Encouragement

Deuteronomy 28:6 KJV 1900

Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

I. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF THE LORD'S UNFAILING LOVE

This is wonderful; and we as children of God should constantly remind ourselves that God loves us. He has always loved us, and He always will love us. His word to us is: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee"

Jeremiah 31:3 KJV 1900

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

II. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE HAVE THE GUARANTEE OF THE LORD'S SUFFICIENT GRACE

There are bound to be sorrows, losses and disappointments. Can we feel encouraged as we face this probability? Yes, we can, because we not only have the assurance of the Lord's unfailing love, but we have the guarantee of His sufficient grace. The Lord's great word to the apostle Paul, of which we read in

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 KJV 1900

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

III. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE HAVE THE PLEDGE OF THE LORD'S ABUNDANT PROVISION

He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep, we must be able to say:

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

"O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing"

Psalm 34:9–10 KJV 1900

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

IV. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE HAVE THE EXPECTATION OF THE LORD'S RETURN

We do not know whether the Lord will return within the next few years, the next few months, the next few weeks, or the next few days; what we do know is that His coming is near. "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh"

James 5:8 KJV 1900

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

V. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE HAVE THE CERTAINTY OF THE LORD'S LOVING WELCOME

Death to the Christian is an enemy which has been overcome. Paul was so confident about this that he actually said, "to die is gain"

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV 1900

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.