"Sharpen One Another"
Scripture: (Proverbs 27:17)
Purpose: Have the listener realize we all need a friend to help us stay sharp in Jesus.
Introduction: The mayor of Philadelphia and his wife were sitting at a McDonald’s restaurant one day when the mayor noticed his wife in deep conversation with a clown that was doing a birthday party. As they were leaving the mayor asked his wife if she knew the man. “Know him?” she said, “I used to date him!”
The mayor smiled in a self-satisfied sort of way. “You could have been married to a clown!” he said. “That’s not the way I look at it,” his wife replied. “If I’d married him, he’d be mayor!”
Have you ever thought about the people you have known in your life time, about how they have influenced you? Who is in your lives that keep you sharp for God? If your answer is no one, then how do we find someone that we can rely on to help us along our spiritual journey, some one to keep us sharp as Christians to become the people that Jesus desires us to be?
There is a proverb that tells us actually this. (Proverbs 27: 17) As Iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)
This proverb is widely recited and memorized within the Christian group of “Promise Keepers”. A group of Christian men that “sharpen” one another to become that which God desires us to be. The application of this truth can affect our lives, men and women alike, in a positive way. We should ask ourselves one fundamental question,..
I. WHO’S KEEPING YOU SHARP?
1. You know we have some fantastic leaders in our church. At least one of our Elders stops by to visit with me throughout the week to go over various things about the ministry. They always asks me, “How is your walk with Jesus?”; “How are your daily devotions?”, “How are things at home?” I am blessed to have men in my life that asks questions like this.
2. Who asks you the tough questions? “How’s it going at home? How’s your thought life? Walking too close to the edge in any area?” (pause) "Who is keeping you sharp?"
3. Most of us have some casual acquaintances that pass in and out of our lives and though our lives are impacted by all of our relationships, the greatest influence comes from those we call close friends. Little teams of people who help us try again when we fail, encourage us when we’re discouraged, lighten our load when it gets too heavy, and give us strength against the evil forces we all face.
4. Our friends either help us become and stay sharp or they facilitate our becoming and remaining dull. It’s like there is an invisible membrane between friends, and what passes between close friends are values, convictions, morals, habits, and goals.
5. If you want to know what kind of person you are becoming, then ask yourself: “Who are my friends?”
- Our youngest son Hazen shares a class room with Drew Cunningham and we are slowly but surely finding out that we are sharing our home with a carbon copy of Drew Cunningham. He is beginning to sound, act, and he is even walking like him now. We become those that we are in association with.
6. We all need a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.
- Paul: an older person willing to invest in your life. Somebody who’s been down the road and is willing to share the lessons they have learned and the experiences that have shaped their lives. An older person to spend time with you, and show us some of the ropes.
- Barnabas: a soul brother or sister who loves you where you are and encourage you to become the person you can be. People seemed to change for the better when Barnabas was around. We need to surround ourselves with these kinds of people because we become that which we are surrounded by.
- Timothy: a younger person into whose life you come to offer help. A person that you can help reach their potential. Every youth today needs someone who will care about them enough to get involved with them.
7. I’ve seen too many people try to go it alone. You get dull real quick. Who are you spending time with? (pause) "Who’s keeping you sharp?"
II. WHO HAS YOUR BACK?
A. In the Army, your fellow soldiers would always say to one another just before we would go through an obstacle, “Hey, I’ve got you back.” I really enjoyed hearing that, it made me feel a bit more confident as tough things would be before us.
1. (1 Samuel 18: 23), tells of a story of a special friendship that developed between David, who became the greatest king in the history of Israel, and Jonathan, Saul’s son. David had a friend who kept him sharp and had his back. Numerous times, Jonathan saved his life by warning him.
2. Do you know anyone who needs warned? The enemy is out to get you. Be on your guard! Just as David needed someone to watch his back, we too need that brother or sister in Christ to be their telling us, “Hey, I’ve got your back.”
- Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don’t you know you can’t outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don’t have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!"
B. In (Luke 10 1, 4) we read of Jesus sending out the 72, he sent them 2 by 2. He told them not to take a bag or sandals or money. But they were to take another man. It was Jesus’ way of saying, “Never go into battle alone. You don’t need a lot of money or equipment, but you do need a friend.” Don’t go alone.
1. Do have that special friend that you can count on when situations arise in your life that require a friend, a Godly person that will support you, guide you, basically be there for you no matter the cost?
C. Do you remember When Abraham’s nephew and friend, Lot, was kidnapped by 4 kings in (Genesis 14)? Abraham sent 318 men to rescue him. 318 men said, “Lot, you are important to us. We’ve got your back” Friends, ask your selves a question this morning. (pause) Who’s back to you have? What kind of friend are you?
III. WHERE DO YOU START?
A. Sometimes in our lives we feel lost and alone. Everyone needs a friend to get us through the difficult times we are faced with through out our lives and to keep us sharp to be that which Jesus desires us to be.
1. Pray about it: “Lord, you know I need a friend, someone who can sharpen me, and whom I can sharpen.”
2. Begin to look for them: Someone in your Sunday school Class, Someone in this service, a neighbor. Folks, Jesus has blessed our church with wonderful people in it, trust me, you can find a Paul, Barnabas, or a Timothy here.
3. Go for it. Pick up the phone. Stretch out your hand. Take the initiative. Start by going to a Bible study together, a movie, lunch, or whatever. Stay in contact and stay consistent with one another. Sharpen one another daily and watch one another’s backs. You may be surprised at how easily it is to create a long lasting friendship with a brother or sister in Christ.
4. This is the only chance we get at this great adventure called living. Don’t think that if you wait long enough someone will show up on your porch; ring your doorbell and say, “Hey, Here I am. I got your back.” It doesn’t work that way. We each need to take initiative in this matter.
CONCLUSION:
Stu Weber writes of his experience at US Army Ranger training school. They were running in full field uniform. Loaded packs, Helmets, Boots, and Rifles. The works. 70 pounds. As usual, the word was “You go out together, you stick together, and you come home together.” Miles they ran, then more miles. Over hills, through brush and pine.
Somewhere along the way, through a fog of pain, thirst and fatigue, Weber realized something was wrong. Two rows ahead, one of the guys was out of sync. A big, redhead named Sanderson. His legs were pumping, but he was out of step with the rest. Then his head began to roll from side to side. The guy was close to losing it. Without missing a step, the Ranger on Sanderson’s right reached over and took the man’s rifle.
Now one of the Rangers was packing two weapons, his own and Sanderson’s. The big redhead did better for a while. The platoon kept moving. But then his head began to sway again. This time the Ranger on the left reached over, removed Sanderson’s helmet, tucked it under his own arm, and continued to run. All systems go. Boots thudded along the trail.
Sanderson was hurting. He was buckling, going down. But, two soldiers behind him lifted the pack off his back, each taking a shoulder strap in his free hand. Sanderson gathered his strength, squared his shoulders. And the platoon continued on, all the way to the finish line.
They left together. They finished together.
Would you please stand with me?
The truth is, life gets heavy sometimes. The road stretches on and on. We give it a shot, stumble, find our rhythm once again, the load of responsibility bites into out shoulders, and the race wears us down. We feel our knees begin to buckle and we fear falling short of the finish line. We need friends to help us along, bear the load, and sharpen us when we become dull.
This is not the place or time to allow pride to step in. Coming forward is a sign of strength. As the worship band plays I ask you to come forward at this time and as they do let us open our hearts, and step a step out of our comfort zone.
Someone this morning is like Sanderson. You are going down unless you get help. Everybody needs help once in a while. Jesus wants to help you. In fact, when you can’t go another step, He will even carry you.
But you know Jesus can use you and me to help others as well. How are you helping make a positive difference in someone’s life? You can!
Where are you within the race of life? Do you have a battle buddy helping you along the way, keeping you sharp as iron or have you found yourself this morning feeling a bit dull.
Would you come this morning as the band plays, would you pray for the Christian friendship that you need? Do you need to get re-sharpened?
"Dear Lord, touch hearts today, open ears that we may hear, take our pride out the door today, I pray those that may feel a tug at their heart this morning can step forward and do the right thing.”
