Warren W. Wiersbe - Be Encouraged. God Can Turn Your Trials into Triumphs

BE ENCOURAGED

Published by David C. Cook

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All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version

of the Bible. (Public Domain.) Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New

American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by

permission; NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV . Copyright

1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights

reserved; TLB are taken from The Living Bible , 1971, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton,

IL 60189. Used by permission; PH are taken from J. B. Phillips: The New Testament in

Modern English , revised editions J. B. Phillips, 1958, 1960, 1972, permission of Macmillan

Publishing Co. and Collins Publishers; and NKJV are taken from the New King James

Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

LCCN 2009934570

ISBN 978-1-4347-6633-5

eISBN 978-1-4347-0094-0

1994 Warren W. Wiersbe

First edition of Be Encouraged published by Victor Books in 1994 Warren W. Wiersbe, ISBN 978-0-88207-620-1

The Team: Karen Lee-Thorp, Amy Kiechlin, Sarah Schultz, Jack Campbell, and Karen Athen

Series Cover Design: John Hamilton Design

Cover Photo: Veer Inc.

Second Edition 2010

Dedicated with much appreciation

to Galen and Jeanette Call,

Robert and Wilma Montgomery,

and Cedric and Jean Whitcomb

in years past, faithful associates in

ministry; today, friends who are an encouragement and a joy to know

CONTENTS

The Big Idea: An Introduction to Be Encouraged by Ken Baugh

A Word from the Author

1. Downbut Not Out! (2 Corinthians 1:111)

2. You Dont Have to Fail! (2 Corinthians 1:122:17)

3. From Glory to Glory (2 Corinthians 3)

4. Courage for the Conflict (2 Corinthians 4:15:8)

5. Motives for Ministry (2 Corinthians 5:921)

6. Heart to Heart (2 Corinthians 67)

7. The Grace of GivingPart 1 (2 Corinthians 8)

8. The Grace of GivingPart 2 (2 Corinthians 9)

9. Ministerial Misunderstandings (2 Corinthians 10)

10. Father Knows Best (2 Corinthians 11)

11. A Preacher in Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:110)

12. Three to Get Ready! (2 Corinthians 12:1113:14)

The Big Idea

An Introduction to Be Encouraged by Ken Baugh

The Energizer battery company is best known for its commercials featuring the Energizer Bunny. This pink battery-operated bunny marches tirelessly, beating a bass drum while sporting cool sunglasses and blue sandals. The source of his endless energy is the Energizer battery. The commercials tagline states that the Energizer Bunny just keeps going and going and going.

If you want to compliment someones boundless energy, you refer to him or her as an Energizer Bunnyit truly is a compliment. I believe the apostle Paul was the Energizer Bunny of the first century, and in this second letter to the church in Corinth, he reveals what gave him a seemingly endless amount of energy and encouragement. Lets take a look at the things that powered Paul.

The first thing that encouraged Paul was Gods personal comfort for all who believe. Paul calls God the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor. 1:34 NIV ). Paul was encouraged to have a relationship with the God who cares so much that He knows all of His childrens troubles and brings them comfort.

The second thing that encouraged Paul was the presence of Gods Spirit within all who believe. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (1:2122 NIV ). Paul drew encouragement to live life to the fullest, regardless of the difficulties, because he knew that the best was yet to come.

The third thing that encouraged Paul was the transforming work of Gods Spirit in the lives of all who believe. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lords glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (3:18 NIV ). The moment a person believes in Jesus Christ as Gods Son and accepts His payment for sin, that person is born again spiritually. From that moment on, throughout the rest of the persons life, the Spirit of God is transforming him or her increasingly into the likeness of Jesus. Theologians call this the process of sanctification. It is a wonderful source of encouragement, because it means that God is continually at work in your life. You are never stuck in one place unless you choose to be.

The fourth thing that encouraged Paul was to know that all those who die in Christ will be resurrected to live forever with Jesus. We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence (4:14 NIV ). Not only will we be resurrected one day, but we will also receive glorified bodies that will never again experience pain, sickness, or death (1 Cor. 15:5152). Then we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10 NIV ). You can think of this judgment as an award ceremony for all the things you did in service to Christ after being born again. This is not a judgment to determine your salvation; its accountability and reward for your service to your Savior. Paul was greatly encouraged to endure whatever hardships came his way in this life, knowing that his faithful service to the Lord would be rewarded one day for all eternity.

The fifth thing that encouraged Paul was to know that heaven is real. Some think weak-minded people who need something to live for beyond this life have fabricated the concept of heaven, but Paul knew different: He knew heaven was real because he saw it! In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul refers to himself as a man who was taken up into heaven. While he was there, he heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell (12:4 NIV ). Can you imagine? What do you think Paul saw? It must have been wonderful. And this confidence about heaven encouraged him for the rest of his life. No wonder Paul was able to endure any hardship that came his way. No wonder he could say with such confidence, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (4:17 NIV ). Paul knew with absolute certainty that this life is not all there is, that the best is yet to come. This knowledge encouraged him through thick and thin.

Is it any wonder why Paul was able to endure such adversity in his life (11:2328) with so many elements of encouragement at his disposal? And here is the one thing, the Big Idea of 2 Corinthians that I dont want you to forget: Every element of encouragement that Paul had at his disposal is yours too in Christ. So be encouraged.