| (Copyright 2016) by James Steinle (Swanville, Minnesota) |
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| In these days where we see so many things in the news that can discourage us and make us sad, we can sometimes use encouragement. It is helpful to be able to see the Big Picture at these times. Thankfully there is much in the Scriptures to help us counter such potential impact on our emotions. Of course those who may be oblivious to what is going on in the environment, the financial world, the political and the religious world may be an exception; but many see how mankind does not know the way to peace, abundance and joy but our human self-rule only seems to be able to bring discouragement, destruction and ruin. The mainstream media and even the more conservative mainstream media do not always report what is really happening around the world. Sometimes the real news that can or will impact our lives needs to be searched for; and why would we even look for such news? Because actual real news can help us to be aware of what is happening and be better prepared for it in any number of ways. But that is not the point I would like to talk about here. I feel we all could be, and need to be, uplifted by the Word and I would like to share some of these encouraging words here. First of all, I should address why we can have hope of being encouraged by the Scriptures. Yehovah told the obedient patriarch Abraham, “And in your seed shall all the nations be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:18) That is one of the reasons why we should involve ourselves daily in His word, so we can gain wisdom and understanding as to what is the love we are to have toward the Father and also toward our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40) …and then show that love not only in word, but in deed (1 John 3:18). In other words we try to put on and make it a part of us, the true loving and righteous character that the Son of Yehovah, Yayshua, showed in himself when he was here as a human being. If the Father’s set-apart or Holy spirit is living in us, then others should be able to see Him at work in our lives, in our attitude, our obedience and in caring for others. However, we certainly remember that at times even some of the prophets got discouraged in the work they had to do when they did not see the results in others that they hoped to see. So, let’s not judge one another if we see some discouragement at times in someone else’s life but do our part in trying to help and encourage. There is reason to have hope! As recorded in Acts 10:34, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” If those who have a love for the Father and His Son and have an outgoing concern for others and try to show it by how they live their lives, they, or we also, should be encouraged by the examples we find in Scripture. And now for some encouraging words straight from selected passages of the Scriptures. From an angel Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. From the mouth of our Savior Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. From Moses Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Yehovah [the LORD], which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Deuteronomy 1:21 Behold, Yehovah thy Elohim [Mighty One or God] hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as Yehovah Elohim of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. From Elisha the prophet 2 Kings 6:16 [prophet Elisha who was obedient to his Creator, when the Syrian army surrounded his city] And he answered [a young man servant of his], Fear not: for they [an army of angels] that be with us are more than they that be with them. [then the young man was able to see all the angels] From the Psalms Psalm 27:3-8 [A psalm of David] Though an host [army] should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of Yehovah, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of Yehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Yehovah, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Yehovah. 7 Hear, O Yehovah, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Yehovah, will I seek. Psalm 27:14 Wait on Yehovah: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on Yehovah. Psalm 37:7 Rest in Yehovah and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon Yehovah, they shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:34 Wait onYehovah, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Psalm 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Yehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress: my Elohim; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made Yehovah, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation. Psalm 118:4 Let them now that fear Yehovah say, that his mercy endureth for ever. :5 I called upon Yehovah in distress: Yehovah answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 Yehovah is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon Yehovah our Elohim, until that he have mercy upon us. Psalm 130:5 I wait for Yehovah, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. From Proverbs Proverbs 19:23 The fear of Yehovah tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on Yehovah, and he shall save thee. From the prophet Isaiah Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait upon Yehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will Yehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Yehovah is a Elohim of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your Mighty One [Elohim; God] will come with vengeance, even Elohim with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of Yehovah shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon Yehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy Elohim: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I Yehovah thy Elohim will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Yehovah, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. [Talking about the future remnant of Israelites from all over the world after being disciplined. Read Isaiah 54-55 for context and comfort] From the prophet Jeremiah Jeremiah 46:28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith Yehovah: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished. Lamentations 3:25 Yehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yehovah. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Three Israelite friends of the prophet Daniel who would not bow down to the King’s false idol. They were threatened about being put in a very hot fiery furnace, but they did not renounce their faith. In their case they were thrown in but were saved and not even a hair was singed on their head. (See Daniel 3:10-28) From the prophet Micah Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto Yehovah; I will wait for the Mighty One [Elohim; God] of my salvation: my Elohim will hear me. From the prophet Zephaniah Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith Yehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. Paul Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Romans 8:15 [Paul said] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 16:20 And God [Elohim] of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Yayshua Messiah [Jesus Christ] be with you. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Yayshua Messiah. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. From the Book of Hebrews Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Now that is faith!) Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation [or conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [Yehovah; from Genesis 28:15] is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Peter 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. John 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. In conclusion Paul says in Ephesians 6:10, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; |
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