We have a lot to give thanks for as Christians. God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. God desires for believers to be encouraged and ready for service. In this address, you will hear of three examples from the Scriptures of how God encourages His own for His praise and glory.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
1 Kings 19:9-18 “9 And there he went into a cave, and lodged there. And behold, the word of Jehovah [came] to him, and he said to him, What doest thou here, Elijah?10 And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I am left, I alone, and they seek my life, to take it away.11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Jehovah: Jehovah was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake: Jehovah was not in the earthquake.
12 And after the earthquake, a fire: Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire, a soft gentle voice.13 And it came to pass, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice [came] to him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?14 And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I am left, I alone, and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And Jehovah said to him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when thou comest, anoint Hazael king over Syria;16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint prophet in thy stead.17 And it shall come to pass, [that] him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left [myself] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth that hath not kissed him.”
Luke 24:13-3513 And behold, two of them were going on the same day to a village distant sixty stadia from Jerusalem, called Emmaus;14 and they conversed with one another about all these things which had taken place.15 And it came to pass as they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus himself drawing nigh, went with them;16 but their eyes were holden so as not to know him.17 And he said to them, What discourses are these which pass between you as ye walk, and are downcast?18 And one [of them], named Cleopas, answering said to him, Thou sojournest alone in Jerusalem, and dost not know what has taken place in it in these days?
19 And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazaraean, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to [the] judgment of death and crucified him.
21 But *we* had hoped that *he* was [the one] who is about to redeem Israel. But then, besides all these things, it is now, to-day, the third day since these things took place.22 And withal, certain women from amongst us astonished us, having been very early at the sepulchre,23 and, not having found his body, came, saying that they also had seen a vision of angels, who say that he is living.
24 And some of those with us went to the sepulchre, and found it so, as the women also had said, but him they saw not.25 And *he* said to them, O senseless and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?27 And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew near to the village where they were going, and *he* made as though he would go farther.29 And they constrained him, saying, Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is declining. And he entered in to stay with them.30 And it came to pass as he was at table with them, having taken the bread, he blessed, and having broken it, gave it to them.31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him. And he disappeared from them.
32 And they said to one another, Was not our heart burning in us as he spoke to us on the way, [and] as he opened the scriptures to us?33 And rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven, and those with them, gathered together,34 saying, The Lord is indeed risen and has appeared to Simon.35 And they related what [had happened] on the way, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.”
Philippians 4:4-9 “4 Rejoice in [the] Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.5 Let your gentleness be known of all men. The Lord [is] near.6 Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts by Christ Jesus.
8 For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things [are] true, whatsoever things [are] noble, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] amiable, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue and if any praise, think on these things.9 What ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these things do; and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Colossians 3:12-14 “12 Put on therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also [do] *ye*.
14 And to all these [add] love, which is the bond of perfectness.15 And let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts, to which also ye have been called in one body, and be thankful.”