“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (2 Thess 5:11 ESV)

There is the gift of encouragement or exhortation found in Paul’s list of gifts in Romans 12:7–8. The word translated “encouragement” or “exhortation” is the Greek word paraklésis, related to the word paraclete. Paraklésis basically means “a call to one’s side.”

Even though there is the specific gift of exhortation (encouragement) that some have been given by the Holy Spirit, as members of God’s family we are all expected to encourage and build each other up in Love. To relate to others with understanding, sympathy and positive guidance.

Stir each other up to love and do good works

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24-25 ESV)

Therefore

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10 ESV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 KJV)

This is a wonderful promise: God will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness! Just think of what that means! In the eyes of God, you will be completely righteous, clean, and perfect. That’s incredible! However, this promise does come with a condition: you must confess your sins to God in order to receive it.

Therefore

“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” (Prov. 28:13)

“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may… (Col. 1:9)

 Colossians 1:9-14 is loaded with seven wonderful promises to praise God for. Here’s what you can do with the Spirit’s help:

1)    …live a life worthy of the Lord and…

2)    …please him in every way: …

3)    …bearing fruit in every good work, …

4)    …growing in the knowledge of God, being …

5)    …strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that …

6)    …you may have great endurance and patience, and giving thanks to the Father, … 

7)    …who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 

Therefore

This wonderful passage ends with another great promise about being rescued from darkness and given redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

“…For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:9-14)

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,” (Deut. 7:9)

Great is thy faithfulness!

The wonderful hymn “Great is Thy Faitfulness”, written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm, starts off with. “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.” He got it exactly right! The Bible states this promise repeatedly from cover to cover.

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5)

New every morning

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23 ESV)

Therefore

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13)

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 NIV)

This is many people’s favorite Bible promise because it’s jam-packed with five great statements concerning God's faithful love and help toward those who love Him: He works all things out for the good according to His purpose. 

1.     “And we know”: according to the passage above, you can absolutely know that this promise is true 100% of the time! “Know” is defined in the dictionary as “to regard as true beyond doubt." It means it’s an absolute fact; understand, comprehend, fathom, grasp, get, and realize an absolute truth. 

2.     “That in all things”: All things mean exactly as stated, “All things”, period! It covers everything, with no limit or exception. Nothing is too big or too small for God to handle.

3.     “God works for the Good”: No matter how bad or impossible any situation may look, God can and will work it out for the Good. 

4.     “Of those who love him”: It’s a promise for God’s kids;

5.     “Who have been called according to his purpose”: God works out His divine purpose for those He has called.

Therefore

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Rom. 8:27 NIV)

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Rom. 8:29 NIV)

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Good and perfect gift for you

You are wonderfully made for a purpose—to serve others! We all are. God’s great love for us even sent Jesus, the Son of God, to serve others (John 3:16).

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

And in order to accomplish what God has created you for, He has given each of us a good and perfect gift to equip us for our specific purpose.

Therefore

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:” (1 Peter 4:10)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7 NIV) 

Everyone trusts something 

The question is, in what—or in whom—do you place your trust? The Bible makes it perfectly clear that we must place or trust in the name of the LORD or God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Prov 3:5)

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10) 

Therefore

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7)

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalms 37:4-6)

“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45 ESV)

God generously blesses everyone

God greatly provides for and blesses everyone, good or bad, whether they realize it or not; through God’s overflowing grace, they enjoy sunshine, rain, and everything else that they may be taking for granted.

“Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls?” (Luke 12:24)

Therefore

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Cor. 9:8-15)

“For God does not show favoritism.” (Rom. 2:11)

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

God’s righteous dealings with humanity are characterized by fairness and justice, and we are to do the same.

Do not show favoritism

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4)

Judge fairly

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Lev. 19:15)

Therefore

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Pet. 3.8)

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 7:12)

“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.” (Psalm 106:3)