The Fruits of Encouragement

2 Thessalonians 1:3
"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."

In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians he encourages them to live life for God and to increase their love for their brothers. This letter shows how God uses encouragement to grow fruit in everyone's lives. From this passage we can see the varied fruit resulting from encouragement.

First of all it bore fruit in Paul's life. Paul's encouragement springs from his love for the Thessalonians and the fruit of that encouragement has further increased his love and joy.  It resulted in his continual prayer and thanks giving to God for the Thessalonians. When we become encouragers we also become encouraged and our lives overflow more and more with love, joy and thankfulness. 

The encouragement also produced fruit among the Thessalonians. It helped them overcome the power of sin in their lives. Paul spoke to them about sexual immorality in the first letter and now in his second letter he doesn't make the smallest mention of it. Encouragement is self replicating, Paul initially encouraged the Thessalonians and now they are an example in which Paul boasts "among God's churches" 2 Thessalonians 1:4. One of the biggest ways in which we can impact this world is by encouraging the lives of those around us. This is because God will use that to unlock hidden potential in people's lives which will enable them to encourage others also, starting the cycle again.

So how are you going to encourage someone today?

Praise God's Deliverance

Psalm 40:1-4
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord."

When God delivers us from our pits of destruction and empowers us to make our steps secure with a hopeful future then our correct response is to praise God. This new experience is the new song God gives us to praise him by. Repeating our praise reminds us of when we trusted him in the past and he heard and blessed us. This leads us to rightfully trust in God in the future but it also brings us joy in the present by reminding us that God loves us. This song is meant to be heard by others just like David does here in this Psalm. When others hear our testimony of what God has done for us they will be challenged which drives them to "put their trust in the Lord". So our transformation through God's deliverance leads to his glory, our remembrance, our joy, our witness to others, others being challenged and likewise putting their trust in the Lord.

 

Love

Colossians 3:14
"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Love is the virtue that is always most emphasized and valued. God himself stated that he saved all mankind from sin because he "so loved the world" John 3:16. Corinthians states that love is "the most excellent way" 12:30 and that love is greater than both faith and hope which are the core of our salvation. When Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment he answered that it was love (Matthew 22:37-40). John in fact goes further and states that "God is love" 1 John 4:8.

But why is love so important and so much better then the other virtues. What sets it apart as something more valued among the virtues? This passage from Colossians gives us a clue, it describes love unifying the other virtues, Paul elsewhere uses virtues to describe what love is (Corinthians 13). That is, each virtue partially describes love. Humility is a part, love is the whole. Generosity is a part, love is the whole. All these things make up love but love is so much more than the sum of its parts. Without love's guiding hand we lose perspective in our other virtues, we become generous without humility, patient without perseverance, have faith without hope. When love is our motive it becomes clear how to act, its easy to keep the balance because all we have to do is do what we were made to do. That is to love.

In other words love is any and every act of some good virtue. When we are generous we are loving through that act. When we are humble we are loving through that act. And whenever we love, we are reflecting God's image and are being transformed into his likeness because as John said God is love.

Scattered

1 Peter 1:1-2
"To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance."

Christians are transformed, recreated and as such we do not belong to this world. We look forward to, invest in , hope for, and long  to reach our true home in Heaven which Jesus is preparing for us (John 14:2). And this salvation is through the sanctifying work of the Spirit which is how God chooses us by his foreknowledge yet God's elect also submit to obedience to Jesus Christ. God chooses us and we choose him. God then uses his elect by scattering them throughout the world and they bring with them the word, the gospel message. Some to hard and rocky places full of persecution and trial. Others are lead to thorny lands where plenty and worry possesses the hearts of men (Matthew 13:20-22). But in some lands at some times God works in amazing ways choosing thousands to follow him to the ends of the Earth to be scattered again, until the end of time when God will gather up his Christians in a Heavenly reunion.

The Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:13-17
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand … take … the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit."

Finally something offensive, something which can do some real damage to our spiritual enemies. But it's not supercharging our mental abilities, or giving us supernatural spiritual abilities; in fact this weapon has nothing to do with us at all. Because what God has given to us is himself, his Spirit and his word, the word that became flesh and dwelt among us in the form of Jesus (John 1:14). Here God is promising to fight all our battles for us. Now prayer and Bible reading take on a new meaning. Instead of being trivial and mundane they are our crucial communication link with the most powerful force in the universe who is waging war "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:13-17
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand ... take the helmet of salvation."

Our salvation which is God's crowning achievement is worn by us and placed on the head as an unbreakable helm just as it is an unbreakable promise from God. Salvation for those that chose God and believe in his promise protects the source of our freewill and decision making, our mind. It directs the eyes to look always onto our future glory in Heaven. It strengthens our will to continue in our choice to follow God. It protects our mind from temptation and despair by reminding us of the great hope of salvation. This helm of glory will adorn us in Heaven, forever being a reminder to us and a testament to its maker.

The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:13-16
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand … take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

Darts of sorrow, arrows of temptation and bolts of despair are aimed at our souls. God's given us faith to protect us. It is by faith we are saved and thus can hope in the midst of grief and sorrow (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13).  It is by faith that we trust that God's plans are greater than the false promises of temptation (Jeremiah 29:11). It is by faith that we believe in God's promises and his ever continuing presence which supports us in despair (Romans 4:21, 1 John 4:12). Hold fast to your faith and through God's strength it will protect you.

The Shoes of the Gospel

Ephesians 6:13-15
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand ...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."

The gospel message guides and enables our feet to tread the narrow path to eternal life (Matthew 7:13). Although it is our choice to choose the narrow path it is the gospel message that gives us that choice. It removes the dependence of keeping the law which is weakened by our sinful nature but is a message of how God became our sin offering for us (Romans 8:3). It is a gospel of peace, peace between us and God, restoring that relationship. Yet the narrow path also removes all the idols of the heart and instates God to that regal position of authority in our lives. All we must to is choose the path our feet will tread.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:13-14
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then with … the breastplate of righteousness in place"

God gives us the breastplate of righteousness to replace our sackcloth of sin which is now worn by "him who had no sin (became) sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) When we become Christians God resurrects us spiritually so while "your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." (Romans 8:10) Yet the breastplate of righteousness not only give us life spiritually but it also protects this fledgling life. It is a barrier that protects the heart from despair, guilt, confusion and depression. For the righteousness of God is our key to Heaven where there is no despair. God's righteousness meets the requirement of the law so there is no guilt (Romans 8:4). God watches over the way of the righteous leading them out of confusion (Psalm 1:6) and it is the righteousness of God which enables us to have a relationship with God himself who comforts any depression that we might have.

The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6: 13-14
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist"

The truth about creation and its maker is not only known but strengthens and liberates us daily (John 8:32). God reveals to us the truth and exposes it to our stubborn, biased hearts. Many reject it preferring to delude themselves, but some accept it and become transformed, born anew, recreated spiritually. Then the belt of truth becomes the object around which the whole armor of God is held together and ordered around. Without it not only do we become uncoordinated but it leads to shame and exposure of the parts that should be most protected.  Fight effectively, fight efficiently, fight for God's glory, fight with the truth!

The Illusion of Permanence

1 John 2:17 "The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

The world is passing away. I remember being in this very room thinking how very far away adulthood was. Yet here I am now a grown man. Other things still seem far off to me; graduating, getting married, having children, becoming elderly but in God's will they will come and they will end. When I focus on worldly things I create an illusion of permanence around them. I use this to deceive myself that there will be no consequences, no hangover, no judgment day for the evil deeds that I do. And so I pour all my time, energy and effort investing in little scraps of time trying to make them last forever. But with an eternal perspective we start investing in a glory that all creation is eagerly longing for, in a treasure that moth and rust cannot destroy, in a life abiding with God forever. (Rom 8:19, Mat 6:20, 1 John 2:17)

Jonah's Second Chance

Jonah was a terrible prophet, his first instinct when God call him to ministry was to flee into the opposite direction. Then God sent a storm at Jonah to prevent his progress. Yet that didn't change his heart, while on the ship he refused to pray even though the pagan men all around him were praying. Instead of turning his heart he decided death would be a better option and told the men to throw him overboard. But God is sovereign, he didn't let Jonah's attempt to destroy his plan succeed. Yet he also didn't infringe upon Jonah's freewill what God did was give him a second chance to turn his heart back to him. Although it took him three days Jonah finally did turn his heart and God graciously gave him the calling back to Nineveh. This time Jonah fulfilled the mission that God sent him and we see that he is amazingly successful the whole city of 120,000 people turned and repented to God. So what does God do? He gives them a second chance and had compassion upon them, just like he gave Jonah that second chance even when he wasn't expecting it and didn't deserve it. 

I think that often the greatest barrier preventing God working powerfully in this world is the agents that he works through, that is us. Only seven verses in Jonah are focused on Jonah's actual ministry, the other 40 verses are about God turning Jonah's heart. It is so easy to ignore or run away from God's calling but when we do we lose so much. Thanks be to God that he pursues us all the way to the cross. God help me stop running away from you.

The Glory of the Hard Road

Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Daniel 2:13
"So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death."

Daniel 3:15

"But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

Daniel  6:16

"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den."

Being faithful to God doesn't spare you from hardship or danger or even a violent death. Daniel and his three friends faced death in a very real way three times and each time they were faithful to God and each time God faithfully delivered them in miraculous ways. Why does God act this way? He could have easily thwarted the plans of those who plotted against Daniel yet he didn't. God decided instead to show his sovereignty and by doing so gave Daniel a chance to demonstrate his faithfulness. And God is right, this does glorify him more than the easy road. So when we see a hard time ahead in our own lives be all the more eager to cover that terrain because God is faithful, his plans for you are good and he will strengthen you when you are beyond your own strength.

Why I'm a Scientist

Psalm 19:1
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

The world and its history was created to glorify God, that is its purpose. Yet the objects in this world are incapable of worshiping God, many of them are lifeless and all are mindless. Being created in God's image we have the unique ability in all creation to glorify him. Without mankind this universe would have no meaning, serve no purpose and so God would not have created it. God created the entire universe just for us. To inspire us to glorify him. The Psalmist response to the beauty of the stars was to glorify God. But he didn’t know the beauty that they truly held. As we continue to delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe we find far more reasons to praise the creator. Science has also shown us the complexity and the incredible level of design even in objects that appear mundane. We literally live in the most intricate thing we have found in the universe, there is nothing more complex than the human brain.

We cannot escape God's handiwork and thus we have no excuse not to glorify him. Science also discovers the amazing things that God has laid hidden until now. In a sense we are still completing Adam's job of naming all the things in the universe. Those objects like bacteria, black holes and deep sea colonies were previously unknown to mankind  so they just lay there in the universe without fulfilling its purpose. In a sense when we make a scientific discovery it is like completing God's act of creation. Not in the sense that the object didn't exist before we found it. It has always existed physically but rather we add to it purpose and meaning so that it is now able to inspire man to praise the Lord. Science is the art of searching creation for more reasons to praise God.

In Any Problem Pray

Nehemiah 1:4
"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."

Nehemiah 2:4

"The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.""

Nehemiah 4:4

"Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity."

Nehemiah 5:19

"Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people."

Nehemiah 6:9

"They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands.""

Nehemiah was a great leader and his most aspiring quality to me is that he prayed constantly. He prayed for comforting and inspiration 1:4, for God's favor and boldness 2:4, when being tormented and ridiculed 4:4, a prayer asking God to remember what he has done 5:19, for strength for him and the workers 6:9. These are by no means the only prayers of Nehemiah in fact he himself states that he prays day and night to God in chapter one verse six. We too must pray and pray with all our hearts. In every and any problem pray.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-11

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

Ask

Prayer is the way we talk to God and is made possible for us despite our sinful nature through the mediation of Jesus Christ. The scriptures constantly urge us to pray and this passage is no different. It almost begs us to give God the pleasure of answering our prayer, there is no catch, no restriction, just answered prayer. Now there is a sense that God doesn't answer all prayers particularly if our requests go against his will then he cannot answer them because he must be true to himself. However even in this case I believe that God still answers prayer, he hears how our fallen nature has twisted our world view so much to ask for things that are against God's will. He hears the groaning of our souls behind that prayer (Romans 8:26) and he then heals that part of our fallen nature. We will find that the more we pray the more Godly our prayers and even lives will become.

Seek

This passage is from the sermon on the mount, Jesus then goes on to talk about the golden rule "whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them". I believe that this is the spirit by which we should pray, when we ask God for something we must also be that something in the world. If we ask God to save a friend we must reach out to that person, if we ask God for change in college we must live lives that catalyze that change, if we ask God for guidance we should give good guiding advice to others, if we ask God for riches we should give generously to those who need it, if we ask God for peace in an exam we should find ways to encourage others who are about to sit exams. And who knows maybe we will be our own answer to prayer. So now prayer becomes an action that we live out, that transforms our lives into more Godly men and women.

Knock

We should practice continual perseverance in prayer as God weaves his story. God answers prayer in the most beautifully creative way possible that maximizes his glory and our joy, that almost certainly won't be in the way that we expect. So we should hold strong to faith and continue to trust in Jesus and know that the longer the time to answer prayer the more powerful that answer will be because it has revealed our love and faith in God through our perseverance.

Authentic

1 Thessalonians 2:7
"Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you."

1 Thessalonians 2:11

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children"

Paul's feelings of care and love for the church of Thessalonica was real and authentic. He says that he is so happy about the church that he "thank God continually" 2:13 because of them. He longs to see them again "out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you." He also considers himself in a role similar to that of a loving parent. It is evident that he really loves these people. When I consider my own love for fellow Christians it falls short of Paul's love and yet even Paul's love falls far short of the love that God loves each and every one of us. Paul's relationship with the Thessalonians is a great example and it reminds me that I should always remember and follow the second greatest commandment "love you neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:39. I think people will notice if we act in that way and will want a piece of the action

God can use the little we have

Exodus 4:1-3

"Then Moses answered, 'But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'' The Lord said to him, ' What is that in your hand?' He said, 'A staff.' And he said, 'Throw it on the ground.' So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent"

 

John 6:9-11

"'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?' Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted."

1 Samuel 18:40

"Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine."

These are just three examples of the many cases where people who had nothing to offer were used by God to perform marvelous deeds for him. Moses was the first leader of the Israelites and was the one that lead them out of slavery. The boy gave what food he had and enabled the only miracle that is recorded in the all four books of the Gospels besides the resurrection of Jesus. David was only a boy with a sling and some stones yet God used them to overcome an entire army. What these people had wasn't in their possessions or in their talents, if they had relied on these things all their effort would have resulted in nothing. Rather they came before God relying on him to provide what they lacked and God's actions speak all the louder when he works through our weakness. When we trust God and follow his call it will lead us into situations where we can't rely on ourselves. Then God really gets to work.

The Shadowy Sabbath

Hebrews 4:9-11
"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience."

Colossians 2:16-17

"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

Paul worked his entire life. Before he was converted he was a Pharisee obeying the strictest legalistic rules of the Jews. After he was converted he spent his whole life in Christian ministry being imprisoned several times, writing over half of the New Testament, he continued this life of work until his death by execution. He never had a holiday (except perhaps in a period of time after his conversion). It made me realize that this is our period of work and we should work hard. Paul did and now he has his rest in heaven.

This made me reflect on the Sabbath, the day of rest during the week. Sunday (or Saturday for some) is really a holiday with meaning just like Christmas or Easter. It is reflecting a shadow of things to come and reminds us just like it says in Hebrews to "make every effort to enter that rest." 4:11. Our Sabbath should reflect that eternal resting place, it should be a time of focus on God, a time of reward and rejuvenation and a time of fellowship. Just like heaven will be. Now is the time to work for the kingdom of God like Paul did and if we do then just like Paul we will find much treasure in heaven to enjoy in our rest there.

What we should Fear

Mark 4:37-38
"A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?'"

Matthew 26:40-43

"He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, 'My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.' And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy."

In these two  situations the roles of the disciples and Jesus are swapped completely. In the first passage the disciples were afraid of dying in the boat due to the 'great windstorm' while Jesus was sleeping peacefully. Then in the garden of Gethsemane it was the disciples who couldn't stay awake and Jesus who was afraid. These cases are particularly interesting because sleep is the opposite of fear, fear keeps us awake at night, while sleep displays trust and peace. The disciples were afraid of the physical elements, of the forces that could kill them, of things that they had no power over. Jesus was afraid of bearing God's wrath for us, of the spiritual forces, of things that he had to do. Our focus should be like Jesus's, the physical forces of this universe can only harm us while we are alive but we should "fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" Matthew 10:28. We too should fear our judgment but because Jesus bore that condemnation we can rejoice as well. Let this motivate us to live our lives with an eternal perspective, one where we trust God so completely that we sleep through even the fiercest storm just like we trust him with our salvation.

Meditating Medication

Philippians 4:8
"Those things that are true, those that are honorable, those that are righteous, those things that are pure, those things that are precious, those things that are praiseworthy, deeds of glory and of praise, meditate on these things."
This blog is the result of trying to follow that command. In here you will find some of my meditations of this verse and many others in the scripture of the Bible. I hope that you will have a foretaste of the medicinal effects it has had on my soul. It is my prayer that this will encourage you to invest time in meditating on God's word and allowing God to restore your soul too.