Encouraged to Encourage

The title of today's sermon is Encouraged to Encourage. Encouraged to Encourage. Let me move the mic a little closer. Is that good? All right. So, like the sermonette, I'm gonna start with a key scripture today as well. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 11.

The entire sermon is going to be based around this scripture. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 11. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing. Can you remember a time when someone's words gave you strength to keep going? I remember when there was trouble in the church and my mother was telling me, Rod, when, not if, but when you see your leader's sin, don't let it throw you.

She meant never leave God when times of trouble come. Those words have always helped me keep going no matter how badly people behave. My parents always taught me from young that you never quit on God and God never quits on you. I have to give a sermon on that sometime. But those words came at a time when I needed to hear them and I had never forgotten those words to this day. Even though I was a young man in college when she said it to me, I still remember her words.

Encouragement. Encouragement is often the very thing that helps us rise up after failure. It helps us endure hardship. It helps us stay faithful in a very discouraging world. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 11, our key verse today, Paul writes to a church that's under pressure, under persecution. And his words urge them not only to find strength in God, which is the starting point, but to strengthen one another.

So today's message is built on this truth. Here is the key truth for today. God encourages us so we can be encouragers to others. God encourages us so that we can be or we can become encouragers to others. I want to start with a concept in the sermon today. We'll go through three points. And the first point, the first concept is that encouragement is a biblical command. I want to emphasize this today. The scripture I read earlier, our key scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 11, it's written in command form. Encouragers encourage one another and build one another up just as you were doing.

So what does he mean? The word encourage is translated as comfort in the old King James. It's translated encourage, I believe, in the new King James. It comes from the Greek word paracelio. Paracelio, according to Thayer's Greek dictionary, it literally means to call to one side. That's what the word means. To go to somebody's side. So that's the literal translation. But figuratively, it can mean to console, to encourage, to strengthen by consolation, or to comfort. So in other words, the old King James wasn't wrong and the new King James isn't wrong. They simply chose a different variation of the same basic concept. Go to somebody's side to prop them up. Encouragement is not optional.

Some people think that it's a spiritual gift and it can be. Encouragement can be a spiritual gift, but it's actually a Christian responsibility. All of us are responsible to encourage one another. You might think, this is no way. I am checking out of this sermon because I am not an encourager.

Yes, you are, and I will tell you how to do it. What you probably mean is, I'm not sentimental. You are an encourager. You may be terrible at giving sentiment, but you will be great at giving encouragement. And those, according to the Bible and according to what Paul meant, are two completely different things. Encouragement is not just a spiritual gift.

It is a Christian responsibility. It's a command in the same context as holiness and faith and watchfulness that are listed. Paul lists in the same chapter in verses 1 through 10 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. He tells us to be holy, to be faithful, to be watchful, and to encourage. So it is ubiquitous, if you will. All of us have to do it. It's especially critical in these last days, which is the context of 1 Thessalonians 5.

So the early church was admonished to practice encouragement faithfully. Let's go to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 24. Hebrews 10 and verse 24. And let us consider how to stir up one another in love and good works. Not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some.

Some people stop coming to church in the early first century. They wouldn't meet as often or regularly. And we find that same situation today. And the problem with that is in the very next statement. Why is it such a big deal to come to church every Sabbath? Let's read that entire verse because he gives the reason why. Not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.

And all the more, as you see the day drawing near, as the times get closer and closer to the end times, we need to encourage one another. But you need to know what encouragement is and what it is not. Let's consider stirring people to love. When you're talking to somebody and they tell you about they're having trouble in their life with another person, they're making a relationship decision.

You encourage others to make decisions that preserve love, that preserve God's way, the truth, not to throw away relationships. I hear too many people, when I counsel people, about a relationship problem. It is super common in the church of God for other people in the church of God to have given them advice to throw their relationship away. Well, that's it. That's it, buddy. You need to break it off. Which is terrible advice. Which is ungodly advice. Which isn't truth and it isn't love. Stir people to love. Stir people to do good.

Good works. Looking out for the needs of others. Isn't just telling them good words or sending them cards or letters. Let's notice what John adds to this discussion. 1 John 3 and verse 18.

1 John 3 and verse 18. Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth. Now, word and talk are cards and phone calls in today's modern language. Right? You send a encouraging text message or you pick up the phone and you call. And John isn't criticizing those things. He's simply saying you need to go further. Truth. He says, in deed, in other words, take action to help people, but also to love one another in truth. And this is the key to encouragement. Truth implies no compromise with evil.

You don't do good works by helping your brother sell drugs, for example. You don't encourage people to do the wrong thing. Like they get into some evil practice and you say, oh, good for you. That's not truth. That's not encouragement. Encouragement comes from the truth. We're going to hit on that multiple times today. Encouragement comes from the truth. Indeed, when John said indeed, that part of the passage tells us to take action to help other people.

To get yourself bodily involved. Don't just wish them well. Wishing them well is a good thing, as we heard from Mr. Roblesky. He got inundated with cards and phone calls and text messages. But that's not enough. What about the Apostle Joseph? How many of you remember the Apostle Joseph? Any hands?

Yeah, I didn't either. I just stumbled on this one. Oh, he's real. Oh, there's an Apostle Joseph. You know why you don't know the Apostle Joseph? Because we all call him by his nickname, not his name. He was so known as being an encourager. We don't even know his name. Not a single one of us knew that Barnabas was named Joseph. Because Barnabas is a nickname that means encourager. That's how much of an encourager he was. And he encouraged people in deed and in truth.

He sold a field that he owned to help the brethren collectively. It wasn't a big deal to Barnabas, but it was to the church. But he did it easily, so easily that that became his name. So we didn't even know that we had an Apostle Joseph. He's such an encourager. Encouragement is not just for pastors, for speakers, and it is not for extroverts.

Encouragement is for everybody. Every believer has this ability that we're going to talk about today. We have this calling to speak life into others, to build each other up. You have it in you, and you don't realize it because it has nothing to do with what the world believes is encouragement, which is simply sentiment. But to be an encourager, you must first be encouraged yourself. So let's look at the source of encouragement. Remember the title encouraged to be an encourager, or to encourage.

We are encouraged by our hope in Christ. The context of our key verse in 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 11, let's read a few verses up from it. First Thessalonians, or a couple of verses, let's read verses 8 and 9 and get the context of what Paul's talking about. 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 8. But since we belong to the day, he's talking about walking in the light. When we're in the day, we're walking with pure actions, holy actions, we're keeping God's law. We're walking in the day. Both John and the Apostle Paul used light as it's used in the Old Testament as an analogy of purity.

Moral actions. That's what light represents. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation. What keeps us going? Remember Paul said that we're persecuted, we're pressed on every side, yet not crushed. How? Because in the end, we win.

We've read the end of the story and we know how it ends. And it is our hope in Christ that keeps us going. For the helmet of the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our life may be filled with wrath, but we're going to end up in peace and quiet, as it says in Psalm 23, by still waters. We will obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. Encouragement is rooted in the Gospel message. So guess how you encourage other people. We're still on the point that God encourages us, but look at how God encourages us. Because this is the clue as to how you can be an encourager. Encouragement is rooted in the Gospel message. We're not headed for destruction. You're not headed for destruction. Anxiety will wilt up inside you and tell you you are headed for destruction. The worst possible thing will happen. I don't know why dreams are often that way, but our dreams are that way sometimes. You just can't make anything work. You get in a car, you never make it to your destination if you're in a dream. I don't know why our brains work that way.

But that's not reality. We are going to succeed. We're headed for a very secure future in Christ. And that assurance gives us the reason to keep going. And guess what? To help other people do the same with the same assurance. It's not easy to see when you're in a trial.

When you're in a trial, it's like you fall off the path and you're in the ditch and you're no longer traveling down the path. And you can't see the path anymore because the ditch is deep. And all you can see is the ditch. And that's where other people come in. Who aren't in the ditch.

I can reach down in the ditch and pull you out of the ditch.

How do you do that? Remind them of our hope in Christ first and foremost.

We are not alone in our battles. God is with us. Jesus Christ is with us. And our ability to encourage comes from the fact that we are encouraged by God Himself. 2 Corinthians, let's go there, 2 Corinthians 1, verse 3. 2 Corinthians 1, verse 3.

Blessed be the God of our Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father of mercies, the God of all comfort. There's that word. Who comforts us in all our afflictions.

God is always with us. So that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.

How does God comfort us with affliction? With the hope of salvation? How do we comfort others? How do we pull them out of that ditch? With the hope of salvation? With the comfort, He says, with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Encouraged to encourage. We are encouraged by God.

We encourage one another. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. We draw strength from God. But not only for ourselves, in that passage we just read, we draw strength from God and we pass it on. We help others. When your heart is anchored in God's promises, when you don't give up that vision, you become a source of stability for other people like nobody's business. And you are an encourager at that point. And you may not be the most eloquent, you may not be the most sentimental, right? You may not be the most sympathetic, but you are stability.

You are affirmation. You have become the strength to help others to keep going. Spend time regularly soaking in the encouragement. Soaking in the truth. Reading Scriptures every day, praying every day. I know I say that a lot. I say that so much you might think it cliché.

Brethren, I am never going to stop saying that. Read your Bible every day. It doesn't have to be a lot.

Read the Bible for 10 or 15 minutes in the morning, and it will change the course of your day.

And one of the reasons you do that isn't just for yourself. It's so that encouragement flows from the truth, not sentiment. You build your warehouse of knowledge with truth. You stack every shelf in your brain with the truth. And when somebody's in trouble, you speak the truth. And it is the truth that encourages us. Because it is the truth that is positively for sure. And every sentiment that we could possibly give isn't even a reality most of the time. You know, sentiment. Keep on keeping on. You've got this. You can do it. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Those are all good things. Those are not bad things at all. We are thinking about you. Good. Good. But when someone loses a loved one, when a child dies, and they're in a deep hole, our thoughts and prayers aren't even felt. That's what I have found. When I'm at the hospital, when I'm with somebody who's grieving, sentiment, words don't help. The truth, however blunt it may be, universally helps. It stabilizes. It doesn't take away the pain.

You're not going to take away the pain. But you will help them keep going. You will give them the vision that they already have. You're just reminding them that this is going to end really, really well. And right now, I'm in pain. Right now, I do not like where I'm at. Encouragement flows from the truth, not sentiment. Sentiment is helpful. Sentiment is actually helpful in many situations. The truth encourages universally.

And that's what the apostles meant. The apostles themselves, if you read their letters, they write sentiment into their letters. Sentiment is a very good thing. But not all of us are gifted with sentiment. All of us are gifted with the truth. Every single one of us. When a person loses a loved one, I found it little help to give a sentimental word. It literally does nothing.

But the truth in the situation levels our thinking, truly gives us hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. And the result? Encouragement builds up the body of Christ.

Let's go back to our key Scripture and notice the result is listed right in the passage.

1 Thessalonians 5, verse 11. And let's just read the middle part of it, actually. And Paul says, build one another up. That's what he's talking about. Encouragement strengthens spiritual growth.

It helps others stay faithful and endure hardships and keep their eye on the Kingdom of God that's coming. It reminds them that their happiness, their stability, comes from their loving other people and doing good works. You know what's really encouraging? Somebody's in the hospital, and they're as sick as they've ever been in their life, and you encourage them to pray for somebody else. You tell them about so-and-so who's going through this trial, and they also need your prayers, even though you're going through a trial. And all of a sudden, they remember, oh yeah, oh yeah, I'm in a trial, but I'm a Christian, and I care about other people, and that is my purpose, and that is my drive, and that gives me the hope to keep going. Caring for other people is not just what I do, it's who I am. I learned that from George Payton. He was dying from cancer. He was in his deathbed, and he was like, how so-and-so? And how so-and-so? Oh, and how so-and-so? And that was remarkable.

I was like, oh, that's what Christianity looks like. I get it. Proverbs 12 and verse 25.

Help people to remember that their responsibility is to love other people and to do good works. In the truth, Proverbs 12 and verse 25, anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down. When you're in a trial, when you fall into that ditch, and you start to think, everything is bad, and everything that's going to happen will only be bad. That is essentially anxiety in a nutshell. The worst possible thing is going to happen, right? And we all get in those moods. We all have that pop up.

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. What is a good word?

The truth. The truth is a good word.

I have a true story of encouragement to share with you that will make this point well.

Dr. William Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army. He is now remembered for building a worldwide movement to serve the poor, to feed the hungry, and his own personal attempt to preach the Gospel. But few people know his early ministry nearly collapsed.

Now the Salvation Army, they house single moms, they feed the poor, and they have these family stores. How many of you have ever been to a Salvation Army family store? I have. When I didn't have two nickels to rub together, I could go to Goodwill, but they didn't have nearly the men's suits that Salvation Army's family store has. And I could go to any Salvation Army. I would find a rich area where the donations would be nice, right? They would be rich clothes, and I would find a Salvation Army family store in a rich area, and I would find some nice suits. Super, super cheap. They always stunk like a thrift store stinks. You know that smell? You walk into a thrift store, it just has that used clothing smell to it. So the suits I would buy would cost me like five or ten bucks, and all I have to spend was five or ten bucks to get it dry cleaned and deodorized. And I had a great suit! I mean, this is the Salvation Army we're talking about here. Almost didn't happen. Listen to this. He almost gave up when he was in England until a journalist named William T. Steed stepped in with encouragement and national attention that changed everything. In the 1880s, Booth's Salvation Army was a small struggling organization facing in England with the Church of England with the Queen, you know, or the King or the Queen being the head of the church, right? The national church, if you will. He was facing massive public opposition. And as a result, massive financial strain. Booth was so discouraged and ready to give up on the idea of expanding the Army's mission because he was only helping people in London's downtrodden east side. And he had no further reach than that. He had great vision, but he just wasn't getting it done. And then William T. Steed was a pioneering British journalist and a reformer. He learned about Booth's work and he was moved by the mission and the depth of need in London. So Steed, this journalist, encouraged Booth to keep going.

No, don't give up. You're doing the right thing. You're serving other people. That's the right thing to do. That's encouragement. And he also, Steed, didn't just give works, but Steed actually took action. He offered to help in a very unique way. He wrote a very powerful investigative expose titled The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon. He wrote it in 1885 and he exposed child trafficking and he shined a spotlight on the suffering of the poor in this expose. The article electrified the public and Parliament, stirring outrage and compassion. And behind the scenes, Steed kept encouraging Booth not just to keep going, but actually to expand. And as a result, the Salvation Army rapidly grew in England and eventually became a global mission of mercy.

Booth's vision nearly lost to discouragement found new energy because one man came with an encouraging voice and offered support. After Steed died, Booth wrote or spoke at his memorial service and in the Tribute in 1912, Booth said this about Steed, quote, quote, While men slept, he watched. While others were dumb, in other words, wouldn't speak.

He spoke. He fought for the poor. He gave me courage when few others would.

That was his tribute to Steed in 1912. So today, the Salvation Army operates in more than 130 countries, helping millions because one guy encouraged another guy to keep going.

He was a weary servant and he needed support. Encouragement. Think about it from the church's point of view. Builds the church up. You help people keep going. You keep the church strong.

You do that. We keep each other strong. When you see discouragement, don't be sentimental.

Be truthful. It's where our hope and encouragement lies. It may not feel like encouragement at the time, but the truth is actually what keeps us going. The churches will thrive when people speak the truth in love. When you affirm other people's efforts. When you pray for one another. And when you're kind to one another, unity blossoms.

We bring up each other's needs before God. We intercede with their comfort. We strengthen.

We ask God to heal them. We ask God to guide them. Now they're in our minds because we're praying for them. Do you turn to the Daily Bulletin or the Weekly Bulletin at least once a week and pray for everybody on that list? When you do that, it keeps them in the forefront of your mind as well. Not only do your prayers avail much, now you are aware they need encouragement. You ask God to encourage, to protect, to bless them. Yes. Especially if they're going through a hard time. But you don't stop by just praying for them. You encourage them. Maybe with some kindness. Offering some support with your presence. We're going to talk about being present a little bit more. A kind word, a helpful gesture, or just being there when they're hurting. Sometimes there are no words to say. Sometimes things are like when death occurs. There's literally nothing you can say. There's nothing you can do. It's beyond our power to reach a solution. It's now completely in God's hands. But we still have the truth. We still have hope. Just being there can help when they're hurting. I'm not alone. I have my church family. Creating an environment of mercy and not judgment. Oh, that's a beautiful thing in the church. Yeah, we all have our flaws. And it would be easy like a group of chickens that peck at each other when they see a wound. We could do that, or we could put salve on those wounds by being kind.

Help people feel safe. Help people feel seen and cared for. By being present and kind, you reinforce people's value, their dignity. Sometimes just reminding someone, hey, you matter.

Or, you know what? You're actually doing better than you think. I can see that.

Can lift a heavy heart. Proverbs 16, verse 24.

Proverbs 16, verse 24. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the body. So when you're giving the truth, try not to be harsh about it.

Try to be loving and gentle and kind, because that's the way God and Jesus Christ are.

Examples in the Bible? Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas and Paul. Paul. One of the most prolific writers, in fact, the most prolific writer of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul almost wasn't the Apostle Paul. When he was first baptized, Paul was very discouraged. Because remember, the church did not treat him very well when he was first baptized. Do you remember why? Because he was Saul. And Saul was the persecutor of the church. He murdered church people.

And then all of a sudden, he became a Christian. Uh huh. Not too many people believed he was actually a Christian. And Paul almost didn't become the Apostle Paul. Just after he was baptized, and he was the previous persecutor of the church, everyone was afraid of him. Let's drop in in Acts 9 and verse 26. Acts 9 and verse 26. And notice what Joseph, Barnabas, the encourager, did for Paul. Acts 9 and verse 26. And when he had come to Jerusalem, he had attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him. I probably would have been afraid of him.

For they did not believe that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas doesn't even call him Joseph. Just calls him Barnabas.

Took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem preaching boldly the name of the Lord.

Somebody stepped in and said, wait a minute, he's one of ours. We're going to encourage him. We're going to take him in. He matters. And he became one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament. Who's to say how much Barnabas helped Paul in those early days when no one else would even go near him? Be present with others and show them kindness when they are down.

You know, Jesus is a great example of this also, of course. Jesus is an example of it. He did it all the time. But he did it particularly with Peter.

And Peter also became one of the leading apostles in the church.

And Jesus Christ, you know, Peter helped Jesus Christ to actually build the church.

But Peter was a failure on the night of Jesus' crucifixion.

Jesus, He was so merciful and so kind and so encouraging with the truth that Peter went out with boldness. Notice how Peter was transformed from someone who was ashamed to someone who boldly preached the Gospel.

Let's first notice his shame. Peter was so ashamed. Matthew 26, verses 74 and 75.

Peter was at a low point because he failed Jesus Christ. Matthew 26, verse 74.

Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear. This is Peter.

I do not know the man, and immediately the rooster crowed.

And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.

And he went out and wept bitterly. And yet, Jesus saw great potential in Peter and immediately took him right back and he gave Peter a commission. He didn't say boo about Peter's failure. He didn't even bring it up.

What we're about to read is only the third time he even interacted with the apostles.

And his earlier interactions weren't very much at all. So this is close to the very first thing that Jesus actually said to Peter after the crucifixion. It wasn't the first thing, but it was the first long interaction with Jesus after the crucifixion. At least the first one that's recorded. John 21, verse 14. Notice Jesus didn't even bring it up. He simply gave Peter a commission. Okay, buddy, get to work. And that's what you need to tell a man.

John 21, verse 14. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to them, yes, Lord, you know I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs. He didn't say, well, I had to deliberate a lot because you denied me three times before the rooster crowed. He just said, Peter, get to work. He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know I love you.

He said to him, tend my sheep, not how dare you curse me.

17. He said to him a third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me?

Peter was grieved because he said a third time, do you love me? 18. And he said to him, Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.

And Jesus said to him, feed my sheep.

19. Truly, truly, or verily, verily, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself when you walked wherever you wanted, but when you were old, when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. He's warning, Peter, that he's going to be persecuted as an apostle. And Peter didn't deny him the rest of his life.

He was warned, tradition has it, that Peter was crucified upside down.

And he was warned right there by Jesus Christ, and that he was so encouraged by Jesus Christ, so guided by him, that he didn't stop once the rest of his ministry. Verse 19. This he said to show what kind of death he was to glorify God. And after saying this, he said to him, follow me. He didn't say, you dirty rotten scoundrel.

First, I'm going to flog you, and then I'll forgive you and give you a commission.

Nope. Jesus Christ just encouraged Peter. Get to work and follow me.

Peter became a leading apostle, the one who gave the decision at the Jerusalem Council on circumcision. The one who died reportedly crucified upside down. And those are just a couple of examples of how encouraging words can instill great confidence and accomplish much in the church.

Encourage one another with the truth, and be merciful and kind.

Make it a daily practice. A word in conversation. A note or a text message to different people every day. A prayer spoken for someone behind the scenes. Or say to them, a sincere thank you, I see what you're doing and it matters. Those things are very small daily efforts, but they yield huge results.

So encouragement isn't always grand. In fact, it's usually not. It's often small actions guided by God that are done faithfully and consistently. Can we do that as a congregation? Consistently build an encouraging environment. You have to be spiritually alert. Often, people who seem strong are quietly struggling. So get to know each other. Ask God, Father, who needs encouragement today?

And then try to speak the words of life. Try not to tear people down. Don't tell people to get a divorce when they're having trouble. That amazes me, brethren. Don't do that. Ephesians 4, and verse 29. Good principle to live by. One of my favorite passages. Ephesians 4, 29.

Let no corrupting, in other words, tearing down, no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as good for building up. I've found that sentiment will only carry you so far. It's good to be sympathized with. It is. But what people need is to be reminded of the truth.

That's what builds us up. A timely word heals wounds. It restores courage. And it opens someone's heart to do something great in the service of God. So be present. I want to read this Scripture to you, and I want you to notice something you may not have noticed about the Scripture.

That it actually says to be present with one another. Encouragement is often more than words, even. It's showing up. It's listening with your ears, not talking with your mouth.

It's standing with each other. Romans 12 and verse 15.

Romans 12 and verse 15. Rejoice with those who rejoice.

Weep with those who weep. What does that mean? It means be with them.

We read the rejoice part and the weep part, and we miss the with.

We're to be present with each other. So pass it on. God has poured out His encouragement on you by giving you the truth. His plan for salvation. Paul calls it a helmet that protects your head. Don't keep it to yourself. Share it. In a world filled with criticism, with fear, with weariness, we're called to be among other things. We are called to be encouragers.

Imagine what our homes and this church will look like if we all took this message seriously and we actually put this into practice into our lives. Here is a prayer that Isaiah wrote that we should pray. Jot this down. Isaiah 50 and verse 4. Isaiah 50 and verse 4. And we'll end here.

Isaiah 50 verse 4. The Lord has given me the tongue of those who are taught.

My mouth is filled with the knowledge of God, in other words. God taught me to speak the truth.

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught. What do you think you should do with that tongue of yours? That I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.

Bear one another's burdens. Become an encourager.