"BE OF GOOD CHEER"
Intro.
A. In this lesson we wish to examine and apply the expression, "Be
of good cheer."
1. Or, as we would say, "cheer up; be happy; rejoice." As
expressed in the N.T. -- 1 Thess. 5:16; Phil. 4:4; 1 Pet.
1:8
2. The expression "Be of good cheer" is found several times in
the N.T. (seven in all the KJV).
B. In spite of this age of depressing news, the Christian has much
to be happy and cheerful about.
1. Things will probably never be exactly as they should be, or
as we would want them to be, but in spite of this, we can be
happy and cheerful.
2. True happiness comes from a relationship with one's Creator.
I. "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer;
it is I; be not afraid." (Matt. 14:27; Mark 6:50)
A. See Matt. 14:23-33
1. Jesus spoke the words, "Be of good cheer" to take away the
fears out of troubled hearts.
B. There are many things that can trouble us in our day. Any who
walk the troubled sea of life will have hardships.
1. However, the same Jesus who, by His presence and word, spoke
peace in the hearts of the disciples wishes to come to us in
the restless turbulence of our lives and say, "Be of..."
2. Psalm 46:1-3; Isa 41:10
C. Handling the Bumps:"I was driving down a bumpy country road
when I saw a bag of cement beside the road. It appeared to
have fallen off a delivery truck as it hit one of the bumps in
the rough road. Being a person who does not like to see
anything wasted, I stopped to pick up the lost bag of cement.
When I reached down to pick up this heavy bag, to my surprise,
I discovered it was not soft and limber, as I had expected, but
had solidified into an immovable piece of cement. Often our
lives are like that bag of cement. They take on shapes that
were not intended and become hardened in that shape. That bag
of cement was meant to become a part of some beautiful
structure; but, because it did not reach its place of service,
it became a useless rock in the form of a bag of cement."
(Author Unknown) See: Eccl. 7:14
II. "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it
shall be even as it was told me." (Acts 27:22,25)
A. See Acts 27:21-26. He finally convinced them, Acts 27:33-36.
B. When Paul expressed his confidence in that which was told him,
he was expressing confidence not in hearsay or mere conjectures
and speculations of men, but in a specific message from God.
1. We today have a special message from God--His revealed
written Word.
a. Things will always be as exactly described therein. Ex.
prayer--peace of mind. Phil. 4:4-6
2. We join with Paul in expressing a confidence in the Word of
God. II Cor. 5:6-10; John 14:2
III. "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." (Matt. 9:2)
A. The sin of the justified believer breaks his fellowship with
God. Isa. 59:1-2
1. However, we can be of good cheer because there is a fountain
flowing from Calvary's tide.
a. It is a matter of great rejoicing when sins are forgiven.
Luke 15:10,32; Rom. 4:6-8; 5:11
b. Consider what had to be done under the O.T. when one
sinned. Lev. 4:28-35
2. Your debts may not be to creditors' satisfaction, but your
sins can be released.
a. Your physical health may not be good, but some day you
will have a new incorruptible body.
b. Your physical responsibilities may be a heavy burden, but
there is coming eternal rest.
c. Your family may be a burden to your heart, and things may
improve or not improve, but we can be of good cheer
because our sins have been forgiven.
(1) In other words, we may be lonely, bankrupted, non-
appreciated by family, sick and dying, but we can be
of good cheer because...
(2) You know it's going to be a bad day when:
* You wake up face down on the pavement.
* You call suicide prevention and they put you on
hold.
* You see a 60 Minutes news team waiting in your
office.
* Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the
candles.
* You turn on the news and they're showing emergency
routes out of the city.
* Your twin sister forgets your birthday.
* You wake up to discover that your waterbed broke,
and then realize you don't have a waterbed.
* Your horn goes off accidentally and remains stuck
as you follow a group of Hell's Angels on the
freeway.
B. While this assurance is an occasion of cheer to the Christian,
the one who is not a Christian has no reason to be truly happy
until he repairs his relationship with God.
1. Initially, one trusts in God, repents of his sins,
confesses his faith in Christ, and is baptized into Christ
for the remission of sins.
a. Faith (Heb. 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession
(Rom. 10:10), baptism (Acts 2:38).
2. Thereafter, one grows in grace and knowledge, worshiping
God regularity as specified in the Scriptures.
a. He renders love and service to his fellow man.
b. He maintains his fellowship with God through prayer
which can be done anytime, anywhere. 1 John 1:9; Prov.
28:13; Psalm 32:5
IV. "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in
Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." (Acts 23:11)
A. Imagine the comfort this must have brought to Paul. On other
occasions, he was told what evils would befall him. Acts
20:22-23; 21:10-12
B. God has likewise promised to be with us in our afflictions and
hardships. Heb. 13:5-6
1. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 How does God comfort?
a. Through His Word. Rom. 15:4 -- example: Psalm 23:4
b. Through His providential care. 2 Cor. 7:5-7
2. Let us trust implicitly in God. We, too, can be comforted
in Him.
V. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
A. Even as Jesus spoke these words, He was in the shadow of death.
1. Jesus knew that He was about to die a very excruciating,
painful death.
a. He was able to face it by looking at the joy that was to
follow. Heb. 12:2; John 17:5
B. What will it be like to die?
1. No human being on the earth can tell us.
C. Jesus has experienced it; we can learn about it through His
word.
1. It is viewed as a peaceful sleep. Acts 7:60
2. It is viewed as a departure to be with Christ. Phil. 1:23
3. It is viewed as going to a homeland. Heb. 11:13-16
4. It is viewed as a new life with a new body. 2 Cor. 5:1-9
D. Jesus said, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
1. We, too, can overcome. 1 John 5:4-5; Rev. 3:21
Concl.
A. With these confidences and words of encouragement, the
Christian can be of good cheer.
1. One's happiness in this world depends on how he looks at
life.
2. A young college student wrote:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Just thought I'd drop you a note to clue you in on my plans.
I've fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high
school after grade eleven to get married. About a year ago
he got a divorce. We've been going steady for two months and
plan to get married in the fall. Until then, I've decided to
move into his apartment (I think I might be pregnant). At
any rate, I dropped out of school last week, although I'd
like to finish college sometime in the future.
On the next page, she continued:
Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I've
written so far in this letter is false. NONE of it is true.
But Mom and Dad, it IS true that I got a C in French and
flunked Math. It IS true that I'm going to need some more
money for my tuition payments.
Even bad news can sound like good news if it is seen from a
certain vantage point. So much in life depends on "where
you're coming from" as you face your circumstances.
3. There is no reason for complaining, self-pity, feeling sorry
for ourselves, sadness, or depression. Why?
a. Jesus is near. Matt. 14:27
b. God's Word is sure. Acts 27:25
c. Our sins are forgiven. Matt. 9:2
d. We can be comforted in God (His Word, His care). Acts
23:11
e. We have overcome the world. John 16:33
Chart:
"Be Of Good Cheer"
"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it
is I; be not afraid." (Matt. 14:27; Mark 6:50)
"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall
be even as it was told me." (Acts 27:22,25)
"Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." (Matt. 9:2)
"Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in
Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." (Acts 23:11)
"Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33
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