Sunday Sermon

“To Encourage”

William Barclay wrote, ““One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement. It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.”

We are commanded in the scriptures to love one another, forgive one another, be kind to one another, not to judge one another … as well as “to encourage” one another. 

Hebrews 3:13 (ESV) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  [NIV & NASB = encourage]

I think we could say that loving, forgiving, being kind, and not judging are all forms of “encouragement.”

Encourage means to “give courage, hope or confidence to; to give support to or help.”  But it is in the Greek, a very expressive language that it brings into play the idea of “inviting” so as to call near. 

I really believe that what is invoked here is more than just a slap on the back or words that say “You’re awesome!”  It is seeing someone struggling in some capacity and you call them aside to speak a word of encouragement from God’s Word.

Encouragement then is intentional and purposeful filled with biblical exhortation.  Our Hebrews scripture points out the “when,” the “how long” and the “why.”  And that is … every day and in the “today” so that no one is deceived by sin and their hearts hardened. 

In 1 Thessalonians Paul gives two areas we need to encourage one another in.

1.       To Encourage Faith

1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (ESV) and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

• Paul sent Timothy to “establish & encourage” faith (see: Eph 6:22,Col 4:8 … Tychicus sent to encourage the hearts of believers)

Grounding new converts was a necessity then, as it is today.  Encouraging the faith of another is vitally needed today, as we are constantly under the temptation and influence of afflictions and trials of many kind.  We need to be encouragers in the faith.

• Encouraged in the faith to fight the fight of faith in the face of afflictions so to not lose their spiritual stability.

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Calvin Commnetary … Thus, when the Thessalonians heard that Paul was going on with indefatigable zeal, and was by strength of faith surmounting all dangers and all difficulties, and that his faith continued everywhere victorious against Satan and the world, this brought them no small consolation.

Let it be said of us … that we are encouraged in the faith and are encouraging others in the faith to walk on with Christ in all manner and measures of life.

2.       To Encourage Living … 1 Thess 2:12 (see 5:11, 14)

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ESV) we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

• The encouragement offered was designed to …  cheer up so as to inspire correct behavior (living).
• It was an urgent appeal … charging them to living properly to the calling of God on their lives.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

• Encouraged to “walk worthy” for “THE” God who saved us by grace through faith … is to be the highest vocation and aim of our lives.
• WW … Receive the Word of God! (vs.13)
• WW … Accepted the Word of God as just that!
• WW … Allow God’s Word to be at work in you!

Paul gives us further insight in Ephesians 4 & Colossians 1 …

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Colossians 1:10 (ESV) so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Quickly we see that the encouragement to be living (by faith) in a worthy manner is no light assignment and we need all the encouragement we can get … so let be said of us, that we will encourage one another every day as long as it is called “today.”

From faith to living … We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.”