OceanSide church of Christ

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SEEKING HIGHER GROUD

…in Encouragement

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Have you ever noticed that it is easier to demolish a house than it is to build one?

1.      Most individuals love what is referred to as “demo day.”

2.      Rebuilding after demo day is not nearly as easy. 

a.      It takes time.

b.      It takes precision.

c.       It takes a lot of decision-making.

d.      It takes serious work.

 

B.      Have you ever noticed that it is easier to destroy another person than it is to build them up?

1.      It is easy to criticize.

2.      It is easy to find faults.

3.      It is easy to point out flaws.

4.      It is easy to discourage another’s efforts.

5.      It is easy to tell someone “no.”

6.      It is easy to destroy another’s dreams.

7.      It is easy to point out all of the obstacles.

 

C.     It is not nearly as easy to be an encourager of others.

1.      Our theme for OceanSide this year is:  “Seeking Higher Ground in 2021.”

2.      Today, we want to look at this subject:  “Seeking Higher Ground…in Encouragement.”

 

I.                   WHAT IS ENCOURAGEMENT?

 

A.    We have defined the word “courage” in previous lessons.  Notice that it is the root word of “encouragement.”

1.      “Courage” means “to have heart.”

2.      Thus, “encourage,” means “to instill heart into another.”

 

B.      Dictionary.com:  to inspire with courage, spirit, confidence, to stimulate someone to do something

 

C.     Synonyms:  embolden, hearten, reassure

 

II.                VERSES THAT EXHORT US TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS

 

A.    I Thessalonians 5:11

 

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

 

1.      The key word is “edify.”

2.      It means to build one another up.

3.      It is the opposite of tearing one another down.

 

B.      Ephesians 4:29

 

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

 

C.     Hebrews 10:24-25

 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some it; but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.      Consider one another

a.      To fix your eyes upon

b.      To look upon attentively

c.       To observe fully

2.      Provoke unto love and good works

a.      Incitement  to good

b.      To arouse, inflame, motivate

3.      Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together

a.      The assembly is for more than worship.

b.      When we come together, we exhort, provoke, and encourage each other in our Christian walk.

4.      Exhorting one another

5.      So much the more

a.      Large, great in quantity

b.      To vast as this

 

III.             EXAMPLES OF ENCOURAGERS FROM THE BIBLE

 

A.    Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14:7-8)

 

And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.  If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

 

B.      Jonathan (I Sam. 23:15-16)

 

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life:  and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.  And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

 

C.     Jesus (John 14:1-3)

 

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

D.    Barnabas (Acts 9:27)

 

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

 

E.      Paul (Eph. 6:21-22; Col. 4:7-8)

 

But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:  whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

 

IV.             WAYS WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHER INDIVIDUALS

 

A.    Praying with others (Jms. 5:16)

 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

B.      Reading Scriptures to others (Rom. 15:4)

 

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

 

C.     Kind words to others (Prov. 16:24)

 

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

 

D.    Being a generous giver to those in need (Acts 4:36-37)

 

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostle’s feet.

 

E.      Being present, participating, being a team-player

1.      In the passage found in Hebrews 10:24-25, we are commanded to provoke one another to love and good works (v. 24).  This is done in part by the command not to forsake the assembly (v. 25).

2.      The U.S. Open Tennis Championship

a.      2020 no fans in the stands due to CV19

b.      2021 the stands are full and the crowds have changed the course of several of the matches due to their shouting and clapping for their favorite player.

 

F.      Listen to others (Prov. 18:15)

 

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

 

G.     Willing to forgive others (John 8:11b)

 

And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:  go, and sin no more.

 

H.    Stand for others (II Kings 4:27)

 

And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet; but Gehazi came near to thrust her away.  And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her:  and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

 

I.        Remind others of great truths:

1.      God sees (Exo. 3:7)

2.      God cares (I Pet. 5:7)

3.      God hears (Ps. 34:4)

4.      God protects (Ps. 23:4; 46:1, 11)

5.      Jesus is coming again (I Thess. 4:16-18)

 

J.        Commend the positives (Luke 10:42)

 

But one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

K.     Give assurance of success

1.      Alieve fear and doubt.

2.      Express confidence by saying:  “You can!”

3.      Number 14:9

 

Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us;  their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us:  fear them not.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    As I was thinking of a way to conclude this lesson, this thought came to my mind.  “Quit asking why all of the time.”

1.      Examples:

a.      Why was this done?

b.      Why do you want to do that?

c.       Why should we?

d.      Why?  Why?  Why?

e.       See Mark 14:4:  “Why was this waste of the ointment made?”

2.      When a person asks:  “Why?” the other person is immediately put on the defensive.  He must rationalize and justify his thoughts and actions.

 

B.      Instead of asking:  “Why?”  Let’s seek to find the real purpose behind the words or the actions.

1.      He said this because...

2.      He did this because…

3.      NOTE:  When we do, we may find out that there was a very good reason for the thing to be said or done.

 

C.     Romans 15:2

 

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.