WFS 3 JOY THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT

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WFS - Lesson 3

COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, EDIFY

1. II Timothy 4:2 - “Preach the ______; be instant in season, out of season; _________, _________, ________ with all _______________ and ___________.”

To “exhort with all longsuffering,” what does this teach us? It teaches us that edification, exhorting, encouraging are all very important commands and needed for the Christian. We are at war with Satan and the world, we will only get evil encouragement from this realm, but in the church we should be able to get godly encouragement. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and when it isn’t it creates discouragement. It is hard enough to deal with external discouragement but when it comes from within the Lord’s body it can be devastating and destroy! Encouragement is needed by all of us, none of us our exempt from need of encouragement. Often the excuse for not giving encouragement is because one should know enough about the Bible and Christianity by their age or their age in the Lord to not need to be encouraged. What a sad commentary for any Christian to think. We should remember that even Jesus needed comfort.

2. Matthew 26:38 - “Then saith He unto them, My soul is ___________ __________, even unto ________: tarry ye here and _______ ______ _____.”

3. Matthew 26:40 - “And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, _______ ____ _____ ________ with me one hour?”

WAYS OF COMFORTING

We know that all need comfort and encouragement from what we have just studied. No one can go through life completely alone and be entirely happy. We need the encouragement of those of like mind so that we feel attachment. Preachers need encouragement in order to make the sacrifices necessary to carry the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world. Their families need encouragement as they are most likely going to be away from their biological families and the spiritual family fills the void.

Elders have a grave responsibility and encouragement is needed whether it be through daily prayer for them or set times that are used to get the congregation together to pray for them and their leadership. When is the last time you have said thank you to an elder for his shepherding of the flock? We sure don’t forget to complain when we are not happy about something, we should be just as diligent about giving them praise for jobs well done!

Cards, phone calls, notes to those we know are having a spiritual low, a financial crisis, health issues, family crisis or just to say, “Hi, how are you doing today?” can lift someone from the pits of darkness and despair. Sometimes just knowing someone knows what we are going through and are praying for us is just the jolt we need to get up and get going again. Those that have lost loved ones are especially in need of comfort and encouragement. Learning to live and carry on without a loved one is devastating and can throw one into deep depression. We can give them hope and comfort just as Paul did in I Thessalonians 4:13-18:

4. Read the above scripture and then in your own words explain how Paul gave the Thessalonians comfort and why?

The elderly need to be encouraged so that they know they are still useful and needed in the work of the Lord and by those of us who may still be on the younger side! Speaking as one who has seen the damage done by the younger members of a congregation to their elderly members, it is totally devastating and can tear a congregation apart. When we forget the wisdom of our elderly and push them to the back so to speak, we loose great potential and the church sufferes. We will be held accountable if we fall into this trap. It is not what the scripture teaches us about being encouraging and comforting. Let’s take a look at a couple of scriptures in God’s Word that let us know just how we should act:

5. I Peter 5:5 - “Likewise, ye _________, _________ ____________ unto ______ ________, Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with ___________: for God resisteth the _______, and giveth grace to the ________.”

6. Titus 2:3-4 --- 3)”The ______ ________ likewise, that they be in behaviour as _________ _________, not false accusers, not given to wine, teachers of _______ _________; 4)That they ______ _______ the _______ ________ to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.”

Comforting and encouraging one another should be a regular part of our lives. We shouldn’t have to be reminded to do it, it should be something so natural that it never is far from our minds. We should have a demeanor about us that shows that we care and sympathize with the plight of others. We would want the same kind of treatment. Encouraging words not negative ones can heal hearts and help clear the overwhelmed mind. Encouragement in the form of positive uplifting words can relax, rejuvenate and lead a stress filled situation to one of peace.

7. Proverbs 16:24 - “__________ _______ are as an ___________, _______ to the _______, and _________ to the ________.”

Our Lord tells us in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Meek means to be gentle, humble, therefore, one can assume one must be gentle and humble to those around them. Being meek or gentle is a good thing, it stems from goodness and godliness. We need to have gentle, quiet and meeks souls that hunger for spiritual nourishment and part of the nourishment is encouragement. We need to to give it and we need to get it! If we are not willing to give encouragement then we shouldn’t be surprised if we don’t get any.

EDIFYING

Let’s look at what “edifying the church” means”

“To edify means to build up, to strengthen, to encourage, to help the members of the church to grow spiritually. What are some of the things that edify? God’s Word, fellowship, engaging in worship, helping one another, good works, love, etc.” -- quoted from: The Church of the Bible by J.C. Choate - Lesson Nine--

8. Using Bible Gateway or a Strongs Concordance look up “edify” and find scriptures concerning the edifying or encouragement of one another and the church.

9. Search again in Bible Gateway or Strongs Concordance and give scripture that shows we should comfort one another.

10. Now that we have looked at and talked about “edify,” “comfort” and “encouragement” please summarize what would be the outcome of not practicing these things.

I hope that you have enjoyed this lesson. If you are thinking at this point where is she going or is she just jumping all over the place. Believe me at times I wasn’t sure myself before I finished all 8 lessons but I think, in the end it will all make sense. At least I certainly pray so.

For those of you who don’t know me, and my likes, Isaiah 40:31 is my favorite scripture. It gives me much hope and comfort within it. See if it does the same for you:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; and they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

I found a quote one day while I was reading and it went like this:

“In the presence of trouble, some people grow wings; others buy crutches.” -- Unknown --

When you think about that quote and Isaiah 40:31 it seems to become plain that we should pray for every Christian to have wings! In order to have those wings we need to learn to edify, comfort and encourage one another.

May God lift you up and teach you to fly on wings as eagles!

Beverly Rainwater

RainwaterB3@aol.com