THE PROMISE OF ENCOURAGEMENT?

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES we might have HOPE. Now may the God WHO GIVES perseverance and ENCOURAGEMENT…” -{Rom 15:4-5}

“GOD WHO GIVES… ENCOURAGEMENT…”  as this passage shows, He does so through “THE SCRIPTURES…” so that you might have “…HOPE…” Need encouragement? Then come to His Word and ask Him to encourage you and then extend the encouragement He gives from it to others…Take time to “meditate …day and night…”-{Psalm 1:2}.  Psalm 119 the longest chapter and is in the middle of the Bible is about characteristics of His Word. Years ago I used to read a section before I started studying whatever subject I was doing and this was my “warm up,” and what a blessing to look at the characteristics of His Word and see God’s provision from it . His Word is to lead us to Him, “…And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. “-{Luke 24:27} “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you RICHLY…” Be rich in the Word, it is the foundation for teaching and singing from your hearts to the LORD! –{Read Col 3:16}. Take a verse and think on it, word by word, phrase by phrase and in the context it is written and renew your mind with it. So it may align your thinking up with God’s and influence your decision making that is worthy of Him.-{Read Rom 12:2}. And remember one reason He has preserved His Word is to encourage His people!

“Encouragement  (paraklesis from pará = side of + kaleo = call) means literally the calling to one’s side and so refers can refer to exhortation, solace, comfort (that which gives strength and hope and which eases the grief or trouble of another) and consolation (that which alleviates grief, sense of loss, or trouble of another).

Kenneth Wuest notes that paraklesis “has various meanings; “a calling near, a summons, imploration, supplication, entreaty, exhortation, admonition, encouragement, consolation, solace.” The well-rounded all-inclusive idea is that of encouragement, of aid given the needy person, whether it be consolation, exhortation, or supplication. (Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans) (Bolding added) ”

“To encourage is to refresh find solace in, comfort.(paraklesis from pará = side of + kaleo = call) means literally the calling to one’s side and so refers can refer to exhortation, solace, comfort (that which gives strength and hope and which eases the grief or trouble of another) and consolation (that which alleviates grief, sense of loss, or trouble of another).“-{preceptaustin commentaries}

Vincent has this note on paraklesis, writing that…

Consolation (paraklesis). From para, to the side of, and kaleo, to call or summon. Literally, a calling to one’s side to help; and therefore entreaty, passing on into the sense of exhortation, and thence into that of consolatory exhortation; and so coming round to mean that which one is summoned to give to a suppliant — consolation. Thus it embodies the call for help, and the response to the call. Its use corresponds with that of the kindred verb “parakaleo,” to exhort or console.”

Times over the years with my chronic muscle illness in particular, I have needed some encouragement and have asked Him to encourage me and how often He has through bringing a verse to mind or allowing me to read something. A Good prayer is to ask the LORD to encourage you when you come to His Word… One such verse has been “This is my comfort in my affliction YOUR WORD  has revived {preserved my life} my soul.”-{Psalm 119:50}.

God comforts, refreshes, encourages through HIS Word… for He is the God who”… GIVES ENCOURAGEMENT…” to what end? In these verses it says, that we might have “HOPE!” Not the “hope of a gambler, the “hope of chance,” but the “Hope of certainty!”

LET GOD ENCOURAGE YOU… HIS WORD IS A MEANS TO THAT END!

And you wonder why the evil one tempts you to keep away from His Word … for the enemy does not want you ENCOURAGED…or have hope!

He encourages through His Word  and His people are to encourage. Hebrews 3;13,”But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ” We are daily to be encouraging one another. HOW DO YOU KNOW? He says as long as it is called, “Today!” Since everyday is called “Today,” then ” Today,” encourage one another. When you gather with other believers be on the offensive, deliberately there to encourage others. Look at Hebrews 10:24-25- ” …let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Encouraging one another and the motivation? The return of the LORD Jesus. Jesus is coming so let us carefully consider how to encourage one another when we are together. It was in a time of great suffering, when they were told as they gathered together they were to encourage each other. Mutual encouragement, each one doing their part. You don’t drift into it. It is something you have to think about and then out into action.

You come  and receive from His Word encouragement and then you mirror His heart by ENCOURAGING OTHERS. How easy is it to go to a church meeting, sit, listen get up go home and miss out the privilege you have to speak and do deeds of encouragement into the lives of someone who may be discouraged. “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” -{1 Thess 5:14}.

My youngest son when he was about seven years old once asked me “Daddy, who encourages the encourager?”

Often people forget that the one who encourages others, that he or she also needs encouragement! You count! Your life is, has been and can be a source of great encouragement to His people and as He says, “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ -{Matt 25;40}

Come to Him in His Word and ask Him to give you encouragement. Come expectant to receive for it is HIS PROMISE -{Read Rom 15:5}

Choose God’s Word and RECEIVE from Him … encouragement!” and then GIVE out Encouragement to others!

 Here is a PROMISE for Encouragement for you! Praise Him, Thank Him and Share the Encouragement.