The challenge to “encourage one another and build up one another” was given to Christians in the form of a command (1 Thess. 5:11).  Encouragement stabilizes the soul to overcome the fear that accompanies each day of life.  The apostle Paul experienced fear and the Lord warned him “not to fear.”   The Lord knew Paul’s heart so the Lord removed Paul’s fear with the injunction, “stop being afraid.”  Fear implies doubt, diminishes faith, and robs the mind of its rational abil...
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