Comfort The Discouraged
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Last week, we began a brand new message series. We are looking at the four phrases found in . The first one is “warn the idle.” As believers, we should be warning those who are unwilling to work and are sponging off the rest of the church. Today, we are going to consider the second phrase. Let’s read the verse together.
And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
The idle are to be warned and the discouraged should be comforted. So much about our lives and the world around us is just down-right discouraging. Maybe you went to the doctor and you received a health report that you didn’t want. Maybe your kids are struggling to succeed in life. Maybe your job and finances aren’t what you would like them to be. Maybe you tried really hard to do something, but you still failed at it. Really, if we are honest about it; life is full of discouragement. You have been trying and trying to get that job or that promotion just to get passed over again. You have been really watching what you eat and you have been exercising, but the scale isn’t moving in the right direction. You studied hard and you thought you knew the content, but then you took the test and you didn’t do so well on it.
Everyone, from time to time, will deal with events and situations that are discouraging. Discouragement is part of life, which is why we need encouragement. We comfort the discouraged. The word “discouraged” in the original language means “fainthearted, worried, fearful, having feelings of being inadequate”.
Discouraged , ὀλιγοψύχους - fainthearted, worried, fearful, having feelings of being inadequate
Discouraged , ὀλιγοψύχους - fainthearted, worried, fearful, having feelings of being inadequate
Has that ever described you? Does it describe you right now? I know that I have been there before. Perhaps you are fainthearted. You just lack the energy to keep on going. It feels like you have been in this place of difficulty for so long. Is there any end in sight?
Perhaps you are worried about things. If we really get down to it, there is plenty to worry about. Sometimes the more we think about things, the more worried and discouraged we become in life.
Maybe you are fearful. You heard your company is downsizing. Your doctor found a spot on your lung. Something is going on with your marriage. You can feel that something isn’t right, but your spouse doesn’t want to talk about it or get help. You are getting discouraged.
This last one is a big one for many people. You are having feelings of being inadequate. You work really hard, but you just can’t seem to make it to the top. You study and study, but you just can’t seem to make the grade. Everybody else has tons of likes and shares online. It looks like their life is fun and all together, but yours isn’t. You get discouraged.
I think that if we were really transparent with each other, we would be shocked to realize the struggles around us. We would be shocked to know the real-life struggles that people are having around us. Facebook and Instagram paint us a fake picture of the world around us, but we tend to think it is real. We see the life others want us to see and we wonder why our lives are not like theirs and we get discouraged. I think many people struggle with discouragement.
There is an old legend about Satan one day having a yard sale. He thought he'd get rid of some of his old tools that were cluttering up the place. So there was gossip, slander, adultery, lying, greed, power-hunger, and more laid out on the tables. Interested buyers were crowding the tables, curious, handling the goods. One customer, however, strolled way back in the garage and found on a shelf a well-oiled and cared-for tool. He brought it out to Satan and inquired if it was for sale. "Oh, no!" Satan answered. "That's my tool. Without it I couldn't wreck the church! It's my secret weapon!" "But what is it?" the customer inquired.
"It's the tool of discouragement," the devil said.
The power of encouragement should motivate us to be an encourager. We don’t know the struggles that people are having and so we need to make it a habit to give encouragement all the time. We cannot overstate the power of encouragement.
In , Paul gives us four traits of effective encouragement. We want our encouragement to be effective. We want to strengthen people and give them confidence to keep on going.
As you know, like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to live worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
1 Thess 2:
4 Traits of Effective Encouragement
4 Traits of Effective Encouragement
1. Encouragement should be personal.
1. Encouragement should be personal.
Paul said, “like a father with his own children”. If encouragement is going to be effective, you must know the individual and their needs. You need to know what they respond to and what gives them encouragement. This makes building relationships with people all the more important.
Each one of my children are different and they respond to different types of encouragement. I need to know how to interact on a personal level with each of them if I am going to effectively encourage them. What works for one, does not work for the others. What works to encourage my children, does not work with my wife. Encouragement needs to be specifically tailored to the individual needing the encouragement. Encouragement should NEVER be used as a psychological crowbar to gain an advantage, mentally, emotionally, or physically.
We see this played out in Scripture. Elijah needed the still, small voice of God. Jesus spent personal time with Peter by the Sea of Galilee after Peter denied him. Peter needed time with Jesus to be encouraged. Thomas was different. Thomas thought he needed to touch Jesus, but Jesus knew that he needed to see him. Paul was encouraged by the letters he received from obedient churches and the people that came to visit him. Effective encouragement will need to be personal.
Think about it. Isn’t that why some encouragement falls flat? Isn’t the lack of personal involvement and knowledge the reason some encouragement is ineffective? It doesn’t mean anything because it isn’t personal. Build relationships with people so that you will know how to effectively encourage them.
Encouragement does NOT give license to hand out compliments like candy. Think about it. Isn’t that why some encouragement falls flat? Isn’t the lack of personal involvement and knowledge the reason some encouragement is ineffective? It doesn’t mean anything because it isn’t personal. Build relationships with people so that you will know how to effectively encourage them.
2. Encouragement should be empathetic.
2. Encouragement should be empathetic.
Paul “encouraged, comforted, and implored” the believers at Thessaloniki. He worked to understand what they were feeling and he felt it with them. He bore their burdens. If your child is hurting, you hurt too. If your spouse is hurting, you hurt too. This should extend to the body of Christ. If a member of our congregation is hurting, we hurt with them.
This is one of the major problems with the Internet and text-based forms of communication. Text is great for conveying information and facts, but text struggles to convey empathy. Text is a poor form of communication for feelings. Have you ever had something you posted or texted be misinterpreted? Then, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to write words which will help the situation. Everything is taken the wrong way. The Internet wasn’t built for empathy. People were made to be empathetic to each other and that is going to take personal contact. Effective encouragement will be full of empathy. Encouragement does NOT include false flattery in the mistaken thought that exaggeration will help the situation.
Encouragement should be personal. Encouragement should be empathetic.
3. Encouragement should be geared toward spiritual growth.
3. Encouragement should be geared toward spiritual growth.
As you know, like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to live worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Paul’s encouragement was not just saying nice things to them. He didn’t give them platitudes. Encouragement does NOT mean a comment regarding someone physical attributes. We are not simply just trying to help the person feel better. We want them to gain the right and proper perspective on their situation. We want them to grow in Christ. We want them to move from their place of discouragement to a place of confidence in God.
Paul’s encouragement was for the church at Thessaloniki to “live worthy of God”. A worthy life is a life that is appropriate and suitable. Live your life in light of being God’s representative to the world around you. This is not just about what you should not be doing, but also about what you should be doing. We should encourage one another to be attend worship and Bible study. We should encourage one another to pray for each other. We should encourage each other to serve one another in some capacity. We should encourage one another to share the gospel with those who need Christ.
I don’t expect my gym coach to call me or contact me if I miss a class. It would be good business practice if he did, but I don’t expect him to because we don’t have that kind of relationship. I do expect members of the church to call and contact other members of the church if they are missing from our gatherings. You should have that kind of relationship. You might say, “But I don’t know them.” Well, that would be a problem. Of course, you can’t know everyone, but you should know those around you. You should know those who are part of your Bible Study. Encourage one another towards spiritual growth.
4. Encouragement should be based on the promises of God and his word.
4. Encouragement should be based on the promises of God and his word.
Paul reminded the church at Thessaloniki of the promise of God that they were called “into his own kingdom and glory”. There are so many wonderful promises of God which will bring encouragement to us and to those we share them with.
God promises to never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
God promises to never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Deut
You are never alone. God is with your always. We don’t have to be afraid or discouraged.
God has a wonderful plan for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
God has a wonderful plan for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Whatever trouble you are going through is only a temporary situation. God holds your future in your hands and it is for your well-being.
Honoring your parents brings you the blessing of God. (Exodus 20:12)
Honoring your parents brings you the blessing of God. (Exodus 20:12)
Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
God will give you wisdom when you don’t know what to do. (James 1:5)
God will give you wisdom when you don’t know what to do. (James 1:5)
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
God will forgive you of your sins. (:9)
God will forgive you of your sins. (:9)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Literally, there are thousands and thousands of God’s promises to us in the Scriptures. I don’t know if you do this or not, but many people have found it helpful. When you are reading your Bible and you find one of God’s promises, highlight it. Pick a highlight color and highlight with the same color every time you read a promise of God. I like to use green. You will be shocked to see all of the green on the pages of the Scriptures.
Encouragement should be personal. Encouragement should be empathetic. Encouragement should be geared toward spiritual growth. Encouragement should be based on the promises of God and his word.
Be an encourager. Comfort the discouraged. People need the encouragement. Life gets hard and we need to support each other.
Years ago a group of brilliant young men at the University of Wisconsin, with amazing creative literary talent, met regularly to read and critique each other's work. They were merciless in their criticism. They dissected the most minute literary expression into a hundred pieces. Their critique sessions became such arenas of literary criticism that the members of this exclusive club called themselves the Stranglers.
At the same time, the women of literary talent in the university formed a comparable club. They called themselves the Wranglers. They, too, read their works to one another and critiqued them. However, their criticism was much softer, more positive and encouraging. Every effort, even the most feeble one, was encouraged.
Twenty years later, an alumnus of the university was researching the careers of this particular class when he noticed the vast difference in the literary accomplishments of the Stranglers as opposed to the Wranglers. Of all the bright young men in the Stranglers, not one had made a significant literary accomplishment of any kind. But from the Wranglers had come six or more successful writers, some of national renown.
The talent level of the men and women was probably about the same. Their level of education was similar. The difference was that the Stranglers strangled out hope, while the Wranglers wrangled from each writer their most hidden gifts through their words of encouragement.
[Zig Ziglar, Over the Top. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994, p. 241)
Let’s be committed to be encouragers.
I want to ask you to do two things. First, on your bulletin or somewhere else, write down three people you are going to encourage today. Texting and social media do not count. Make it a personal time of encouraging. If you don’t have paper, make a note on your smartphone or tablet. Write down three people you are going to reach out to encourage.
Second, I want you to take a challenge with me. Until Resurrection Day, April 21st, purposefully encourage one person each day. We are 29 days away from Resurrection Day. For the next 29 days, every day purposefully find someone in your life to encourage. Make it personal. Be empathetic. Use your encouragement to point people toward spiritual growth. Base your encouragement on the promises of God and his word. How many of you will undertake this challenge? If we can create the habit in our lives of being encouragers, I think we will help each other more than we know. I think it will help you personally as well because it will cause you to view people differently. How many of you will undertake this challenge? Raise your hands.
Brothers and sisters, I want you to pray right now. Pray for the ones who are here who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Perhaps you are here and that is the reality. You have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You have never made the decision to trust in Jesus.
I urge you to face the fact that the passing of time will not bring you any nearer to salvation. Every day takes you farther away from God and renders you that much more insensitive to the Word of God. I encourage you to make a decision this very hour, as though it were your last opportunity,. Acknowledge your sin. Flee from the path of destruction, and trust in Jesus Christ as God’s provision for your salvation. He died in your place on the cross, taking your guilt and punishment. By trusting in Him as God’s provision of righteousness, you will be saved. To reject Him is to reject life. To delay this decision is to continue on in the way that leads to destruction. Listen to the truth of the gospel.
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
CSB
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Without a personal relationship with God, we all stray away from what’s right. We stray right into danger. We are all bent towards sin. We never had to be taught to do wrong. It is just natural for us. Naturally, we are all sinners. Our sin separates us from a holy God.
Without a personal relationship with God, we all stray away from what’s right. We stray right into danger. We are all bent towards sin. We never had to be taught to do wrong. It is just natural for us. Naturally, we are all sinners. Our sin separates us from a holy God.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
CSB
as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.
Realize that there is a penalty for sin.
CSB
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Also, there is a penalty for sin.
CSB
Death is the penalty for sin, physical death and a second death forever in torment in the lake of fire.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Death is the penalty for sin, physical death and a second death forever in torment in the lake of fire.
The good news is that God did something for us that we couldn’t do for ourselves. Jesus left heaven to come to earth. God took on flesh in the person of Jesus and lived a perfect life in every way. Without ever sinning, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice by dying on the cross for our sins and our offenses. He died in our place for the forgiveness of sins. On the third day, when the stone was rolled away, Jesus was not there. The tomb was empty.
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God in His love decided to give mankind the opportunity to escape the wrath of God's judgment. Jesus came and laid down His life for us. God expressed His love for humanity and paid for the sin of mankind through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
CSB
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God in His love decided to give mankind the opportunity to escape the wrath of God's judgment. Jesus came and laid down His life for us. God expressed His love for humanity and paid for the sin of mankind through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
promises,
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
CSB
The word “call” means “to appeal unto.” If you come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins, believing that He is the Christ, the Son of God, you will be saved.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
The word “call” means “to appeal unto.” Lost sinners who come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins, believing that He is the Christ, the Son of God, will be saved.
The amazing grace of God, no matter how bad you have been, no matter how dark your life is, no matter how many people you’ve let down, when you call on Jesus, he hears your prayer and he will forgive every sin and make you brand new.
CSB
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
The amazing grace of God, no matter how bad you have been, no matter how dark your life is, no matter how many people you’ve let down, when you call on Jesus, he hears your prayer and he will forgive every sin and make you brand new.
This morning, if you are here and you know that you need God’s forgiveness for your sins; realize that you are not here by accident. Will you surrender your life to God and experience his forgiveness? Please bow your heads and close your eyes. Will you pray this prayer with me expressing that you are trusting in God’s ability to forgive you and save you?
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sins, make me new. I ask Jesus to be my Savior and to be the Lord of my life, first in every way. My life is not my own, I give it to you. Thank you for new life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, I want you to do two things. First, on your connection card, check the box that says you want more information about becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. In just a moment, we are going to stand to sing. Some of the deacons are going to be in the the back of the worship center. If you prayed to receive Christ, I want you to slip out of your row and come and go talk to them. We want to meet you and pray for you. Also, we have some information that will help you understand more about your new life in Christ.
As we stand and sing together, respond to the Holy Spirit’s call on your life.