Encourage—Be Encouraged

(S1) — Ready for a word of ENCOURAGEMENT from God’s word today?

SERIES—Stay…OPTIMISTIC—GRATEFUL—CONFIDENT—Stay ENCOURAGED!

How many of you are good encourages? How many of you try but...

NOT VERY ENCOURAGING!

A young couple, very much in love, were getting married in church. However, the bride was very nervous about the big occasion and so the preacher chose one verse that he felt would be a great encouragement to them. The verse was 1 John 4:18 which says: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." The preacher asked the best man to read it during the ceremony. The preacher didn’t know the best man was unfamiliar with the Bible, and didn’t know the difference between the Gospel of John and the First Letter of John. During the service the best man introduced the reading by saying that the preacher felt this was a very good verse for the bride and that he would say more about it. He then went on to read John 4:18, "The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband."

Most people are not natural encourages…we have to work at it...

Learning to ride a bike (Thomas/Bob)—parallel parking (Melissa)

As a pastor, I often find myself talking with those who are discouraged—quote scripture/help—Most often they just need some encouragement

(S2) —Ever been discouraged? In need of some encouragement?

EVERYONE is facing battles you know nothing about!

William Arthur Ward once said:- Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.

How does the Christian…stay encouraged in this post-modern contemporary world—that in the least dismisses the church and its teachings, is often ambivalent towards it, and even hostile to the good news of Jesus it proclaims?

Maybe you have found yourself discouraged—feeling unworthy, even distant from God—facing a deep struggle—in need of some encouragement

(S3) —

Today—The Psalmist (author) who encourages himself from a place of deep despair— cry to the Lord

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Then from Apostle Paul to the church—who offers these words of encouragement…

“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,”

Stay Positive—Stay ENCOURAGED—Be ENCOURAGED!

BIBLES—SCRIPTURE—PRAY

(S4)

Each year thousands choose death over life—those who suffer from deep depression/discouragement, seeing no hope for the future.

Ministry— offering comfort to a family of a middle-aged man who took his life

This experience may be personal for some of you…

Depression affects nearly all of us at some point in our lives, if only to a minor extent. Why so many drugs have been developed; Doctors, therapists, and counselors trained to help people cope with it. Leadership Ministries Bible Commentary

This message is not in anyway meant to make light of depression—long-term treatment is required...

(S5) —

Since everyone is facing a battle you know nothing about…

“You have know idea what God might set into motion through one word of encouragement” Pastor Craig/Life Church

Ever found yourself in a place where someone said the right thing and it was enough?

“Scripture is not silent about this…some of God’s greatest heroes battled discouragement

Moses

“I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”” Numbers 11:14–15

Elijah

“He went on alone into the wilderness, and sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”” 1 Kings 19:4

Jonah

“The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.” Jonah 4:8

The Psalmist too is battling deep discouragement—Exiled from his home (Jerusalem/temple)…overwhelmed with fear, oppressed by his enemies——He expresses so vividly his intense need for encouragement.

3,4,5,6,7,9,11

(S6)

John Stott, a British-Anglican Priest and Theologian, identifies this as a form of “Spiritual Depression,” which he says, is common among Christians. This could include the following…

“A loss of spiritual vitality and joy—losing touch with your faith—feeling distant from God—not caring for oneself spiritually—focusing on the past (mistakes/difficult experiences—A general sense of unhappiness or even melancholy (healthline.com)

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, evangelical preacher and medical doctor wrote extensively on this (Psalm).

 'Most unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you.

Normally “talking to oneself is said to be the first sign of madness. Here to the contrary, it is a sure sign of maturity!”

[in Psalm 42]: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says, "Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you."'

The words we speak or think are filled with power to build-up or to tear down—whether to ourselves or to others.

(S7) —

Positive words are difficult to remember—Negative words are difficult to forget

Encouragement File

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We will first look at the Psalmist’s words and what is at the heart of his discouragement? How does he find encouragement? Then how our being encouraged, can be encouragement to others.

We learn from verse 3 and 10, that his spiritual suffering was due first to…,

The discouraging WORDS of others

(S8) —

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

He is emotionally distressed by what others are saying…

— to taunt…means to ‘express discouragement in words— A from of verbal abuse

Hearing discouraging words HURT….but they can only cause HARM if we let them

English Children’s Rhyme—Sticks and stones...

While one would expect no encouragement from our enemies…we cannot underestimate the impact of a word of discouragement from those who are not including ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.”

What if you were to compare your negative thoughts to positive, and for each negative one think or say 5 positive?

Sermon done on time—God still working in me

The Psalmist shows us the importance of encouraging oneself in the midst of despair.

How does he find encouragement?

(S9)

I. His LONGING to be present with God

“1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

To pant…is a strong desires to experience God—being near to his life-giving presence

Jerusalem—Temple—The place of God

Today thousands each year walk the Via Dolorosa (“the sorrowful way’). The traditional route in Jerusalem which our Lord traveled on the day of His crucifixion from the judgment seat of Pilate(Matthew 27:2-26), to the place of His crucifixion on Mount Calvary. Walking the steps of Jesus is a way to feel close to God.

His cry is for the need of God’s touch—to be strengthened by his presence—For the Lord to rejuvenate his spirit

When a person is thirsty...their only thought is about finding and drinking water. Everything else becomes secondary as the parched person seeks out their single desire and need. Nothing else will satisfy them...Only once that person is drinking water and finding their thirst quenched will they be satisfied.

The same is true for those who “thirst” for God. Christians who cultivate a desire to pursue God may find themselves in parched in a desolate land, but they seek out the living Water, which alone can satisfy their thirst

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

John 4:14 “14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.””

Ever feel spiritually deficient or lacking?

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures

“Our danger is to submit ourselves to our feelings and to allow them to dictate to us, to govern and to master us and to control the whole of our lives.”

Do you long to experience the life-giving presence of God?

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(S10)

Second, his spiritual suffering was due to his inability to WORSHIP God

2 When can I go and meet with God? 9 “Why have you forgotten me?

Due to his distance from Jerusalem, he was unable to worship as he had before

“He would have been approximately 150 miles from Jerusalem, a short distance by today’s travel standards. But in Biblical times, it was a journey of five to seven days. It is no wonder that the depressed psalmist felt he was a world away from his home, Jerusalem, the temple where God’s resided

— to meet with God (to see or perceive)—(NRSV) behold the face of God…his lack of worship caused his spiritual deficiency…

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we can’t change—In trying situations when how we FEEL is often different than the FACTS...

One who is deeply depressed may feeling —“I’m not good enough.” “No one likes me.” “I’m a failure.” But the facts generally state otherwise

"The Psalmist could do nothing to change his distressing situation…away from the place he felt safe in worship of God and in worship with God’s people.” And yet, he finds encouragement?

II. Remembering his WORSHIP with God’s people

(S11) — Look at his words…

4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 6 ...I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

The multitudes—You have heard of SAFETY in numbers…There is ENCOURAGMENT in numbers…Recalling those processionals of celebrations in God’s house, intensifies his craving for the worship—The times he came face to face with God.

I will remember even from distant Mt Hermon (tallest peak)—

Psalm 133:1–3 “1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

I will remember how you fill the Jordan river from its peaks, the way you encourage me in my despair…

Can you recall the times you have WORSHIPED God with God’s people and were encouraged?

John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

How have you been encouraged in worship and by worshipping with others?

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Third, his spiritual suffering was due to his being OVERWHELMED by sin

(S12)

Psalm 42:7 “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”

The deep is a reference to what is going on within…his despair a reflection of the sin that has overcome him.

As he watched the water cascading over the boulder of Hermon…he feels the same of sin violently and relentlessly pouring down on him —

…like going over the Niagara falls in a barrel! Don’t have to experience it to feel it.

Ever feel overwhelmed by sin in your life?

How does he find encouragement?

(S13)

III. PRAYING to the God for mercy

“8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”

The sins of our past and present can OVERWHELM us if we don’t reconcile them to God—bring them in prayer.

“we must never look at any sin in our past life in any way except that which leads us to praise God and to magnify His grace in Christ Jesus.”― D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures

His prayer directs and fills every part of his life

So, what do we do when we feel spiritually deficient...? Need encouragement…?

— Do you long to be present with God?

— How do you remember your worship with others?

— How often do you seek God’s mercy in prayer?

Where do you go when you feel discouraged? Lets give the Apostle Paul the final word

(S14)

“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

...

How do you talk to yourself…? How do you encourage others? Do you TRUST in Jesus…the source of God’s encouragement?

EVERYONE is facing battles you know nothing about!

Challenge

Replace every word of discouragement with one word of encouragement—JESUS

“You have know idea what God might set into motion through one word of encouragement”

ENCOURAGE — BE ENCOURAGED

Resources

1. Spiritual Depression: Signs, Causes, Coping, and Treatment (healthline.com)