Encouragements
This is about encouragements to be willing to have a "yes" to the ways of the Lord. The reward in heaven will be great.
There is so much encouragement in the Scriptures ... and there is probably not one page from which you could not take encouragement!
Encouragements in the Gospels
Matthew 5:10-12 10 Blessed are they who have been persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they shall revile and persecute you, and shall say every evil word against you falsely because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and instruct all the nations, immersing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Luke 12:4-9 4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear Him!
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.
9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
John 16:32-33 32 Behold, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you are scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction; but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.
Encouragements in the Epistles (letters)
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also provide a way out, that you may be able to bear it.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is achieving for us a surpassing and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not contemplate the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust for the day of judgment, to be punished,
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:4-5 4 For whatever is born from God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Jude 24-25 24 Now to Him who has the power to keep you from stumbling, and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Encouragements in the Book of Revelation
Revelation 1: Introduction
Revelation 1:1-3 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants; things which must happen quickly. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
2 who bears witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 15: at the sea of glas
Revelation 15:2-4 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over [or: overcome] the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the glassy sea, having harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints [or: King of the nations; or: King of ages].
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and do homage before You, for Your righteous deeds have been manifested.
--> The martyrs have no resentment for the tribulation they have gone through!