THE BIBLE GIVES US HOPE

PROCLAMATION

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in The Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  May The God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Romans 15:4-6 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God in a letter to the believers in Rome.  Paul states that The Scriptures were written for them and for future generations to come in order to teach and to encourage believers.  Then he prayed that God would give them the same attitude towards each other as Christ had towards them so that they could glorify God in unity.

 

APPLICATION

The Bible was written and passed down through the ages for us and for future generations to come.  It has been translated into almost every language so that all people can be exposed to it.  However, we are not only to read it, but we are to behave as it teaches. (Romans 2:13 and James 1:22)  It also encourages us and gives us hope because it tells us that in the end we will win because The Lord God is with us.  Another reason for reading The Bible is that we can learn more about The God we serve and The Christ that we identify with when we call ourselves “Christians.”  If we don’t know who He is, then how can we know who we are?  The Bible is also the instruction manual for living a Christian life.  It teaches us how to treat fellow believers and how to treat others.  The more you read it, the more you will learn from it.  When the end comes, we win.

 

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HELP THE MAN OF GOD

Proclamation:

“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on one side, one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”  Exodus 17:11-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  While the Israelites were camped by the place called Rephidim, the Amalekites came and attacked them. (Exodus 17:8)  Moses sent Joshua and some of the men out to fight them.  Moses said that he would stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God and raise his hands. (Exodus 17:9-10)  Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill with him.  By raising up his hands, whether in prayer or praise, Moses acknowledged that The Lord God is in control.  When Moses grew tired physically from holding up his arms and hands, they helped him by holding up his hands.

Application:

Pastors, preachers, ministers, and all men of God are human and from time to time they need a little help.  The may need physical help during illness of periods of weakness, or they may need psychological and emotional help.  Even the strong men among us occasionally needs, and appreciates, a little encouragement. (Deuteronomy 1:38 and 3:28)  We have heard about “the Amen corner” in church, that small group of supporters who offer encouragement to the preacher when he is presenting The Word of God.  They do a good work.  A pat on the back, and telling him that the message he delivered helped you, can mean a lot to the man of God.  A kind word spoken to him every now and then can help him to keep on going. (2 Chronicles 10:7)  Actually, it is The Holy Spirit of God who is doing the work but He is just using and working through a human vessel to accomplish it.  When we help the man of God, we are helping God’s program.  There is a special blessing in store for those who give the man of God a glass of water. (Matthew 10:41-42)  When we help him, he is able to help others and advance the kingdom of God here on earth.  We get so much from them and occasionally it would just be nice to give them a little help and encouragement.

STAND FIRM AND HOLD ON TO THE BELIEF IN THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”  2 Thessalonians 2:15-16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  He began this second chapter by discussing the antichrist and reminded them that he had told them about these things when he was with them. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5)  The coming of the antichrist will be in accordance with how Satan works using displays of power through signs and wonders to support his lies. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10)  The false prophets were spreading the word that the Day of The Lord had already come and Paul was telling the believers that it had not come yet. (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3)  Then Paul encourages them to stand firm and hold on to the teachings which they had received.  He ends by praying that God will encourage and strengthen them.

Application:

After the rapture, the day of The Lord will begin.  The Day of The Lord is a technical phrase which refers to the period of time beginning with the Great Tribulation. (Read Matthew 24:3-28)  The antichrist will reveal himself during this period and present himself as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)  He will have power and he will deceive the world. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)  As bad as thing are in the world today, they will get worse because the day of The Lord has not yet come.  When it does come, believers will not be here to see it because it will occur after the rapture.  So, keep the faith and keep spreading The Word of God by mouth and by actions.  We can rest assured that we are safely within God’s hands. (John 10:29)

BE CAREFUL KEEP THE FAITH BE COURAGEOUS AND BE STRONG

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 by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul begins this last chapter with a discussion regarding the collection of money to help The Lord’s people. (1 Corinthians 16:1-4)  He told them that he wanted to spend some significant time with them after he went through Macedonia and after his stay in Ephesus. (1 Corinthians 16:5-9)  He made a special request regarding Timothy’s visit to them and he told them that Apollos would come to them later. (1 Corinthians 16:10-12)  Then he offered them some words of encouragement, telling them to be careful, keep the faith, and stand strong.  He exhorted them to do everything in love.  He also told them to graciously accept new people who were doing The Lord’s work, (1 Corinthians 16:15-18) then he gave them his final farewell greeting. (1 Corinthians 16:19-24)

Application:

As believers we should encourage and build one another up.  Even those believers who are strong in The Lord, and in The Word, still occasionally need a word of encouragement.  All of us go through trials, temptations, and tribulations.  We have no idea of all the things that a fellow believer may be dealing with.  It is not necessary for us to know their personal business in order for us to offer them an encouraging word or to pray for them.  We should make sure that whatever we do or say is done in love.  We should THINK first before we speak or act.  Make sure that it is Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Nice, and Kind.

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.

STAND FIRM AND HOLD ON

Proclamation:

"... From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.  He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

These word were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the believers in Thessaloniki.  Paul was encouraging them by reminding them that God chose them to be saved.  He also told them to "... stand firm and hold to ..." what they have been taught.  Then he prays that God will encourage them, and strengthen them, and allow them to do more good work.

Application:

We each were created and saved by God for a purpose.  Our good works here are a part of kingdom building here on earth.  All that we do should be done for the glory of God.  Temptation is all around us and our human nature is basically sinful.  Our trials, storms, and tribulations seem to keep pulling us down.  We need to "… stand strong and hold …" on to our Bible teachings and our faith in God.  Whatever it is that we are going through, may God encourage our hearts and strengthen us, and allow us to do more good deeds in the future.

Encouragement and God's Strength

"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)

In his letter to them, the Apostle Paul prayed this brief prayer for the believers in Thessaloniki after he had encouraged them to stand firm in the faith. (2 Thessalonians 2:14-15)

This brief prayer is just as appropriate today as it was then.  We all need to be prayed for and we need to be encouraged.  The troubles, trials, and tribulations which come our way via the storms of life, can weaken us, make us weary, and even knock us down.  We need to hear a word which will encourage our hearts and strengthen us, so that we can continue run the race, and fight the good fight, as we struggle on the narrow path of our Christian journey doing good deeds and spreading The Word of God. 

The Scriptures Give Us Hope And Help

"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)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome and told them to read The Word of God whenever things were getting them down.  He said that The Scriptures were written to teach them, and to encourage them, and to give them hope.  He also said that reading God's Word would help them endure whatever they were going through.

Reading The Word of God can help us today.  The Scriptures offer us a helpful word to address every situation and circumstance which we have to deal with.  All Scripture is given by God and it is good for instruction, direction, doctrine, reproof, and correction. (2 Timothy 3:16)  God speaks to us and offers us guidance and a word of encouragement through His Holy Word.  He speaks to us when we have sinned (Psalms 51:1-15 and 1 John 1:9); when we are feeling overwhelmed (Matthew 11:28); when we are weak (Philippians 4:13); when we feel inadequate (Matthew 19:26); when we are dealing with the death of a loved one (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18); when we are depressed and despondent (Psalms 30:5); when we are going through tough times (Romans 5:3-4, Romans 8:28, and James 1:2-3); when we have been wronged (Matthew 18:15-17); and many other situations too numerous to mention in this brief discourse.  We just need to read The Word of God more than we do. (2 Timothy 2:15)

The Scriptures Were Written For Our Benefit

"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.  May The God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Romans 15:4-6 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Rome that the scriptures were written for their benefit, to teach them, and encourage them, and to give them hope.  Then he prayed that God would bless them and give them unity of mind, heart, and speech, that they would be on one accord, and follow Christ, and glorify God.

The written words of the Bible represent God speaking to us.  They were written under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit for our education, edification, and enlightenment.  The scriptures provide us with guidance and direction, comfort and compassion, help and healing, in addition to insight and instruction.  The Word of God can provide us with spiritual food (1 Corinthians 10:3) and living water (John 4:10 and 7:38), and the road to salvation and sanctification.  To be blessed by The Word of God we must read it, or hear it (Deuteronomy 17:19, 2 Kings 23:2, Nehemiah 8:3 and 9:3, & Rev 1:3), believe it (Matthew 21:22), study it (2 Timothy 2:15), live it (James 1:22), and share it with others (Hebrews 13:16).

Words Of Encouragement

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

In the face of trouble and trying times, the Apostle Paul offered encouragement to the Christians in Corinth, telling them to be alert, keep the faith, exercise courage, show their strength, and be loving. 

Today, whatever our particular situation, we are to act like Christians, 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, God did not give us the spirit of fear.  With His strength we are conquerors.  We should always demonstrate loving-kindness towards one another.  When we are doing the work of The Lord, we should also encourage others who are doing likewise.

Words Of Comfort The Lord Is Always There

 "But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief ... My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes; yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure ... Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.  My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man He pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend." Job 16:5 & 16-21 (NIV)

After suffering all of the losses of his possessions and his health, Job told his tree friends that their words of comfort were not very comforting.  He said that if the roles were reversed, he could do a better job of comforting them than they were doing for him.  He also said that although he was suffering, he would continue to pray and The Lord in heaven would be his intercessor and plead his case before God The Father.

When our friends are dealing with the death or illness of a loved one, it is difficult to find the right words to say.  Telling them not to cry is useless and maybe even unhealthful.  We can remind them to pray, and we can pray for them.  We may never understand why God allows bad things to happen to us and to the ones that we love.  Our limited finite minds cannot possibly comprehend all that He knows, for He knows all.  After all that Job went through, he said though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. (Job 13:15)  Let's pray for the strength to keep the faith and to indure each trial that we face.  Remember, He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

Reading And Studying The Bible Is Good For 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)

Here the Apostle Paul states that all of the divinely inspired previous writings were written for the benefit of man.  By reading the scriptures man would learn how to endure, and be encouraged to continue to endure with the hope of better things to come.

The Bible is not just a book, or just a collection of books or stories.  The Bible is the divinely inspired written Word of God.  It can be used for divine guidance and instruction, the development of sound doctrine, and the reproof of wrong behavior or belief.  (2 Timothy 3:16)  The Bible teaches us what God expects us to do.  It also gives us a means to test what we hear so that we can recognize false prophets and false doctrine.   The Bible also inspires and encourages us to persevere in bad times and to keep the faith in light of the good things yet to come because the victory is already ours. 

The Certainty Of God's Promises

"God did this so that ... we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:18-19 (NIV)

After explaining God's promise to Abraham, and the oath that He made unto Himself because there was nobody greater to swear by, the author makes it clear that our hope is embodied in Jesus Christ Himself. It is to Him that we flee and take refuge during times of trouble. He offers us protection and security. He is our anchor.

We should be encouraged by the knowledge that where ever we go, Jesus has gone before us, and The Holy Spirit will be there with us. God will never leave us or forsake us. There is nothing that we go through, that we go through alone. Our hope is steadfast and secure because He promised to always with us, and He keeps His promises.

We Must Go Through Many Hardships

"They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said." Acts 14:21-22 (NIV)

Paul and Barnabas travelled about preaching and teaching about Jesus. While large numbers of Jews and Gentiles heard them and believed, there were also large numbers of people who did not believe them and wanted to stone them. They left those cities and went elsewhere to preach the gospel, but the later returned to the cities where they were both loved and hated. At the risk of harm to themselves, their purpose was to encourage the believers to keep the faith.

Most of us do not live in countries where we are persecuted for our beliefs. However, during these difficult economic times, a lot of us are experiencing hardships of one kind or another. We are bombarded daily with all kinds of non-Christian philosophies and temptations that test our faith. We need to stand strong as we deal with our many trials and tribulations and we need to encourage others to do likewise. The words we say to encourage others, may very well be helpful to us also. Remember, God will never leave us, or forsake us. If He brought us to it, He can bring us through it.

God Encourages Us With His Word

"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." Psalms 10:17-18 (NIV)

The psalmist begins by questioning God for allowing hostility and trouble in the world, especially on the poor. After asking God to punish the wicked, he then glorifies God and acknowledges His goodness.

God knows the desires of the afflicted. He hears their prayers and their cry. He knows when we are suffering and why. His Word offers encouragement to us, whether it is spoken by the preacher or read from the Bible. His Word offers us words of advice, comfort, consolation, encouragement, direction, guidance, and help for any and every situation. God hears us, we just need to prayerfully read His Word to hear what He has to say to us.

Be Thankful And Grateful For Those Who Help You

"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers ... I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." Philemon 1:4-7 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul is writing to his friend Philemon with a special request on behalf of Onesimus. Paul tells him that he is thankful for him and that he prays for him. Paul also tells him that he has been a source of joy and and an encouragement to him.

We ought to be thankful for the people that God has placed in our lives who have been helpful to us. We should also let them know that we are grateful for what they have done for us. We should let people know that the things that they have said and done have brought joy into our lives and that they have been a source of encouragement to us. People do not have to be kind or nice to us, and we should be thankful and grateful when they are. We ought to tell them how we feel while we have the opportunity. Life is short, and tomorrow is not promised to us.

In This World But Not Of This World

"You are all sons of The Light and sons of The Day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others ... But since we belong to The Day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 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 ..." 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 (NIV)

Addressing the Church at Thessalonica, Paul began this chapter talking about "the day of The Lord", judgement day, and reminded them that as children of God they would be raptured beforehand. And that as children of God they should act differently from the worldly people. He reminded them that they need protection against worldly temptations. As believers, they would be spared the wrath of God.

Jesus said, "I am The Light of the world." (John 8:12 & 9:5) We are sons of The Light. We are in this world, but not of this world, so we should not act like worldly people. We need to exercise self-control. We should put on the whole armour of God as we do battle with the world and its temptations. It is not God's plan for us to suffer His wrath, but to be saved. Therefore let us encourage each other, better days are coming. Let us build each other up and not tear each other down. Let us help, and not hurt; let us give, and not take; let us love, and not hate.

Stand Firm And Hold On

"... From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul is encouraging the Christians in Thessalonica by reminding them that God chose them to be saved. He is telling them to "... stand firm and hold on ..." to what they have been taught. Then he prays that God will encourage them, and strengthen them, and allow them to do more good work.

We each were created and saved by God for a purpose. Our good works here are a part of kingdom building here on earth. All that we do should be done for the glory of God. While temptation is all around us, our human nature is basically sinful, and trials, storms, and tribulations seem to keep pulling us down, we need to "stand strong and hold on" to our Bible teachings and our faith in God. Whatever it it that you are going through, may God encourage your heart and strengthen you, and allow you to do more good deeds in the future.

Be Encouraged God Is In Control

"Arise, Lord! Lift up Your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless ... But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless ... The Lord is King for ever and ever ... You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." Psalm 10:12-18 (NIV)

"Arise, Lord!" is a battle cry and "Lift up Your hand" is a reference to God's strength and power. There is a battle going on against the wicked and this is David's call to God not to forget the helpless, the weak, the orphans, the sick, the oppressed, the depressed, those that are in trouble, and those that are suffering. The prayer is for God to hear their cry, to encourage them, and to help them.

The same is true for us today. The wicked seem to have triumphed over the righteous. Evil people seem to be prosperous and the righteous people seem to be suffering from one calamity after another. However, things are not as they seem. The Lord God is King, and He is in control. He knows our situations and our desires. Be encouraged, He hears our cry and our prayers. He has the power to make wrong things right. We just need to be confident that He will do so. Pray, have faith, and wait on The Lord.