1. Times and dates

It was the state of the union.The President described his various foreign policy initiatives. Then stated that we would have peace and security in our time. I heard an echo from this passage and thought on the rest of the statement, "when people say peace and security then sudden destruction shall come upon them." A few months later, the President, having been impeached, was forced to resign.

Paul feels that his words concerning the return of Jesus are comforting. He knows that for those who find their peace and security in this world the words are words of destruction. Still, he believes that, for us, they are words of reassurance. He expects that we wil live so as to be ready for Jesus.

Are you ready? Paul says, "about times and dates we do not need to write to you." such speculation, while it may be fascinating, if futile. We cannot know the times and the dates. We can know that we are living ready. Years ago, as a result of a massive volcanic explosion, the skies turned dark. The sun was blood red. In on house of Parliament, men thought it was the end of the world and clamored to adjourn and go home. One member stood to oppose the motion. "I do not know if it is the end of the world. But if it is, when my Lord comes I want to be found doing my duty."

Let us be found doing out duty. we belong to the day. "let us be self controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." Here is the great word of encouragement. "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him."

2. Encouragement

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's tummy.

The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Then the labor pains come. Every five minutes.. every minute. But complications arise during delivery. Hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The days inch by. The little girl gets worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot. They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby, now they plan a funeral.

Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says.

Week two in intensive care. It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over. Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. But Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.

She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed in ICU."

The mother rises up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!"

Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings:

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray --- " Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.

Keep on singing, Michael.

"You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away---"

The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr.

Keep on singing, Michael.

"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..."Michael's little sister relaxes as rest, healing rest, seems to sweep over her. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glows.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away." The girl is well enough to go home! Woman's Day magazine called it "The miracle of a brother's song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.

Encouragement takes many forms. Sometimes it may be a song of love. Paul writes that we are to "encourage one another and build each other up." I remember a pastor and spouses retreat in which the wife of n executive minister shared concerning a conference she had attended. The speaker told the wives there to praise and build up their husbands. she was surprised. She had always thought her job was to keep him humble by pointing out the places where he needed improvement. Isn't this so often true. We spend our efforts tearing down. Yet, the world does enough of that. We should rather build up those around us.

In the life application Bible this passage is tabulated rather nicely:

The command to encourage others is found throughout the Bible. In I Thess 5:11-23 Paul gives many specific examples of how we can encourage others.

5:11 Build each other up.

Point out to someone a quality you appreciate in him or her.This is a chance to begin encouraging in a personal way. One of the greatest gifts is the gift of the thank you letter. Some never write a thank you. some once in a while write a thank you. But some have a great gift to see, think of a reason to be thankful, and then express it. How are you letting others know you appreciate them?

5:12 - 13 Respect leaders and hold leaders in highest regard. Look for ways to cooperate. We have given our leaders a difficult job. How can we help them. One way is to hold back your next critical comment about those in positions of responsibility. Another is to say "thank you" to your leaders for their efforts. Isn't it amazing how soon we see thank you as a major tool of encouragement.

5:13 Live in peace. An interesting point. We are called to live at peace with others in as much as it lies within us. This gives us the chore of seeking ways to get along with others.

5:14 Warn the idle. 80 percent of the work is done by 20% of the people. which group are you in? Before we can warn the idle, we must first be workers. Are you earning your way. IN the church are you a giver or a taker? A builder or a tearer down? If you are one of the workers, then Paul calls us to challenge others to join in the work. Too often we find that those who are working are not really anxious to have other join in. they say they are. they complain about having to do all the work. But, they resist when other make an effort to include new folk in the task. How can you help others become workers?.

5:14 Encourage the timid. Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God's promises. This seems to be the theme our pastor has been following as he begins a series on Joshua. The message is, "be strong and of good courage for the Lord himself is with you." In the fifty day adventure we began with a prayer, "The Tension's Good Side Prayer"

"One of the untapped miracles is to see how you bring good out of tensions. Right now, a tension I am facing personally is _________________________. I turn this situation over to you, knowing you love me an are in control of my days. Help me to live believing you are constantly working in my behalf. and let me be on the lookout today for evidences of your miracle touch. Amen"

When I was going through a major stress in my life a friend in Australia sent me this prayer

"Heavenly Father,

I thank you for the assurance that my troubles are not greater than You, my Helper, and that my sins are not greater than Jesus, my Savior. There is no reason for me to despair. I have a God who helps me and saves me. I thank you for the assurance that I am not forgotten in my troubles. Your fatherly eyes watch over me. You count all my tears, and Your loving heart has already planned help for me.

If there is one thing You cannot do, that is disappoint Your child, and for this I thank you. You are holding me in Your hands and will draw me out of the depths, because You love me and will never forsake me.

Heavenly Father, I am Yours now and forever. Amen.." Basilea Schlink

I found in these thoughts strength in a time of need. How can you help someone who is needing courage in a time of weakness. A question which leads to 5:14

5:14 Help the weak. Support those who are weak by loving them and praying for them.

5:14 Be patient. Think of a situation that tries your patience and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.

5:15 Resist revenge. Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.This is a challenge. How can we avoid vengeful thoughts. I know I have had many of them. And yet, the cycle of vengeance never ends. Someone feels hurt. They "get even" Now someone else feels hurt and "gets even." The cycle keeps growing. In international affairs of the atomic age this cycle was seen as a policy called MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction. the process of revenge only can end when all involved are ruined. It is not win/lose. It is lose/lose. How can we be encouragers if we cannot break out of such a destructive spiral.

5:16 Be joyful. Years ago I read a book titled, "Praise the Lord Anyway. There is a hard teaching. and yet, remember that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control.In a recent series of lessons on Philippians I notes that the theme of that book was "rejoice in the Lord alway." Encouragers need to show joy.

5:17-18 Pray continually and give thanks. This is part of joyful living. It is part of encouraging. If we live thankful lives in Christ, then we will also be thankful encouragers with those around us. God is always with you -talk to him. Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.

5:19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire. Cooperate with the Spirit the next time he prompts you to participate in a Christian activity.

5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Receive God's word from those who speak for him.Do you really think of the lesson, of the sermon, as God's word to you?

5:22 Avoid every kind of evil. Avoid situations where you will be drawn into temptation.

5:23 Count on God's constant help. Realize that the Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God's power.

1. How can you show respect for the elders of your church?

2. What can we do to live in peace with everyone in the church?

3. What situations tend to test your patience?

4. What does it mean to pray continually?

5. What happens when you pay back evil to a person who has done wrong to you?

6. What value is there in giving thanks in all circumstances?

7. How can you remain joyful when things go badly?

8. How does prayer relate to a person's joy?

9. How can we tell if God is actually at work in us?

10. How can we help or hinder God's work within us?