WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Proclamation:

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love."  1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth.  Paul was encouraging them to be alert to false teaching, to keep their faith in God, and to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity knowing that they were facing times of trouble and tribulation.  He also told them to do all that they do in love.

Application:

Today, whatever our particular situation, we are to act in a Christ-like manner.  We are to obey The Word of God, have confidence in His power, know that He will keep His promises, and with His strength we will have the victory.  We should always be on guard for the devil and his devices.  We should be unyielding in our belief and our faith.  We should be courageous when we face our problems, trials, and temptations because God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  With His help and strength we are victorious and more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)  We should always demonstrate loving-kindness, especially towards one another.  That way the world will know that we are true believers in Jesus, The Christ. (John 13:35)  We should always be about doing the work of The Lord, and we should encourage others who are doing likewise. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)  We never really know what others are dealing with and a kind word of encouragement, spoken in love, can help build up who is silently suffering.

Encourage One Another

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NIV)

In his letter to the believers in Thessaloniki, the Apostle Paul told them to encourage, comfort, and console each other, and to build each other up.  He said that Christ died for them so that they could be saved and live together with Him.

As believers we are to love one another. (John 13:34)  We are also to help one another, to encourage, to console, and to comfort one another.  When we speak to each other, we are to build each other up and not tear each other down.  We are to correct one another, as needed, but we are to do so in love, and with kindness. (Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 29:17, and Acts 18:26)  True statements, if they are not helpful, do not need to be spoken.  Let us make it a point to practice random acts of kindness and help at least one person each day.

Comfort Encourage And Edify One Another

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)  The King James Version of The Bible reads: " Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in The Church at Thessaloniki and told them that they should comfort and encourage each other.  He also said that they should edify one another and build each other up.  Then he added the phrase "even as ye also do" so as not to offend them or to sound as if he was chastising them.

The Bible says that we are to love one another. (John 13:34, 13:35, 15:12, and 15:17)  We are also to help one another. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)  However, we are also to encourage and comfort one another, and to edify, teach, and build up one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)  We are truly to be our brother's keeper and helper.  We are to promote the welfare of others.  We are to pray for one another. (James 5:16)  We are to treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. (Matthew 7:12)  Jesus said that as we treat His brothers, which are also our brothers, we are doing it to Him. (Matthew 25:40 and 25:45)  So, we need to be very careful with respect to the way we treat each other.  We need to treat one another with loving kindness, and help them, comfort them, encourage them, build them up, and teach them as best we can.