The Joy of Encouragement

• The Joy of Encouragement
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• “My Fair Lady”
• Professor Higgins wagers Colonel Pickering he can train a flower girl to speak and pass her off as royalty…
• After weeks of rehearsing, he escorts her to a glittering event where she completely fools everyone …
• Eliza to Professor Higgins, “I will not be passed over !”
• We want to be appreciated…
• Psalms 142:4 For there is no one who acknowledges me... No one cares for my soul.

• Encouragement …
• The act of inspiring others with renewed courage, renewed spirit, or renewed hope …
• “Para kalein” (to call alongside)

• 1 The urgent need of our day…
• The problems of this generation are more complex than of any other period in history …
• 2 The unique priority of our God…
• 2 Cor. 1:3 The God of all comfort…
• 2 Thess. 2:16-17 Jesus has given us everlasting consolation and good hope
• John 14:26 The Holy Spirit, the helper the Father will send …
• 3 The underlying purpose of Bible…
• Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
• 3 The underlying purpose of Bible…
• 2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
• 3 The underlying purpose of Bible…
• 1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
• 4 The opportunity to begin something that will never end…
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 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
• 4 The opportunity to begin something that will never end…
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
• The Joy of Encouragement
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11