You Need A Pusher

“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.