Restoring Your Cutting Edge
August 14, 2005 2Kings 6:1-7
Summarize series:
Drifting - A Candid Look at Spiritual Entropy
We must pay more careful attention, therefore,
to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Heb 2:1
1. We live in a world that resists the Christian life in its very nature.
2. We have an enemy.
3. We must be vigilant.
Six Warning Signs of Drifting
1. Loss of focus. (off Lord vs. on world)
2. Loss of priorities. (love God vs. love self)
3. Loss of passion. (No longer for God and Word)
4. Loss of discipline. (lazy and allow compromise) (can’t just roll out of bed
and run a race)
5. Loss of Loss of commitment. (to God and church attendance)
6. Loss of tenderness (no longer respond to clear teaching of God’s Word)
Anatomy of a Drifter – Lot Genesis 13:1-13
A Drifter is…
1. Weak in his devotions. (13:5)
A. With no altar you will choose the path of lustful reasoning, least resistance, loose restriction.
2. Worldly in his desires. (13:10)
A. Lot had a desire for profit, pleasure, position
3. Wrong in his decisions (13:11)
standards, seed, spouse, sway is gone.
Anatomy of a Drifter – Peter Mark 14:26-72
The steps in drifting away from Christ…
1. Self-confidence (v. 29); 2. Asleep at the hour of prayer (v. 37); 3. An act of service without divine guidance (v. 47) 4. Following afar off (v. 54)
5. Warming himself at the enemies fire (v. 67) 6. Open denial (v. 71)
The steps back to Christ… 1. A rooster crowed (v. 72) 2. Jesus turned and looked on him (Luke 22:61) 3. The Lord restores Peter (John 21:1-19)
Now we understand this dynamic of drifting… - Now, how get back that cutting edge?
• God’s called us to be on the cutting edge – piercing darkness with light!
• Dressed in spiritual armor – wielding the weapons of our warfare with skill and precision.
• Performing at this level can take its toll – but must remain diligent – so can continue to be effectively used by Him.
At the Rock we’ve likened our ministry to a quarry where we are mining living stones…
1PE 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
• At times hard but rewarding… …a real “find”
• At times dangerous…
ECC 10:9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
• Workers injured…
• Some still working with wounds - others injured - gone to safer places…
Analogy we understand around here…
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
• We understand that analogy… - widow-makers, loggers killed…
They take a spiritual toll…
• May begin to withdraw – protect ourselves – afraid to chip off that next chunk of rock… uncertain whether it will hurt us…
• Stop relying on God for success and begin to trust in our own skill…
ECC 10:10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
• How many know though that a sharp ax works better?
• It takes discipline and effort to keep our cutting edge sharp – spiritually
Last several weeks – “drifting” – for many it’s not just a matter of keeping sharp – for some we find that – that cutting edge we used to have is missing altogether…
Our Biblical example this morning is of a young Bible School student who lost his cutting edge – and the steps he took to restore that cutting edge he once had…
2KI 6:1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live."
And he said, "Go."
3 Then one of them said, "Won’t you please come with your servants?"
"I will," Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.
5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
2KI 6:6 The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
Background: Elisha not Elijah (asked for double portion) - Outgrew their campus – build a new one – kingdom increase – good
But for one young seminarian – lost effectiveness to be useful in that work.
• Speaks of powerless Christian life.. – results of drifting… - great tragedy!
• Supernatural power/presence of God in believers life – is what distinguishes us from all the other people on the face of the earth Ex. 33
EX 33:15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
• Must have for soul-winning, trials, ministry
• If lost – must get it back – but how?
Our text this morning illustrates how to recover your lost spiritual power.
How to restore your cutting edge…
1. You Must Admit You Have Lost It!
As is true of anything we’ve lost… or anything diminished in our lives… - must be willing to face up to the truth – that we’ve allowed some things to slip, we’ve been careless - and now as result – we are lacking…
5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
• The axe head was important, the work would suffer without it!
• Something is different… it’s missing… - “KER-Splunk!”
• Recovery always begins with - Self examination! (Personal spiritual self-analysis)
ILLUS: Fervency lost after military and marriage… (had to admit – lacking!)
• We are willing to try anything rather than admit a spiritual lack!!!
• We are apt to lose anything we become careless about!!!
Paul - 1CO 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
2CO 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
So examine – lacking? – 1st step toward restoring cutting edge – admit you’ve lost it.
2. You Must Admit That It Is Borrowed!
…he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
“it’s not mine! – on loan!” -precious commodity – powerless to replace
It’s a great mistake to think we are equal to the task…
1 Cor. 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
The power of God to live on the cutting edge of the Christian life is not our own – it is on loan from God – we are stewards – musn’t lose by careless
• His power is gift from Him
2PE 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
• Whose power? – His; who given to? – us; what is it good for? – everything…
• Where power reside? – “knowledge of Him” – Word of God
• It’s not our own – it’s His – given to us to empower for Kingdom expansion!
If no taping into His power by Word of God – handle swingers only
3. You Must Return To Where You Lost It
2KI 6:6 The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?"
1.) The best place to look for anything is where you lost it!
ILLUS: doing this a lot lately… sometimes work myself into a tizzy – just lie down – close eyes – clear mind – remember – usually works
• Where did you lose it?
• Anger / jealousy / unforgiveness / stubbornness / attendance / tithing / praying / reading Word?
• We may be willing to admit failure, but we don’t want to be specific!!!
ILLUS: continue with story of noticing something missing – where was last place remember swinging ax with power of God? – when did I recognize it’s loss? – go back and evaluate what was different – what is now lacking.
Lost cutting edge? – Spirit of God is asking – where did it fall?
• Ask for His help …
4. You Must Trust God’s Power For Its Recovery
When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
God is more concerned about restoring His power in you – than you know
ILLUS: God himself made known to me – where lost cutting edge…
May seem impossible to you – maybe tried to recover on own…
• (Water thrashers) (Jordan = muddy) (ripples float away) lose bearings
• What we need is Divine help
• He alone can cause hidden things – long submerged – to surface – so that you can take action…
5. You Must Act On Your Knowledge - FAITH REQUIRE WORKS!!!
7 "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
• Could have made it fly right out and land on his stick – but didn’t.
• Why? - for same reason he could have just chopped the forest Himself
• He wants us to co-labor with Him in the process!
• You must put forth your faith and take it – be part of process
• Don’t just stand around and been amazed! (We do!)
No – take hold of - attach it firmly and resume the work carefully!
ILLUS: I had to change my thinking – take thoughts captive - obedience
heads bowed – eyes closed –
JDG 16:20 Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!"
He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I’ll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.
Sampson – didn’t know – result of an unexamined life – sensitivity dulled – by a careless and self-centered life – found out too late that had lost the power – His cutting edge – lost everything as result – lost eyes, lost love, lost influence, credibility lost – life lost
Spirit of God – authority of His Word – Have you lost your cutting edge?
• Quickly admit that it’s lost /
• Go back ..
• Spirit of God making known – on authority of Word…
• Reach out and take hold of.. – make it right –
o Forgive, restitution, obey / faith, renewed devotion…
God has called us to be on the cutting of edge of Kingdom increase
Let’s make sure have sharp edge…
Restoring Your Cutting Edge
August 21, 2005 2 Kings 6:1-7
If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength
is needed but skill will bring success. Eccl. 10:10
Steps to getting your cutting edge back…
1. You must admit you have ___________ it.
2 Kings 6:5a; 1Cor. 11:28; 13:5
2. You must admit that it is __________________.
2 Kings 6:5b; 1 Cor. 4:7; 2 Peter 1:3
3. You must ___________________ to where you lost it.
2 Kings 6:6a
4. You must trust God’s ____________ _ for its recovery.
2 Kings 6:6b
5. You must act on your ________________________.
2 Kings 6:7; Judges 16:20
