BE ENCOURAGED

 

   There are two big lies that Satan has been perpetrating ever since the Garden of Eden. The first is that God is mean, vindictive, a spoilsport whose main role in life is to keep us from being fulfilled and happy. When we step out of bounds, He takes delight in making us pay. The second lie is that God really doesn't care what we do - probably doesn't know. And if He does, His business is to forgive us. He'll always forgive no matter what, so it really doesn't make much difference how we live and what we believe.

    But God bids us to take courage in Him when things go sideways:

 1. When the devil brings up your past, bring up his future.

2. The person who is fully surrendered to the Lord will never deliberately surrender to the Enemy.

3. When adversity is most ready to strike us, God is most ready to strengthen us.

4. The devil is an equal opportunity employer - all who work for him Will go to hell.

5. The Lord adds and multiplies; the devil subtracts and divides.

6. Don't permit Satan to remind you of what God has already forgotten.

7. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon their knees.

    What a wonderful God we have! Jesus is Lord!

    Consider all the times Jesus encouraged His disciples and those who came to Him in need.

    The woman with the issue of blood. Leaders of the Jews who took the risk to ask Jesus for help. Blind Bartimaeus. To the disciples - not to be afraid to stand before those in power when persecuted. Jesus speaking to the crowds in the beatitudes. And so many more.

    Jesus promises to be with us to the end of the ages!

    Throughout Scripture God blesses with encouragement people like Moses, Abraham, king David; prophets such as Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea. Ordinary people were included: Mary was encouraged to carry the Son of God. Joseph was encouraged to keep Mary as his wife.

    It is imperative for the Christian to hear the words of encouragement from the Lord, for He empowers us to serve when we’d like to run.

        “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Stand firm in the Lord. Plant your feet, raise your shield and fight the good fight of faith with the equipment and power from Him and Him alone. Jesus will rescue you. He will uphold you with His righteous right hand. God will fight for you and with you. It’s His promise to you!

    Then take the encouragement you receive from Jesus and exercise it toward others.

 

Joni Eareckson Tada told a story commenting on Romans 15:1- 2. “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

 

She writes, "My husband, Ken, serves as a track-and-field coordinator for Special Olympics. There is always band music, colorful banners, and flags everywhere. Scattered across the infield are teams of mentally handicapped young people.

"A few years ago at the games, Ken blew his whistle to signal the contestants for the 50-yard dash. A Down’s syndrome girl with thick glasses and a short, stocky boy in baggy shorts were the first to line up. There was a moment of stillness, then a bang from the starting gun. Off they sprinted--six contestants bobbing and weaving down the track.

"Suddenly the boy in baggy shorts began running toward his friends in the infield. Ken blew his whistle to direct him back to the track, but it was no use. At that point, the Down’s syndrome girl, who was just a few yards from the finish line, turned around, ran toward him, and gave him a big hug. Together they got back on the track and completed the race arm-in-arm, long after the rest of the contestants had crossed the finish line."

 

She ends by saying, "We must run the race not to please ourselves, but to please the Lord. That often means taking time to stop and put our arms around a weaker friend who needs to get back on track. Have you watched a fellow believer get spiritually confused, and yet you’ve kept on going? Jesus doesn’t seem as preoccupied with 'winning' as we do. The important thing is how we run the race. And we are called to run it, bearing with the failings of those who are weak."

   

May our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, strengthen you and bring you peace in your lives, as He encourages you in your life’s race to face the devil with your faith in Jesus.

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Pastor Fred Westerhold