INTRODUCTION:
I.
In times that
discourage us, we all need a word of encouragement.
A.
Life is filled with discouraging circumstances:
1.
Loss of job…
financial setbacks…
family illness…
death of a loved one…
lack of friends…
marital conflict…
lost opportunities…
uncertainty…
indebtedness…
a. “Many
people are having trouble with their new cars. The engine won’t start and the
payments won’t stop.”
B.
And though friends and acquaintances try to help,
they are often a lot like the man who said:
1.
“Have you
ever noticed that the optimist is always able to see the bright side of the
other guy’s troubles?”
C. But, we as God’s children
and God’s instruments, need to be encouragers:
1. I Thess 5:11. “Therefore, encourage one another and build one
another up, just as you are doing.” Heb
10:24. “Let us consider how to
stir up one another to love and good works…”
II.
It may sound a bit
trite, but it is still true; we need to look for the good!
A.
Paul said we should concentrate on the “true…
honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable… excellent…praiseworthy…” (Phil. 4:8).
1.
WARREN WIERSBE: “Wrong
thinking leads to wrong feeling, and before long, the heart and mind are pulled
apart and we are strangled by worry.”
a.
Wiersbe, commentary on Philippians, Be Joyful,
3 keys to encouragement and joy:
1)
Right thinking, right praying and right living:
a) Phil 4:1. “…stand firm in the
Lord…”
b) Phil 4:4,5. “Rejoice
in the Lord always. Let your reasonable be known to everyone.”
c) Phil 4:6,7. “…do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanks-giving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of
God which surpasses all under-standing will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.”
B.
Tonight: Positive things that encourage.
1. Each of us—times that discouragement!
DISCUSSION:
I.
A. Rom 15:5. “…through
the encouragement of the scriptures…we have hope…”
Psa. 119:67-71. “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep your word. You are
good and do good; teach me your statutes. The insolent
smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart
is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was
afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”
92,93. “If Your law had not been my delight, I would have
perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your
precepts, for by them you have given me life.”
50. “This is
my comfort in my affliction, that your promises give me life.”
B. Often forget the Bible in difficult times.
1.
“No enemy
is so close, but the Lord is closer!”
a.
Heb. 13:5,6. “’I will
never leave your or forsake you. ‘The Lord is my helper,
I will not be fear…’”
C. So, to be encouraged, let
God speak to you every day through the Bible, and speak to him through prayer!
II. THE GOSPEL IS STILL GOD’S POWER!
A.
Romans
1:15,16.
1. “Sin
is the Devil’s power for death. The gospel is God’s power for life.”
B.
In the work of the church: Easy to
get discouraged when we focus on human power or on human failure!
1. Old song tells us, “The arm of flesh will fail you; Ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor and
watching unto prayer; where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.”
C.
How wonderful it is to know that sin does not have to
have its way in the world, the gospel is the conquering remedy!
1.
Romans
5:20. “…where sin increased, grace
abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in
death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
a. 8:31-37. “What then shall we say to
these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his
own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously
give us all things? Who shall bring any change against God’s elect? It is God
who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than
that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding
for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors though
him who loved us…”
D.
Discouragement comes when we forget the power of the
gospel and fail to fulfill our function to make it known!
1.
The Devil has no power to prevent or discourage a
preaching and teaching church.
III.
THE KNOWLEDGE THAT
GOD IS STILL ACTIVE IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN!
A.
Romans
8:28; I Cor. 10:13; Phil 2:13; Eph. 3:20. “Now,
to him who is able to do far more abundantly…”
B.
A dean of the
1.
They begin as risk-takers,
they become care-takers and they
end up under-takers.
a.
But that only happens when God is taken out of the
equation!
1)
Lam.
3:19-25.
C.
When Sennacherib, king of
1.
Hezekiah, the king of Judah said to the people,
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be
afraid or dismayed before the king of
a.
And I love the conclusion: V 8. “And the people relied on the words of
Hezekiah king of
1)
And we also need to rely on the greatness of God!
D. CHARLES STANLEY, A Touch of His
Goodness: “God encourages us through customized expressions of his
grace… Perhaps the sweetest manifestation of grace is the cheer or comfort
from a friend or acquaintance. A note, a flower, a call, a word from a friend
can put a spring in our step once again and courage in our soul.”
CONCLUSION:
“God
of Grace and God of Glory,
On
your people pour your power;
Crown
your ancient Church’s story,
Bring
her bud to glorious flower.
Grant
us wisdom; grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo!
The hosts of evil round us,
Scorn
your Christ and asail His ways!
Fears
and doubts too long have bound us,
Free
our hearts to work and praise!
Grant
us wisdom, grant us courage,
For
the living of these days!
Set
our feet on lofty places;
Gird
our lives that they may be,
Armored
with all Christ-like graces,
In the
fight to set me free.
Grant
us wisdom; grant us courage,
That
we fail not man nor Thee!
Save
us from weak resignation,
To the
evils we deplore;
Let
the search for Thy salvation,
Be our
glory evermore!
Grant
us wisdom; grant us courage,
Serving
You Whom we adore!”