Encouragement Study: Edition #9

Matthew 5:3-12
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 25:34-36

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

-I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. I was a stranger and you invited me in. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. I was in prison and you came to visit me. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. It does tie into each other...

Encouragement Study: Edition #8

Psalm 9:12-14
For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.

James 4:1-12

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

-How does someone get encouraged? How does someone get lifted up? It is by being humble. Being humble is key. If I am to be encouraging to others, I have to be humble.

Matthew 5:1-12
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

-Here are a few more observations... first off, God is the one who lifts up. He lifts me up. He lifts you up. If God doesn't lift you up, then no one can lift you up. God will only lift you up if you are humble. If you aren't being lifted up, it could be that you aren't humble. And I know I haven't noticed this before... but have you noticed that the person who is suffering in the beatitudes are the ones being comforted by the "sheep" in the 'sheep and goats' passage in Matthew 25? I wonder why that is...

Encouragement Study: Edition #7

Matthew 25:35

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...

-I wanted to focus on this verse, since I have been studying the whole passage the last couple of days, this verse stuck out at me... in fact, it was just a part of the verse that caught my eye. "I was a stranger and you invited me in...". When was the last time I had a stranger in my home? When was the last time I really had anyone I didn't know or barely knew in my house?

So, what is a stranger?

Stranger: xenos (pronounced: xen'-os)

• Foreign (literally alien, or figuratively novel); by implication a guest or entertainer: host, strange (stranger).

So, a stranger could simply mean a stranger. Alien can mean someone that you do not know... like this is a foreign or alien concept...

Stranger (noun):

• A person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.
• A newcomer in a place or locality.
• An outsider.
• A person who is unacquainted with or unaccustomed to something (usually fol. by to).
• A person who is not a member of the family, group, community, or the like, as a visitor or guest.

Being encouraging means having people you do not know in your home. Weird.

Encouragement Study: Edition #6

Matthew 25:34-40

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

-Whatever I do, it defines me. Whatever I do defines my character. What do my actions say about me? God wants me, wants everyone to help each other. I really do believe God wants a world where people just help other people live, with the whole brotherly kindness thing going on. So long as there is a sinful nature, there will be selfish, self-centered people out there. And that simply tells me there will never be what God wants, a world of neighbor helping neighbor, going on around here. But you can't help for trying, I guess.

Encouragement Study: Edition #5

Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

-There are several ways to look at this passage. You can put yourself into the shoes of the person being called a goat and a sheep. You can also place yourself in the place of God and empathize with him telling his hearers what he observed. But there is also another angle. You can place yourself in the person who needed the person to be a sheep. In other words, be the person receiving food and drink. Be that person in need in this story. What would it be like to need food and water? And when you need it, are you grateful? Are you encouraged? Ever needed shelter or clothes? What would it be like to need shelter and clothes and get it when you need it most? That is encouraging to receive timely help. Sick? In jail? It is encouraging for those who are in need to receive the help.

Tough week.

Encouragement Study: Edition #4

2nd Timothy 2:1-13
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

-Enduring is encouraging. How is that? Well, let's say that someone endures some kind of hardship for being a soldier of Christ. Even though that may be tough, not just for that person, but for everyone knowing that person, the simple fact that they continue to push through encourages others.

I've seen it through my experience and I have been encouraged by others who have gone through certain experiences. As a matter of fact, a couple I know has experienced some recent hardship, and seeing how they cling to God is encouraging to me. Johnny Out.

Encouragement Study: Edition #3

Jeremiah 32:36-41

"You are saying about this city, 'By the sword, famine and plague it will be handed over to the king of Babylon'; but this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

-To encourage is to inspire. It can be to inspire someone to do something that will prosper them. And God will inspire his people to fear them. Children fear their parents. It is a respecting fear. My children don't fear me to the point of death... which I think it awesome. I don't want my son or daughter to see me and drop to there knees thinking that they are going to die. That is the fear I am supposed to have with my God. I am also to think of my God as a Father, like my dad in a sense. Still, a father inspires their children. They push them to be more than what they really are... and I say that as, if left to their own devices, they will spend the day in front of the TV, drinking too much soda, and wearing holy underwear. They inspire their children to do things that they don't want to do to achieve the things they've always dreamed about. That was a quote by Tom Landry (maybe not the exact words, but close enough). And God wants to inspire me, to fear, and to obedience. I say AMEN to that.

Encouragement Study: Edition #2

Well, now that I am working full time, I have to create a new routine that will allow me to have my Quiet Times and still accomplish everything else. It's not easy. I have managed to still be in the word daily, just not posting like I would like. Still consistency is consistency. I can't complain if I am being consistent.Romans 15:4

Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope. (The Bible in Basic English)

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope. (American Standard Version)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (English Standard Version)

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope. (NCV)

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. (NIV)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. (Revised Standard Version)

For all that was written of old has been written for our instruction, so that we may always have hope through the power of endurance and the encouragement which the Scriptures afford. (Weymouth New Testament)

-So, what does it mean to encourage someone else? What is encourgament? Well, let's start with comfort. Comfort is a parralel word from one translation to another. Comfort and encouragement are considered one in the same when translating. At least that is the deduction that I have made in searching this out.

Encourage (verb):

• To inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
• To stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.
• To promote, advance, or foster.

I can see how giving comfort is also encouragement. It makes sense, at least when you think about it. If I comfort you, you'd be encouraged. Johnny Out.

Encouragement Study: Edition #1

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

-Salvation. That is what I should encourage my brothers and sisters with... the fact that we are saved and going to get to be with God... that is the heart of encouragement.

New Year Goals - 2009: Update #2

It is good to have goals... but this year, I am going to approach this a different way than in years past.

Goals:

• By Faith, I will be over 90% with my Quiet Times in 2009, with over 90% each month.

I'm looking pretty good with this right now. I normally am at this time of the year... still, it is under 90%... but I have more determination thus far. I have pushed through days where I did not "feel it"... so that is encouraging.

• By Faith, a family member will be baptized this year.
• By Faith, I will lose weight and be under 175 pounds by the end of July.

I am not feeling to good about this. Still, God works in wonderful ways.

• By Faith, Joyville will be up and running by the end of January. -DONE-
• By Faith, I will support my wife emotionally and lead her spiritually in 2009.
• By Faith, I will read a book a month (in addition to the Bible).

Two months into the year, and I haven't read one.

• By Faith, I will consider others and not think of myself.
  

I talked with my wife and I decided to move my studies to study out encouragement in the month of March.