Encourage One Another
Notes
Transcript
Intro: What do you think Satan’s most effective weapon for defeating Christians is? Doubt/Discouragement
[Gen. 3] We see Satan putting doubt in the mind of Eve over what God had said about eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then Eve became discouraged that God would withhold good things from her and Adam as Satan described, and she ate and they fell in sin.
Satan uses the same tricks on Christian's today to make us doubt the goodness of God and become discouraged, and wonder if God really cares and is holding out on us.
Paul knew this was happening to the Christians in Thessalonica, a young, spiritually immature church and he wrote this letter to comfort them that they would “Encourage One Another.”
Text: 1 Thes. 5:11
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1. The Issue at Hand; 4:13-5:10
1. The Issue at Hand; 4:13-5:10
The church at Thessalonica had just been founded; it was brand new. It was also being bitterly persecuted and was under attack. Some of the believers were dying; some were even being martyred for their faith, and Christ had not yet returned. The question they had was, “Would believers who died recently be resurrected when Christ returned?”
Being a new convert from pagan religions, Satan very easily put doubt/discouragement in the minds of the church at Thessalonica.
William Barclay shows just how hopeless the world of unbelievers is by quoting several ancient writers:
Once a man dies there is no resurrection (Aeschylus).
There is hope for those who are alive, but those who have died are without hope (Theocritus).
When once our brief light sets, there is one perpetual night through which we must sleep (Catullus)
I was not; I became; I am not; I care not (an ancient tombstone).
Irene to Taonnophris and Philo, good comfort. I was as sorry and wept over the departed one as I wept for Didymas. And all things whatsoever were fitting, I did.… But nevertheless against such things one can do nothing. Therefore, comfort one another (an ancient letter).
There is absolutely no hope for the unbelievers of the world. But there is hope for the believer, and that was what Paul was reminding them. [1 Thes. 4:13]
2. Comfort One Another; 11a
2. Comfort One Another; 11a
Death is a time when people need comfort.
Comfort- (parakaleō, parah-kah-leh′-oh), means to come to one’s side to invoke comfort, encouragement, or consolation.
John 14:16 (NKJV)
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 14:26 (NKJV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
One of the most difficult times to know how to comfort someone is when they are grieving over the loss of a loved one.
How do you comfort people who have lost someone?
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
When comforting a brother or sister in grief, simply pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words and actions.
3. Edify One Another; 11b
3. Edify One Another; 11b
Edify- to build up, lift spirits, encourage emotionally and spiritually
The church should be the christians support group. Brothers and sisters in Christ should come to the aid of one another and lift them up in times of doubt and discouragement.
The church at Thessalonica was concerned about the believers who had died before the return of Christ. What would happen to them when Christ returns? Will they be left behind or will they be with them in heaven?
The best way to “Edify One Another” is through the study of God’s Word together at church!
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Four things we can do to encourage others at church;
Arrive Early; If you want to encourage others, be on time! When you arrive at church early you have time to meet with people and fellowship before bible study instead of delaying it.
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
If you habitually arrive late and leave early, you are saying, “I’m only interested in me.”
Be Prayed Up; We should always be prayed up when we come to church. God wants to use us to edify others, so we must be a vessel of honor.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Be Friendly; You cannot encourage others if you look and act like a dill pickle. Look to greet people instead of waiting for people to greet you. Go and sit with visitors and make them feel welcome. [Mary Johnson is the sweetest saint I know. She greets everyone and looks for visitors]
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Sitting by and visiting with the same people every Sunday is not being friendly; that’s having a clique. Being friendly means we try to make friends with new people at every opportunity.
Compliment Others; to build people up we must be looking for something in their lives to give a compliment on.
Their dress, worship, teaching, personality, service, smile, etc..
but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Close;
Everyone needs a cheerleader to encourage them to go forward especially in times of trouble and grief. God cheers us on in times of doubt and discouragement, and we need “Encourage One Another”!
Genuinely encouraging words are ones that communicate the idea, I know who you are;
I care about you, and I’m here to help you.
Gary Chapman
The World’s Easiest Guide to Family Relationships (2001)
Gary Chapman