Blessings & Encouragement

Bethel Mennonite Church – Gladys VA

How can we, as a church, bless and be an encouragement to each other? Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, commends them for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. He also thanks God for them and prays for them.

It is extremely important that a body of believers should be known for speaking good and not evil of each other. Speaking evil tears down. The devil wrecks havoc in those situations.

Discouragement will come no matter where you live. The Jews, while in captivity, were not able to sing the song of Zion. They sat and wept as they thought of Jerusalem. They did get to move back to their homeland, but there were many discouragements. When Nehemiah got there, he walked around the city to see what should be done. The walls needed to be rebuilt. The people had a mind to work. All the people groups were working together, each in their section. They got along, and the wall sections came together. It took them only 52 days.

Some encouragement for us as a church today: We get to fellowship together and encourage each other. We should be excited about that. We will grow. God purposely gives us everything we need to be the kind of body that we need to be. In working together, big things become small. We need to be prayed up and on fire for the Lord. We need to walk in humility. We cannot do the work of the church alone. It is all about the body of Christ. If we are not in love with the bride/church, then we are in trouble with the bridegroom. (Quote from Stanley Fox)

People are drawn to churches when they feel the excitement of people loving to be together. We need to look out for each other. We depend on others, and they depend on us. We need to listen to the call to build in whatever part we can. Let’s not turn our children off by speaking of only the negative parts of church.

We can make visitors feel at home. Greet them at the door, explain the order of the service, and where Sunday school classes are.

We can build together. We are here, and God is here, and He will build His church.

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