The Power of Encouraging Words

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

January 31, 2010 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

I want to begin with an old American folk song. If you know it, please join in.

Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Home, home on the range,

where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

I like that line about “the skies are not cloudy all day,” especially after the gray winter days we have had this January.

I also like the thought that “seldom is heard a discouraging word.” Discouraging words are about all we hear today. Just listen to the political ads on TV. I am really tired of hearing all the negative ads. If you believe everything they are saying, there are no candidates worth voting for – they’re all bad.

What we need is more encouraging words in every aspect of our lives.

Encourage Your Leaders

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Paul writes, “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”

It seems that some people in that church were not giving their leaders the respect and the honor that they should have. They were being critical of their leaders.

That still happens in churches today. A person who is unhappy with the pastor begins sharing their concerns about the pastor with others in the church. It doesn’t take long for this “grumbling” to create a division among the people.

The reality is that there are no perfect pastors or leaders. When people only focus on the pastor’s weaknesses, they dishonor and discourage them.

Being a pastor is a call, not just a job. God calls people into ministry. The Holy Spirit anoints them for ministry. The church sets them apart for ministry. Pastors deserve to be shown “great respect and love because of their work.” [v.13].

Pastors hear lots of complaints and criticism, but go months without ever hearing an encouraging word. However, when the people of the church speak words of encouragement to the pastor or leaders, peace will be present. Peace will be evident.

Encourage One Another

Paul continues in verses 14-15: “We urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but not all live in ways that honor Christ. If someone is stuck in some behavior that is wrong or unchristian, others in the church should speak a word of loving warning to them and encourage them to change.

If someone is discouraged, lacking in confidence, or fearful, they need to be encouraged. Life can beat people down to where they feel worthless. Jesus invites all “who are weary and burdened, and he will give them rest.” [Mt.11:28]. Jesus came to heal sick and broken people and restore them to abundant life.

Since Jesus has done this for us, we should do the same for others. We’re called to speak words that will encourage a brother or sister get back up and stand strong for Christ.

We are to “be patient with everyone.” Even when someone does something to hurt us or discourage us, encourage them. Don’t try to get even for what they have done.

Instead, “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you.” [Mt.7:12].

Acts 4:36 says: There was a man named “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement).”

Then in Acts 9, after Saul met Jesus on the road and gave his life to follow and serve Jesus, he went to Jerusalem to try to join the disciples. But they were afraid of him because before he had followers of Jesus arrested and even put to death. Verse 27 says, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.” Barnabas convinced the others that Saul had truly been converted.

In today’s reading from Acts 11:19-26, we heard that many people were coming to faith in Antioch. So the disciples sent Barnabas to Antioch. “When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.”

Barnabas encouraged them to live out their faith. Barnabas also then went to get Saul and bring him to Antioch. They spent a year teaching about Jesus.

Barnabas was an encourager. He saw the best in people and helped them become their best. Because of his example many people came to know Jesus and the church grew. Encouraging others changes them and spreads the good news of Jesus Christ.

Think about the Apostle Peter. After denying Jesus three times, he felt like a total failure. But Jesus took him aside and asked him three times if he loved him. Three times Peter said “yes” he loved Jesus. Three times Jesus told him to go and feed his sheep. Jesus restored Peter by encouraging him to serve him by taking care of God’s people.

Encouraging words give life. Encouraging words change us, transform us, and help us to become more than we could ever believe. Everyone needs to hear encouraging words.

Encouraging words can be as simple as:

“You do that really well.”

“How are you, really?”

“What you said helped me.”

“Thanks for leading or serving.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Tell me about your day, your job, your kids….”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Please forgive me.”

“I prayed for you today.”

“I missed you.” [More Stores For the Heart, Multnomah, 1997, 54].

· Words can build up or tear down.

· Words can lift and inspire or crush and kill.

· Words can bring harmony or breed suspicion.

· Words can offer a beautiful prayer or incite an ugly riot.

· Words can give a great message or tell a dirty joke. [James W. Moore, Rich In the Things That Count (Questar, 1996) 26].

When was the last time someone spoke an encouraging word to you? When was the last time you spoke an encouraging word to someone? To be people who encourage others, we need to focus on the One who encourages us—Jesus Christ.

First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

· Rejoice always – focus on the good things, see the positives, rejoice in what Jesus is doing in your life and the lives of others.

· Pray continually – God is in control in this world. Pray that God would touch your hear, the hearts of your friends and your enemies.

· Give thanks in all circumstances – for whether you win or lose, whether you are young or old, whether you are rich or poor, God still loves you.

· This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus – this is what God expects of those who believe in him.

Keep your focus on Jesus and rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. Then you will always be able to speak a word of encouragement to anyone you meet.

When we speak words that discourage others, we put out the Spirit’s fire that is in them. Only when the Spirit’s fire is burning brightly in us can we be encouragers and an encouragement.

The Power of an Encouraging Word

The famous composer and pianist Paderewski was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. With people in black tuxedos and long evening gowns, it was a high-society extravaganza. In the audience was also a mother with a fidgety nine-year-old son. He squirmed constantly in his seat.

As she turned to talk with friends, her son slipped away from her side. He quietly walked up to the concert grand Steinway piano with its leather stool on the huge stage flooded with blinding lights. Then he sat down on the stool, staring wide-eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small fingers in the right location and began to play “Chopsticks.” The noise of the crowd hushed as people pointed at the boy, and began to shout: “Get that boy out of there.” “Where’s his mother?” “Someone stop that kid.”

Backstage, Paderewski overhead the sounds out front and quickly realized what was happing. He grabbed his coat and rushed toward the stage. Without one word of announcement he stooped over behind the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with “Chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear:

Keep going. Don’t quit, keep on playing…don’t stop…don’t quit.

And so it is with us. We hammer away on our project, which seems about as significant as “Chopsticks” in a concert hall. And about the time we are ready to give up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers:

Now keep going; don’t quit. Keep on...don’t stop; don’t quit, as He improvises on our behalf, providing just the right touch at just the right moment. [Stories for the Heart, Questar, 1996, 39-40].

God continues to encourage us to be the best we can be. When we fail, he forgive us and helps us start again. God never gives up on us.

No matter what life throws at us, what happens, God is telling us, “keep going, don’t quit, don’t stop.”

Jesus wants all his disciples to “always treat others as you would like them to treat you.” That includes encouraging others as Jesus encourages us.

Jesus will help us become encouraging people. “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” [v. 24].

The world is filled with discouraging words, even on the range out West where the skies are not cloudy all day.

But the church, God’s people, can be the exception.

· We can show the world what it is like to “seldom hear a discouraging word.”

· We can show the world the power of encouraging words.

· We can always encourage others as we would like them to encourage us.

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This sermon is copyright ©2010 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.