The Top 16

Encouragement Starts from the Root

Paul writes to the Thessalonians in Chapter 5 about the coming of the Lord Jesus. Paul doesn’t know when this will happen, but he does know that it will happen.

Matthew 24:30 (ESV) 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Paul tells the people to not be scared, or worry, but to be joyful in knowing the future, that it’s theirs as long as they’re with Jesus. They’re not children of darkness. [NOTE 1]

NOTE 1

English Standard Version John 3:19–21

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The light referred to is Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the Messiah, the Savior, The One and Only, Alpha and Omega. But the people rejected him because he had a different way of life. One without sin. Sin caused darkness to the people. The people were comfortable in darkness, and still are.

Darkness is ruled by sin, which has no place on Holy Ground. Whoever continues in sin, is of the darkness and hates light. But those who turn to the light seeking help and refuge will find it in Jesus.

Paul writes that we should always be aware of what is around us and what’s happening. He tells us to “… watch and be sober.” in vs. 6. He continues by saying we should have out guard up all the time, and he refers to what he’s written in Ephesians chapter 6 about the armor of God.

The 16 ways of Encouragement

Comfort

Cooperate

Respect

Peace

Warn

Remind

Support

Patience

Humble

Rejoice

Pray

Give

Participate

Accept

Abstain

Rely

Comfort

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

The KJV uses the word ‘comfort’ in place of encourage. It goes on to say ‘edify’

Edify- Build Up

We are to Build each other up in our Spirits. Encourage one another to keep going on with their faith, not to leave it aside, but to keep traveling. Keep going, because Jesus is worth it. Eternity is at stake, the promise lies ahead. Their sin is paid for, encourage them that they’ve already defeated it by trusting in Jesus who truly has defeated death and sin itself.

Cooperate

1 Thessalonians 5:12 “12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,”

The KJV says ‘know them which labour among you,...’ We can take this as getting to know each other. Get to know your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Example: Last week, I was lucky enough to have been at Oak Grove and I got to meet some people from Georgia with their son Alex who lives up here. I also got to meet a family who came up to North Carolina from Jacksonville. I may not know any of their names anymore, but I know that there are other people around the south that love Jesus. The encouraged me that they can, and will be a light for Jesus wherever they go. I hope I can say the same.

Scripture then goes on to say ‘… and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;’ This can sound threatening, but it’s very encouraging. God has placed a calling on certain people. Whether it be to those who Preach to Gospel, Pastor a Church, Serve the Church;

Deacon- Servant

; Teach in the Church, Clean the Church, etc. Some people have a higher calling. That does not mean that they are better than you. It only means that God has a calling on their life. God has a calling on your life, have you found it?

Cooperate with those who you are around. You have to spend eternity with them. It’s not worth arguing over the small things, or getting in fights. Resolve them, forgive them, love them, move on.

Respect

1 Thessalonians 5:13 “13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work...”

Put those who are ahead of you, to a higher respect level. Respect what they do. Respect their trust in God to lead them through their calling. Respect their walk of life, that they’re living for Jesus just as well as you are.

Peace

1 Thessalonians 5:13 “13 ...Be at peace among yourselves.”

Cause no interruptions between you and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Let there be this peace that joins you together under the mission we have on Earth. Let there be this amazing joyful fulfillment of each of your callings when your working together. When all the puzzle pieces align, you’ll see just how good God is at his job. He knows what he’s doing. Surround yourself in that peace that you are in the right place and so is your neighbor, because God called you and put you there.

Warn

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle...”

KJV says ‘warn them that are unruly’

Admonish- instruct

Idle- disorderly

Teach those that don’t know about Jesus. Teach them the right way. Teach them about sin and their sin. Teach them about the eternal impacts of their wicked ways. Warn them about their future if they don’t turn to Jesus and accept his way and truth.

Remind

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “14 ...encourage the fainthearted...”

Tell those that are scared about the love and comfort that comes with this sacrifice. This is my Testimony. I said my Testimony was boring, about the 2012 Mayan calendar ending and the ‘world ending.’ I was scared, but I had encouragement from those who cared and loved me just as Jesus would and does!

Take into consideration your fears and apply a simple Bible story to them. Should you really have been scared. Taking out death as an option, should you really be scared. No matter the harm, no matter the pain, no matter the suffering, Jesus is going to be with you, there is nothing to back down from.

Support

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “14 ...help the weak...”

Support those in need. There’s not much to say more about this. The week, poor, needy, need supply to live and grow in their faith. If they need physical items, help them out. If they need spiritual assistance, help them out to the best of your ability.

Chances are, you have no idea how to help them the best way. But you have a book that has the answer to their problem. Don’t just say what it says, let them read it for themselves, let them seek the truth just like you had to do. You cannot save a person. You can hold there hand, but you can’t turn there eyes to freedom.

Patience

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “14 ...be patient with them all.”

It’s okay if they don’t get it the first try. Let them learn. God works on his time, maybe there’s something else that God is going to add to their testimony. You don’t know what goes on behind the curtains when your on stage working the crowd.

God knows what he’s doing. Patience isn’t a problem with people most of the time. Most of the time, patience with the people looks a lot like this - “well I guess they’ll get it one day” and then one day comes “well I just don’t know if they’ll ever get it” - We’re all guilty of this! I’m guilty of it recently!

Don’t give up on what God has in store for someone else. Sometimes giving up makes your life harder because you’ll miss out on the blessing that you would have gotten. It also places blood on your hands for that soul that you gave up on. Don’t give up, be patient with people and with God.

Humble

1 Thessalonians 5:15 “15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

We see the smaller picture a lot of time. We see ourselves, rather than those who are affected by whatever it is that we just did. When someone does us wrong, we take revenge, we make ourselves even. Jesus didn’t say to get even, he said to shower them in love, kill them with kindness. [NOTE 2]

NOTE 2

Romans 12:19–21 “19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The saying ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated’ really implies here. Treat people good, like they are worth it, because in God’s eyes, they are. They are more than worth it, that’s why he died for them to, not just you or I.

Rejoice

1 Thessalonians 5:16 “16 Rejoice always,”

This is pretty simple. We are not supposed to look back at our past. Our past is our sin, and we cannot change that, but we have to move on from it. Who got us to the point where we move on? Jesus did! But why rejoice if we have to move on? Because we know where we came from, we can’t dwell and regret, but we thank God that that’s not who we are anymore.

Pray

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “17 pray without ceasing,”

Another simple verse. Pray, pray, pray; and don’t stop. Who to? God. What about? Everything. Why? He’s your Father. How? Sincerity and humble-minded.

Give

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Giving is the most, ‘I see it’ blessing there it. People want the ‘I see it’ blessings. Not only that, but physical blessings, are the one’s people think about the most.

“I want some money” - And there comes some money

“I need gas” - Some offers to pay for the gas at the gas pump

“What do I feed my kids” - You find a box of pasta, still in date in the back of the cabinet.

Blessings that are physical, provided by anyone, you, the man at the gas pump, or God are the most asked for blessings. It’s what people are looking for.

BUT, when you are the one asking for these blessings… AND you receive them the second word is now you have to give THANKS. You should always give thanks to someone who helps you out. But who put them on your path? Who is the one that told them what situation you were in whether physically or spiritually. God is, so say thank you to the divine intervention that took place because the Lord knows what he’s doing when he blesses people.

Participate

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “19 Do not quench the Spirit.”

KJV Word for Word

Quench - Strangle, turn your back on. Not let it work in your life.

Not - Don’t do it, ever

the Spirit - The power that works inside of us. The power that seeks to bless you and someone in your life through you.

Participate in whatever God has in store for you. Don’t let the Spirit be held back, that’s holding back a blessing for you and someone else. God is love, not harmful, he wants to bless. You have to be the one to let him!

Accept

1 Thessalonians 5:20 “20 Do not despise prophecies,”

There’s a book, named Revelation. There’s no timeline given for it. But it is a prophecy. Don’t take it lightly. We may not know the extent to what John in writing in that book, but we know what he wrote is going to happen. And we know that when he wrote it, Christians were already in a bad time. That book is written about things to come. Not magical power in the sky that John just so happened to dream. God gave him the vision for a reason. God gave Ezekiel the vision for a reason. God gave Isaiah a vision for a reason. God gave Daniel a vision for a reason. To warn, protect and encourage those who are knowledgeable about what is to come so they can go out and communicate it.

A prophecy is something that will happen. Don’t talk down about them.

Abstain

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “22 Abstain from every form of evil.”

Test everything. Test how faithful you are. Test how faithful God is, he’ll show you. Test how far Satan will go to tempt you until you give in. Then when you find it, keep going! Abstain from the temptation, hold to what you know is good. Keep going. Your a soldier of Christ, with your armor of God that nothing can penetrate. Keep going, don’t lay it down. The mud is thick, but it’s worth it to get to the other side.

This is also where we get peer pressure from. It’s a bad thing most of the time. To intake something into your body that your not supposed to. Don’t let it get to you. Keep going in your belief.

Rely

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Who do we rely on? Supposed to be God and each other, though sometimes it can feel like we have no one except for God. Especially in difficult situations where we need someone to encourage us. God will always be there, that’s nothing small. That’s something to hold onto. But why can’t we always be there for one another?

Why can’t we be the ones someone goes to alongside God? Why haven’t you heard from anybody in Church recently? Can they not rely on you? Why are you not calling anybody from Church with questions? Can you not rely on them. Encourage one another. Rely on the God who created everything, the God of all, the God of the universe, rely on him to bring you through your hard time. And rely on others to give you a helping hand.

Closing

Are you encouraged this morning?

Do you need encouragement this morning?

Here’s a word of encouragement. Jesus Christ, the son of God. Creator, Master, Messiah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Lion, the Lamb, took your spot at deaths doorstep, so you will not have to die when you accept him into your heart. Death doesn’t exist in the Christian word. “To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.” When I leave this body, the flesh that holds my soul, my soul won’t be dead, I’ll be with Jesus, my Savior and my friend.

Here’s a test for this week and forever, think about this…

Why do you wish death upon every person you walk by? Even though you think nothing of them, you wish death upon them. That’s the seriousness of the Gospel. That’s what it means to be a disciple. If your not guilty of this raise your hand. (No one should raise their hand) If your never going to be guilty of this again, raise your hand. (No one should raise their hand)

Let’s work together to be closer to God, grow with each other, not around, but with. And encourage one another in their walk of faith.