“5”
Part 4 – You Need A Pusher
Perhaps it was a coach early on in your life. It might have been a math teacher. It could have been a parent or a friend with whom you had a healthy rivalry. We have all had someone in our past that would push us!
That is a normal part of our childhood experience. It helped us get to where we are today. However, I have noticed that the older we get the less pushing we seem to receive. And yet, I also believe it is as we get older the more we need someone to push/encourage us so that apathy doesn’t take over.
I probably need to tell you that this is one area of weakness for me. I don’t do push/encourage enough.
I want to tell you this morning that we need someone in our lives that will push or encourage us on a regular basis.
Scripture is very clear that we should be involved in this role. We should regularly be encouraging one another in this journey called life!
Hebrew 3:13 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke (or spur) unto love and to good works:
Why is it important for us to be encouraged and to encourage?
Proverbs 16:24 says Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Stop and think about the implications of that statement for a moment. Your words can produce healing. Your words can undo sickness. Your words can lengthen life and improve the quality of life.
Studies verify this statement and back it up. Just a little affirmation and encouragement work wonders in people’s life.
Consider this: Demographic studies of Oscar winners reveal that recipients live abnormally long life spans compared to those actors who are passed over. They discovered that an Oscar is seen as the constant encouragement of your peers. In fact the study goes on to state that an Academy Award winning actors and actresses live an astonishing 4 years longer than their costars and the actors nominated who did not win. Winning an Oscar is like reducing your chance of dying from a heart attack from about average to zero.
Another study was done where 28 20 years olds were asked to walk on a treadmill. The first time they received no encouragement. The second time they received encouraging words every 20 to 60 seconds and it lead to significantly greater maximum effort in a treadmill test than when no encouragement is given or when the encouragement is infrequent. In fact, the encouragement had an effect on not only their effort but their blood lactic concentration.
Encouraging words brings healing to our bones!
And yet, people seldom think of encouragement as a gift because it seems so ordinary. But it isn’t. Encouragement is actually quite rare {because it is seldom given} and it is so valuable {because it is so meaningful to the recipient}.
William James, an American Psychologist & Philosopher said, ’The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.’ Most of us THINK wonderful things about people, but WE NEVER TELL THEM. Praise becomes valuable ONLY IF YOU IMPART (CONVEY) IT.
William Barclay, has written, ’One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement. . . . It is easy to laugh at (human) ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a (person) on his feet. Blessed is the one who speaks such a word.’
There are times when you need to push yourself. David encouraged himself in the Lord. But there also times when you need a fan club. A cheering section. Someone who will push you to greatness and encourage you to endure.
You need a pusher!
There are certain things that a Pusher does and that we should do:
1. They hold up your hands for victory!
Exodus 17:8-13
8Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. 9Moses ordered Joshua: “Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding GOD’s staff.” 10Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. 12But Moses’ hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. 13Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.
Like it or not there are times when we become tired in the fight. There are times that we want to give up and quit. Our hands hang down! We need someone like Aaron and Hur who will come along side us and hold up our hands.
Maybe your Superman and don’t understand this concept. But I want to tell you there are days when my hands get heavy and I need someone to stand next to me and say you know what I will help you stay strong. I will help you stay diligent. I will help you win the victory!
Jesus himself understood that we would grow tired at times. That is why he invited those of us that weary and heavy laden to come unto him and find rest!
A simple word a simple note could bring victory rather than defeat! You may very well be sitting next to someone right now who is tired, who is discouraged, who is on the brink of defeat . . . Raise your neighbor’s hand!
We need to encourage each other to victory. We expect people to win, but do we enable them to win?
What a great thing to know that you are willing to hold up my hands to produce victory!
2. They say the right word at the right time and push you to greatness.
Proverbs 25:11- 11The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry.
During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for his failure to "put out." It was a hot, muggy day when the coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal guns on him, as only Lombardi could. "Son, you are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking, you’re not tackling, you’re not putting out. As a matter of fact, it’s all over for you today, go take a shower." The big guard dropped his head and walked into the dressing room. Forty- five minutes later, when Lombardi walked in, he saw the big guard sitting in front of his locker still wearing his uniform. His head was bowed and he was sobbing quietly.
Vince Lombardi, ever the changeable but always the compassionate warrior, did something of an about face that was also typical of him. He walked over to his football player and put his arms around his shoulder. "Son," he said, "I told you the truth. You are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking, you’re not tackling, you’re not putting out. However, in all fairness to you, I should have finished the story. Inside of you, son, there is a great football player and I’m going to stick by your side until the great football player inside of you has a chance to come out and assert himself." With these words, Jerry Kramer straightened up and felt a great deal better. As a matter of fact, he felt so much better he went on to become one of the all-time greats in football and was recently voted the all-time guard in the first 50 years of professional football.
The right word at the right time. We need people in our lives who will say the right thing at the right time! Pushers are time sensitive. They are aware of timing. Right at the moment you are ready to give up and quit they speak a fitting word. A word that enables you to keep fighting and to keep going! It is a custom word just for you just at the right moment.
That word pushes you to greatness!
Isn’t that what Jesus did with his disciples? You are fishermen follow me and I will make you fishers of men. I will take you from what you are and make you something better.
Ohio State’s legendary football coach Woody Hayes was asked by a Chicago writer how he continued to attract top players.
"It’s very simple," replied Woody. "We recruit and coach on a positive basis. We seek the quality, the best kids. I couldn’t get along with any other kind. Then we set high standards, we challenge them to be better than they think they can be. Once they find out how they can be better, they respond to you, respect you. I get sick and tired of the way our society talks down to everyone. I believe in reaching the best in the boy."
We need to reach the best in people. But we must do it at the right time as well.
Dante Bartiel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good, or if they, at least, showed potential talent.
Rossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But
Rossetti was a kind man and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man.
The visitor was disappointed, but seemed to expect Rossetti’s judgment. He then apologized for taking up Rossetti’s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings—these done by a young art student’
Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately enthused over the talent they revealed. “These,” he said, “ah, these are good. This young man, whoever he is, has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future, if he will work hard and stick with it.”
Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. “Who is this fine young artist?” he asked. “Your son?”
“No,” said the old fellow sadly. “It is me—40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then … for you see, I got discouraged and gave up—too soon.”
A pusher’s words are right on time and they draw the best out of you. A simple “atta boy” or “you go girl” can change the course of history. A simple word of encouragement may be all that is holding someone back or pushing someone up. The same word 40 years late may be too late!
Whose future do you hold in your mouth?
3. They put heart in you!
Our English word “encouragement” comes from the French word “Coeur”. It literally means to – to put heart into someone. You need someone to put heart into you. To cause you to stand up when you are about to fall! So many folks are dis-couraged (without courage) and need someone to en-courage (to put heart into) them. We need folks that will give us heart to continue, to press on, to finish, to win!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing. (TEV)
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG) - So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
Who gives you heart? Who are you giving heart to? Who do you hang around that after you leave them you feel more alive, more heart?
4. They come out of the stands and run with you.
The word encourage is not used in the King James Version of the New Testament. Usually when talking about the concept of encouragement the Greek word that is chosen is comfort. It is the word parakaléō. It is the same root word for the Holy Spirit (parakleat) which means to come along side!
We need folks who will encourage us by coming along side us. It is one thing to just root us on, it is another to actually get out of the stands and run next to us.
Derek Redmond first broke the British record for the 400 meters in 1985 with a run of 44.82 seconds
At the 1991 World Championships Redmond was a member of the British team which shocked the athletics world by beating the much-favored American team into second place to claim the gold medal in the 4x400 meters relay. Redmond ran the second leg in the final and, together with team-mates Roger Black, John Regis and Kriss Akabusi, ran what was then the second-fastest 4x400 meters relay in history.
Injuries had consistently interrupted Redmond’s career. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, he pulled out of the opening round of the 400 meters 90 seconds before his heat was due to begin due to a hamstring problem. Prior to the 1992 Olympics, he had undergone eight operations due to injuries. However he seemed to be in good form heading into the Olympics in Barcelona. He posted the fastest time of the first round, and went on to win his quarter-final. In the semi-final, Redmond started well. . .
Derek Redman Video (found on youtube)
In the last 250 meters from the finish, his hamstring snapped. You saw him stop. You saw him fall to the ground in pain. You saw stretcher bearers make their way over to him. But Redmond decided he wanted to finish the race. He began to hobble along the track, with pain etched upon his face. What you also saw was an encourager come out of the stands to run with him. Jim Redmond, Derek’s father, barged past security and on to the track to get to his son.
Jim told his son, you don’t have to do this. Derek’s reply was yes I do. Jim then said then we will do this together. Jim and Derek completed the lap of the track together, with Derek leaning on his father’s shoulder for support. As they crossed the finish line, the 65,000 crowd rose to give Derek a standing ovation.
Who do you have in your life that will finish the race with you? Who is running with you? Who do you have who will give you a shoulder to lean on? Who do you have that has a word for you that keeps your head up, that causes you to have courage again? Who comes out of the stands and runs with you?
Who are you running with? Who do you encourage? Whose hands are you holding up? Do you think of encouraging things to say and refuse to say it? You need a pusher and you are called to be a pusher. This week I want you to not only be encouraged, but I want you to encourage someone else.
Do I need to make the application with Jesus? He came out of the stands and runs with us. He became flesh and moved into our neighborhood!
I want to encourage you this morning. I want to give you heart. You are great. You are an awesome group of people and I am proud of you. You do great things. There is destiny in you. There is greatness in you. I have no doubt that you will impact and change a city. I have no doubt that the kingdom of God will expand because of you. You will live up to your billing! Great men and women of God in this room!
Find 3 people this morning and encourage them. Also, want you to go home and write one note of encouragement to a coworker, friend, or relative.
