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.”

The Need to Remember

Psalms 30:4 (NKJV)  Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Psalm 30 is a platform for praising God’s faithfulness in a “time of need.”  We are needy people, and that is why and how we most often pray … for God to meet a need.  This morning as the saints (holy ones) of God our greatest need is to remember. And not unlike the psalmist the cry to remember is prompted in the midst of forgiveness and deliverance.

Today we come together at this table to eat and drink from the Lord’s Supper, and with this meal we need to remember. The whole intent of the meal is to remember!  As I looked over my past messages for the Lord’s Supper they have engaged the matter of remembering … that is the body and blood of Christ.  With chagrin I thought to myself, “Another message on remembering!  I wonder if they remember the last message I preach on the Lord Supper?”   But whatever we might think, it is the undeniable and unavoidable subject of this meal.  Even our Lord said so … “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Lk 22:19)  And it is the Apostle Paul who reminds us of the aspect of “remembering” the Lord in this meal.  Listen to this paraphrase, “The Message” of 1 Corinthians 11:23-28.

1 Corinthians 11:23-28 (The Message) Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,  This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.  After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:  This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me. What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt. Anyone who eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death.  Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be a part of?  Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.

The Need to Remember the Central Importance

Central Is the Gospel

Probably all of us succumb to a lot of “important” things in our lives.  However, there is that which is of “first importance” … that which takes “center/central stage” in our lives … and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NIV)  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Central Is the Gospel to Salvation

It is of central importance for it is the way of salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:2 (NIV)  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

1 Timothy 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  (vss 16,17)

Central Is the Gospel to Salvation and Life

As the “Central Nervous System” (brain & spinal cord) is needed to coordinate the activity of all parts of the bodies, so the Lord Supper speaks to the “central importance” to the body life of the church, as it is the body and blood that identifies, designates, coordinates and controls its functions.

Because this meal is of central importance to us, portraying the Gospel, we must remember the significance of Christ’s body and blood.  For without it we have no “good news” to comfort our own hearts, and nothing to share with the lost.

John 1:4 (NKJV)  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The Need to Remember the Life & Death of Christ

Remember Body Life

This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me. 

The broken body is the pleasing sacrifice and price for sin …

(son of man did not come to serve but) “to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” (Mt 20:28, The Message)

The broken body is the formation of life in the body.

Christ giving His life was not just to save us from death, but to give us life!

Romans 6:10-11 (ESV) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Remember Covenant Life

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

To be a part of the family of God is not being in a “club” but rather a “covenant.”

Old covenant (law & rules keeping) was to our demise, whereas the new covenant is to our deliverance.  By way of the covenant of grace we are … grace saved, kept, encouraged, and established.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

As we live, let us live in Christ so as to dispense the life of Christ to all we are in contact with.  My His life become an epidemic among us

Remember Regarded Life

Jesus’ words are … “Do this to remember Me”   We are not to pass lightly over such words, for they convey the slippage of remembering in the mind and heart of man.

“It seems that Christians may forget. … it is, alas, too well confirmed in our experience, not as a possibility, but a lamentable fact.” – Charles Spurgeon

Deuteronomy 8:11a (NIV) Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, (by not keeping His Word)

• Let us not forget Him who poured out His blood and body for our sins! 
• Let us not forget Him who loved us to the end and even to death!
• Let us not forget Him who gave us salvation!

So on this day of memorial … we remember Him who gave Himself for us!

Prayer … Give us minds that remember you Lord Jesus.  You who gave  Yourself willingly and freely to pay the price of our sin, so as save us from sin, death and hell.  Let us remember Your body and Your blood today.  – Amen

To Go With God
Genesis 12:1-9

In a few days you, as students will join the rank and file of hundreds and thousands of other students in a commencement ceremony called graduation.  It will bring an end to one aspect of your life, that being “school” (K-12) and thus begins (commences) another part of your life, more school (college), career, services or whatever. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

It’s the “whatever you do” that covers today, tomorrow, Thursday night and the rest of your life’s.  It’s not a passive statement of agreement (huh okay), but rather a statement that stirs and challenges all that you are and want to be … in knowing whose you are.

Before long you are going to embark on a journey that will lead you away from your home, home-life, and hometown … and things “out there” are going to look exciting and different, uncommon and scary.  But remember that it is in the “whatever you do” life that will help you “to go with God”

Let’s consider Abraham’s life.  In his initial call to go, he was “Abram” … which says to me when God changes a person He totally changes that person!  Abram was called out of his home, home-life and hometown to go with God.  His hometown was “Ur” … I guess you could say this is “Ur Graduation Day!”  (sad joke!)

Three lessons and then it’s time to go! 

Genesis 12:1-9

TGWG … Go In the “From & To” (4-6)

• Abram was to go “from” his homeland … “to” a place God would take him.
• In other words God “initiates” the call to go “from and to”

The “Go From” leads to the “Go To” of God.

We all tend to think we are choosing to go here and to go there.  Has it ever occurred to us that our choosing is the direct result of God’s sovereign design over our lives?

• God says the place you are going to … well, “I will show you”

“The faith to which we are called is not faith in a plan, but faith in a person.” – Bob Deffinbaugh

• God had something larger in mind than just relocating Abraham.
• God wanted Abraham to be shaped and guided by godliness.

It was “commencement” day for Abram.  And the result was … “So Abram went …” (vs.4) from and to with God.

How about you?

• Where or what does God want to take you from?
• Where does God want to take you to?

“You can’t go with God and stay where you are.”

TGWG … Go In the “Wills” (1-3)

As God “initiated” He also “invited” Abram to go with Him as He began to speak “promises” into his life.  We’ll call them the “wills” 

• I will show you … where you are going
• I will make you … a great people
• I will bless you … who you are & what you do
• I will give you … land to offspring (Abraham never saw this)

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV) For all the promises of god find their Yes in him.  That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

• When God says “He will” that means He will … and it is to His glory He keeps His promises.

The “I Will” of God produces the “You Will” in our lives

• You will be a blessing … “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
• Mt 28:20 … I will be with you
• Acts 1:8 … You will be witnesses (to me)

Like the life of Abraham, God intends to take you, show you, make you, give you and bless you … to be a blessing to others through how you live to glorify Him.

TGWG … Go In the “How” (7-9)

• So Abram went, as the Lord had told him (vs.4)
• How did Abram go?
• He went in the how of “faith believing obedience”

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

• He went in “how” reliable God’s Word is … no tangible proofs.
• He went in “how” believable God’s Word is … final analysis its faith

Abram faith believing to go would bring him into the blessings of God.

“The how you go speaks of how you will be blessed.”

So there you have it … three lessons and it’s time to go … with God.

Go in the “from and to”
Go in the “wills”
Go in the “how” 

And remember … So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  (1 Cor 10:31)

Amen!

The B-I-B-L-E

Matthew 5:17-19

Our attention this morning is drawn to this book I hold … the Bible.  Children sing a little song concerning the Bible.

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that’s the book for me
I stand alone on the word of God
The B-I-B-L-E

When it comes to the Bible we could talk about the “ations” …

• Revelation … God revealing Himself, nature, attributes, work
• Inspiration … All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
• Interpretation … Principles of “How To” correctly explain scripture (Hermeneutics) so as for “application”
• Translation … Biblical language (Hebrew/Greek) into another language

Our “Baptist Faith & Message” states of the scriptures (Bible) …

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

We need the revelation of God to man through the Scriptures and we need to know of the inspiration and how to come to good interpretation that leads to correct translation of God’s Word.  We need all this. 

But if I could add one more “ation” I would add the idea of RELATION.  How does God’s Word relate to my life?

Matthew 5:17-19 (ESV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish (*demolish the scriptures) the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (*The Message)

Jesus speaks to the “completion” of the B-I-B-L-E … New Testament not in competition with Old Testament, but rather both compliments.

Jesus speaks to the “eternal” of the B-I-B-L-E … not an iota, not a dot will pass … complete confidence we can put in the Bible.

“Because the Bible is God’s Word, it has eternal relevance; it speaks to all humankind, in very age and in every culture.” – Stuart Fee (How to Study the Bible for All Its Worth)

Jesus speaks to the “standard” of the B-I-B-L-E … true measure … complete confidence for conduct

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Jesus encourages the believer in relation to the B-I-B-L-E (scriptures) to “DON’T RELAX! APPLY!” … Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

From here Jesus sets out to speak to relational situations of life we all find ourselves facing … murder, adultery, divorce, swearing (not cussing), revenge/retaliation, and love & hate.

Each of these situations ask … “How does the B-I-B-L-E relate to my life?”

• Murder … (vs 23-26) Internal relation of anger … insults to murder … relational application … be reconciled
• Adultery … (vs 27-30) Internal relation of lust to physical act of being sexually immoral … “look don’t touch” is still lust … better to be “closed-eyed” than to relax  … relational application … guard what has your minds attention and hearts affection.
• Divorce … (vs 31-32) Internal relation of fidelity in marriage … epidemic of relaxation … no divorce is right (exception & forgiveness) … relational application … be faithful
• Oaths/Swearing … (vs. 33-37) Internal relation of truth … don’t need to swear to make ridiculous oaths (I swear to God & hope to die stick a needle in my eye) … relational application … let your word simply be yes or no.
• Revenge … (vs 38-42) Internal relation of retaliation … not about passivity but not taking revenge … relational application … turn-go-give   
• Love & Hate … (vs 43-47) Internal relation of relationships … no loving who we like and hating who we don’t like … sinners do that … relational application … be mature like God our Father

Here’s a key in all these life situations … “without a heart submission, obedience to biblical commands will be … shallow and short lived and make you miserable.”

Revelation? Yes!  Inspiration? Yes!  Interpretation?  Yes! Translation? Yes!  Relation?  Yes!

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that’s the book for me
I stand alone on the word of God
The B-I-B-L-E

Amen!