Article 13 –
December 14, 2017
‘To Be Encouraged’
Don’t we all need to be encouraged at times? I was thinking about how important it is to be encouraged, both when things are going poorly and when things are going well. Others can encourage us and we can also encourage ourselves: but, to be encouraged in the Lord is a very fruitful and righteous endeavor.
1 Samuel 30:6 tells us, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” David was in dire straits through no fault of his own, and circumstances had greatly discouraged the people around him and they blamed him because he was the king.
How often we find ourselves also in dire straits and lousy predicaments which may or may not be of our own doing. They affect us and we have to deal with negative situations more than we care for because they are caused by devilish influence and the devil is a professional trouble maker.
1 Peter 5:8 says, ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” The devil was walking about in the days of Adam, in the days of David, and no less today, we see him seeking. So when he does endeavor to devour our mind and body, we need to be prepared to encourage ourselves in the Lord as David did.
We are sons of God in this day and time, with Christ in us, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27b. The elements of this world are never going to encourage us in the truth that we are sons of God, so we have to go to God’s Word and encourage ourselves. Once we have made it a part of our life to encourage ourselves, we can certainly encourage others. This is part of our responsibility to God and to His household of believers. It’s important that we see this big enough that we would want to build God’s Word in our lives.
It’s very easy to be distracted with things and stuff and situations. And it’s very easy for the adversary to distract us with things and stuff and situations: but our position and responsibility as sons of God far outweigh all those situations that can turn us away from the things of God.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus Christ needed lots of encouragement at times, and he got it from his heavenly Father. We get our encouragement from God in the way of His written Word; by way of the manifestations of holy spirit, especially speaking in tongues. In Jude 20 we read, “But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” This verse is referring to speaking in tongues, which builds up the spirit of God within.
Psalm 1:1-3 is a very encouraging passage of scripture for any time or occasion. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate both day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
If we keep our heads in the law of the Lord during the course of our days, we will be uplifted and encouraged and the things we do will be a blessing to ourselves and others. The devil will not be able to seek us out and devour us. However, you can’t afford to mess around and seek God part time or when it’s convenient. If you don’t take the things of God seriously enough to seek Him out regularly, you will never see the blessings and encouragement that we’re talking about.
Remember, God wants us to be encouraged and blessed, not casualties of the spiritual battle, which is 24/7.
I would like to close with a section of scripture from Ephesians 3:16-21, which is one of the great sections in God’s Word written specifically to the Church of the Body of Christ, which is us today: “That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Can you imagine being able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”? That sounds great to me, that’s for sure! But, in the meantime, I’ll continue to try to have funglimpses! Thanks for reading! Respectfully submitted! Will Grove