IT’S TIME FOR A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT
We don’t often think about it, but God calls us to offer words of encouragement to each other. If you are presented with a situation where you could say something good to someone or about someone, that is what we, as Christians, are supposed to do. Now, I am not saying we are to condone sinful conduct in people, but in most other contexts we should strive to build people up rather than cutting them down. In other words, if possible, we should avoid negative comments, and come up with positive ones instead. Someone once gave a good mental image of this when they said: “A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results.”[1]
Think about it in this example. There was a little country church that did not have a single member under the age of 80. They had just welcomed a young minister and his wife into the church. The minister’s wife was a wonderful young lady and was noted for always offering an encouraging word even when things weren’t quite up to par. Now this church had a choir and a piano player. But, the piano player’s hearing aid was not always adjusted properly and most of the choir members needed hearing aids but refused to get them. The first Sunday morning came for the new minister to preach. One by one, the choir members filed into their pews. The piano player started up and the choir gave it their best shot. It could well be said that they at least made a “joyful NOISE unto the LORD.”[2] Before her husband ascended to the pulpit, the young lady leaned over and whispered into his ear, “Now, weren’t they walking wonderfully today?”[3] You see, the minister’s wife was putting a positive spin on this while others might have offered less than helpful criticism. She looked for something encouraging to say rather than making a negative comment.
But the world in which we live doesn’t give much encouragement to others. The old cowboy song about a land “where seldom is heard a discouraging word,”[4] doesn’t match up with the America in which we now reside. Too often, Christians are just as guilty of contributing to this discouragement as the rest of the population. But that is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible instructs God’s people to be encouragers, not discouragers. The writer of the Book of Hebrews turns to the Christian churches in America today and says: 24 “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. 25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. INSTEAD, LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER ALL THE MORE, SINCE YOU SEE THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING NEARER.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (TEV) And, the Apostle Paul adds: “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an ENCOURAGEMENT to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 (NLT2)
There is a reason that we are called to be encouragers, rather than discouragers. It is because, through God’s grace, we are offered the LORD’S own encouragement and not discouragement. In Deuteronomy 31, we are told: “The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) And again, it is Paul who amplifies this by adding: 9 “For God has not chosen to pour out His anger upon us but to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ; 10 He died for us so that we can live with Him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of His return. 11 SO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO BUILD EACH OTHER UP, just as you are already doing.” 1st Thessalonians 5:9-11 (TLB) He also goes on to say: 14 “Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. ENCOURAGE those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE.” 1st Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT2) As you can see, the Bible calls all of us to encourage others and help to build them up in Christ. As the great British theologian, William Barclay, rightly said: “One of the highest duties of a Christian is the DUTY OF ENCOURAGEMENT.” [5]
So, who is it that needs encouragement? Well, quite simply, the answer is EVERYONE! We see examples of this in the Bible, and we can learn from the examples of some today who have chosen to be encouragers and not discouragers. Let’s first look to God’s Word for some excellent models of those who offered encouragement to some folks who really needed it.
From the Bible, we can see that outcasts are in need of encouragement. David was being hunted down by King Saul. It had to be a very discouraging time for David. And yet, it was Saul’s very own son, Jonathan, who stepped up to the plate and offered David encouragement at a time that David needed it most. 1st Samuel 23 tells us: 15 “One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. 16 Jonathan went to find David and ENCOURAGED him to stay strong in his faith in God. 17 ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Jonathan reassured him. ‘My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.’” 1st Samuel 23:15-17 (NLT2) Jonathan did this at great risk. Can you imagine the fury of Saul if he had come upon Jonathan while he was encouraging David! And yet, that is exactly what Jonathan did.
Those who are facing new and trying circumstances need encouragement. Ruth understood this. Ruth’s mother-in-law was Naomi. Naomi was a widow who was returning to Israel after a prolonged absence. Naomi’s prospects for a home and provisions upon her return looked very discouraging. Naomi knew that Ruth was a Moabite and might want to stay in her native land rather than travel with her to Israel. But Ruth was determined to lift Naomi’s spirits and let her know that she’d stick with her. And so, Ruth said to her: 16 “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” Ruth 1:13-17 (NLT2) Like Jonathan, Ruth was willing to take risks as well, but her encouragement ended up being a blessing to not only Naomi, it also was especially beneficial to you and me. You see, it was in Israel that Ruth married a man named Boaz. They had a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. And Jesse was the father of that very same “David” who was visited by Jonathan in the wilderness. Of course, it was the line of David that brought forth our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In the New Testament, we find many other examples of those who offered words of encouragement. Paul was once aboard a ship that was being tossed by a terrible storm and the ship was in danger of sinking. But, he gave the sailors on board hope by providing words of encouragement. They’d been battling the crashing waves and wind for two weeks. Acts 27 tells us: 20 “The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. 21 No one had eaten for a long time.” And boy did the sailors need some encouragement! So, Paul called the crew together and told them: 22 “Take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. . . What’s more, God in His goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” Acts 27:20-26 (NLT2) Things turned out exactly as Paul said—for He trusted in God and not a single life on that ship was lost.
During these dire circumstances, Paul’s words of encouragement offered a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark and stormy sky—all based upon his faith in God. When life’s waves of hopelessness seem intent upon drowning you in a sea of discouragement, God is there holding out His Hand—just as Jesus presented His outstretched hand to Peter who was sinking in the waves of another terrible storm. That’s the way it was for Peter, and later for Paul. That’s the way it is for us as well when we face the storms of life. The most encouraging news of all is that Jesus is the One who can get you through the rough waters of life.
We need to be encouragers of others when they are being pounded by the waves of hopelessness and feel like they are drowning in the depths of despair. Beyond the Old and New Testaments, are there any more recent examples of people who have taken the time to be encouragers? Of course, there are! Last month, in our Sunday morning bible study, we were considering the lives of famous Christians in the 19th and 20th centuries. One of them was Dr. David Livingstone the great explorer and missionary in Africa. One of the things about him that we didn’t cover involved the disappointment that he experienced when he first tried to share the Gospel message.
Before Livingstone became famous as an explorer, he wanted to be a preacher. One Sunday evening, he came in front of a congregation for the first time in a little church in Scotland. He’d worked so very hard in preparing his sermon and had memorized every line. This sermon, he hoped, would be the first of many on his way to becoming a great preacher in the missions field. He walked up into the pulpit and when he opened his mouth, no words came out. His hands tightly gripped the podium as he took a deep breath and once again attempted to start his message. But the words just wouldn’t come. His mind went completely blank as he stood there in awkward silence. Finally, he pulled out his handkerchief, and as he mopped sweat from his brow, he finally was able to get out a few words of apology. He then walked away in great shame. At that point, David Livingstone felt like he was drowning in that “sea of discouragement” I mentioned earlier. He was certainly in need of some encouraging words. As it turned out, it would be his future father-in-law, Robert Moffat, who offered such words. At the time, Moffatt was a famous missionary himself. He approached Livingstone after the service and offered him encouragement as follows: “You can be a great and wonderful servant of God. Why don't you go to medical school?” That’s exactly what Livingstone did. He completed medical school, but he didn’t give up on preaching. Just a few days after his medical school graduation, he was also ordained as a minister. The rest is history. David Livingstone’s name is forever linked with the spread of the Gospel and the exploration of the inner regions of the African continent. And to think that none of that might have happened but for the encouraging words of one man to another in his time of need! [6]
Now don’t think that David Livingstone was the only man of God who needed a word of encouragement. Oh no, even “encouragers” themselves sometime need encouragement. In fact, two of the most prominent preachers of our time experienced what it’s like to feel the pain of discouragement. They—like all of us—needed to be lifted up from time to time.
You probably wouldn’t think that about Billy Graham. And yet, even after he’d given his life to Christ, he went through some stormy seas that challenged his faith. When Billy started his studies at Bob Jones College back in 1936, he began to question his suitability for the ministry. He did not get along at all with the school’s founder, Bob Jones, and they clashed over Jones’ harsh manner and dictatorial style. Jones was supposed to be a Christian, but at times he didn’t act much like one. Jones failed to heed those Scriptures that call us to be supportive and positive in our comments to others. He was especially discouraging in his comments to Billy Graham. Things got so bad that Billy seriously considered leaving the college. When Bob Jones got wind of this, he called Billy into his office and told him: “If you leave [here]. . ., the chances are you’ll never be heard of. At best all you could amount to would be a poor country Baptist preacher somewhere out in the sticks.”[7] This was one of the most discouraging times in Billy’s life. He wrote a letter to his mother saying, “I know I’ve been converted. I know that I know Jesus Christ, but I’ve lost my feeling. I can’t seem to get anywhere in prayer. I don’t feel anything.” The man who, later in his life, would be so encouraging to millions of people was really down in the dumps. When his mother received his letter, she got down on her knees and prayed for the right words to encourage her son. God was faithful in answering her prayer. Billy’s mother wrote back: “Son, God is testing you. He tells us to walk not by feeling but by faith, and when you don’t feel anything, God may be closer to you than ever before. Through the darkness and through the fog, put your hand up by faith. You’ll sense the touch of God.” Billy was greatly moved by this. And so, he decided to follow up on exploring the option of transferring to another college. During his Christmas break, Billy joined his family for their vacation in Florida. While there, he visited the Florida Bible Institute. He liked it so much that he left Bob Jones College and transferred there. Billy didn’t know it, but every day just before lunchtime, both his mother and father were praying for him that perhaps this new college would be a place for Billy to re-energize his faith. As it turned out, this new setting in Florida fired up Billy’s zeal for the Lord. There at the Florida Institute, preaching opportunities that were never possible at Bob Jones College came his way. And the more he preached, the more people came to listen to his straightforward Gospel message. It was then that he felt God’s call to become an evangelist. In May, 1938, Billy hit the road as a full-time preacher of God’s Word. He credited his success to the power of God for sure—but he never forgot that his mother’s words of encouragement were used by the Lord to get him back on track.[8]
Now finally, consider something that happened to Max Lucado—one the more prominent pastors and Christian writers of the past three decades. Many people don’t know this, but Lucado has participated in a half-triathlon event. This is a grueling endurance contest consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 56-mile bike race. In his book entitled, Facing Your Giants, he described something that happened during the race that we need to remember when it comes to encouraging words. . . as well as discouraging words. This is how Lucado described the last leg of the bike race:
I didn’t have much energy left for the 13.1 mile [bike] run. Neither did the young fellow jogging next to me. I asked him how he was doing and soon regretted posing the question. The young man replied: “This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.” He had more complaints than a taxpayer at the IRS. My response to him? [All I said was:] “Goodbye.” I knew if I listened too long, I’d start agreeing with him. [Shortly thereafter,] I caught up with a 66-year-old grandmother. Her tone was just the opposite. “You’ll finish this,” she encouraged. “It’s hot, but at least it’s not raining. One step at a time…don't forget to hydrate…stay in there.” I ran next to her until my heart was lifted and my legs were aching. I finally had to slow down. “No problem,” she said as she waved and kept on going.[9]
There’s a real lesson in that. And the lesson is that encouragement is contagious—but, so is discouragement. We must try to lift the spirits of anyone who is discouraged, but we can’t afford to fall into the trap of their own discouraging pessimism. Believers in Jesus Christ, by definition, cannot be discouragers or pessimists. The problem with those who persist in holding to a discouraged and pessimistic outlook is that they tend to cling to their worldly worries and cares. Those who do that fail to heed God’s Word—because God’s Word, as presented by the Apostle Peter, tells us that we must let Jesus “have all our worries and cares.”[10] If you ever find yourself falling into the rut of discouragement, then it’s time to ask some important questions and then recite the answer as the Psalmist did in Psalm 42 when he asked himself: 5 “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” And then, he gave the only possible answer we can offer as God’s people: “I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You.”[11] In that same vein, Jesus tells us why we can be confident in doing that. It’s because Jesus gives us “peace of heart and mind,” and offers us the most encouraging words of all when He said: “In this world you will have trouble. BUT TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
Do you have a friend or a family member who’s discouraged and could use a word of encouragement today? If so, ask Jesus to help you find the right words to lift them up and give them the hope, peace and confidence in Him to climb out of their rut. Or, maybe you are the one who needs some encouragement this morning. If so, note that you don’t have to face discouragement alone. The most encouraging thing is that God is with you. GOD IS WITH YOU IF YOU ARE WITH HIM! What God told Joshua, He speaks to you today as He declares: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT2) To those in Christ, God says the same thing this morning. But that isn’t all God says that is encouraging.
He gave us an entire instruction manual for living our lives—it’s called the Bible. It is through God’s Living Word that we maintain our hope and gain unparalleled encouragement. The Apostle Paul reminds us: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (NIV) And so, what is the most encouraging thing of all that these Scriptures proclaim? Well, it’s stated many ways and various passages throughout the Bible, but the words in Romans chapter 5 are so uplifting for us lowly sinners when it states: 8 “God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since, by His blood, He did all this for us as sinners, how much more will He do for us now that He has declared us not guilty? . . . 11 Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins—MAKING US FRIENDS OF GOD.” Romans 5:8-11 (TLB) There is no greater encouragement we can have but to know that we have such a FRIEND! Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
February 5, 2023
©2023 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] Hodge, Elesha, comp. “Encouragement,” Today’s Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4. Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book, citing Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Leadership, Vol. 15.
[2] Psalm 100:1 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.” (KJV)
[3] Hodge, Elesha, comp. “Encouragement,” Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4. Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1997, citing —Anne Phillips, Ashland, Ohio. “Lite Fare,” Christian Reader. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
[4] Home on the Range, lyrics by Brewster M. Higley, music by Daniel E. Kelley, published before 1874.
[5] Kennedy, Peter. From Generations to Generations. “Day 23: Encouragement,” WORDsearch, 2010.
[6] Hodge, Elesha, comp. “Encouragement,” Volumes 1-4. Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book, citing William Hinson, “A Breath of Fresh Air,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 114.
[7] Laurie, Greg. Billy Graham: The Man I Knew. Salem Books: Washington, D.C. (2021), p. 53.
[8] Kennedy, Peter. From Generations to Generations. “Day 23: Encouragement,” WORDsearch, 2010.
[9] Lucado, Max. Facing Your Giants (W Publishing Group, 2006), p. 65, cited in PreachingToday.com.
[10] 1st Peter 5:7 “Let Him [Jesus] have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” (TLB)
[11] Psalm 42:5-6 (NLT2)
