ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER ‘TIL JESUS COMES

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

In Review

This Will Happen:

1. The return of Christ: Jesus will come down from heaven.

2. After the return there is the resurrection: The dead in Christ will rise.

3. The Rapture: We who are alive will be caught up with Jesus.

4. The Reunion: We will meet the Lord in the air.

It Will Happen…

1. At the Right Time = Chronos (definite) and Kairos (indefinite).

2. Suddenly: Like a thief in the night.

3. Certainly: Like labor pains for a pregnant woman.

Therefore, We …

1. Should not be surprised.

2. Should be on guard.

3. Should be alert and clear headed.

4. Should encourage and build others up.

How to Encourage

(1 Thessalonians 5:11–15, NLT) “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”

Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved. – Augustine

1.  HONOR LEADERSHIP.

a.  For three things

     i. For their hard work.

     ii. For their leadership.

     iii. For their spiritual guidance.

b. In three ways

     i. Respect

     ii. Love

     iii. Peace

2. WARN THE LAZY.

(1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, NLT) “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.”

3. ENCOURAGE THE TIMID.

(2 Timothy 1:7, NLT) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” – Maya Angelou

4. TENDERLY TAKE CARE OF THE WEAK.

“God had looked for a man weak enough, and he found me.” – Hudson Taylor

(1 Corinthians 8:9, NLT) “But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.”

(Galatians 6:1–2, NLT) “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

5. BE PATIENT and DO GOOD.

(2 Timothy 2:25–26, NLT) “Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.”

(2 Peter 3:9, NLT) “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

(Titus 2:11–13, NLT) “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”