ENCOURAGEMENT

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. I will try in this lesson to bring words of encouragement from
      the Word of God. 
   B. Let me ask a few questions to show that many of us need
      encouragement.
      1. Do you have a job that is far from pleasant? Have you
         lost your job or about to lose your job? Are you having
         bad financial problems? Are you grieving over the death
         of a loved one which has given you that empty, lonely
         feeling? Do you have a son or daughter that needs help? 
         Are you suffering from a debilitating disease of some
         sort? Are you suffering from the aches, pains, and
         loneliness of old age? Have you been sorely
         disappointed in someone you trusted? Are you
         disappointed with yourself, suffering under the burden of
         guilt? Is your marriage far from what it ought to be? 
         Are you going through the pains of a divorce? Have you
         been through the pains of a divorce? Have you been
         through the pain of your parents getting a divorce? Has
         one or more of your children greatly disappointed you? 
         Have your parents greatly disappointed you? Are you
         discouraged by the way you have been treated by some
         brother or sister? Are you discouraged because of
         church problems? Do you have an addiction to drugs,
         smoking, or alcohol? Are you suffering because a family
         member or friend has an addiction problem? Are you
         discouraged because you are not the kind of Christian
         you aught to be? Do you feel that you are not
         appreciated by your family, or your brethren?

I. WE CAN TAKE COURAGE THAT WE ARE GOD'S LITTLE FLOCK. Luke 12:32
   A. We are of the few who believe and know the truth.
   B. We are a family, a spiritual family, and every single one of us
      Is important.
      1. The very least in the kingdom is greater than John the
         Baptist. Matt. 11:11
      2. "The first shall be last and the last first." Luke 13:28-30
         a. That humble, lowly person will be saved; but the
            proud will not be.
         b. Who would have thought that a worthless thief
            would have been saved? Luke 23:43
   C. The tie that binds us together in our spiritual relationship is
      love. Rom. 12:9-21
         a. "Let love be without hypocrisy...Be kindly
            affectionate to one another in brotherly love...Repay
            no one evil for evil." (Vs. 9 10, 17).
         b. The kind of love that Paul is emphasizing is a
            genuine concern for each other. (Vs. 13, 15-16).
   D. Let's stick together, and continue to encourage one another in
      love. Eph. 4:1-3
      1. United we stand, divided we fall.
   E. You might think, "I'm not loved and appreciated."
      1. But you are. You are in this spiritual family.  We do love
         you. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, of the family
         of God.
      2. 1 Cor. 12:21-22 - We hope there will never come a time
         when any of us will say, "I have no need of you."

II. WE CAN TAKE COURAGE BECAUSE THERE IS A BETTER WORLD BEYOND. Gal.
    6:9
   A. "Grow weary" means "to succumb to fatigue." John 4:6; 2
      Cor. 11:27
      1. "Well doing" means "doing the good works which God
         ordained." Eph. 2:10; 2 Thess. 3:13
   B. "For in due season we shall reap."
      1. It is discouraging to continue to do right and receive no
         word of thanks or see no tangible results.
         a. But Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges
            us to keep on doing good and to trust God for the
            results.
      2. In due time, we will reap the harvest of blessings.
         a. There is a better place beyond the grave, and we
            need to keep our eyes focused on it. 1 Pet. 1:13
         b. Paul suffered many hardships. 2 Cor. 11:23-28
            (1) Yet, he called them a "light affliction." 2 Cor.
                4:16
            (2) He could only do this by keeping his mind
                focused on the eternal glory that was to
                follow.
            (3) It is far better to depart and be with Christ.       
                Phil. 1:23
            (4) In heaven, God will wipe away all tears. Rev.
                21:4

III. WE CAN LEARN FROM THE EXAMPLE OF KING DAVID. 1 Sam. 30:6
   A. Think of the situation David and his men were in. 1 Sam.
      30:1-5
   B. How did David strengthened himself in the Lord? We are not
      told here, but we are told in other places.
      1. Psalm 18:6; 27:1,4-5; 34:1-8; 40:1-3
   C. Pray. Luke 18:1; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 13:6; Prov. 18:10

IV. THE O.T. GIVES STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND COMFORT. Rom. 15:4
   A. Isa. 40:28-31
      1. All human beings have their weakness, but God's power
         and strength never diminishes. 
         a. He is never too tired or too busy to listen and help. 
            He is the source of our strength.
         b. When you feel all of life crushing you and you cannot go
            another step, remember, you can call upon God and
            renew your strength.
      2. Verse 31 - Waiting on the Lord is patiently relying on
         Him to give us strength.
         a. Our God is able. Eph. 3:20-21
   B. The Psalms inspire, comfort, and encourage us just when
      we need a word from the Lord. An example, Psalm 23.
      1. The imagery in the Psalm is a flock of sheep, gently and
         harmlessly feeding in fertile pastures, under the care of a
         skillful, watchful, and tender shepherd, the Shepherd and
         Bishop of our souls.
      2. The consolations of the Lord are the still waters by which
         the saints are led; the streams which flow from the
         Fountain of living waters.
      3. The valley of the shadow of death may denote the most
         severe and terrible affliction one could come under. Yet,
         "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."

V. THE N.T. SCRIPTURES GIVE US COMFORT AND STRENGTH.
   A. 1 Pet. 5:8-11
      1. Satan is the source of all evil and suffering.
      2. God is able to "perfect" (mend or repair) us and make us
         strong.
      3. Whatever pain we might have, the Eternal God is the
         God of all comfort.
         a. Let us come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain
            help in our time of need. Heb. 4:15-16
   B. Jude 24
      1. The audience to whom Jude wrote was vulnerable to
         heresies and to temptations toward immoral living.
      2. Jude encouraged the believers to remain firm in their faith
         and trust in God's promises for their future.
      3. This was all the more important because they were living
         in a time of increased apostasy.
         a. We too are living in the last days, much closer to the
            end than were the original readers of this letter.
      4. Although there is much iniquity around us, we need not
         be afraid or give up in despair God is able to keep us
         from falling, and to bring us into His presence and give
         us exceeding joy. 2 Thess. 2:16-17

Concl.
   A. Disappointments, discouragements, and hardships will come.
   B. We need to be steadfast and unmovable ourselves.
   C. The Eternal God is perfectly able to comfort. 
   D. Someday we shall reap if we don't give up.
   E. Let us continue to strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God.