Sunday March 23, 2014 Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail:
Message – The Master’s Plan - # 7 Text: Hebrews 10:19-25
The Master’s Place - Part 1
Introduction: This morning we come to the seventh in our series on “The Master’s Plan,” and as we do let me read from Hebrews 10:19-26 as we focus our attention on “Part 1 of The Master’s Place.”
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,…”
The word for “exhorting” in verse 25 could be translated by the word “encouraging.” Here we read, “STOP forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but ENCOURAGE one another:…”
Throughout the New Testament we are instructed and encouraged to gather on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) for worship, fellowship and giving of our tithes. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, gathering for worship is not some optional, “let me think about it” matter. It is a not only a commandment to obey, but a spiritual obligation.
We are living during a time in which better than two generations of adults have never darkened the door of a church. Within this same time period, I have noticed more and more believers exhibiting a matter of fact attitude towards attending church. If you look at statistics, the average believer attends church maybe 70% of the time. That means if you only come for one service a week, in a year’s time, you will have missed four months of church attendance.
It’s not my purpose in this service to talk about the sin of missing church, but to focus on one of the purposes of church attendance found in the word encouragement. The dictionary defines encouragement as “the act of inspiring others with renewed courage, renewed spirit, or renewed hope.”
Many years ago while sitting in my office, I was facing some very discouraging, and disheartening circumstances when the phone rang. Being the only one in the office at the time, I answered it. On the other end of the line was a man’s voice which said, “Pastor I don’t want you to say anything, just listen.” He went on to say, “I don’t know what is going on with you right now, but I wanted to call to encourage you, and again say thank you for leading me to Christ years ago. God Bless you. Good Bye.” And he hung up without me being able to speak a word. But, you know something; I didn’t have to say a word. That simple, refreshing, thoughtful moment was all I needed to be encouraged.
In a previous ministry, the church leaders had to deal with a number of issues. After a council meeting, one of the deacons wrote me a note of encouragement which I kept in my office the entire time I ministered in that location, because it meant so much to me.
In the New Testament, the word most often translated as exhort or comfort comes from two Greek words: “para” meaning “alongside of” and “kaleo” meaning “to call.”
When people come alongside us during difficult times to give us renewed courage, spirit, or hope, that’s encouragement. An encourager is one who puts courage into the fainthearted and hope back into the spirit.
Now before we get into our text found in Hebrews 10:25, let’s look at a number of issues concerning “encouragement.” Those issues are:
FIRST: ENCOURAGEMENT IS AN URGENT NEED IN OUR DAY. The problems of this generation are far more complex than in previous periods of history. Things we have only toyed with in past generations have become epidemic today.
Widespread crime, drug, alcohol and child abuse, astronomical national debt, lack of affordable health care, more deadly sexually transmitted diseases, numerous adolescent suicides, a crisis in ethics, liability and litigation, and on and on the list continues.
Each of these issues have become epidemic, and no one seems to have any real solutions. If you listen carefully to the speeches from Washington, you are likely to hear, “We’re going to fix problems A, B, and C. All it’s going to take is billions more dollars from Congress.” It seems like that is the only solution these days. Congress grants money to fix the problems. As a result, each day we awake to a world that appears more confused and disordered than the one we left the night before.
And don’t be naïve. The entire scope of these problems, which cause confusion and disorder, are magnified in the church. If you have grandchildren, you cannot help but look at what is happening in our world and wonder what the next two decades will bring to them. In fact, there has never been a time when the ministry of encouragement has been more essential for the Christian family.
Stop and consider the problems, trials and just plain discouragement found within the families of our church. Some, you know about, and others you do not. Nevertheless, there are real problems. Encouragement is an urgent need in our day. May God help us all to be encouragers!
SECOND: ENCOURAGEMENT IS A UNIQUE PRIORITY OF OUR God. In the New Testament, each member of the triune God has as His priority to encourage.
In II Corinthians 1:3 we read, “Blessed be the God...the Father of mercies (compassion), and the God of all comfort.” The word comfort is a Greek word meaning encouragement.
In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians 2:16-17 he reminds us that Jesus Christ is an encourager. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation (a Greek word for encouragement) and good hope through grace, comfort (encourage) your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”
Furthermore, when speaking of the Holy Spirit, “Encourager” is one of His names. In John 14:26 we read, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name...” The title “Comforter” is the Greek word “parakelete” meaning one who comes alongside to encourage.
Encouragement is a primary ministry, in fact, a unique priority of our triune God.
THIRD: ENCOURAGEMENT IS THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OFBIBLE. The Bible is filled with encouraging truth.
In Romans 15:4-5 we read, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort (encouragement) of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation (encouragement) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.” Everything from Genesis to Malachi was written for our learning, so that we, through the encouragement of the Scriptures, might have hope. Listen, if you don’t get your encouragement from God’s Word, its effect may be only temporary.
When Paul wrote to Timothy, he reminded him of the critical importance of using God’s Word as a tool of encouragement. In II Timothy 4:2 we read, “Preach the word; be instant (be ready) in season, out of season; reprove (that is convince), rebuke, exhort (encourage), with all long-suffering and doctrine.”
At the conclusion of that great section, on the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church in I Thessalonians 4:18, we read these words of encouragement, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
People are encouraged by the Word of God. Certainly, that is my goal in preaching and teaching. Oh, to be sure there are times during preaching that the Holy Spirit will convict you of something from the Word of God, and at times the Holy Spirit will rebuke you, but for the most part, He intends to encourage.
FOURTH: ENCOURAGEMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OTHERS IN THE CHURCH. Again in Hebrews 10:25 we read, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
We need to encourage one another in the Lord, as we all stand in need of encouragement.
I also believe that coming to church, coming to this place at the appointed hour on the Lord’s Day and on Wednesday is meant to be an encouraging experience for everyone.
Someone said, “We live by encouragement, and we die without it – slowly, sadly, and angrily.” I wonder sometimes if the experience is as positive as it could be when Christian people get together in the house of God. Saved people ought to be committed to meeting together with God’s people to worship, honor, glorify and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. But let me ask you a question. Why exactly are YOU here?
Is this just another meeting that you periodically attend to keep-up with what’s going on?
Is this just a social gathering on your calendar of events that does not interfere with other activities?
Is this just another routine Sunday for you as you gather and go through the rituals? When it is all over, do you say this? “Well, at least I’ve been to church for this week.” Or,
Is this a very serious act of obedience for you to gather with other Christian people for worship, edification, instruction, and fellowship?
Now if I understand Hebrews 10:25 correctly, it suggests that along with many other purposes, for which we gather together, encouraging one another is one of the main purposes. So when we meet together in the Lord’s house we are to exhort, to admonish, to teach, to edify (meaning to build up), and we are to encourage. So what does it mean to encourage one another?
It means to raise the spirit of somebody.
It means to cheer them up – to give them a shot in the arm, or a pat on the back.
Here is another direct question to each of you. “How then can believers encourage one another?” There are many, many answers to this, but to keep it simple and direct, let me call your attention to three things:
Number 1: We encourage by urging one another to practice God’s Truth. In Romans 12:1 we read a very familiar verse, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Did you notice the second word? “Beseech” means “to urge, to beg, to get down on your knees and plead with the people to do something.” When you and I gather together in the Lord’s house and the Word of God is applied unto our hearts we are practicing God’s Truth.
When you come to this place for the services, you are practicing what God tells us to do in Matthew 5:14-16
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Please remember that every time you and your family leave your house on Sunday morning or evening to come to church, you are each letting your light for Jesus Christ shine for your neighbors and friends. You are also letting it shine for those in this assembly. Attendance encourages others to do the same, and also encourages those who have prepared for your attendance.
Your attendance is an encouragement to the pastor. Why? Because I prepare my messages with you in mind. Before you even arrive, I go through the names of those who are members and those who are attending and pray that you will be here.
Your attendance is an encouragement to Sunday school teachers who, week after week, are ready to teach both children and adults.
Your attendance is an encouragement to those who bless you with music.
Your attendance is an encouragement to friends and visitors because this may be the only time they ever get to see you.
Just being with other Christians and sensing God’s presence in their lives is an encouragement to practice God’s Truth in all of the areas of life.
Just a warm and friendly smile can do a lot for somebody.
Just giving someone a hardy handshake and saying, “I am glad to see you in God’s house today” can uplift that one.
Just saying a kind word or exhibiting a gracious attitude can become a refreshing blessing to someone.
Just a look of contentment upon your face can become an encouragement to someone going through some trial that you may not even know about.
Your simple faithfulness encourages those around you. So don’t forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Because if you forsake the church services not only will your pew be vacant, but by your absence, you will be contributing to the discouragement to other members of the body of Christ. The Bible tells us to exhort – to encourage one another. You have to be around to do that.
Number 2: We encourage through acts of kindness and thoughtfulness when others are in need.
Encouragement is the uncommon opportunity to begin a never-ending process.
Encouragement is like a pebble thrown into the water. While there is always an immediate impact, the ripples continue indefinitely. When you have been encouraged, your first impulse is to encourage someone else.