Old Testament

• Chazaq: חָזַק (ḥāz__ǎq) – to make strong, make to stand, cause to be firm
• Deuteronomy 1:38; 3:28
• Used twelve times, always this word (Isaiah 41:7)

New Testament

• Verb
  • Protrepo: προτρέπω (protrep__ō)
    • To urge forward, persuade
    • Acts 18:27
  • Paramutheomai: παραμυθέομαι (paramytheomai)
    • Literally with (para) counsel or advise (muthos)
    • Stimulate forward; give comfort
    • I Thessalonians 2:11
• Noun
  • Paraklesis: παράκλησις (parakl__ēsis)
    • Calling to one’s aid
    • With or beside (para) to call (kaleo)
    • A call to one’s aid
    • Beseechment or exhortation
    • Comfort or advocate
    • Hebrews 6:18

Christians will have troubles

• Jesus: the world will hate you
  • John 15:18-21
  • Matthew 10:22-23
• Jesus encourages: John 16:33; Revelation 1:17

Elijah discouraged

• God encouraged him
• I Kings 19:11-18

The Father and His Son actively encouraged

• We are to emulate them
• Encourage one another

WHY?

• We’re told to
  • Isaiah 35:3
  • I Thessalonians 5:11
• To counter Satan
  • I Peter 5:8
  • James 4:7
  • Hebrews 3:13
• Coming difficult times
  • Hebrews 10:23-25
    • What day was coming?
    • Why would they need encouragement?
      • Temple and Jerusalem soon to pass away
      • Jerusalem was the center of everything to a Jew
      • Psalms 137:5-6
    • Can this idea apply to us today?
      • Did other difficult times come to other Christians?
      • Could they come again?
• Second law of thermodynamics
  • People grow old
    • And are gone all too soon
    • I Peter 1:24
• The end of time
  • Don’t know when
    • I Thessalonians 4:18; 5:2
    • Time of physical death is just as unknown to us

HOW?

• Words
  • Spoken – Proverbs 12:25; Ephesians 4:29; Acts 15:32
  • Written – Colossians 3:16
• Togetherness – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 10:23-25; Psalms 133:1
• Example – Colossians 2:1-3
• Love – I Thessalonians 5:11-13
• Worship – Colossians 3:16

How do you encourage?