Encouragement

Encouragement- Courage In

Someone has defined “encouragement” as “Courage In”

The Bible word is parakaleo- which means to call to one’s side

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the paraklete- The one who comes along side.

If there is ever a time when we need God, and mature believers to come along side us to bring comfort, it is when we are grieving a major loss.

Two resources for dealing with grief.

Biblical Beliefs

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 HCSB

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

When it comes to grief

Knowledge is power

1 Thessalonians 4:13 HCSB

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

Don’t be uninformed or ignorant. agnostic Paul wants us to understand what is going on .

Brothers. This is explicitly pertaining to Christians

asleep. The death of a Christian

grief is passive… it is something that happens to you. I think the description of waves sweeping over you is a good comparison.

Grief is not hopeless for a Christian.

When can lose someone who has given consistent testimony in word and deed that they have made Jesus their Savior. (Precious is in the sight of the Lord is the death of one His saints) It is surely a great encouragement to know they are with the Lord.

We can lose someone who has given consistent testimony that they have NOT made Jesus their Savior and Lord. While the passage we are studying today pertains to the loss of a Christian, I do want to say something about dealing with the death of a lost person.

Don’t wish them into heaven.

Don’t dwell on the past.

Do trust in the Lord.

Do find motivation.

2 Corinthians 5:11 HCSB

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.

We can lose someone who has given inconsistent testimony. They professed at one time, but in the end did not. Or they once walked with God, but got far away. Trust that God knows and that we are saved by grace and that He is both Just and Merciful. He is the Lord of the Harvest who eventually separates the wheat fro the tares.

Faithful Friends

1 Thessalonians 4:18 HCSB

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Faithful friends comfort each other with biblical beliefs.

There is such an incredible volume of bad theology out there when it comes to death and dying.

Bright lights, becoming an angel, getting wings, sitting on clouds, God needed them more than you. All well meaning.

But when Paul wanted the Thessalonians to find comfort and encouragement in their grief he wrote the verses we have been studying.

It is believed that Paul wrote these things because the early Christians believed the return of Jesus was so close, and then their loved ones began to die.

Paul wanted them to understand that God had a plan even for those who had died.

We sometimes get so caught up in the details about the end time that we forget, Paul wanted grieving hearts to find comfort.

This verb.. encourage. IT is the FIRST command given in the book of 1 Thessalonians.

Here is the good news. God has given us a word to share with each other when we are dealing with grief.

Faithful friends will rise to the challenge and help comfort those who grieve.