Promotion: Iron Sharpens Iron

PROMOTION: ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE? IRON SHARPENS IRON…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

I have a little, tiny hammer, I ask what kind of house could you build with this little, tiny hammer?

*EDIFY: construction, build up, kindness, to instruct, to teach, to improve, uplift, inspire, nurture.

*ENCOURAGE: to give confidence, continue, give support, to keep on keeping on, stimulate, to give hope, take heart, urge, cheer, to give comfort, strengthen, refuse to give up.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 (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. 12 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. 13 Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. 14 Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. 15 And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

YOU AFFECT OTHER PEOPLE. THERE IS POWER IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

THAT IS BETTER THAN THIS… HOW DO WE LEARN? BY WATCHING…MENTOR, MODEL, MOTIVATE.

There is a baby laying on its back in the crib. The baby watches as the hands and feet go by and it startles itself. Wow, what was that? Then the baby watches to see that is life is better than just laying around on its back.. As others move around, so the baby learns to turn over. The adults celebrate that feat. The baby is observant and sees something better. The baby starts crawling and the adults cheer the baby. That was better than just laying here. Then the baby crawls around and it watches people and sees something better than crawling. The baby sees adults are walking. That sure beats crawling. The baby tries walking and falls again and again. The adults are applauding and cheering each step. Then the baby stabilizes the steps and is walking. That walking is sure better than crawling. After walking for several weeks, the toddler sees someone running. Running is faster than walking… that is better than this. So the child can crawl, walk and run. Wow that is so good. WAIT, THE CHILD SEES SOMEONE ZOOM BY ON A BICYCLE. That is better than this running. After much practice that child balances the bike, that is good. As the child learns tricks on the bike. As the child gets so good on the bike, the adults applaud. One day a Mustang drives by the bike… WOW SAYS THE TEEN THAT IS BETTER THAN THIS. The teen learns how to drive a car… THAT IS BETTER THAN THIS…

WHAT IS THE ENEMY THAT HINDERS US FROM BEING OUR BEST? Laziness? No, GOOD… OFTEN ONCE WE GET GOOD AT SOMETHING WE QUIT TRYING TO DO BETTER?

DO WE STRIVE TO HELP OTHERS GROW? ARE YOU MAKING OTHERS BETTER? WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING? WHAT IS THE INFLUENCE THAT YOU PROJECT TO THINKING PATTERNS? ARE YOU GETTING BETTER?

Are you a good example of bad examples? Why not be a good example of a good example? Are you working on becoming more skillful and better? ARE WE BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SHARPNESS IN OURSELF AND IN OTHERS?

WE NEED SHARPENING AT REGULAR INTERVALS!

The lumber company was looking for a few good men. They had 2 candidates, a young man and an old man . They gave both men the same kind of chainsaw and a number of trees and gave them 8 hours to cut. The young man cut nonstop. The old man would cut and set down. Cut and set down. All day long the two were cutting trees. At the end of