Thursday, Aug 2, 2018 - Ephesians, Chapter 6:22 The Encouragement of a Believer to Fellow Believers, Pt.
3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PioyiagzJ5g&t=1s
Grace Fellowship Church
Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard
Stand in Warfare –
Eph 6:10-20.
5. The Encouragement,
vs. 21-24.
Eph 6:22, “I have sent him to you for this
very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your
hearts.”
Principles of Encouragement:
1. Many people associate encouragement with flattery, compliments,
or common little expressions like: “Oh you look nice today,” “Have a nice day,”
or “Take care.” That is not what encouragement is. Those expressions are fine,
there is nothing wrong with them, but they are not Biblical encouragement.
Encouragement means, “to put courage in someone; give hope or confidence.” It
is also a kind of support that inspires confidence in others and a will to
continue or develop that confidence.” That is a great concept!
a. You encourage a fellow
human being when you instill in his or her heart courage to face the world,
e.g., inspire others to put on the “Full Armor of God,” to overcome the trials
and tribulations inside of Satan’s cosmic system. That is encouragement.
b. Encouragement is the expression to help
someone become a better Christian when life is tough. That is what
encouragement is; that is putting courage in the heart.
c. This comfort can be a
positive thought, statement, or action confirming that a desired goal has been
reached or is within reach.
d. It is a positive
statement or declaration of the truth and an assertion of support or agreement.
2. God is the true comforter, and we can give encouragement or
affirmation from and based on His Word. Acts
15:36f.; Rom 15:1-6; 2 Cor 1:3-7; 7:6-7; Phil 2:1-8; 1 Thes 4:18; 5:11, 14; 1
Tim 4:13; Heb 3:13; 6:18; 10:25.
John 14:26, “But the Helper, (PARAKLETOS), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
Heb 6:18, “So that by
two unchangeable things (Promise to Abraham
[God’s Word] and the oath which rests on the very being of God [God Himself]) in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have
taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set
before us.”
2 Cor 1:3-4, “Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God
of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so
that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Cor 7:6-7, “But God,
who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7and
not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in
you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so
that I rejoiced even more.”
2 Thes 2:16-17, “Now
may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and
given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17comfort and
strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.”
1 Thes 4:18, “Therefore
comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thes 5:14, “And we
urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the
weak, be patient with all men.”
Heb 3:13, “But
encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called
"Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of
sin.”
Through God and His Word, we can give others real comfort and
encouragement for all situations in life.
3. Christ is the master of encouragement. He is the most
encouraging Person Who ever lived. He was always saying things to other people
for the purpose of making their lives better. Even when Jesus was blasting the
religious leaders of Israel, He did it to correct their wrongs, but also to
encourage His followers by pointing to the truth. Jesus was able to take any
situation and use it for encouragement. He always found the best in any
situation.
a. One example is when He
told His disciples about His impending death in John 14. Where is the encouragement in that? Telling someone that
you are going to die does not seem to be a time for encouragement, but Jesus
knew why it would be a blessing to His disciples. The Lord encouraged His
followers as they heard the news of His death, John 14.
John
14:1, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Jesus was always honest. That is part of a ministry of
encouragement. We cannot help anyone by keeping the truth from them. Cf. John 15:18-19; 16:33; 1 John 3:13.
John
16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
4. Pastors are to encourage with the Word, Acts 15; Rom 15:4; 1 Thes 3:2;
2 Tim 4:2; Titus 1:9; 2:15.
Rom 15:4, “For whatever
was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through
perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Acts 15:31-32, “Judas
and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the
brethren with a lengthy message.”
1 Thes 3:2, “And we
sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to
strengthen and encourage you as to your faith.”
2 Tim 4:2, “Preach the
word; be ready in season and out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
Titus 1:9, “Holding
fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he (the Pastor-Teacher) will be
able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
Titus 2:15, “These
things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard
you.”
5. All believers are
to encourage each other which has the result of edifying your neighbor, Eccl 10:12; Eph 4:29; 1 Thes 5:11; Heb
10:25.
1 Thes 5:11, “Therefore encourage one
another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
Eccl 10:12, “Words from the mouth of a wise
man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him.”
a. By granting genuine forgiveness. 2 Cor 2:7, “So that on the contrary you
should rather forgive and comfort (encourage) him, otherwise such a one might be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.”
Sometimes people repent of their sins, but they are made to feel
like second-class Christians. That is not right. If you do that to someone else
you are not ENcouraging them, instead you are DIScouraging them.
b. Our faith and love for the Lord encourages
others. We encourage others by the demonstration of our faith. Judges
20:22; 1 Sam 23:16; Dan 11:1; Acts 27:27-38; Rom 1:12; Phil 2:19; Col
2:1-8, 4:11; 1 Thes 3:all.
Judges 20:22, “But the
people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again
in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day.”
1 Sam 23:16, “And
Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in
God.”
Dan 11:1, “In the first
year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for
him.”
Phil 2:19, “But I hope
in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be
encouraged when I learn of your condition.”
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