"Be Encouraged"

Text: Acts 4: 32-37, Acts 11:19-26

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.

20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Even t hough we have suffered some very difficult days with Covid-19, and we still have some difficult days ahead; God commands us to be of good cheer and to be encouraged. More than ever before we need to encourage and edify one another to hold on and to hold out until our change comes. The words of encouragement that come from God and other believers are powerful indeed. It was Jesus himself who said upon this Rock, I’ll build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” To this day those words still encourage me to know that no matter what happens in this life, we who make up the church have a permanent place with God. I know without reservation that we are extremely important people who make up the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdom of God shall reign forever and forever.

To encourage is to fill with courage or strength of purpose, especially in preparation for a hard-task. It is to cheer, embolden, strengthen, assure, reassure, energize, fortify, rally and support. Just the opposite is to discourage or weaken someone.

Encouragement is like a peanut butter sandwich - the more you spread it around, the better things stick together.

Evangelist Bill Glass asked a group of one thousand prison inmates, “How many of you had parents who told you that you would end up in prison one day?” Almost every one of the inmates raised his hand. They had not received encouragement but discouragement.

When we talk about encouragement, we are also talking about edification or the building up thereof.

Believers are strengthened by God and are urged, too, to build up one another. The church is edified through God’s word, through the Holy Spirit and the proper use of spiritual gifts, It is edified through the church’s appointed leadership and through the love, and support of its members.

As believers, we know that God Himself builds his people up by encouraging them.

(Is 40:29–31)

29 He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

(Eze 34:16)

11 The Lord will give strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace.

(Ps 29:11)

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

(Is 41:10)

God tells us over and over again in scripture that He will take care of us. He shows us over and over again that it is He who encourages us and it is He who edifies us to be strong and to not fear. In the midst of this Covid19 may we be encourage by God almighty to be fearless and brave to fight this evil with prayer and fasting. In other words, we can say that, “God’ Got Our Backs.” He promise He would never leave us nor forsake us. David said I’ve been young and now I’m old, but I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread. I tell you saints, cheer up in the midst of this pandemic because God said that He would supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. It’s in Him that we live and move and have our being.

As believers we are to build ourselves up as well. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

(Jude 20)

As believers we should pray without ceasing and we should pray in the Holy Ghost because we do not know what we ought to pray for as the Spirit who makes intercession for us. Now is the time to exercise your prayer language like never before as we combat this virus and the many other evils that plague our world and the Church. This is not the time to be bashful and not pray in tongues. Our heavenly language is a powerful weapon against the enemy and that’s why he tries to keep you from exercising it.

As believers we are to build one another up as well.

2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

(Ro 15:2)

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

(Ro 14:19)

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

(Eph 4:29–32)

I am amazed that even in perilous times such as these. People are full evil and hatred towards one another. This is not the time to be cussing on the internet. This is not the time to be engaging in foolishness. This is time to be seeking the presence of God and being kind towards one another. The devil just have some of us wrapped around His little finger and we still don’t get it. Some of us will continue to act foolish until it’s over and it’s too late to repent. Now is the time to repent. Now is the time to live right. Now is the time to treat your neighbor right. Time is winding up. This Covid19 is the beginning of sorrows. If we can’t come through this with humility. What are going to do when the great tribulation come. Times like these, just shows what’s really already in are hearts. According to text we are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving towards one another. As God has forgiven us, we should forgive one another.

As believers we know God has given us the tools to encourage with:

Our first tool of course is the Word of God. Then He has given us the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts. We all have different gifts that we may encourage one another. No one individual in the body of Christ can do everything. But we are all fitly joined together to aid and assist one another as the Holy Spirit guides us. And then God has given the ministry gifts or leadership gifts such as Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers encourage us and build us up. Jeremiah 3:14,15 says,

14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

As believers we know that Barnabas was that kind of leader.

You see the early Church found themselves under great persecution after Stephen is killed. And God raised up an Apostle by the name of Barnabas. Barnabas seemed to have always been in the shadows of the Apostle Paul, but Barnabas was the encourager of Paul and kept him lifted up. Barnabas was know for his excellent teaching and preaching. This is what the bible has to say about Barnabas, even when they were going through and the resources were scarce, Barnabas encourage the believers to share all their possessions so that no believer would be lacking. He was a Levite and he knew God. As a matter of fact his name was translated (Son of Encouragement).

I don’t know how you feel about about it this morning, but I want to be a son of encouragement.

I feel like preaching.

Enough discouragement is going around.

Enough heart ache and pain is going around.

I need some encouragement and I need to encourage somebody.

This Covid19 is no joke. Some have no symptoms or very minor symptoms.

But why should we who are bless, not feel the hurt and pain of those who have lost love ones.

Why should we act like death can’t come our way,

Why should we act as if it don’t rain on the just as well as the unjust.

Why should we act as if we are better than others,

Why should we act as if we are stronger than others,

Why can’t we see that it could have been me.

Why can’t we see that it still could be me.

Why can’t we see that it ain’t over til it’s over.

If you have lost a love one and you hear me preaching today,

Be encourage my brother,

Be encourage my sister,

God will take care of you.

If you are still here today, Keep your life in God’s hands.

Let Him keep your heart,

Let Him keep your mind,

Let Him strengthen you when you get weak,

Let Him bless you when you get tired,

Let Him give you hope when you fill hopeless,

No matter how great you are, you need encouragement

You can’t find an Old Testament Prophet greater than Elijah.

Elijah said there would be no rain or dew and there was no rain.

Elijah said the rain would come back after 31/2 years, the rain came back after 31/2 years.

Elijah needed food and water, the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the brook Cherith.

Elijah told the widow of Sarephath that if she bake him a cake first, the meal and oil wouldn’t run out. And it didn’t run out.

Elijah told the women whose son died, that he would live again and he laid him on the bed, hand to hand, mouth to mouth, and life came back into the boy’s body.

Elijah cause fire to come down from heaven 2 times.

Elijah divide the Jordon river with his cloak.

And when 450 priest of Baal and 400 prophets of Ashtaroth gathered against Elijah, he said to the people, how long will you halt between 2 opinions. If God is God, follow Him. If Baal is God follow him.

And he made a fool out of Baal’s prophets.

Causing fire to come down from heaven.

And he slew all the prophets and priests.

And Jezebel chase him down.

And he became depressed and wanted to die.

And God sent him ENCOURAGEMENT.

GOD sent him an angel.

The Angel touched him.

He rose up and ate.

He laid down and rose up again and ate.

And he went in the strength of that Encouragement another 40 days.

So be encourage, my brother and sisters.

God will take Care of You.

He will see you through

He will bring you out

He’s just that kind of God.

Somebody ought to give Him glory.

BE ENCOURAGED