Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Encourage the Encouragers

Intro.

1. Every Christian needs daily encouragement, Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24.

2. Encourage: To give comfort, exhort, strengthen, plead and warn.

3. Encouraging each other in the faith is an attribute of love, mercy, goodness and patience, 1 Thess. 5:14-15 (11).

4. God comforts us so we can comfort others with His comfort, 2 Cor. 1:3-5.

I. WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.

A. By Urging Each Other to Trust in God, Heb. 13:5-6.

1. The one who saves us will stand by us.

2. We must stand by Him, and help others do the same.

3. Emphasize faithfulness to Lord, 2 Chron. 35:1-2; Acts 14:21-22; 15:41; 18:23.

4. Promote godly living (Acts 9:31), obedient service (Phil. 2:12), and faithful worship (1 Cor. 14:26).

B. By Assisting Each Other Physically and Spiritually.

1. Physically, Matt. 25:34-40.

-The sick, the poor, etc., with a helping hand, etc. Jas. 5:14.

2. Spiritually, Jude 20-23. (With words of exhortation)

C. The Weak and the Strong (cf. Joshua, Deut. 1:38).

1. Family relationship (brethren), Gal. 6:2; Jas. 5:19-20; 1 Jno. 3:16-18, 1 Pet. 2:17 (love).

2. Everyone who is serving us in the church:

a. To young men who lead in worship (singing, invitation, reading, prayers, Lord's Supper).

b. Young women who are helpers, and mothers who patiently care for their children.

c. Your Bible class teacher, preacher, elders, deacons.

d. Those doing the “unseen” things that contribute to the church (lawn, building, bookkeeping, etc.).

II. WE MUST ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, Rom. 1:11-12.

A. Requires that We Know Each Other, 2 Cor. 11:28-29.

1. Just as the foot and the hand, the eye and the ear know each other, we are to know one another, 1 Cor. 12:15-16.

2. Family members who share life and eternity, Rom. 12:15-16.

-Extend ourselves beyond our earthly families to our spiritual family.

3. Isolation, silence, and lack of interest misses great opportunities to grow (by helping others grow) (Jas. 4:17).

III. BARNABAS: SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT, Acts 4:36-37; 11:21-24.

A. We Need the Qualities in Barnabas to Encourage Each Other.

1. Generous man (4:37): With our possessions, money, thoughts, words and actions toward others.

2. Unselfish man (cf. 4:37 and 5:1-2): To be an encourager we must be a giving person, who sacrifices himself for the welfare of others (cf. Jesus). This also requires patience.

3. Devoted man (11:22): The encourager is eager to help, to assist, to work. The encourager is interested in others.

4. Spiritually perceptive man (11:23): The encourager cannot be self-absorbed. He or she looks upward (to God) and outward (to others), Phil. 2:3-4.

5. Good man (11:24): The encourager must be meek, kind, loving and humble.

6. Full of the Holy Spirit and faith (11:24; Eph. 5:18): Walk with God, Eph. 5:15-18.

B. Our Spiritual Obligation to Encourage Each Other, Eph. 4:16.

1. A word, a smile, a word of teaching, an effort to rescue from sin and error, an offer to help when others need help, etc. The encourager looks for the opportunity to encourage someone.

2. Cannot do that in isolation, silence, and a lack of interest in others.

3. Every act of encouragement is seen by our Master and will be rewarded by Him, Matt. 10:41-42.

Conclusion

1. Sons of encouragement are not born – they are made through deliberate decisions to be strong in the faith, to work hard at it, to have a perceptive heart that sees the needs of others and responds, and by being devoted to Christ, His cause and His people.

2. Can it be said that you are a “son (daughter) of encouragement?”

By: Joe R. Price

Posted May 24, 2019