The Pilgrim Path---First Thessalonians 5: 8 – 11

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ, who died for us that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

“BUT SINCE WE BELONG TO THE DAY…”

The disciples of Jesus are not going to be shocked by His return to this world. They expect Him to come---they long for His return! His followers are people of the day. We have been drawn out of spiritual darkness by the power of the Gospel. We anticipate an age of full-orbed brilliance ahead---when the Lamb will light the New Heavens and New Earth with His magnificent presence. We may well be encouragers. Let me spur You on as summer approaches---to be an encourager of the saints. We belong to a world of verbal destruction and “put-downs.” Please follow the exhortation in this text (verse 11). Encourage and build up the brothers and sisters as often as you are able!

The first word in verse 11---for encourage, could easily be translated “comfort.” It is used that way in Matthew 5: 4, and Second Corinthians 1: 4, 6, and Acts 20: 12---when Eutychus is raised from the dead, “the people were more than a little comforted.” Ask the Holy Spirit to help you bring a measure of comfort to Jesus’ people---they need it. The second word in verse 11---for build-up, originally had the idea of repairing a building / embellishing it…In a context like this, you get the meaning----“contribute to the advancement of a person’s spiritual condition.” That is what you want to do as a follower of the LORD Jesus Christ---as often as you can! You have been blessed---Now, be a blessing in Jesus’ Name. Consider these synonyms for encourage. As you read them, I bet they will clear matters up for you as a disciple of the Living Christ: support, help, succor, assist, serve, abet, back, second, spell, relieve, rescue, sustain, uphold, hold up, bolster, promote, ease, be of help, give help, give assistance, oblige, accommodate----Get the message?

Not long ago I was reading Johann Christoph Arnold, as he talked about a dear lady in their Christian Community that had been a JOY to so many. He said whenever he thought of service---he just thought of Sara. Three of her fourteen children were lost to disease---one from diphtheria, another from meningitis---another from a heart disorder. He said she was a fine cook---excellent seamstress---always in the garden---and always forothers. He described her as quiet---not much of a talker, just a doer. He said when she died--- they found this sheet of paper in her desk---copied from Mother Teresa:

A Few Ways to practice Humility:

Speak as little as possible of oneself.

Mind your own business.

Avoid curiosity.

Do not want to manage other people’s affairs.

Accept contradiction and correction cheerfully.

Pass over the mistakes of others.

Accept blame when innocent.

Yield to the will of others.

Accept insults and injuries.

Accept being slighted, forgotten, and disliked.

Be kind and gentle, even under provocation.

Do not seek to be specially loved and admired.

Never stand on one’s dignity.

Choose always the hardest.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but humbled himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 1 - 11

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason