Cheer Up!

Cheer Up!

There is a lot of bad news in this world...

There are a lot of difficult things we have to face in our personal lives...

There are a lot of rough things that our friends & loved ones & acquaintances have to face...

Having to deal with it all can just wear you out...

You turn on the TV & there is bad news...

You turn on the radio & there is bad news...

You look at the newspaper & there is bad news...

You look at your news feed on your phone & there is bad news...

You talk to a friend, loved one, or acquaintance & there is bad news...

Sometimes when I’m preaching in the street, I’ll start preaching to a group by saying, “In a world filled with bad news, let me give you some good news...”  And then I will proceed to give them the good news of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I begin today’s podcast, I introduce today’s message similarly to those street preaching sessions, saying to you that, “In a world filled with bad news, I’m here today to give you some good news.”

Certainly, there are negative things that we have to deal with.  And certainly in preaching, there are negative things that we have to preach about.  But it’s not all negative.  Here’s the preacher’s charge➔

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
It’s easy for us as preachers, to get hung up on the reprove & rebuke, and forget about the exhort!

Today, I bring you the exhort...

I do not like discouragement & depression...

I don’t like it in myself, and I don’t like it in others.

Discouragement discourages me, and depression depresses me!

I don’t like to be around discouraged or depressed people very long... 

I don’t like to be around myself, when I’m discouraged or depressed!

*I like joy over depression!  Don’t you?!
*I like cheer!
*I like happiness!
*I like peace!
*I like tranquility!
*I like contentment!
*I like optimism!
*I like, God is good!  All the time!  Praise the Lord!  Glory to God!  Thank you Jesus for your abundant blessings & grace!

And so...  it shouldn’t surprise you to find out, that there are two little words in the Bible that I especially like a whole lot... 

They are found in Deut. ch. 24, and v. 5, and those two words are➔

...cheer up...

And that is what I’m want to talk to you about in today’s podcast

Cheer Up!
You have, no doubt, heard these 2 words used together many times...  but did you know they were in the Bible?

There are many common phrases that we still use in our popular culture today, which are found in the Bible, and this is one of them

If you’d like to discover more such common phrases in the Bible, check out Episode # 70, from June, 28th, 2018, which was actually titled, “That’s in the Bible”.

So my message today is simple, and should be easy to remember...  Cheer Up!

1. Cheer Up Yourself

It’s easy to get down on ourselves because of our failures...  but every human being fails!

When I was in grade school, somewhere around 6th grade, in the early 70’s...  One day we came to Science class and our teacher had prepared a little sign for us.  With a big, radiant smile on his face, he held up the sign for us, and quoting its message, said

Cheer up, Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times!

-We were surprised & enlightened...  Babe Ruth was the all-time MLB
homerun leader at the time with 714 career homeruns...  And yet, he   
had struck out 1,330 times!  Who’d have thunk it?!

Now it wouldn’t be too long after that, that we would see Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth’s homerun record on Monday Night Baseball, April 8, 1974 when Hank Aaron hit number 715. 

Hank Aaron would wind up with 755 career homeruns.  Much later in life, thinking about my science teacher’s sign, I thought I would look up how many times Hank Aaron struck out in his major league career.

It was 1,383 times!  Both Aaron & Ruth had struck out almost twice as many times as they hit homeruns...  But nobody remembers them for all their strikeouts...  They remember them for hitting homeruns. 

I must tell you, discovering these statistics was strangely encouraging!

I learned that even successful people fail. 

And the child of God should remember Prov. 24:16, which says➔

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:

Think about the first part of that verse for a moment.  It says➔

For a just man falleth... 

God didn’t say here, that a wicked man falleth... (though they do); but here God emphasized that a just man falleth...

God understands that even a just man will fall...  Not only that, God understands that a just man will fall more than once!  It says➔ For a just man falleth seven times...

God does not excuse our sins, but➔ he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

He remembers that we are➔ but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

And so He extends to us His mercy & His understanding.

Psalm 37:23-24  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
{24} Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Try as we might, we do not succeed 100 % of the time.  I’m not saying quit trying, but I’m saying when you try & fail, get back up and try again!

Failure will come... 

The question is What are you going to do after you fail? 

Are you gonna get up & keep going, or are you gonna sulk, & whine, & get depressed & quit?!

Remember Prov. 24:16?  I gave you the first part of the verse a moment ago...  Now let me give you the entire verse➔

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

In that verse, the difference between a just man & a wicked man is, the just man falls & gets back up again...  The wicked man falls, and stays down!

Learn to rise up again when you fall!  Learn to cheer yourself up!

One of the great Bible verses on doing this very thing pertains to David...

*David’s whole world was falling apart right in front of him...

*The very men that once fought by his side had turned on him...

*For while the men were out preparing to go to battle, the Amalekites 
  had invaded their home city of Ziklag, and burned it with fire...

* And in the invasion, all of their wives & children had been 
  captured...

*And so distraught were David’s men, that they were now talking
  about killing him...

*And the Bible says at that time, that David was➔  ...greatly
  distressed...

And though the details & circumstances were different, every one of us has been there➔  ...greatly distressed 

What did you do when you were there?

In David’s distress, a lesser man would have caved... But let me read you about what David did in his distress...➔

I Sam. 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

It will be a great day for you, in your life, when you learn to encour-age yourself in the LORD your God!

David did it right there in that gut wrenching scene at Ziklag...

David picked himself up by his own bootstraps, encouraged himself in the Lord, cheered himself up, and said, “Men, it’s time to pray!”

Listen to the next two verses after David “encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”➔

I Sam. 30:7-8  And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
{8} And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

And then in I Sam. 30, v. 9, it continues➔  So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him...

And should we be at all surprised that it came to pass, even as God had promised?  For I Sam. 30:18-19 says➔

{18} And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
{19} And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

That recovery would have never happened if David hadn’t cheered himself up & encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 

You learn to do the same  Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord your God...  Learn to cheer up yourself...

Determine not to stay in the slough of despond...   That is what John Bunyan calls it in The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Don’t throw in the towel & get discouraged...

Don’t wallow in despair & depression...

Follow David’s example, and cheer up yourself...
Someone sent me a captioned photo a few years ago, that had a girl holding a towel by her face...  The caption read

I threw in the towel.  God threw it back and said, “Wipe your face, your almost there!”

David was down, but he wasn’t out!

And, you may be down, but you’re not out!

This is the spirit that Paul had about such matters as he wrote to the Corinthians in II Cor. 4:8-9, saying➔ 

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
{9} Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

The Bible is filled with verses & truths wherein a Christian can find cheer & encouragement➔

Ps. 118:5-6  I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
{6} The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Ps. 56:8-11  Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
{9} When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
{10} In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
{11} In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Psalm 13 – In 6 verses David prays himself out of discouragement!
And if you are looking for a reason to be cheerful, you don’t have to look any further than your salvation, if you are saved.

Like Jesus told the man in Matt. 9:2➔  Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Is that not something to be cheerful about?!

Didn’t you have a bunch of sins to answer for?  Including some whoppers?!

Well, now those sins which were “as scarlet” are “white as snow”!

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power,
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Well, have you?  If you have, then cheer up!

Ohh, and not only has He forgiven your sins, but He is with you in your troubles, and trials, and tribulations!

After Nebuchadnezzar had cast the three Hebrew children into the burning, fiery furnace, the Bible says➔

{24} Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
{25} He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

The Lord will be with you in the fire!
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine...

Back in NT times, it was the fourth watch of the night, and the disci-ples where in a ship in the midst of the sea, being tossed about by the waves from a contrary wind...  Then Jesus came to them walking upon the water...

Now the disciples “were troubled... and they cried out for fear.” 

And it is there, that Matt. 14:27 says➔  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

You can cheer up yourselves knowing that Jesus is with you in all of your storms, and all of your troubles & trials & tribulations!

And at such times, if you’ll seek Him & listen, He may also give you a song in the night to get you through. 

Elihu spake of such songs when, in his rebuke to Job, he said in Job 35:10➔  But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Asaph found encouragement in a night song, saying in Ps. 77:6➔

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

A good number of years ago, I was going through a particularly trying time in the pastorate.

The devil was pressing, and I was getting de-pressed... 

The morning after things had peaked & fallen apart, I had to leave with the young people to go to Youth camp.  The camp was in Alabama and we flew to get there.

I spent the week at camp & on the way home while we were traversing to our connecting gate, down about the time we got off the subway train in the Atlanta airport, the Lord was giving me a song in the night.

Now, though I had heard the song before, I did not know all the words, but what I knew started playing in my head.  I kept singing it to myself, and when I got home I looked up the song, played it, and sang it to myself over & over & over again...

And that song helped me make it through...  The name of the song is, A Time to Fight, written by Gary Duty, and sung by him with his group Sound Doctrine.  It is based on Psalm 137, and the words go like this

Is your harp
Hanging on the willow tree?
Silent string - can’t make a melody;
But in the Master’s hand
It can make a joyful song
Can mend a broken heart and help it sing a long.

And does your plow
Stand idle in the field?
That old, hard ground
Won’t bring an abundant yield;
It must be broken up
And sown with precious seed,
So there’ll be plenty for the hungry souls to eat.
Without a song, the broken heart remains
In a barren field, the hungry soul will search in vain.

So get up and take your harp down off the willow!
Go back into the field and take your place behind the plow!
Soldier put your armour on and polish up that sword,
If there ever was a time to fight it’s now!

Are you a soldier - once mighty in the war?
But you’ve been scarred -and you’re not fighting any more?
You’ve laid your armour down, it will soon turn to rust,
And now your faithful sword lies covered in the dust.
You must be strong - A soldier brave and true;
On the battlefield - Somewhere a life depends on you!

So get up and take your harp down off the willow!
Go back into the field and take your place behind the plow!
Soldier put your armour on and polish up that sword,
If there ever was a time to fight it’s now!

Thank God for the Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs that the Lord has given us, so that we can take heart, & be of good cheer, & make it through!

So, # 1  Cheer Up Yourself... # 2...

2. Cheer Up Someone Else

Jesus did this, and He is our example that we should follow in His steps.

Twice in Matthew, and once each in Mark & John, Jesus is recorded speaking to people & saying➔  Be of good cheer... 

We have already mentioned the one in Matthew, and Mark’s refer-ence is a repetition of one of Matthew’s...  But in John 16:33 we find Jesus speaking to His disciples and saying➔

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

It is a noble endeavor to seek to cheer up someone else...  And, by ex-ample of Jesus, it is something that a Christian should endeavor to do.

The Apostle Paul followed this example, and it is written in the book of Acts that while, as a prisoner on the ship, during the storm in Acts 27, Paul exhorted the people on the ship, saying to them twice➔ 

...be of good cheer...  And shortly thereafter, the Bible says➔  Then were they all of good cheer...

So, #1, Cheer Up Yourself, & # 2, Cheer Up Someone Else...

Now point # 2 also actually proves to be an extension of point # 1.

Let me illustrate

Years ago, a lady came to her pastor for counsel.  She was depressed.

After listening to her difficulties, the pastor gave his counsel, and the prescription for her treatment went something like this...

He said... I want you to go home and prepare some baked goods and go bring them to someone in the nursing home. 

Then, get some flowers and bring them to someone that’s sick, or hurting or in the hospital.

Then, get a card and write an encouraging note on it, and send it to someone who is going through a difficult time.

“Why, Pastor!” she said, “I’m looking for help for me, not for somebody else.”

“Just do it!” the pastor insisted, and then come back and talk to me next week.

So she did what the pastor said.

When she came back to talk to the pastor the next week, he said, “Well let’s see if we can help you with your depression today.”

She said, “I’m not depressed any more.  I did what you told me, and I found joy in being a blessing to others.  Also, when I saw the condition some of them were in, I realized that I have much to be grateful for - and I really don’t have it that bad after all.”

This lady discovered that in seeking to cheer up someone else, she could also cheer up herself.

Sometimes we get depressed because we just spend too much time thinking about ourselves.

Are you familiar with the J.O.Y. principle?  J - O - Y?

J-esus - 1st
O-thers - 2nd
Y-ourself - last.

To you who are depressed today, I offer the same type prescription the pastor offered to that lady many years ago...  Find somebody to be a blessing to, and do something to cheer them up - and do it in the name of Jesus!  And pretty soon the joy bells will be ringing in your heart.

Do you realize that while Paul was exhorting the men on the ship to be of good cheer during the tempest, that he himself was in the same predicament as they were!

And in this case, the Lord had already cheered him up, and so Paul passed that cheer on to the others

It was in Acts 23:11 that the Lord first spoke to him about it, saying➔ 

Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

The ship they were on in Acts 27 was headed to Rome and Paul had not yet testified there, but was on his way to do so. 

But in the storm, as you can imagine, Paul certainly could have used a booster, and the Lord gave him such a booster.  And so Paul explained to the men as he told them to be of good cheer, saying to them in Acts 27:23-24➔ 

{23} For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
{24} Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Paul then took the cheer that the Lord had given him, and exhorted them, telling them again in v. 25➔  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

So how ‘bout you go and find someone you can cheer up  It’s been said that, One of the best exercises for the heart is bending down to help another up.

All right, let’s move on to # 3...

In our third point we are going to take a look at those two words, “cheer up” as they are found in the Bible.  They occur like that only once, and it is in Deut. 24:5➔ 

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

So point # 3...

3. Cheer Up Thy Wife

Obviously, I direct this exhortation to men who are married, or who may one day be married... 

And this is really an extension of point # 2, Cheer Up Someone Else, because your wife qualifies as someone else.

Some observations about the verse

A. It shows that the Lord is concerned with the emotional condition of the wife in her marriage.

B. It shows that the husband can do something to help the emotional condition of his wife.

C. God tells the husband to do something to help the emotional condition of his wife.

Now, though the verse emphasized extra measures the man was to employ to cheer up his wife during the first year of their marriage

Men, it is also clear that even past the one year anniversary, your wife is gonna need some cheering up! 

And God has charged you with cheering her up!

Men, to a great degree, you have a bearing on how cheerful in life your wife is, or is not.

I know there are other factors involved as well, but husbands, you do factor in, in those factors!

In I Pet. 3:7, the Lord charges the man in his relationship with his wife, saying➔  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel...

So men, notice the signs when your wife is getting overwhelmed & frazzled - and do something to cheer her up.

Sometimes it might be as simple as helping her.  Whether it be with dinner, or the dishes, or the laundry or the kids, or the “honey do” list.

Giving her some help - could help cheer her up - and as an added bonus, that is also going to help you!

Cause we all know it well - If mama ain’t happy - ain’t nobody happy!

It’s also been said  Happy wife, happy life! 

Now again, we know there’s more to it than that, but trying to be a blessing to your wife, certainly goes a long way toward a happy life for both her and you. 

Men, part of your job as a husband is to cheer up your wife & dwell with her according to knowledge.  So get a clue, and notice when she is down & discouraged.

When you see that she has become much less than the cheery, smiling, joyful girl that you married ask the Lord to help you cheer her up.

Maybe get her out of the house for awhile...

Now, I didn’t say kick her out of the house for awhile!  Take her out and spend some time with her...  And yes, even spend some money on her! 

You did that when you were dating didn’t you?  Well date her again! 

Take her somewhere she likes to go and let her enjoy herself for awhile.

And if you have to go shopping with her to cheer her up - don’t let her know how miserable you are the whole time. 

Moreover  Don’t be miserable!  But rather➔  ...rejoice with the wife of thy youth!!!
And men, with your wife in mind, take heed to point # 1  Cheer Up Yourself, because one of the reasons she gets discouraged & depressed might be because you’re that way, and it’s rubbing off on her.

And a little advice here to any of you that are not married yet...  Don’t marry a project.  Don’t get married to somebody that’s discouraged & depressed all the time, because you will wind up that way too.

Men, another facet of cheering up your wife, is simply loving them, as the Bible commands you to do in both Eph. 5:25 & Col. 3:19➔

Eph. 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Col. 3:19  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

In loving your wife, you should love her...

1. Faithfully - i.e. continually, constantly.
2. Exclusively - she being the only women in your life.
3. Genuinely - She is a beautiful, unique, one of a kind creation that God has given to you, and only you.
4. Unselfishly - as Christ loved the church & gave Himself for it.
5. Openly - Let others see it by your actions, including your kids.
6. Verbally - say it.
7. Physically - Hold her tenderly, hug her, kiss her.
8. Passionately - Sweep her off her feet, light her fires of passion, and be thou ravished always with her love.
9. Specially - Give her some “special” gifts & surprises.
10. Considerately - Think about her, consider her, and discover things you love about her.  You might be surprised to find what a wonderful woman God has given you.
Notice also in Deut. 24:5 that little phrase➔  ...free at home...

That reminds me to say men, when you are at home, sometimes you need to make sure you are “free at home”.  That is, that your wife has access to your undivided attention.

All right, having said all that, let me add, that wives, you would also do well, and would likewise be doing yourself a favor, if you would...

4. Cheer Up Your Husband

Or if he is already cheerful, don’t discourage him! Here’s a few tips

1. Don’t Bicker with Him - Prov. 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath...  Ask the Lord to teach you the art of the soft answer...

2. Don’t Nag Him - Prov. 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  Ask the Lord to help you avoid speaking grievous words.

3. Reverence Your Husband - Maybe you didn’t know it, but the Bible tells you to do just that➔

Eph. 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

And by the way, the verse doesn’t say, Reverence him if he is deserving of it... So don’t write off your Biblical admonition because of his failures.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.

4. Be Cheerful Yourself - Your sunshine, will make him warmer.

5. Be His Biggest Cheerleader - Every man needs someone to believe in him.  You be that person for your husband.  They say that behind every great man, is a woman...  And they don’t mean a nagging, arguing, disrespectful, miserable woman.

6. Don’t resist his attempts to make you happy - Give him credit for trying.

7. Don’t resist his physical advances - You’re married!  That is one of the blessings of marriage.  

Some wives long for passion so much, that they vicariously pursue it in Romance Novels, Chick Flicks, Soap Operas, etc.  And then they resist any efforts their husband makes to be passionate.

Perhaps it’s time to give up your life of fantasy, and take advantage of the blessings of reality, and I don’t mean Reality TV!  Men & women alike, pay attention here➔

I Cor. 7:1-4  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 
{2} Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 
{3} Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 
{4} The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

So husbands cheer up your wives, & wives, cheer up your husbands...  

1828 - Cheer - as a verb

2. To dispel gloom, sorrow, silence or apathy; to cause to rejoice; to gladden...
3. To infuse life; spirit, animation... to encourage...

What if...  what if...  What if in your marriage you were both doing that at the same time?  
If I could sum up the majority of marriage problems with one word, that word would be  selfishness.

When the husband gets focused on himself and complains that his needs aren’t being met, and the wife gets focused on herself and complains that her needs aren’t being met...  Then nobody’s needs are being met.

But if the husband will focus on his wife and see that her needs are being met, and the wife will focus on her husband and see that his needs are being met... Then both of their needs will be met.

And with the Lord in the midst of the marriage, as we learn in Eccl. 4:12  You will have a threefold cord that will not be quickly broken!

So husbands and wives, cheer up each other...
But don’t wait for the other to do it, before you do it.

And wives, let me finally say to you as I did similarly to your husband

8. Consider your husband’s good qualities.  You might likewise be surprised to find what a wonderful man God has given you!

I offer this closing story to both husband & wife...

A man who owned a small estate wanted to sell it.  So he called a real estate agent, and asked him to write an advertisement describing his house and his land.

When the ad was ready, the agent took the ad to the owner and read it to him. 

“Read that again!!!” said the owner.  So the agent read the description of the estate once more.

After he did, the owner said, “I don’t think I will sell it after all.  I’ve been looking for an estate like that all my life, and I didn’t know I already owned it!”

You likely already have the blessings you are looking for...  You just need to open your gifts, and count your blessings.

Cheer up!  Things might not be near as bad as they seem.  In fact, they might be a lot better than you realize.  So...

Husbands Cheer Up Your Wives
Wives Cheer Up Your Husbands
And Cheer up Someone Else
And Everyone Cheer Up Your Yourself

There is a lot of bad news in this world...

There are a lot of difficult things we have to face in our personal lives...

There are a lot of rough things that our friends & loved ones & acquaintances have to face...

Having to deal with it all can just wear you out...  But Jesus said➔

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

It starts with salvation...  So, if you need to... get saved!

Then He could say to you➔

Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.