1 00:00:25,714 --> 00:00:27,334 Speaker 5: Well, good morning, Restoration Church. 2 00:00:28,254 --> 00:00:29,724 Glad to be together. 3 00:00:29,744 --> 00:00:31,884 Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. 4 00:00:32,214 --> 00:00:37,024 Uh, it's gonna be a great month, a great season, hanging 5 00:00:37,024 --> 00:00:38,424 together and worshiping together. 6 00:00:38,574 --> 00:00:45,104 I want to, uh, just, just say from me to you, water baptisms are next week. 7 00:00:45,154 --> 00:00:50,659 These are some of the most important fun services that we have all year. 8 00:00:50,919 --> 00:00:55,999 We've got 14 people, 13 people, 14 people signed up for water baptism 9 00:00:55,999 --> 00:00:57,609 next week across our locations. 10 00:00:58,139 --> 00:01:04,888 Um, always so much fun as you hear of, uh, some true stories about 11 00:01:04,888 --> 00:01:07,009 how Jesus has changed some lives. 12 00:01:07,239 --> 00:01:08,619 So that's happening next week. 13 00:01:08,619 --> 00:01:11,689 If you haven't had a chance to sign up, it is your time. 14 00:01:12,069 --> 00:01:16,029 It is your time and uh, you can do that through the church center 15 00:01:16,069 --> 00:01:21,499 app or at the new here welcome center Uh area at your location. 16 00:01:21,709 --> 00:01:22,689 We are one church. 17 00:01:22,719 --> 00:01:27,379 We have services together Here in dover and in bethlehem milton and 18 00:01:27,379 --> 00:01:30,709 plymouth dover you put your hands together for the other locations 19 00:01:34,309 --> 00:01:40,354 We had a great time at the worship night Last week in Bethlehem and uh, thanks 20 00:01:40,354 --> 00:01:42,134 for everybody who made the trip up there. 21 00:01:42,134 --> 00:01:44,264 Thank you Bethlehem location for hosting us. 22 00:01:44,304 --> 00:01:48,194 It was a special time and uh, heard some great testimonies 23 00:01:48,244 --> 00:01:49,854 out of that night as well. 24 00:01:50,484 --> 00:01:55,003 Um, I, the, for, for the next couple of weeks, I'm gonna do something for you 25 00:01:55,003 --> 00:02:00,494 guys, um, because I don't have a YouTube channel that I want you to know about. 26 00:02:00,494 --> 00:02:05,924 So, during, during our times, every, uh, every week during service, I'm 27 00:02:05,924 --> 00:02:11,744 gonna, I'm just gonna give you a, a, a holiday gift giving guide and, 28 00:02:11,744 --> 00:02:15,699 uh, just a few things that either I've received or that I've given. 29 00:02:16,654 --> 00:02:20,584 That I think are worth, I think they're good, I think everybody would want them. 30 00:02:20,894 --> 00:02:24,824 So, um, so, so, don't be annoyed by me. 31 00:02:25,024 --> 00:02:29,304 Um, but this morning's gift, alright, I've been carrying this thing 32 00:02:29,304 --> 00:02:31,114 around with me for a few years. 33 00:02:32,543 --> 00:02:38,589 It is a Gerber knife, and what it has in it is, are exacto blades. 34 00:02:38,709 --> 00:02:40,409 So replaceable exacto blades. 35 00:02:40,759 --> 00:02:45,719 So I got this a few years ago from my mother in law and I have loved it. 36 00:02:45,719 --> 00:02:50,049 I, I, I'm with it every day unless I misplace it for a month or two. 37 00:02:50,329 --> 00:02:52,859 And uh, when it gets dull, you just change out the blade. 38 00:02:52,859 --> 00:02:56,569 So with this and, and buy a hundred exacto blades with it. 39 00:02:56,668 --> 00:02:58,399 I mean, it's under 30 bucks for this gift. 40 00:02:58,724 --> 00:03:01,674 Plus it's got the built in screwdriver and bottle opener for 41 00:03:01,674 --> 00:03:03,404 when you're traveling in Africa. 42 00:03:03,584 --> 00:03:06,684 Listen, this thing is killer and amazing. 43 00:03:06,884 --> 00:03:07,234 Alright? 44 00:03:07,344 --> 00:03:11,014 And Gerber has a lifetime warranty, so I broke my very first one I 45 00:03:11,014 --> 00:03:14,234 ever got, took a couple pictures of it, they sent me a brand new one. 46 00:03:14,544 --> 00:03:16,184 And a lifetime warranty, I believe. 47 00:03:16,184 --> 00:03:17,054 So there's your gift guide. 48 00:03:17,054 --> 00:03:19,204 Next week, we'll do something for the children. 49 00:03:19,544 --> 00:03:22,784 And, uh, then we'll do something for the ladies the week after that. 50 00:03:22,954 --> 00:03:26,744 But honestly, ladies, if you, um, if you're a crafter and you 51 00:03:26,744 --> 00:03:30,474 use an X Acto knife, this is much cooler than that dangerous open 52 00:03:30,484 --> 00:03:31,834 blade that you've been carrying. 53 00:03:31,844 --> 00:03:35,224 So get yourself something that closes. 54 00:03:35,944 --> 00:03:43,179 Now for this next few weeks through the Christmas season, We are, have this series 55 00:03:43,279 --> 00:03:46,579 titled for the person who has everything. 56 00:03:46,889 --> 00:03:49,489 And we have that kind of that question. 57 00:03:49,609 --> 00:03:51,149 What do I even give this person? 58 00:03:51,149 --> 00:03:52,819 I don't know that they need anything. 59 00:03:53,009 --> 00:03:58,129 But there are some things we can give them that are greater than possessions. 60 00:03:58,129 --> 00:04:01,349 There are things we can give them that are greater than a Gerber knife. 61 00:04:01,624 --> 00:04:05,864 And today, I want to teach and, and, and to teach you to 62 00:04:05,884 --> 00:04:08,514 give the gift of encouragement. 63 00:04:08,554 --> 00:04:11,804 Give the gift of encouragement. 64 00:04:12,714 --> 00:04:17,724 Most of the time, as individuals, we're not feeling very encouraged. 65 00:04:17,724 --> 00:04:18,324 Thank you. 66 00:04:18,504 --> 00:04:21,113 We are feeling discouraged. 67 00:04:23,294 --> 00:04:24,914 We overcooked the turkey. 68 00:04:25,324 --> 00:04:26,474 We're discouraged. 69 00:04:27,174 --> 00:04:29,164 The people we invited to church didn't come. 70 00:04:29,214 --> 00:04:30,344 We're discouraged. 71 00:04:30,654 --> 00:04:33,044 We didn't get the promotion we applied for. 72 00:04:33,084 --> 00:04:34,094 We're discouraged. 73 00:04:34,094 --> 00:04:34,109 We're discouraged. 74 00:04:34,369 --> 00:04:36,369 Our marriage is in a rough spot. 75 00:04:36,409 --> 00:04:37,579 We're discouraged. 76 00:04:38,009 --> 00:04:43,209 We're, uh, we lead a serve team and the serve team people didn't show up. 77 00:04:43,308 --> 00:04:44,239 We're discouraged. 78 00:04:44,629 --> 00:04:48,729 We are leading a song on stage and we sing horrifically out of tune. 79 00:04:48,909 --> 00:04:49,799 We're discouraged. 80 00:04:50,579 --> 00:04:51,799 You're leading a circle. 81 00:04:52,119 --> 00:04:53,259 Nobody came that week. 82 00:04:53,509 --> 00:04:54,499 You're discouraged. 83 00:04:54,949 --> 00:04:59,279 You stepped on the scale thinking you lost 10 pounds and you gained 7. 84 00:04:59,369 --> 00:05:00,299 You're discouraged. 85 00:05:01,109 --> 00:05:06,689 We tend to be more discouraged than we're encouraged. 86 00:05:06,759 --> 00:05:08,069 Is that true for anybody here? 87 00:05:13,139 --> 00:05:18,219 There are some things in scripture about encouragement. 88 00:05:18,359 --> 00:05:21,809 So I want to show you two scriptures right off to just help set the 89 00:05:21,809 --> 00:05:25,509 stage for encouragement, that encouragement is a good gift to give. 90 00:05:26,079 --> 00:05:32,089 First, in Proverbs 16, 24, Kind words are like honey, sweet to 91 00:05:32,089 --> 00:05:35,589 the soul and healthy for the body. 92 00:05:36,574 --> 00:05:38,144 Kind words for you to share. 93 00:05:38,144 --> 00:05:41,294 Kind words with someone you live with. 94 00:05:41,544 --> 00:05:44,374 Kind words with someone you work with. 95 00:05:44,614 --> 00:05:48,664 Kind words with someone that, that teaches you. 96 00:05:48,674 --> 00:05:50,544 Someone that's an authority over you. 97 00:05:50,933 --> 00:05:53,884 Someone that's an authority, or someone that you have authority over. 98 00:05:54,654 --> 00:05:58,564 These, uh, you can, uh, You, if you wanted to, and we didn't have time 99 00:05:58,564 --> 00:06:04,444 this morning, but you can, uh, there are neurological studies done, brave, 100 00:06:04,624 --> 00:06:09,664 brainwave studies done, that when you tell someone no, and you use a discouraging 101 00:06:09,664 --> 00:06:14,734 word, how it fires different parts of the brain, but when you tell them kind 102 00:06:14,734 --> 00:06:19,334 words, how it fires up other parts of the brain, how it releases positive 103 00:06:19,534 --> 00:06:25,159 chemicals within the body, that it literally feels good because it is doing 104 00:06:25,459 --> 00:06:27,689 good things in your body to hear that. 105 00:06:27,689 --> 00:06:29,709 Your body reacts to it in a very positive way. 106 00:06:29,709 --> 00:06:36,449 The next scripture in Proverbs 12, 25, it says, Worry weighs a person down. 107 00:06:37,034 --> 00:06:40,364 An encouraging word cheers a person up. 108 00:06:40,454 --> 00:06:45,734 Give the gift of encouragement. 109 00:06:46,244 --> 00:06:50,724 Now, encouragement, as we talk about in the Bible, it isn't 110 00:06:51,034 --> 00:06:55,714 focused on complimenting someone's haircut, or telling them how 111 00:06:55,714 --> 00:06:58,109 good their homemade salsa tastes. 112 00:06:58,679 --> 00:07:04,249 Those are great things, positive things, um, a way to, to bless another person. 113 00:07:04,459 --> 00:07:08,999 But biblical encouragement goes deeper than that, and that's, you, 114 00:07:09,069 --> 00:07:10,969 you kind of intertwined in the two. 115 00:07:11,209 --> 00:07:14,449 We don't, we want to make sure that we're not just focusing on the 116 00:07:14,449 --> 00:07:20,319 externals, but that we're also focusing on the internal, uh, character of 117 00:07:20,339 --> 00:07:24,839 people, and also making sure that we're helping each other according to. 118 00:07:26,444 --> 00:07:29,724 So if you've got your Bibles, open up to Hebrews chapter 3. 119 00:07:32,489 --> 00:07:37,279 Encouragement that we want to talk about today is the type that's going 120 00:07:37,279 --> 00:07:40,009 to help others walk with Jesus. 121 00:07:40,259 --> 00:07:44,499 The type that is going to help people finish their race. 122 00:07:44,909 --> 00:07:48,139 Because when we made the decision to follow Jesus, there 123 00:07:48,139 --> 00:07:49,299 now becomes an opportunity. 124 00:07:49,529 --> 00:07:55,599 All kinds of discouragement that happens trying to get you to stop before you 125 00:07:55,599 --> 00:08:01,099 start Trying to get you to quit before you finish trying to get you to kind 126 00:08:01,099 --> 00:08:05,869 of be a one and done That you made a decision to follow jesus, but it affects 127 00:08:05,929 --> 00:08:09,039 no one beyond you No one beyond you. 128 00:08:09,829 --> 00:08:13,139 This week we were, uh, we were talking with someone, the pa uh, 129 00:08:13,169 --> 00:08:15,039 the pa we were, uh, here on Tuesday. 130 00:08:15,039 --> 00:08:18,169 The pastors and I were together and we were talking with someone else and 131 00:08:18,189 --> 00:08:19,739 asked them, what book are you reading? 132 00:08:19,749 --> 00:08:22,719 And they said they were reading The Screwtape Letters, which 133 00:08:22,719 --> 00:08:24,909 is this famous book by C. 134 00:08:24,909 --> 00:08:25,089 S. 135 00:08:25,109 --> 00:08:27,849 Lewis, which we would recommend to you to read as well. 136 00:08:27,969 --> 00:08:32,664 And it's a fictional, story of two demons interacting. 137 00:08:32,914 --> 00:08:38,514 Uh, uh, this, this higher ranked demon, who's the uncle of a lower ranked demon. 138 00:08:38,813 --> 00:08:44,374 And the whole story is about, um, trying to get this demons been assigned to 139 00:08:44,374 --> 00:08:46,794 get someone to never believe in God. 140 00:08:47,044 --> 00:08:50,774 And he keeps failing because then they believe in God and then they follow God. 141 00:08:50,854 --> 00:08:53,464 Then they start praying and they, and the letters are going back and 142 00:08:53,464 --> 00:08:56,074 forth, but their uncle's saying like, You're embarrassing me. 143 00:08:56,694 --> 00:09:01,074 You're, like, I, I put your name up for this position, and now they're 144 00:09:01,104 --> 00:09:03,234 praying, now they're reading their Bible. 145 00:09:03,364 --> 00:09:05,114 You've got to do something about that. 146 00:09:05,584 --> 00:09:09,644 And then as it goes on, then the uncle becomes very infuriated because, 147 00:09:10,134 --> 00:09:14,514 listen, it was bad enough that they came to know Jesus, but now their 148 00:09:14,514 --> 00:09:16,224 family members are knowing it. 149 00:09:16,314 --> 00:09:20,154 Like, you, you, you, I'm not gonna be able to protect you. 150 00:09:20,214 --> 00:09:22,434 Like, there's bad things happening for you. 151 00:09:22,434 --> 00:09:25,349 If you don't get this, immediately. 152 00:09:26,049 --> 00:09:32,119 And it's, uh, uh, a fictional, uh, parable helping us understand the spiritual realm. 153 00:09:32,609 --> 00:09:35,479 Some of you would recognize that, hey, when I made the decision to follow 154 00:09:35,479 --> 00:09:37,919 Jesus, things went very bad afterward. 155 00:09:38,689 --> 00:09:42,109 Or every time I make an attempt to follow Jesus, things go bad. 156 00:09:42,159 --> 00:09:43,289 I'm going to give up. 157 00:09:43,539 --> 00:09:46,771 Well, that's exactly what they're trying to get you to do. 158 00:09:46,771 --> 00:09:49,902 That's exactly what the enemies of God want you to do. 159 00:09:49,902 --> 00:09:52,749 They don't want you to discover the John 10 10. 160 00:09:53,069 --> 00:09:54,909 Abundant, overflowing life. 161 00:09:55,389 --> 00:09:58,039 They don't want you to experience forgiveness and freedom. 162 00:09:58,219 --> 00:10:01,449 They don't want you to experience love and unconditional love. 163 00:10:01,659 --> 00:10:03,999 They don't want you to know God. 164 00:10:05,009 --> 00:10:08,819 And so discouragement comes after all of us. 165 00:10:10,319 --> 00:10:12,089 Comes after all of us. 166 00:10:12,779 --> 00:10:17,279 And in Hebrews chapter 3, kind of chapters 1, 2, and 3 leading up to the 167 00:10:17,279 --> 00:10:23,459 passage we're reading, it is The author of Hebrews talking and teaching about 168 00:10:23,459 --> 00:10:26,509 how Jesus is not like anyone else. 169 00:10:27,699 --> 00:10:29,819 Jesus is uncreated. 170 00:10:29,909 --> 00:10:31,519 Jesus is God. 171 00:10:31,599 --> 00:10:33,449 Jesus is part of the Trinity. 172 00:10:33,739 --> 00:10:35,289 Jesus is above all. 173 00:10:35,499 --> 00:10:37,189 He has all authority in heaven and earth. 174 00:10:37,189 --> 00:10:39,619 And some of this we talked about at worship night last week, but, 175 00:10:40,009 --> 00:10:41,399 but Paul's writing about this. 176 00:10:41,669 --> 00:10:44,459 And so he talks about, hey, Jesus is not like an angel. 177 00:10:45,149 --> 00:10:46,219 Angels are powerful. 178 00:10:46,249 --> 00:10:47,519 Angels are supernatural. 179 00:10:47,549 --> 00:10:49,299 Angels are created by Jesus. 180 00:10:49,844 --> 00:10:53,384 Jesus is the uncreated one, but angels were created. 181 00:10:53,454 --> 00:10:54,994 He's not equal. 182 00:10:55,004 --> 00:10:56,134 They're not his rival. 183 00:10:56,804 --> 00:11:00,754 Which means that a fallen angel named Satan is not equal. 184 00:11:01,234 --> 00:11:02,254 He's not a rival. 185 00:11:03,884 --> 00:11:07,494 The other thing that he goes and talks through is he mentions one of 186 00:11:07,494 --> 00:11:11,754 the famous people in church history, in Jewish history, the name of Moses. 187 00:11:12,424 --> 00:11:17,724 A mighty, mighty, powerful prophet, a mighty, powerful man of God, 188 00:11:18,254 --> 00:11:23,954 who saw God, who spoke to God, who spent time alone with God, had 189 00:11:23,994 --> 00:11:25,804 audible conversations with God. 190 00:11:26,314 --> 00:11:29,754 And he says, Jesus is greater than Moses. 191 00:11:30,494 --> 00:11:31,594 He's greater than him. 192 00:11:32,184 --> 00:11:33,684 Moses was created. 193 00:11:33,824 --> 00:11:35,874 Jesus is uncreated. 194 00:11:35,874 --> 00:11:37,244 Moses was used by God. 195 00:11:37,254 --> 00:11:37,944 Jesus was created. 196 00:11:38,254 --> 00:11:39,344 is God. 197 00:11:40,114 --> 00:11:44,564 So he sets all that stage up, trying to help people understand when we're 198 00:11:44,564 --> 00:11:50,234 following Jesus, we're not following some other guy from another religion. 199 00:11:50,404 --> 00:11:54,544 We're not following, um, someone who, who has an equal. 200 00:11:55,674 --> 00:12:01,174 And he goes on into this passage about our faith and walking with Jesus 201 00:12:01,514 --> 00:12:04,154 and about encouraging one another. 202 00:12:04,304 --> 00:12:06,794 So Hebrews chapter three, go down to verse number 12. 203 00:12:07,099 --> 00:12:11,699 We'll read verses 12, 13, and 14, and I'll be reading it in the NIV. 204 00:12:12,459 --> 00:12:14,319 Listen, see to it, brothers and sisters. 205 00:12:14,339 --> 00:12:17,079 So he's, he's talking to people who've said, yeah, I'm 206 00:12:17,079 --> 00:12:18,389 a Christian, I follow Jesus. 207 00:12:19,089 --> 00:12:20,729 See to it, Christians. 208 00:12:21,179 --> 00:12:26,339 That none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 209 00:12:27,659 --> 00:12:33,709 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you 210 00:12:33,709 --> 00:12:36,609 may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 211 00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:43,739 We have come to share Christ, if indeed we hold our original 212 00:12:43,769 --> 00:12:47,330 conviction firmly to the very end. 213 00:12:47,909 --> 00:12:51,179 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving 214 00:12:51,189 --> 00:12:53,409 heart that turns away from the living God. 215 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,049 We need to look at our heart, evaluate our heart. 216 00:12:57,819 --> 00:13:01,099 There's a part of looking at our neighbor's heart, our 217 00:13:01,109 --> 00:13:03,359 friend's heart within the church. 218 00:13:05,179 --> 00:13:08,049 Encourage one another daily as long as it's called today. 219 00:13:08,449 --> 00:13:11,349 Couple things about discipline that this scripture talks about 220 00:13:11,349 --> 00:13:12,289 that I want to teach today. 221 00:13:12,289 --> 00:13:15,729 One is having a discipline of encouragement. 222 00:13:16,529 --> 00:13:20,999 A discipline of encouragement, is a habit of encouragement. 223 00:13:21,399 --> 00:13:24,229 He says, encourage one another daily. 224 00:13:24,659 --> 00:13:26,639 As long as it's called today. 225 00:13:26,979 --> 00:13:28,659 Encourage one another daily. 226 00:13:28,659 --> 00:13:30,689 In case that's not clear enough. 227 00:13:30,919 --> 00:13:32,549 What day is today? 228 00:13:32,549 --> 00:13:33,549 Is today, today? 229 00:13:33,549 --> 00:13:37,069 Yes, then today's the day you need to encourage another person. 230 00:13:37,389 --> 00:13:38,134 We encourage. 231 00:13:38,144 --> 00:13:43,004 We tend to put things off, we tend to schedule things for later, 232 00:13:43,144 --> 00:13:46,314 we tend to say, I'll get to it. 233 00:13:46,364 --> 00:13:50,484 But he's saying encouragement is so important that if it's today, it's 234 00:13:50,494 --> 00:13:53,004 the day to encourage each other. 235 00:13:54,374 --> 00:13:55,204 He's teaching us. 236 00:13:55,694 --> 00:14:01,064 To develop a practice, a discipline, a habit of encouraging 237 00:14:01,304 --> 00:14:04,864 someone else every single day. 238 00:14:05,354 --> 00:14:11,414 This is for every follower of Jesus to say, I am going to 239 00:14:11,444 --> 00:14:14,644 encourage another believer today. 240 00:14:15,844 --> 00:14:20,324 Every single one of us carries and acts on that practice. 241 00:14:21,444 --> 00:14:26,034 Sometimes people mope about not receiving encouragement. 242 00:14:26,034 --> 00:14:26,084 Amen. 243 00:14:26,554 --> 00:14:28,664 But this is not our focus. 244 00:14:28,984 --> 00:14:30,304 It's not about receiving. 245 00:14:30,314 --> 00:14:31,794 It's about giving. 246 00:14:32,094 --> 00:14:35,484 And the command is not to receive encouragement daily. 247 00:14:35,614 --> 00:14:38,904 The command is to give encouragement daily. 248 00:14:39,964 --> 00:14:43,114 Make encouragement a daily discipline. 249 00:14:43,424 --> 00:14:47,384 For some of you, it is very, very easy. 250 00:14:48,074 --> 00:14:52,054 You are encouragers, and, and it's so natural to you that when 251 00:14:52,054 --> 00:14:56,134 I say to you, wow, you're such an encourager, you're shocked. 252 00:14:56,454 --> 00:14:56,914 I am? 253 00:14:57,854 --> 00:14:58,824 I didn't know that. 254 00:14:58,964 --> 00:14:59,884 No, you are. 255 00:15:00,414 --> 00:15:02,584 And everybody is like, yeah, that person. 256 00:15:02,654 --> 00:15:07,824 I think we could all think of five to ten people in our church across locations, and 257 00:15:07,824 --> 00:15:13,004 we'd come up with, um, with very similar names of people who are encouragers. 258 00:15:14,604 --> 00:15:19,534 For some of us, it's naturally, but for others, they gag they, not exactly. 259 00:15:21,764 --> 00:15:27,264 What I have to do, and what I'd encourage you to do, is to put it in your calendar. 260 00:15:28,559 --> 00:15:35,699 To use that digital calendar and to make note to practice putting in that 261 00:15:35,709 --> 00:15:39,549 habit of encouraging someone every day. 262 00:15:40,099 --> 00:15:45,449 A calendar to send a note, an email, a text, a phone call. 263 00:15:46,869 --> 00:15:48,959 I have to remind myself 264 00:15:51,779 --> 00:15:52,699 to encourage others. 265 00:15:52,759 --> 00:15:56,039 I have to remind myself to encourage my wife, my kids. 266 00:15:56,324 --> 00:15:59,054 The church staff, I have to remind myself that. 267 00:15:59,064 --> 00:16:02,784 Not because I don't think good things about them, but because it's not in 268 00:16:02,784 --> 00:16:05,414 my nature to communicate that way. 269 00:16:06,074 --> 00:16:10,364 But scripture has called me to act in a way that's not natural, and 270 00:16:10,364 --> 00:16:12,134 I must be obedient to scripture. 271 00:16:13,594 --> 00:16:15,634 The second thing, which I've already kind of touched on, but 272 00:16:15,634 --> 00:16:17,154 it's the command of encouragement. 273 00:16:18,034 --> 00:16:23,494 Paul commonly challenged the churches he led, and the churches 274 00:16:23,504 --> 00:16:28,899 he started, Two, and this is found in 1 Thessalonians, Encourage each 275 00:16:28,899 --> 00:16:30,849 other and build each other up. 276 00:16:31,579 --> 00:16:33,539 Encourage each other and build each other up. 277 00:16:33,739 --> 00:16:38,169 That Christians are Encouraging other Christians and Christians are building 278 00:16:38,169 --> 00:16:46,489 up other Christians Perpetually, non stop, more and more, greater and greater. 279 00:16:47,179 --> 00:16:51,509 And this is not just something that's relegated to people who have 280 00:16:51,639 --> 00:16:53,609 encouragement as a spiritual gift. 281 00:16:54,504 --> 00:16:59,834 So there is a spiritual gift of encouragement that those people function 282 00:16:59,894 --> 00:17:02,304 with a greater grace, a greater ability. 283 00:17:02,324 --> 00:17:05,194 Probably some of the names that we'd all think about are people 284 00:17:05,194 --> 00:17:06,884 who have that spiritual gift. 285 00:17:07,404 --> 00:17:12,214 Uh, Barnabas in scripture is, is likely someone who had that spiritual gift. 286 00:17:12,394 --> 00:17:14,404 He was given the nickname Barnabas. 287 00:17:14,769 --> 00:17:16,388 Son of encouragement. 288 00:17:16,509 --> 00:17:18,729 Alright, so it kind of gives you an idea. 289 00:17:18,729 --> 00:17:22,259 If you've got a nickname of Encour, of encourager, then 290 00:17:22,259 --> 00:17:23,579 you probably have that gift. 291 00:17:23,929 --> 00:17:27,229 But all of us are called to encourage in a similar way. 292 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:29,599 Some people have a spiritual gift of giving. 293 00:17:29,869 --> 00:17:32,719 It seems like it's very easy for them, very natural to them. 294 00:17:32,899 --> 00:17:36,979 They have ability to give more and more and more and, and they're, they're. 295 00:17:39,074 --> 00:17:41,844 It's very easy, but all of us have a command to give. 296 00:17:42,624 --> 00:17:46,684 So even though someone, uh, has the gift of it, and it's very easy, 297 00:17:46,694 --> 00:17:48,404 it does not take us off the hook. 298 00:17:48,604 --> 00:17:54,214 All of us are called to share our faith, but some have the gift of evangelism, and 299 00:17:54,214 --> 00:17:59,324 so they, what takes us, uh, what's very difficult sometimes for us to do, they've 300 00:17:59,324 --> 00:18:01,804 already done it, you know, 45 times. 301 00:18:03,549 --> 00:18:06,399 So here's, let's talk about this. 302 00:18:06,409 --> 00:18:09,059 Why is encouraging others so important? 303 00:18:09,069 --> 00:18:11,059 Why is it a command for us? 304 00:18:11,939 --> 00:18:15,649 It would seem like of all the things that scripture would call us to 305 00:18:15,649 --> 00:18:21,749 do for encouragement to be really hammered on over and over again. 306 00:18:22,379 --> 00:18:23,719 Why is it so important? 307 00:18:24,389 --> 00:18:28,689 One thing is that our key, and one important thing, probably the most 308 00:18:28,689 --> 00:18:32,609 important thing from this scripture, is that encouragement From other 309 00:18:32,609 --> 00:18:37,269 people, from other believers, keeps our hearts close to Jesus. 310 00:18:38,489 --> 00:18:43,299 In the passage we just said, it said, uh, it, it mentioned our heart two 311 00:18:43,299 --> 00:18:46,559 different times, that you haven't, you can, to protect against an 312 00:18:46,599 --> 00:18:49,639 unbelieving heart and a hardened heart. 313 00:18:50,629 --> 00:18:55,139 And encouragement helps other people from having an unbelieving heart 314 00:18:55,499 --> 00:18:58,689 and developing a hardened heart. 315 00:18:59,659 --> 00:19:03,269 I want to look at a couple things real quick. 316 00:19:04,049 --> 00:19:09,119 About what are some ways might an unbelieving heart show up in your life. 317 00:19:10,109 --> 00:19:13,139 Because, again, remember, he's talking to a church. 318 00:19:13,609 --> 00:19:15,699 He's talking to people who follow Jesus. 319 00:19:16,209 --> 00:19:21,289 So, this idea of an unbelieving heart amongst people who confess they believe, 320 00:19:23,304 --> 00:19:25,714 It's kind of, it's a little bit confusing. 321 00:19:26,234 --> 00:19:29,344 Why would, how could they have unbelieving hearts if they say they believe? 322 00:19:29,354 --> 00:19:33,254 But often times, what happens in our heart happens way before our head. 323 00:19:34,614 --> 00:19:37,494 And in our heart, our heart has started to not believe. 324 00:19:37,644 --> 00:19:39,444 Our heart has wandered and gone astray. 325 00:19:39,624 --> 00:19:46,194 Even though our head and our function practice is, um, is still the same. 326 00:19:48,684 --> 00:19:50,914 Here are some things, I'll put these on the screen for you. 327 00:19:50,914 --> 00:19:51,374 Number one. 328 00:19:52,524 --> 00:19:54,354 Doctrine so these are again. 329 00:19:54,354 --> 00:19:55,224 I'm talking to the believers. 330 00:19:55,224 --> 00:20:00,764 I'll explain these for you But for someone who's who's gone to church for someone 331 00:20:00,764 --> 00:20:06,274 who's following Jesus But you begin to maybe you don't even sense it yourself 332 00:20:06,324 --> 00:20:11,224 But others can see it in you weakening doctrine that you no longer see the Bible. 333 00:20:11,254 --> 00:20:17,404 You no longer see scripture As the authority and you're no longer studying 334 00:20:17,404 --> 00:20:20,044 scripture to find out what to believe. 335 00:20:20,254 --> 00:20:23,554 You're studying blogs to affirm your belief. 336 00:20:25,314 --> 00:20:27,834 That's a sign your, your doctor's weakening. 337 00:20:28,514 --> 00:20:33,584 'cause you're looking at a YouTuber, or a TikTok or, or a blogger of 338 00:20:33,584 --> 00:20:37,694 someone that you never met before to determine what scripture says, 339 00:20:37,934 --> 00:20:40,064 instead of studying scripture. 340 00:20:41,084 --> 00:20:42,944 To find out what it says. 341 00:20:43,814 --> 00:20:49,424 And we see this happening in our country, across churches, 342 00:20:49,464 --> 00:20:52,234 in every single community. 343 00:20:52,924 --> 00:21:04,344 Across denominations, Um, Uh, It is, it is, Uh, a rare, more of a rare 344 00:21:04,344 --> 00:21:09,024 thing to find the church that says, we will align ourselves to scripture, 345 00:21:09,154 --> 00:21:12,874 rather than saying, scripture is going to align to our beliefs. 346 00:21:14,424 --> 00:21:17,144 The second thing is rigid dogma. 347 00:21:18,274 --> 00:21:24,294 Dogma is a set of beliefs that, um, that are kind of outside of the scripture. 348 00:21:24,609 --> 00:21:29,799 Alright, so dogmas can be kind of positive things, they can be negative things, 349 00:21:29,999 --> 00:21:33,539 they just are, but when you're rigid about them, usually that's a bad thing. 350 00:21:33,659 --> 00:21:37,549 We need to be rigid about our doctrine, not about our dogma, and when you get 351 00:21:37,549 --> 00:21:41,249 those things reversed, it's showing an unbelieving, hardening heart. 352 00:21:41,699 --> 00:21:46,789 So, an example of, uh, of a dogma, like a positive dogma that 353 00:21:46,789 --> 00:21:48,789 Restoration Church has, is this. 354 00:21:49,059 --> 00:21:51,259 We have loud music. 355 00:21:52,109 --> 00:21:53,049 We have loud music. 356 00:21:53,049 --> 00:21:56,319 It is something that we do, something that's important to us, something 357 00:21:56,319 --> 00:22:00,229 that we do that believes, glorifies God, something also that keeps us 358 00:22:00,229 --> 00:22:01,739 from having to hear you sing, alright? 359 00:22:01,939 --> 00:22:08,179 So, so it, we believe that with loud music and soft lights, and dim lights, 360 00:22:08,209 --> 00:22:10,239 it'll help other people to worship God. 361 00:22:10,969 --> 00:22:11,989 So, that's why we do it. 362 00:22:12,019 --> 00:22:13,489 We do it to help you worship God. 363 00:22:14,449 --> 00:22:16,769 And, it's a, it's just something we believe. 364 00:22:16,809 --> 00:22:17,819 It's not in scripture. 365 00:22:18,589 --> 00:22:21,509 But sometimes people have a dogma that it's wrong. 366 00:22:21,599 --> 00:22:23,909 Well, you shouldn't have lights, you shouldn't have dark ceilings, 367 00:22:23,909 --> 00:22:26,019 you shouldn't have dark rooms, you shouldn't have loud music. 368 00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:26,859 Those things are wrong. 369 00:22:27,019 --> 00:22:28,119 Well, is it in scripture? 370 00:22:28,669 --> 00:22:29,949 Absolutely not. 371 00:22:29,989 --> 00:22:33,839 In fact, there's more, there's more evidence toward loud music. 372 00:22:33,939 --> 00:22:39,139 It talks about clanging cymbals and, and, and it talks about loud music. 373 00:22:39,599 --> 00:22:42,859 More in scripture than it does about somber music. 374 00:22:43,714 --> 00:22:48,224 So that's an example of a dogma that, that we could say, Hey, whether 375 00:22:48,224 --> 00:22:50,454 it's soft or it's loud, no problem. 376 00:22:50,594 --> 00:22:52,874 We have a, we have a flexibility in how we worship. 377 00:22:53,054 --> 00:22:56,014 But when you begin to say it must be done this way and the other way 378 00:22:56,014 --> 00:22:58,024 is wrong, rigid dogma is wrong. 379 00:22:58,064 --> 00:23:04,364 And another example of this is, uh, uh, you've made, uh, well, the principle is 380 00:23:04,364 --> 00:23:06,684 you've made minor things, major things. 381 00:23:08,509 --> 00:23:12,419 And an example of this would be the names of holidays. 382 00:23:12,559 --> 00:23:15,379 And let me, let me get on my soapbox here for a minute. 383 00:23:17,309 --> 00:23:18,729 And sing Jesus Freak to you. 384 00:23:18,749 --> 00:23:20,739 No, let me get on my soapbox here for a minute. 385 00:23:20,799 --> 00:23:25,989 And every holiday, we have people in our church wigging out, wigging out. 386 00:23:25,989 --> 00:23:28,469 And I apologize for such old terminology. 387 00:23:30,074 --> 00:23:34,124 But, but, freaking out because we either used the word Halloween, or 388 00:23:34,124 --> 00:23:40,574 Easter, or even Christmas, and that somehow using those words has caused 389 00:23:40,574 --> 00:23:42,764 us to compromise something about this. 390 00:23:43,044 --> 00:23:46,714 Whatever you want to call Easter, call it that, but don't be rigid about it. 391 00:23:46,874 --> 00:23:50,304 There's nothing in scripture here that talks about that, or Halloween. 392 00:23:50,614 --> 00:23:54,244 Or Easter, or Fair Food Sunday, or President's Day. 393 00:23:54,484 --> 00:23:58,054 Because it's a minor thing, it does not matter. 394 00:23:58,054 --> 00:24:01,534 And now some of you are getting all wound up like, Whoa, I got an email 395 00:24:01,554 --> 00:24:03,504 for you, I've got an email for you. 396 00:24:03,654 --> 00:24:04,744 You are so wrong. 397 00:24:04,954 --> 00:24:06,624 Listen, it doesn't matter. 398 00:24:07,414 --> 00:24:10,484 It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. 399 00:24:10,724 --> 00:24:16,219 When Paul showed up to a pagan town, There was idols everywhere. 400 00:24:16,419 --> 00:24:17,639 Idols everywhere. 401 00:24:17,759 --> 00:24:20,549 And he says, hey, I see this idol right here to an unknown God. 402 00:24:20,789 --> 00:24:22,909 Let me tell you about, about this idol right here. 403 00:24:23,079 --> 00:24:24,139 His name's Jesus. 404 00:24:24,369 --> 00:24:25,489 We'd be freaking out. 405 00:24:25,629 --> 00:24:27,399 You can't call Jesus an idol. 406 00:24:27,539 --> 00:24:29,639 You can't call Jesus an unknown God. 407 00:24:29,809 --> 00:24:34,259 And it's the principle of use the language of the culture to 408 00:24:34,259 --> 00:24:35,919 communicate the glory of God. 409 00:24:36,229 --> 00:24:38,649 We say Easter because that's what people understand. 410 00:24:38,879 --> 00:24:42,329 They have no flippant idea what Resurrection Day is. 411 00:24:42,519 --> 00:24:46,519 We say Halloween because they don't know what Reformation Day is. 412 00:24:46,669 --> 00:24:54,809 We say Christmas because the birth of our virgin Immaculate Savior 413 00:24:54,879 --> 00:24:56,779 does not make any sense to them. 414 00:24:58,919 --> 00:25:02,819 We don't go into another language and speak foreign language to them. 415 00:25:03,229 --> 00:25:09,989 We use their language to help us to open up conversation about who our Savior is. 416 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,369 That's the biblical principle, and that's 417 00:25:16,029 --> 00:25:17,819 The doctrine, not the dogma. 418 00:25:18,569 --> 00:25:22,469 Next one is this, compromised convictions. 419 00:25:23,769 --> 00:25:26,369 And again, this is for the Christian. 420 00:25:26,399 --> 00:25:26,959 All right. 421 00:25:27,189 --> 00:25:28,409 So you're following Jesus. 422 00:25:28,439 --> 00:25:30,109 You made a decision to follow Jesus. 423 00:25:30,439 --> 00:25:36,989 Some of us have been serving him for 3, 4, 5, 10, 25, 65 years. 424 00:25:38,449 --> 00:25:44,219 And are there things you previously would not do that now you're doing? 425 00:25:46,329 --> 00:25:47,439 Think about that for a little bit. 426 00:25:49,349 --> 00:25:52,949 Things you previously would not do that now you're doing. 427 00:25:53,334 --> 00:25:59,954 Now, for some things, we realize we've been taught dogma and not doctrine, and 428 00:25:59,954 --> 00:26:05,354 so when we discover a doctrine that we've been rigid, we can change it and adapt. 429 00:26:05,384 --> 00:26:12,234 An example of this was, in my lifetime, uh, I went to churches, 430 00:26:12,404 --> 00:26:16,474 not Restoration Church, but I, I was part of churches where the ladies 431 00:26:16,474 --> 00:26:18,159 were not allowed to wear pants. 432 00:26:23,679 --> 00:26:27,409 So, some ladies are wearing pants, but in their lifetime, 433 00:26:27,439 --> 00:26:28,719 they never would have before. 434 00:26:28,909 --> 00:26:32,889 Some men are here today, and for the first 15 years of walking with 435 00:26:32,919 --> 00:26:36,339 Jesus, they only came to church in a suit and tie, and now they don't. 436 00:26:36,649 --> 00:26:37,709 Well, that's not in scripture. 437 00:26:38,009 --> 00:26:39,999 So, they begin to say, oh, I've got freedom here. 438 00:26:40,319 --> 00:26:45,279 Now, there's other things where there are a personal conviction, you know, I 439 00:26:45,299 --> 00:26:50,549 cannot do this, but yet, if you evaluate yourself, you are doing these things. 440 00:26:51,489 --> 00:26:59,169 I remember being four years old, and we lived on Horn Street in Dover, 441 00:26:59,889 --> 00:27:05,869 and I get in, my dad had bought this red Chevy Sprint, and I get in, in 442 00:27:05,869 --> 00:27:09,019 it, and it's this tiny car, even for a tiny kid, it was a tiny car. 443 00:27:09,449 --> 00:27:10,899 And my dad had a note. 444 00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:12,769 on the brand new car. 445 00:27:13,339 --> 00:27:16,939 Don't smoke in the car, which is a note to his wife. 446 00:27:17,069 --> 00:27:18,119 Don't smoke in the car. 447 00:27:18,299 --> 00:27:23,589 And I remember, um, sitting in the car and he's like, son, smoking is bad. 448 00:27:23,829 --> 00:27:24,729 Don't smoke. 449 00:27:24,799 --> 00:27:26,179 Smoking is not a good thing. 450 00:27:26,449 --> 00:27:29,519 And we drive off to wherever we're driving. 451 00:27:29,869 --> 00:27:33,059 Fast forward all these years later, all these years later, many 452 00:27:33,059 --> 00:27:35,439 years later, my mom doesn't smoke. 453 00:27:35,449 --> 00:27:36,189 My dad does. 454 00:27:39,479 --> 00:27:46,324 It's It's kind of one of those things where, what has happened, where something 455 00:27:46,324 --> 00:27:52,914 you were, you were so, like, this is not for me, I cannot do this, to now 456 00:27:52,914 --> 00:27:55,104 you're like, yeah, I kinda, I do this. 457 00:27:55,324 --> 00:28:00,944 Those are something you have to really evaluate, really evaluate. 458 00:28:00,974 --> 00:28:02,364 Why did you make the change? 459 00:28:02,634 --> 00:28:08,599 Is it because Is it because of growth or is it because of compromise? 460 00:28:08,799 --> 00:28:14,429 And, and sin is so treacherous that it can convince us otherwise. 461 00:28:15,049 --> 00:28:16,549 Here's the last one. 462 00:28:16,869 --> 00:28:19,509 It is decreasing grace. 463 00:28:20,469 --> 00:28:25,459 Um, we find ourselves functioning with less grace toward other people. 464 00:28:25,479 --> 00:28:29,909 You are less patient, you are more judgy, you tend to blame others 465 00:28:30,189 --> 00:28:33,049 instead of accepting any blame. 466 00:28:33,339 --> 00:28:39,459 These are signs of hardening or unbelieving, growing unbelieving hearts. 467 00:28:39,959 --> 00:28:43,149 Encouragement protects heart. 468 00:28:44,869 --> 00:28:48,789 Encouragement can protect hearts from these things. 469 00:28:49,979 --> 00:28:51,819 Encouragement keeps us going. 470 00:28:52,699 --> 00:28:58,679 And allows us to function and to finish the race that we are called on. 471 00:28:59,769 --> 00:29:01,039 Here's the last one. 472 00:29:01,449 --> 00:29:03,429 The outcome of encouragement. 473 00:29:04,689 --> 00:29:08,739 Couple obvious and beautiful and most important ones. 474 00:29:08,769 --> 00:29:11,709 One, encouragement can lead to repentant. 475 00:29:14,449 --> 00:29:18,609 And that's what we want for people to turn away, to turn back to Jesus. 476 00:29:18,789 --> 00:29:23,589 It's what we want for you to turn away from those other things, to turn to Jesus. 477 00:29:23,589 --> 00:29:23,894 for joining us. 478 00:29:25,774 --> 00:29:30,244 Encouragement can lead to salvation because sometimes we've wandered so far. 479 00:29:33,324 --> 00:29:38,474 Encouragement, and let me encourage you, pray to Him, give your life to Him, 480 00:29:38,644 --> 00:29:40,654 let Him back in your life again today. 481 00:29:41,214 --> 00:29:42,334 It's what we want for you. 482 00:29:44,234 --> 00:29:48,614 Another outcome of encouragement is found in the scripture. 483 00:29:48,674 --> 00:29:50,624 Also, it is persevere it. 484 00:29:52,094 --> 00:29:59,084 It says that they will hold on until the end, hold on until the end, that we won't 485 00:29:59,114 --> 00:30:01,684 give up, we won't give in, we won't quit. 486 00:30:02,104 --> 00:30:08,214 We'll continue following Jesus through everything, through every moment 487 00:30:08,214 --> 00:30:14,524 of discouragement, through every temptation of sin, through every 488 00:30:14,524 --> 00:30:16,314 difficulty, through every storm. 489 00:30:18,574 --> 00:30:22,474 Encouragement helps us to keep going forward. 490 00:30:23,664 --> 00:30:26,939 The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. 491 00:30:26,939 --> 00:30:27,254 C. 492 00:30:27,644 --> 00:30:35,044 Has, uh, has a collection of things that President Abraham Lincoln was carrying 493 00:30:35,074 --> 00:30:37,564 on him the night of his assassination. 494 00:30:38,954 --> 00:30:42,514 And one of the articles that he had on this person was worn out because 495 00:30:42,614 --> 00:30:46,444 he had opened it and closed it many, many times and it was worn out. 496 00:30:46,864 --> 00:30:49,734 And it was a newspaper clipping. 497 00:30:50,189 --> 00:30:53,439 That celebrated his accomplishments as president. 498 00:30:53,989 --> 00:30:58,799 And it read in that article, Abraham Lincoln is one of the 499 00:30:58,799 --> 00:31:01,189 greatest statesmen of all time. 500 00:31:02,159 --> 00:31:05,819 We can obviously see that one of the reasons it was so worn out is because 501 00:31:05,819 --> 00:31:08,249 he was pulling it out to remind himself. 502 00:31:08,819 --> 00:31:14,689 And the great difficulty of the Civil War, when, when Hey I'm President, and half the 503 00:31:15,029 --> 00:31:21,369 country, uh, uh, secedes, in the darkness, in the attacks, in the questioning, every 504 00:31:21,369 --> 00:31:25,549 decision he made, they'd be questioning, and questioning, and questioning. 505 00:31:25,904 --> 00:31:31,084 There was, uh, people not wanting him to run for a second term and 506 00:31:31,104 --> 00:31:32,834 all of the difficulty of that. 507 00:31:32,904 --> 00:31:34,684 He carried that article. 508 00:31:36,384 --> 00:31:40,164 Abraham Lincoln is the greatest statesman of all time. 509 00:31:41,504 --> 00:31:44,024 We have critics as well. 510 00:31:45,164 --> 00:31:51,074 We have spiritual critics, we have critics in our family, critics sometimes within 511 00:31:51,074 --> 00:31:55,014 the church who don't want you to step out, who don't want you to step forward, 512 00:31:55,234 --> 00:32:01,994 who don't want you to step into what God has for you, and And some, listen, 513 00:32:02,324 --> 00:32:05,104 we've got to encourage each other. 514 00:32:06,074 --> 00:32:10,074 Keep on the race that God has for you. 515 00:32:10,584 --> 00:32:16,484 And because of the critics we have, our Bibles should be worn out, 516 00:32:17,814 --> 00:32:24,134 remembering what God has said about us and what God has said to us. 517 00:32:24,494 --> 00:32:26,674 That when the critic comes, you're not a good mom. 518 00:32:27,294 --> 00:32:28,274 You're not a good dad. 519 00:32:28,274 --> 00:32:29,194 You're not a good employee. 520 00:32:29,194 --> 00:32:30,364 You're not a good Christian. 521 00:32:30,364 --> 00:32:33,604 You're not, that we would pull up our scripture. 522 00:32:35,404 --> 00:32:37,594 And say, God, what do you say about me? 523 00:32:38,224 --> 00:32:40,034 God, what do you say about my future? 524 00:32:40,524 --> 00:32:44,274 God, what do you say about my, uh, about my gifts, and about my 525 00:32:44,274 --> 00:32:46,354 calling, and about my assignment? 526 00:32:46,354 --> 00:32:47,424 God, what do you say? 527 00:32:47,454 --> 00:32:54,714 And to wear it out, reminding ourselves of what Jesus says. 528 00:32:54,714 --> 00:32:59,564 And here's the last thing, and, and the band can move into position. 529 00:33:03,864 --> 00:33:10,484 It says to encourage one another daily, And I mentioned earlier, 530 00:33:10,504 --> 00:33:14,234 we should not be complaining that other people aren't encouraging us. 531 00:33:14,594 --> 00:33:15,914 That's not the command. 532 00:33:16,444 --> 00:33:18,204 All right, take the focus off yourself. 533 00:33:18,204 --> 00:33:20,804 You need to say, am I, who have I encouraged today? 534 00:33:20,844 --> 00:33:22,144 That's your responsibility. 535 00:33:22,894 --> 00:33:23,614 But you know what? 536 00:33:24,304 --> 00:33:29,124 You are supposed to be encouraged daily and God wants you to be encouraged 537 00:33:29,124 --> 00:33:31,774 daily, but not from other people. 538 00:33:32,414 --> 00:33:35,534 He wants you to be encouraged by Him. 539 00:33:36,649 --> 00:33:40,429 That we are looking to Him for our daily encouragement, 540 00:33:40,499 --> 00:33:41,619 not looking to other people. 541 00:33:41,969 --> 00:33:46,529 This keeps our hearts pure, helps us from being self centered and selfish, from 542 00:33:46,529 --> 00:33:48,749 being resentful, from all kinds of things. 543 00:33:48,939 --> 00:33:53,319 And we're able to pour out of His encouragement to encourage others. 544 00:33:53,619 --> 00:33:58,929 And the Holy Spirit is, He's got a couple of names in the Bible, 545 00:33:58,929 --> 00:34:00,299 a couple of describing names. 546 00:34:00,439 --> 00:34:01,274 The Comforter, The Comforter. 547 00:34:02,064 --> 00:34:04,624 The advocate, the encourager. 548 00:34:06,004 --> 00:34:08,344 He wants to encourage us. 549 00:34:08,514 --> 00:34:14,123 And so when it says be encouraged daily, the Holy Spirit wants 550 00:34:14,123 --> 00:34:15,114 to encourage you daily. 551 00:34:16,714 --> 00:34:20,134 Here's what, here's what He wants you to do. 552 00:34:21,424 --> 00:34:22,664 Here's what God wants you to do. 553 00:34:24,464 --> 00:34:25,393 To have a Bible. 554 00:34:26,304 --> 00:34:28,344 If you don't have a Bible, we'll give you one for free. 555 00:34:28,454 --> 00:34:31,434 Just go to the New Here area in the lobby, they'll give you a Bible for free. 556 00:34:33,043 --> 00:34:34,313 This isn't just a book. 557 00:34:35,784 --> 00:34:40,393 This isn't just, uh, just a collection of writings. 558 00:34:41,264 --> 00:34:42,174 This is God's Word. 559 00:34:42,184 --> 00:34:47,164 He wants to supernaturally use this book to encourage you every day. 560 00:34:47,454 --> 00:34:52,563 This is why we read it every day, not to be religious, not to, uh, not 561 00:34:52,563 --> 00:34:56,054 to check it off the box, not to look cool to the Christian girl we're 562 00:34:56,054 --> 00:34:57,494 trying to get to go on a date with us. 563 00:34:57,994 --> 00:35:02,134 We read it every day so God can speak to us through it. 564 00:35:03,074 --> 00:35:06,144 The other thing is every day to pray. 565 00:35:07,594 --> 00:35:12,434 And you have your list of things you're asking God to do, but also prayer is 566 00:35:12,444 --> 00:35:15,344 about conversation, to really talk to him. 567 00:35:16,424 --> 00:35:18,294 Don't just say, check, check, check, check, check, check. 568 00:35:18,954 --> 00:35:20,664 But to say, here's how I'm feeling. 569 00:35:20,764 --> 00:35:21,814 Here's what I'm going through. 570 00:35:22,414 --> 00:35:23,794 Here's what I thank you for. 571 00:35:24,434 --> 00:35:25,644 Here's what I'm grateful for. 572 00:35:26,364 --> 00:35:27,914 And to take a moment and pause. 573 00:35:29,194 --> 00:35:31,984 Uh, earlier this year in the soul series, we take, just take five 574 00:35:31,984 --> 00:35:33,244 minutes of silence every day. 575 00:35:33,254 --> 00:35:36,754 Five minutes, have nothing on, nothing on just silent. 576 00:35:37,014 --> 00:35:37,784 Don't even talk. 577 00:35:38,034 --> 00:35:38,614 Just listen. 578 00:35:39,744 --> 00:35:43,924 Because He wants to encourage you Himself to speak in a still, small voice to 579 00:35:43,924 --> 00:35:47,234 your heart, to your mind, to bless you. 580 00:35:49,104 --> 00:35:54,004 We give encouragement to other Christians every single day. 581 00:35:55,684 --> 00:36:00,164 And we receive encouragement from Jesus through His Word and 582 00:36:00,164 --> 00:36:02,204 through prayer every single day. 583 00:36:04,154 --> 00:36:05,824 You close your eyes, let me pray for you. 584 00:36:08,644 --> 00:36:11,404 We just ask you right now, Jesus, to encourage us. 585 00:36:19,394 --> 00:36:22,714 There, there are things we're discouraged about, things that we're resentful 586 00:36:22,714 --> 00:36:25,114 about, things that we're struggling with. 587 00:36:25,484 --> 00:36:26,434 Encourage us. 588 00:36:28,774 --> 00:36:32,624 For the people going through a hard time, it's not forever. 589 00:36:32,964 --> 00:36:33,984 Encourage them with that. 590 00:36:35,514 --> 00:36:38,994 For the people who are trying to rebuild their life, tell them your 591 00:36:38,994 --> 00:36:40,914 promises and encourage them with that. 592 00:36:42,554 --> 00:36:47,784 For the people who, um, who, things are going well, but they feel like maybe no 593 00:36:47,784 --> 00:36:50,724 one's noticing, tell them what you notice. 594 00:36:51,144 --> 00:36:52,294 Encourage them with that, Lord. 595 00:36:54,444 --> 00:36:57,654 God, you have a word for every single one of us in our church. 596 00:36:57,904 --> 00:37:01,134 You have something every day that you want to tell us, something special every 597 00:37:01,134 --> 00:37:04,224 day that you want to share with us, through your word and through prayer. 598 00:37:05,504 --> 00:37:09,164 And I pray, God, we will make that a discipline. 599 00:37:10,614 --> 00:37:14,104 A discipline not just to give encouragement, but a discipline to receive 600 00:37:14,104 --> 00:37:17,144 encouragement from you every single day. 601 00:37:17,154 --> 00:37:20,134 And we pray this, Lord Jesus, in your name. 602 00:37:20,684 --> 00:37:21,124 Amen.