Encouragement

If you were asked, and I'm asking you now, what would have to happen in your life for you to be encouraged? What would encourage you the most? Be anything you can think of.

We often hear the words encourage and discourage. We probably hear in today's world more about discouragement than we do encouragement. So what do we mean when we say we are encouraged? And what do we mean when we say that we are discouraged? The Hebrew word spells C-H-A-Z-A-Q, pronounced kazok, is translated courage in the Old Testament. I'm sorry, the Hebrew word that is translated as encourage in the Old Testament is a word that comes from a primitive root to fasten upon, to seize, to be strong, to fortify, to help, to cure, to repair.

So the Hebrew word kazok translated courage. And also translated as encourage means to strengthen, basically. In short, it means to be strengthened. In other words, in the Old Testament, there are two basic Hebrew words that are used for courage and encourage. They're basically synonyms, and there is a strong relationship between courage and encourage. Let's note in Deuteronomy 31, this will illustrate what I've just said there, in Deuteronomy 31 and verse 6.

We see this admonition quite often, especially directed toward Moses and toward Joshua, and especially Joshua, but here Moses' writing. Deuteronomy chapter 31 verse 6. Be strong and of a good courage. It's the same thing as saying be strong and be encouraged. Well, you say, I can't be encouraged. There's nothing to be encouraged about. If we really understood, as we heard in the opening prayer, as he thanked God for our blessings and blessings that we're not even aware of oftentimes, the role that God is playing in our lives, if we're really trusting him and looking to him, we could be encouraged all the time.

It doesn't mean that you'll ever be down or in heaviness because surely that will come. There are periods of time in which you'll be sorrowful, you'll grieve, you'll be discouraged, but you'll be encouraged. You'll be discouraged. But basically, the Bible admonition is to be of a good courage, to be encouraged.

Be strong and of a good courage. Fear not. So if you are of a good courage and if you are encouraged, you are not fearful. You are not fearful. Fear not, nor be afraid. Be afraid of them for the Eternal your God, for it is he that goes with you. In other words, God leading you into the Promised Land. He will not fail you nor forsake you. And of course, Jesus Christ said the same thing there in the last few verses of Matthew 28 when he commissioned the church, go you into all the world, disciple all nations, teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

And lo, I am with you even until the end of the age. Very similar kind of admonition. And Moses called unto Joshua and said unto him, in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage. Be encouraged. Don't be discouraged. Don't be down. For you must go with this people into the land which the Eternal has sworn under their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.

And the Eternal, he it is that does go before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you, neither forsake you. Fear not. Neither be dismayed. Don't be discouraged. Don't be down. I am with you. I will lead you all the way.

Of course, God has made the same kind of promise to us today as we make our march toward that promised land in the metaphoric sense, but it is real, the kingdom of God. So here we see that being of a good courage is inextricably linked to trust in God. Be of a good courage for I'm with you. Are you going to trust me?

You know, even on the currency in the U.S., we have the words in the coinage and other currency in God we trust. In God we trust. On the other hand, to be discouraged implies a loss of confidence to be downcast, to be filled with doubt, fear, and anxiety. Let's go to Joshua chapter 1 now.

Time after time, you know, after the death of Moses, Joshua was the one that was ordained, appointed by God, and ordained by Moses to lead Israel into the promised land. And notice the admonition given to Joshua. In Joshua chapter 1 and verse 6, Be strong and of a good courage. For unto this people shall you divide for an inheritance the land which has swore unto their fathers to give them. In verse 9, Have not I commanded you be strong and of a good courage?

Be not afraid, neither be you dismayed, for the eternally your God is with you wherever you go. And God has made that same promise to each one of us. He's made that promise to those who constitute the body of Christ, the Church of God. Then we see in verse 18, in verse 18, Whosoever he be that does rebel against your commandment, and will not hearken unto your words, and all that you command, him he shall put to death, only be strong and of a good courage.

So God wants us to be strong and of a good courage. Courage is also inextricably linked to conviction and commitment. And I talk often of the three C's, conviction, commitment, and courage. Why would a person be able to act courageously in the face of certain danger in which if he did whatever it is he needs to do, he might lose his life? Why would people be willing to give their lives for the faith? Why would people be willing to die for whatever cause you want to name?

Because they are convicted, that is, they are convicted of what is right, they are committed to following through with their convictions. One of the most notable examples of this in history is contained in the famous words of Patrick Henry leading up to the time of the American Revolution, in which he uttered the famous words, I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death, he was ready to die for the cause. When we went through the steps of repentance and faith and the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins that are passed leading up to baptism, the minister admonished us to count the cost.

So let's go to Luke chapter 14, where those instructions are given to count the cost. Luke 14 verse 25. Luke 14 and verse 25.

We're getting some kind of feedback. I don't know if it's from this microphone or what. In Luke 20, I don't know what I said, but I want 1426. I think I said 25. I don't know. In Luke 14 and verse 25.

In Luke 14 and verse 25.

There went great multitudes with him, and he turned and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, love less by comparison, father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciples. And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits down first and counts the costs, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Less happily after he has laid the foundation, is not able to finish it. All that beholds it begins to mock him. There is no telling how many hundreds and even thousands in the past 50 to 75 years have come through the doors of the Church of God, saying that they had counted the cost, and then for whatever reason they become so discouraged or disillusioned or whatever word you want to use, and they quit. One of the first steps of being encouraged is to come to truly understand that you cannot change the past. Crying over spilled milk will not put milk back in the bottle or the bucket. One thing we must recognize that oftentimes our grief over past events has to do with how they affect me personally. What so-and-so did is the reason why I am where I am. Is that the reason why any of us are where we are? It's because of what someone else did to us? In some cases, that is true. You know, oftentimes I think about what could have been. I go down west, Highway 80, about two miles across Big Sandy Creek, and look out there to White Fence and some buildings. And you think about what all transpired there. What a wonderful time. What a wonderful place. How many lives were changed? Oh yeah, we can all talk about the negative. Oh yes, we can do that.

But there was some who wanted something different. And of course, we could become so discouraged that we give up the ship, as it were, and quit. You know, the old saying that's in the locker rooms of football teams all over the world, and that's not the case. And so, quitters never win, and winners never quit.

The test of a person's character is how they deal with the disappointments of life. We can easily become so concerned with the burden that their mistake placed on us that instead of being concerned with the burden that is upon them. Actually, when all is said and done, if we deal with whatever hand is dealt with us in life, as God has commanded us to, the ultimate test, if it is because someone else did it, is upon them. And oftentimes we would hear somebody say, well, I'd hate to be in their shoes when Jesus Christ looks them in the face and asks them to give an account, because you know it says that every tongue shall confess and every knee shall bow, and we shall all give an account. And judgment is now on the house of God.

One of the principle Satanist strategies that Satan uses is to have us successively concerned with ourselves. Are you discouraged over past events in your life? And perhaps more importantly, are you discouraged by the trials that are taking place in your life right now? And every person that is here basically has some kind of trial going on in their life. We talked about last Sabbath, the ways in which we are tried and the why of trials.

I have a saying that goes like this. What is is. What is is. There it is. What is is.

And what isn't isn't. And I must deal with what is. Oh, we can live in a fantasy world, or we can try to withdraw or whatever strategy one might use to escape.

But God has not called us to escape. It says in the book of Hebrews, if any soul draw back, I shall have no pleasure in him. We cannot let anything defeat us. We cannot give up.

I cannot change the past. You cannot change the past. I can learn from the past. I can repent of the past, but I cannot make that which is crooked straight.

And I realize that I must face what is at the present time, or retreat and quench the Spirit of God.

So ever in the Bible, the words are to press on, to press forward to the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, to never turn back. Once you put the hands to the plow, never turn back. Be of a good courage. God will be with you. Never leave you. Never forsake you.

Many of the things of the past that I would like to correct and make straight are not my doing. And you could say the same thing.

But it reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's famous poem, If, which I shall now read. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too.

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don't deal in lies, or being hated, don't give way to hate, and yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise. If you can dream and not make dreams your master, if you can think and not make thoughts your aim.

If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same. If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools.

Or watch the thing you gave your life to broken, and stoop and build them up with worn out tools.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings, and risk it on one turn of pitch and toss.

And lose and start again at your beginnings, and never breathe a word about your loss. If you can force your heart and nerve and sin you to serve your turn long after they are gone.

And so hold on when there's nothing in you except the will which says, hold on. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with kings, or lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, and if all men count with you but none too much.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run.

Yours is the earth and everything that's in it, and which is more. You'll be a man, my son. Oftentimes when we think of encouragement, we think of how someone else can encourage us.

If so and so would just do such and such, then I would be encouraged.

If so and so or such and such would not have happened, I'd be happy.

What a pitiful trap to fall into, and I would hasten to add that just about everybody in this room has fallen into that pity pit at one time or the other.

So can we learn to encourage ourselves. Let's turn to 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel 30, chapter 30, and verse 6.

1 Samuel chapter 30 and verse 6. 1 Samuel chapter 30 and verse 6. David was greatly distressed, so he was dismayed, he was discouraged, he was down.

David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters.

But David encouraged himself in the eternal his God. So here's David, the people, sort of like when Moses sent out the spies, and they came back with an evil report, and they wanted to kill Moses, Joshua, and Caleb.

And here the people are wanting to stone David, but he encouraged himself in the Lord. Now let's go back to verse 1.

And it came to pass when David and his sons, I'm sorry, David and his men, were come to Ziklag on the third day that the Amalekites had invaded the south in Ziklag and smitten Ziklag and burned it with fire. And had taken the women captives that were therein, they slew not any either great or small, but carried them away and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire. And their wives and their sons and their daughters were taken captive. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep. You talk about being discouraged and downcast.

Here it is. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahhenonim and the Jezreelitish and Abigail, the wife of Nabal, the Carmelite.

And David was greatly distressed because they were talking about stoning him.

And so he encouraged himself in the Lord. Last part of verse 6. And David said to Abathar the priest, Ahemalek's son, I pray you bring me here the Ephod. And Abathar brought there the Ephod to David.

And David inquired at the eternal saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overcome them? And he entered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them without fail and recover all. How did David encourage himself?

He encouraged himself in the Lord. In other words, he put his faith, his trust in God.

Now, another way to be encouraged is by helping others. We should have one of the most encouraged congregations in the world, because so many of you have served others so faithfully.

It is more blessed to give than to receive, and so many of you have given so much.

And love is expressed through outgoing concern for others. Notice what the Apostle Paul writes concerning love and sharing one another's burdens in Galatians 6. So let's go to Galatians chapter 6. We're going to focus especially on one word in this in a moment. In Galatians chapter 6, beginning in verse 1, Galatians 6 verse 1, "...Brethren, if any be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness..." In other words, exercise judgment, mercy, and faith. "...go to him, talk with him, considering yourself lest you be tempted..." You don't do it in self-righteousness or in a haughty attitude or I'm better than you, look how righteous I am, but all of us could be there at one time or another. "...bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if any man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Let him that is taught in the Word communicate..." And that's the word we want to focus on here in a moment. "...let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things." This word communicate is koi no neo. Koi ne noo. "...to come into communion of fellowship with, to become a sharer, to be made a partner, to enter into fellowship, join oneself to an associate, make oneself a sharer or partner. So let him that is taught in the Word be a sharer, be a communicator, join into unto him that teaches in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

But if a person withdraws from the arena of life, does not fight the good fight of faith, no one can help them. There's never a time to play turtle in the spiritual battle that we're in. You know, when the turtle sees danger coming, what does he do? Well, he pulls his head into his shell.

One of the great tragedies of our current culture in the spirit of times is that life should always be filled with fun and frivolity, feasting and frivolity. We've got to have fun. So-called hard times, bad times, and trials will not sell much toothpaste, not sell many toyotopechips or any other thing that is so popular in today's world.

Fun, frivolity, youth, adventure, romance, and a sex-saturated culture. Trials and testing provide us with the opportunity to show God and Christ that we understand what life is all about. That we know that through trials and testing, we can be refined and God can create his holy righteous character in us. Now, I wonder if you really notice what I just said. So, God can create his holy righteous character in us. We use the terminology, I've got to develop character. I've got to develop character. Anything that God is has to be imparted to us. Now, let's look at Ecclesiastes 7. Very often, we read a few passages here out of Ecclesiastes 7 at funerals. Ecclesiastes chapter 7. This, too, will not sell many trucks or beer. You know, there's a stupid song out now. This guy, I think he was entertainer of the year. Maybe this album was a song or whatever. And it starts off, I got a little drunk last night. I mean, the guy's first name is Luke somebody.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 7, Old Luke's been making the rounds and all the talk shows and singing that song. I got a little drunk last night. In Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 1, a good name is better than precious ointment. And the day of death and the day of one's birth, it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. For that is the end of all men, and the living shall lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. We've got a lot of fools singing all around the world today.

And of course, the culture of the day carries that forward. Now we look at 1 Peter chapter 6. We read this, I guess we read it last Sabbath. In 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 6. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 6.

1 Peter chapter 1 verse 6, Worry in your great rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in happiness through manifold trials, various trials, different kinds, no matter what the trial might be. That the trying of your faith, being much more precious than of gold, that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Now we go to Romans chapter 1, where Paul gives this little succinct summary of how holy righteous character is created within us, in that we play an active role. So how can we encourage ourselves? We keep that big picture burning brightly in our minds of what life is all about. You know, if we could just teach our little ones the purpose of human existence, that God exists, why we're here, what life is all about, and what matters and what doesn't matter, and to have that relationship with God and His Word.

And so, as they grow up, they can't ever go back and say, well, it was mama's church, daddy's church, it was this, it was that, it was the other. No, it's you! It's you that stands before God, and each one of us stand before God. We can't use an excuse.

I have a sermon titled, What Excuse Will You Use to Keep You Out of the Kingdom of God?

In Romans 5.1, therefore being justified by faith, in other words, having your sins that are past remitted through faith, faith is inextricably linked to repentance.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace divine favor, wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, the big picture burning brightly, the kingdom of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations, also knowing, and here's this little progression, this formula. You could call it little, you could call it grand, knowing that tribulation works patience, and the proper translation there would be proof testing. And patience, proof testing, works experience, and experience, doki mei, similar to the proof and testing, works hope. And hope makes us not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is given unto us. In other words, when we go through this, as God has commanded us to go through this, then God, through His Spirit, there is something going on inside of us, that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which is given unto us. Understanding how to deal with trials and testing is one of the things that separates the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats, the Philadelphians from the Laodiceans. And what we're talking about here has to do with real spiritual understanding, real spiritual maturity, and spiritual growth. In other words, this is the meat of the Word. And we go to James chapter 1. Remember our study of the Epistle of James in James chapter 1. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad, greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different trials. Parasmos. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. Hoopa-monet. Hoopa-monet. Works patience. Now patience is not something that you just sit and twiddle your thumbs and do nothing about.

Patience has to do with, in your mind and your heart, you know that if you do your part, God is going to deliver you.

That's why it says, verse 4, but let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. When you come to understand that God will be with you even to the end of the age, and you shall not fail, then you're in want of nothing. I mean, what can they do to you? They can't do anything, because you know and you know. You trust. Psalm 27, 1, The Lord is the light of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? We have the courage.

You see, fear is an enemy of being of a good courage. Fear is an enemy of encouragement. 1. If any man or any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that gives to all men liberally and upbraves not, and it shall be given him. 2. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. See, trusting God totally completely, for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. 3. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A devil-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

So to be encouraged and to be of a good courage, you have to know and trust God. Let's note it to Laodiceans in Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3, understanding what we're talking about separates Philadelphians from Laodiceans and from the sheep from the goat and the wheat from the chaff. In Revelation chapter 3 verse 14, to the angel, the messenger, the angelos of the church of the Laodiceans, write these things, says the Amiens, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I would that you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of my mouth, not fired up, not zealous, because they already think they are better than everybody else, more spiritual than everybody else, and what do they base it on? Well, they base it on physical manifestation.

Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods, and basically what I get from this, they're saying it in the spiritual sense, and have need of nothing, and know not that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, all of which our figures of speech are metaphors for being spiritually bereft, because the remedy is spiritual, not physical.

I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, the highest form of character, that you go into the arena of life, and you go through that formula that we read from Romans chapter 5 verses 1 through 5, and that which we read from James chapter 1 verses 1 through 4, I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, not rich physically, but spiritually, and white raiment, that you might be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness, spiritual nakedness, do not appear and anoint your eyes with eye-saff, that you may see spiritually. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent. The Laodiceans apparently think that what matters is the notion that they are superior to other people. They never really understood what true encouragement is all about.

Some might think that trials has to do with being poor spiritually, but God says, I chasten every son that I love, and I prune every tree. Why? So that it might bring forth more fruit.

I am convinced and have been convinced for a long time that the reason that so many people become lukewarm and disinterested and fall away is because they're looking for a loose brick, and they are looking for an excuse to fall away, and usually they look at men. All men are fallible. All men have serious faults and flaws, and so do all of humanity.

None of us. None of us is perfect. They become spiritual cowards. They're looking for the easy way out, so you go blame somebody. And that goes back to what I was talking about, this relationship with God from cradle to the grave.

If you really believe that God exists and that He communicates to us through His word, and you're convicted of that and committed to it, how can you not be encouraged and act courageously?

It's difficult to understand. They become spiritual cowards looking for the easy way out. You know, oftentimes I've preached a few funerals in which a person there before me has committed suicide. I had two in Houston.

Adult people in their 30s.

And you just wonder what goes through a person's mind.

You don't know for sure what you wonder.

We should never become people that look for the easy way out. There are no loose bricks in the Word of God.

Sanctify them through your word. Your word is truth. There is no slack in God's promises. There's no wavering in His love for you. Not any. Not ever.

Let's look at Titus chapter 1. Titus chapter 1.

In Titus chapter 1 verse 1. Titus chapter 1 verse 1.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life. See, Paul always puts this picture out there of the big picture of why we're here. We're in hope of eternal life. One place he writes, we're saved by hope.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie. Promised before the world began. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of our God, our Savior.

And so he continues his instruction to Titus. Oftentimes, the stuff we come up with about why we're discouraged with this or that is just that. It's stuff, as the saying goes, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really mount to the hill of beans. Even though people may be mistreating you, these kinds of feelings and attitudes are not from God, they are from Satan the devil.

We oftentimes think we're justified in what we're doing. We don't like the way so and so looks. We don't like the way they look at us. We don't like the way so and so talks. We don't like what so and so said. We don't like the way the minister talks. We feel like everybody's judging us. We feel like we don't belong. We would rather be somewhere else. Where would that be? Where would that be? I would rather be with the people of God than any other place I could name.

In reality, encouragement centers on living by faith. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face the fiery furnace, do you think they were encouraged or discouraged?

One of the things that I have a tendency to think is, why did God let such and such happen to me?

He could have prevented it, but then I think this is an opportunity to show that I indeed know what it means to live by faith.

In approaching the trial in this way, I'm encouraged, and Satan is defeated. Remember James 4.7? Resist the devil and he will flee from you. This is by Anonymous. I asked God to take my pain away, and God said no. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said no. Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience, and God said no.

Patience is a product of tribulations, which we've read. It isn't granted, it is earned. I asked God to give me happiness, and God said no. I give you blessings, happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain, and God said no. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said no. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life, and God said no. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things. I asked God to help me love others as much as he loves me, and God said, ah, finally you have the idea.

Now, let's note the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel 3, when they face the fiery furnace. Daniel chapter 3, Daniel chapter 3 and verse 16.

Daniel just before Hosea. In Daniel chapter 3 and verse 16, Nebuchadnezzar had this great statue built. People were commanded to bow down and worship it at the appointed time when they heard certain instruments. In Daniel chapter 3 and verse 16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we're not careful to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. And he will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But if not, be it known unto you, O King, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar, full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed. His face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore, he spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was want to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in the army to bind them and throw them in the fiery furnace. Verse 21, they bound them and they threw them in. Verse 22, Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent, the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the ones that threw them in. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down, bound into the midst of the fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste and spoke and said unto the counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, Yes, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men, four men walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. I will always be with you. God was their shield. He was their buckler. He was there. He protected them from the heat. Now, forward a few pages to Habakkuk. Habakkuk, short book there. Habakkuk is just after some book in the Bible.

I think it's after Nahum.

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk. Habakkuk is the questioning prophet. He's like, well, I see what's happened here, God. I'm just going to sit back and see what you're going to do about it. But I'm just using this one verse here. In verse 4, Behold, his soul, and it's referring to ostensibly the beast power, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith. Now, the apostle Paul repeats this, the just shall live by faith, five times in the New Testament.

Let's note now one of those places in Hebrews chapter 10.

Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 38. Hebrews 10 and verse 38.

In Hebrews 10, Hebrews 10 is a very rich chapter with so much spiritual food in it.

I've already quoted a little of this. Let's read verse 37. Hebrews 10, 37. For yet a little while in he that shall come will come and will not wait. Now the just shall live by faith. Well, we just read from Habakkuk 2 verse 4. The just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. In Romans 10 and verse 17, you go back there, Romans 10 verse 17.

This is a scripture that should really ring in our ears continually because it is one of the main ways whereby we can be encouraged to gain courage and also faith. It's obvious that courage and being encouraged is inextricably linked to trust. It is inextricably linked to faith. So how does... Here's a way that faith comes. It's not the only way. Faith is a gift of God and is also a fruit of the Spirit. But in Romans 10 verse 17, so then faith comes by hearing. And hearing by the words of God. The John 6, 6-3, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life.

So one of the greatest ways for you to be encouraged is to open up the pages of your Bible and read of God's love, care, and concern for you. It will increase your courage. It will increase your trust. It will increase your faith. Back in the late 70s, there was a person here in the area, a church member, who was dying of cancer. And I don't know how the conversation took place, but I was talking with his wife and she said, called his name, said, you know when he is in pain and some of the most difficult times, I turn to the book of Psalms and I begin to read, and his pain is relieved.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. This man did die, but he was comforted to a large degree by his wife reading to him from the Scriptures.

Another way that you can cast your cares on God, as we are admonished to do in 1 Peter, cast your care on him, for he cares for you is to pray. To pray. And here I have this, I guess you could call it an essay or poem.

What Satan fears most is a man on his knees, not vast marching armies with great weaponry.

He knows he can stand against the power of men to engage us in battle. This mere sport to him. But a man on his knees with his head bowed in prayer is something quite different to the prince of the air. For when he sees us in prayer to our God Most High, he knows we have seen through his devilish lies. That's why Satan fears most a man on his knees, and will keep him trembling if our prayers never cease. People encouraging people. Remember the song, People Who Need People are the luckiest people in the world. Sometimes just the sight of another person will cause encouragement to well up in your heart and mind. If you would turn to Acts 28, last chapter of Acts, Acts 28. This is the culmination of Paul's long journey. You remember he started off being tried by the Jews. He said, okay, I appeal to Caesar. Then he appeared before Agrippa, before Festus, and finally wound up in Rome to appeal to Caesar. He spent two years in his own rented house preaching the Word of God. But this is him on the journey about to get to Rome. You know, just the sight or hearing from another person, a good word from a far country, how refreshing it is. Occasionally, and I got one a couple of weeks ago, I get a letter from students, former students from Ambassador. This was a student of 20 years ago or so. Just wanted to write you and let you know if you waited 20 years, but that's okay. And it was refreshing. It was very encouraging, and we had a little communication back in two. In Acts 28 in verse 14, maybe we'll read a little bit into there, and start in verse 11. And after three months, we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. And from there, we fetched a compass and came to Origaeum. And after one day, the south wind blew, and we came the next day to whatever that is. In verse 14, we found brethren and were desired to tarry with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Apia, the Apia Forum, and the three taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage, just the sight of those people coming out to meet him.

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, and Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier that had kept him. And it came to pass that after three days, Paul called the chief of the Jews together, and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men, brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem in the hands of the Romans, who when they had examined me would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke against, I was constrained to appeal and to Caesar, not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. For this cause, therefore, I called for you to see you and to speak with you, because that the hope of salvation, because for the hope of salvation, I am bound with a chain. Of course, you could read the rest of the chapter where Paul talks about turning to the nations after being rejected by them. But these people came out to meet Paul on his journey to Rome, and he was so encouraged. And sometimes, just the sight of a certain person, or maybe not a certain person, will cause you to be encouraged.

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders. It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you. The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice. It's the gentle words he whispers. The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has. It's how good a buddy he is with his kids. The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work. It's in how respected he is at home. The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits. It's in how tender he touches. The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest. It's in his heart that lies within his chest. The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved. It's in how he can be true to one woman.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift. It's in the burdens he can carry. So we can all ask ourselves, is our lives on fire for God? Or, on the other hand, are you becoming consumed by the fiery trials of life? Are you on fire for God? Or are you being consumed by the fiery trials of life? Thinking that all is lost, your life has been consumed. It's going up in smoke and in flames. The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small and inhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help.

But none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened. Everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. God, how could you do this to me? He cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

How did you know I was here? asked the weary man of his rescuers. We saw your smoke signal, they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time when your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it. You say it's impossible. God says, all things are possible. Luke 18, 27. You say I'm too tired. God says, I will give you rest. Come unto me, all you that are laden with heavy burdens.

Learn of me. My burden is light. My yoke is easy. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. You say, nobody really loves me. God says, I love you so much I gave my only begotten Son. You say, I can't go on. God says, my grace is sufficient. You say, I can't figure things out. God says, I will direct your steps. You say, I can't do it. God says, you can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you. You say, I'm not able. God says, I'm able. You say, it's not worth it. God says, it will be worth it. You say, I can't forgive myself. God says, I forgive you. You say, I can't manage. God says, I will supply all your needs. You say, I'm afraid. God says, I have not given you a spirit of fear. You say, I'm always worried and frustrated. God says, cast all your cares on me. You say, I don't have enough faith. God says, I've given everyone a measure of faith. You say, I'm not smart enough. God says, I give you wisdom. You say, I feel all alone. God says, I will never leave you or forsake you. So it is through experiencing the comfort and encouragement of God and the fiery furnace of trials that we learn how to comfort and encourage others. Let's read that scripture, 2 Corinthians chapter 1. This is one of the most comforting scriptures in the whole Bible, a scripture that is used so many different ways because it highlights who is the God of all comfort, the God of all encouragement, the anecdote to all discouragement in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us all in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. The choice of whether we're going to wallow in the pits of self-pity or whether we're going to look to the hills from which come us our strength and our encouragement. That choice is up to us.

No knight in shining armor is going to come along and pull us out from the pitied pits of self-despair, but there is one who is coming on a great white horse who is currently sitting at the right hand of the Father, whoever lives to make intercession for us.

So let's get our focus off ourselves and our plight and our fight, and then fight the good fight of faith. Let's close with this scripture in Ephesians chapter 3, beginning in verse 16. Let's get our focus off ourselves and our plight and fight the good fight of faith. In Ephesians chapter 3, starting in verse 16, 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 you 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 passes under knowledge, that you 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 works in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.