directly influenced by the environment. As the environment changes so do the biology and fate of these cells. What we think, the words we speak, creates a body-mind interaction affecting our internal environment and controlling the fate of our cells."
And they go on in this article to say this: "To the process of perception, how we perceive things and people and problems and life – the brain interprets signals and in response the brain releases regulatory chemicals into the blood stream. The chemistry derived from the brain circulates throughout the body and controls the behavior and genetic activity of our cells. Consequently, the way we perceive our environment controls our health and our fate, our future. Most importantly, when we change the way we respond to the environment we change our health and fate. Under the old belief in genetic control of our lives, our health and our future, we perceived ourselves as victims of our heredity."
I remember that, growing up as we all (have) that (we believed) you were born with certain genes and certain genetics and there is nothing you can do about it. That was – I remember – the way it was understood that it was just genetic. If your parents died of cancer you are going to die of cancer and he mentions this.
"We essentially perceived ourselves as victims of our heredity. If cancer or Alzheimer's was our family lineage we are led to believe that we should anticipate that we would get stuck with the same fate. However, genetic science and research is completely rewriting that belief for it reveals that through our mind we can change the chemistry of our blood and in the process improve our health and future."
So they are learning that genes are not: if that is the way it is, then you are stuck with it (the way we think and perceive life and all). That's why God's words are so important. As we take God's words into our mind and into our heart, it alters in a very positive way our very genetics and our descendants' (genetics) in the future. It helped me to understand about God's commandments: that certain curses will be passed on to the third and fourth generation; that this is a literal thing that can happen, depending upon what is inherited from the children from the parents, and yet it is good to know that children can change that for their children. Many of you probably read and study and are familiar with a lot of it but as I read these kind of things and then study the Bible I say, ah-hah, now they are discovering why this verse is true; why Proverbs and what it is saying is true and how it works and how it affects the body itself.
Let's go now to the New Testament and let's look at what God says and reveals about the power of encouragement in the New Testament. Let's go to the book of Acts.
I think this man was given a wonderful name. You will probably, when you get there, see what I am talking about. His name was Barnabas. Wouldn't you love to have a name that means the son of encouragement?
Acts 4:36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
V.37 – having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. - To share it with all the brethren who had need.
So here is one of these people, men that God called in this case, and he was named Barnabas, which meant "Son of Encouragement". How would you like to be someone who is known as that: She must be a descendent of Barnabas in the Bible, or somebody, because Barnabas was just one of those encouragers as we will see.
We will see that Barnabas rubbed off on Paul and Paul rubbed off on Barnabas. They didn't always get along exactly. They had a conflict at one point in their lives but Barnabas had a strength - he was a better mentor of people. He was more patient; he was an encourager and Paul was probably a little bit more of a lion personality, maybe a perfectionist, strong-willed and all, and yet they were brothers in Christ and grew and helped one another.
Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
V.22 – Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas (they chose Barnabas) to go as far as Antioch.
V.23 – When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, (and what did hedo?) and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
So they sent Barnabas because they knew the people needed encouragement and Barnabas was good at that and you can be good at this, brethren. You have to say, you know the power of encouragement can change my life and change the lives of others.
V.24 – For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
So God used Barnabas. He was positive and he was an encourager and God would send him to encourage and help other people.
Now let's notice Acts 14. Here is Paul and Barnabas together.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel – and to know who "they" are, look up at V.14 and you will see who it is talking about – it says:
V.14 – But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul – that's who we are talking about here, so,
V.21 -And when they (Barnabas and Paul) had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, (and what did they do?)
V.22 – strengthening the souls of the disciples, -
The New King James says: exhorting them, and that is okay, that is an okay word, exhorting, but again the NIV and The New Living Translation translate it from the Greek as they encouraged them. They chose encourage. That is something I think we use a little bit more. I don't go around, well, I am going to exhort you today. If I am going to exhort my wife today I'll be saying, honey, get on the ball. No, I want to encourage my wife today but exhortation could be positive too.
It is translated in the NIV and in The New Living Translation: they were strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, - and imagine them encouraging: Brethren, you hang in there. God is with you. He is with us. He will see us through and we will enter the Kingdom of God through much tribulation. They were able to present it in a real positive way and help the brethren understand why we as Christians have many trials and tribulations and that all depends on how you present it, doesn't it brethren?
Let's notice Act 15. God had certain men, and women as well, who were real encouragers. Chapter 15 is the Jerusalem conference about 49 AD and the issue there was: do the Gentiles have to be circumcised to be saved?
Acts 15:30 So when they were sent off, (the elders who were being sent with a letter from the apostles from Jerusalem) they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
The letter that was being written to be circulated in the various churches with the decision that had been made at Jerusalem, that Gentiles do not have to be circumcised to be saved.
V.31 – When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
V.32 – Now Judas and Silas, (these were two other leaders that were sent out to take the letter to different congregations) themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
Again, other translations bring out that from the Greek, the NIV and The New Living Translation, they do translate it: encourage. And so here we have again another example in the scriptures where God sent certain men to encourage the brethren and the churches. It is so important. That is part of the reason it is important for God's servants to get out and visit congregations and areas and that we are to be positive ministers of God.
So let's take a look though. Here we saw ministers encouraging brethren. What about brethren encouraging the ministers? Are there any examples in the Bible? Encouragement goes both ways, doesn't it, and everybody needs it. I need it; you need it; LeeAnn needs it. It is important that LeeAnn and I encourage and support and help one another. We all need encouragement and as we are going to see we need it every single day, because we battle Satan, battle the world and battle our own weaknesses and it can be very discouraging unless we utilize this incredible help and power of God through His Spirit.
Notice Romans 1. What we are looking at now is how the brethren encouraged the ministry. We saw a lot of ministers going out, encouraging brethren and notice how Paul writes here to the brethren in Rome.
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established – (or strengthened)
V.12 – that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Paul said that at different times in his letters to the brethren. You know brethren, you encourage me. I want to come and encourage you and I need you because you encourage me. You are my joy, my crown. I love you. I need you. That is what he was saying. Brethren, you encourage your leaders and the ministry and others who serve you. Your love, your support, your prayers, your words of gratitude and thanksgiving or when we are going through tough times: We're praying for you; hang in there; the help we've gotten through a lot of things because of the love and support and encouragement and prayers of the brethren; signing cards and bringing it into us when we were going through some tough times and all. It makes a huge difference.
Turn to the book of Philippians. I think you all know that this is one of those books that reveals how the brethren encouraged Paul. Certainly, he always was trying to encourage the brethren but this group of people in Philippi, from the very beginning they loved Paul, they embraced him, believed his message and supported him with prayers and tithes and offerings and a tremendous amount of encouragement. You can see what Paul is writing to the brethren – he is acknowledging their encouragement.
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God (every time I think of you) upon every remembrance of you,
Isn't that amazing? I thank God every time I think of you, every time I remember you, brethren - in that congregation.
V.4 – always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
It is such a joy to think of you and to pray for you and he gives one of the reasons why:
V.5 – for your fellowship in the gospel (NIV says: your partnership. You are partners with me in the preaching of the gospel) from the first day until now, (today, when I am in prison).
So he is acknowledging: they were there. They were not like some of the Corinthian Church who were critical of Paul and negative and were not giving him that kind of support. These people did and he is acknowledging that and thanking them.
V.8 – For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
That is from his heart to those people. You know it is not everybody that you want to be with that badly. I don't know – people vary and situations vary but here was a group of people that so encouraged Paul that he just couldn't wait to see them again and every time he thought of them it brought him joy and encouragement and strength and hope and help. Notice Philippians 4 – he didn't say this about every group he pastored and all the brethren, but he said:
Philippians 4: 1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
They were a special group of people because of how much they encouraged Paul and helped him and supported him and Paul, as you know, had a lot of trials and tribulations and was persecuted and he was human. So you know that Paul at times said: I was down but we didn't quit and give up. I was here and went through this and went through that but God was with me. Some of the brethren he knew were fervently praying and fasting for him.
We are looking here at how the brethren, you, God's people, can encourage a ministry. A ministry – tries to do our job. We want to be positive and encouraging and loving and support you. You know we are really genuinely and sincerely wanting, in the ministry, we want to grow. We want to do better. We want to become true servants of Jesus Christ. We want to be yielded to God and motivated by His Spirit and be loving, humble servants of you, God's people.
V.10 – But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again: (he is acknowledging how much they did for him and helped him) though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
Opportunity to help him – now he is in prison and it was not as easy to help him. Drop down now to:
V.14 – Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress,
V.15 – Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
Isn't that is something? They were a special congregation and group of people and encouraging and supporting the ministry and Paul, and he was writing to thank them for it and acknowledge it.
V.16 – For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
They always tried to: where's Paul? What can we do to help him, pray for him, send him what he needs, encourage him?
V.18 – Indeed I have all and bound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you,
Notice what he called those things that they sent him - Maybe it was warm clothing; maybe it was some special food or deserts or whatever it was Paul needed, to encourage him. Who knows what little gifts that some of the brethren sent to encourage Paul. Maybe personal notes and cards: Paul, we love you. Don't you give up. Don't get discouraged. We love you. So they brought these gifts through Epaphroditus and he called them:
V.18 - …. A sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
The Bible is filled, when you understand it, with the incredible power that God's people have in encouraging the ministry and you see that in Paul's writings, especially here in the book of Philippians, how much he needed it. He is writing to encourage them and yet he was acknowledging how much they had encouraged him.
It is a powerful thing, brethren. Remember, we need it in the ministry. You know Satan wants to destroy the church and the work of God and if he can, destroy those that God is calling and using in the ministry. It can and it has damaged the church and the work many times over the years. So, thank you for your love and support, and encouragement, your prayers, every thing that you do to support the ministry in the church and the work of God. We do need it.
A couple more things before closing: Let's look at brethren encouraging brethren. We've looked at the ministry going around, travelling, encouraging the brethren, strengthening them in the faith; we've looked at the brethren encouraging and strengthening the ministry doing the work of God. What does the Bible say about brethren? What are we to do in encouraging each other as brothers and sisters in Christ?
Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.
V.13 – but exhort one another daily,
And again even here in my New King James Bible it actually mentions in the margin of the Bible, this can be translated, encourage.
V.13 - … but encourage one another daily, while it is called "Today,"
In other words, while you are alive; while it is today; do it today; it is urgent; it is important. Encouragement is vital and critical. Think of it brethren, how important is encouragement in your daily life? Very important. What if you were around nothing but negative people? It wouldn't be very good, would it? People who are encouraging are critical and needed. It is really is one of the keys, not all, not the only key, but it is one of the keys to our success in life and the success of our church. If we are encouragers, if we are a church that gets over our past hurts and bitterness and resentments, we forgive and move on. We repent of our own mistakes and we don't react by just continuing to live in the past and we want to learn from the past, sure, but we are not going to harbor anger, resentment and all of those negative things. We want to be encouragers. That's what the Bible says, brethren to brethren:
V.13 – but encourage one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
So we can make a difference in each other's lives, can't we? Many of you have already. This is not new truth but it is something that I want to strive for and grow in and do better in and improve in, as an encourager of other people.
Hebrews 10:25 You know this one probably pretty well. It says: not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of some, but (what?) exhorting one another, (and again, encouraging one another. That is how it is translated in some of your other translations. Encourage one another: why?) and so much the more (the Bible says, as you approach the end of the age, that Day) as you see the Day approaching.
The end of this age and the return of Jesus Christ and all the things that are going to happen between now and then and brethren we are seeing it, aren't we? So what God wants us to do is: we see more and more bad stuff and negative stuff happening in the world and maybe our nation, you know what we need to do? We need to become more positive. I am going to look for trying to help people who are negative and fearful and try to encourage and strengthen them. But we all need to help one another in that way. Not to be fearful and anxious so that we, as it says back there in the Proverbs – a cause of depression: anxiety, worry, fear, causes depression in the heart.
What the Bible says here in the New Testament about, between the brethren, that is one of the reasons we come together and fellowship. It is wonderful to text, it is wonderful to Skype, it is wonderful to use the phone, it is wonderful all the different ways you can communicate but nothing will ever replace face to face; being with people where you are in the presence of their spirit, their heart, their personality, nothing. I think you all know that, brethren.
You can do a lot of good writing letters and doing all those other things or email and Aaron, back there, Aaron Booth – we are right there in the same area in the office and he is always there doing his part, spreading the gospel and doing the work of God, getting it out there in every avenue possible, and he sees a lot of this. We were commenting the other day that because of social media today some are even losing touch with the person to person - the most important of all type of communication is face to face.
That is why God says, well, first we need to worship Him, we need to worship God together, we need to keep the Sabbath holy. It is more enjoyable when you can do it with other brethren. It is a blessing from God. When God's people do come together, there is an extra blessing from God when you are together. We sense that and feel that. Here is God's word to us that we are to encourage one another so much more as you see the Day approaching. So that is going to go on – the need for more and more encouragement and strength. Strengthening one another no matter how bad it gets for us to say hey, we know this was coming, we knew this was coming. Let's stand together and be strong and encourage and help one another and we will, brethren.
One more scripture about this - I am not quite done yet because the final little bit that I've got is how God is the greatest encourager of all and how He does encourage us and (that's) what the Bible says. I want to end with that. Maybe I could go there now. I won't go to 1 Thessalonians 4, but if you want to look it up, 1 Thessalonians 4 is where we read many times at a memorial or funeral service about that we don't grieve as those who have no hope when the saints die or they are asleep in Christ and Paul goes on and explains the reason we don't grieve as others is we know Christ is coming back and when He does the dead in Christ will rise first. You know how does that chapter end up?
1 Thessalonians 4:18 it says: comfort one another with these words.
Encourage one another; use the promises of God to comfort and encourage one another. That's what the Bible says brethren are to do and you all did so beautifully and well with the service for Ed. So many of you came and gave comfort and love and support to the family. So God's word tells us it is very, very important. Thank you brethren for doing it.
Now let's close this message by looking at God who is the greatest encourager of all and how He does it. I thank my God, and I am sure you do, that God, who sees my every fault and human mistake – He knows all my sins that I've repented of and some that I still – I don't go around striving to sin or brake God's commandments or everything but I am still in the flesh and I am human and sometimes I get tired and cranky and say and do things that: Ah, I shouldn't have said that; I shouldn't have done it that way; always having to say, God forgive me. I am still not the way I want to be and the way I should be.
My point is: I thank God that God is a parent, a good parent, who gives probably about ten times more encouragement than correction. I read that in a book once that – what is his name? He was an expert in child psychology and wrote about children and he had a couple of books out on that and he said in the book, he said that children need ten times more encouragement, acknowledgement, positive words from their parents than correction. Unfortunately with many parents it is just the opposite: Yelling at their kids; don't do this; don't do that; discipline. They don't think about looking for positive things every day to reinforce the child so that when it is time for the discipline, many of you know this, when it is time for you to discipline, that child knows Mom and Dad love me and they have to discipline me because they love me.
So I thank God that I've come to know God primarily as a God who encourages me and forgives me and supports me and then when He does have to point out a fault, a mistake and a sin in my life, I know He loves me. I could say in Hebrews there - don't be discouraged when you are rebuked of the Lord because He loves you. He chastens every son that He loves. So notice here – we are to know God as the greatest encourager of all.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
V.4 – who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
So how can God do it? God can do it in unlimited ways, can't He? God can comfort you directly through the power of His Holy Spirit in you. Have you ever just prayed - you were praying and you were meditating and you were striving to draw close to God – have you ever just like Paul said in Philippians 4, you know, cried out to God in thanksgiving and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard and protect your mind and heart?
When you just take your burdens to God in prayer and as LeeAnn has said and spoken and written many times, she would have kind of all of her little trials and problems and burdens and concerns in life and all, and take them to God in prayer, give them to Him and then turn around and take them all back. Put them back and carry them around! She's learnt not to do that but to leave them with God so God can do that directly.
We come to know Him more intimately through the study of His word and to His opening our mind and heart to come to understand Him as a loving God and a loving Father, brethren. Not harsh and strict. When I started fifty some years ago when God first called me I did think of God as more – I was afraid of Him – hard and strict, more critical and hard to please and all and I have just come to know Him. I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for God. So God is the greatest encourager of all. He died for us; He has paid the penalty of all our sins and faults and mistakes; He has brought us this far in life and I say this a lot, LeeAnn and I: you know honey, God has brought us this far in life; He can finish the job and He will finish the job. He will get it done.
So remember that God is your greatest source of comfort. I don't have the time to go to the many examples in the Bible that God has written of men and women who at times were very discouraged and God was there with them when nobody else could reach them or help them. He is the great encourager.
So whatever comes in the future, even if you are alone some time, no matter what happens, God is there. I just hope and pray that my faith and trust and relationship with God is enough that I will never panic in the future, no matter what happens, that I won't panic. I don't think I will because I just know that God will be there. No matter what circumstance or situation may arise in my life to deal with, He is a comforter and an encourager and I think I'll close – there is one other scripture I will give you.
2 Corinthians 7:5-7 - Paul is writing there that, God who comforts the downcast has comforted me by the sending of Titus and in that case - but sometimes what God will do to comfort you, He can do it directly but sometimes God will send someone. He'll choose someone, and you may be praying and crying out to God about something and God is hearing that prayer and He knows who can comfort you, who has been through something that you are going through; just the right person at the right time. That has happened many times: getting a card; getting a phone call; running into somebody; whatever it is. So that example there: Paul wrote that God who comforts the downcast comforted me. I won't go turn there to that one but you can read it, through the sending of Titus.
The final scripture is:
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation (again the NIV says: everlasting encouragement. God will see us through no matter what and it will last forever. God is the great encourager and our) Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation (or encouragement – NIV) and good hope by grace,
V.17 – (may He) comfort your hearts (or as the NIV says: encourage your hearts) and establish you (in the margin it says: strengthen you) in every good word and work.
So the purpose of encouragement - what encouragement does as you know brethren, what encouragement does - an encouraging word: an encouraging word will strengthen the heart and the spirit and we all need that every day. God encourages and then comforts all of us in so many ways and He is the greatest encourager and comforter of all. But let us all, brethren, ask God to help us use the spiritual power of encouragement to help others.
Maybe you already do that; maybe it is something that you are just very conscious of, that you really think all the time of being encouraging and helpful to other people with those positive, loving, sincere words from your heart that do strengthen other people because you never know what people are struggling with. It could actually save their lives.
We had the sad situation, and this is not in the church but right across the street from us, where we live. We live near East-Gate - you know the East-Gate area - about five minute drive or so from down the East-Gate area, and our neighbor where we live there, we would see her walking there on the sidewalk there and my wife, she is so friendly, she's getting to know every neighbor in the neighborhood there, not just this lady. But this lady would go off for walks and her husband had Alzheimer's and he was getting worse and they were having financial problems and one day an ambulance showed up there and she had committed suicide. She had just gotten so discouraged over her husbands health with Alzheimer's and the financial problems and maybe losing their home – she just reached that point of hopelessness and took her life.
So we have been talking about our neighbors and others about it; it was quite a shock to a lot of people so it just made me realize: I wonder, if I'd gotten to know her and have been able to encourage her – I didn't really know her that well at all. But you never know, do you?
Occasionally I have some of the gals who are at the phone out here at the office during the week who take phone calls of all kinds. They have mentioned to me that sometimes they have people call and they are contemplating suicide. They are so discouraged and distressed about their problems in life and have come to the point of hopelessness and one of the things they can do is they encourage them and give them hope and that is such a powerful thing.
So this is an awesome, powerful tool. I know you probably already know that and maybe you already practice it brethren, but I know I want to do a lot better in using this incredible spiritual power of encouragement to better serve God and His people. I hope you will too and will join me in that.