KEEP THE AXE SHARP

October 15         KEEP THE AXE SHARP            2 Kings 6:1-7

***Please pray for the Driver Family, Briggerman family and for Joann Young***

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.” Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-7

 II Kings 6:1-7 tells the Story of the lost Axe head that was made to "Swim". Sadly today, some of us are trying to do God's work without the "Axe-head" and all we are doing is expending energy and time and bruising the trees!!! Our life has no meaning or purpose and we consider ourselves failures because we can't accomplish anything. So if God is to work THRU us, He must first work ON us, to give us something to work with. He then, must keep that Axe-head sharp, so it can accomplish its job. Let's see how He does this with us. Anytime you want to do something, you need something to work ON, and something to work WITH. So the first thing we need to understand is, WHAT IS GOD TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH??? God desires relationship with His people and He is trying to build that. But Sin stands in the way; therefore, there must be-Redemption!  God had to make a way to redeem man from the bondage of sin and death, so fellowship would be possible. He did that by sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place and pay the debt that we owe. But God knows it is not enough to simply, "buy us off the slave market"; we must now be-Renewed!  There are 2 main ways God uses to accomplish this. The first is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that guides us into the ways of God, thru the Word of God. Secondly, circumstances that God allows to come our way to conform us to the image of His son Jesus. So God can take an "Old Stick", fit only for the fire, and give it Purpose and Direction. Suddenly we find ourselves with Joy in this life and rewards in the life to come!  When we submit our lives to Him, He will equip us to serve!  Have you ever cut down trees with an axe?  The more that you use it, the duller the blade becomes, so we have to sharpen it, to renew its edge.  Sad to say though, as we work, the axe does become dull and the Joy can turn into a real Job!   Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct!” SO, HOW CAN WE KEEP THE AXE SHARP?? We have to avoid things that would dull the axe! II Corinthians 6:17 tells us, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…!”  This may require Changing Friends. Don't let the Axe sit idle and get "rusty!" We must be a Witness of what God has done for us, Tithe our income to God's work,
Maintain contact with God through Prayer, Understand God's way of Sharpening us: CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS!   Proverbs 27:17 tells us that, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”  You need the Fellowship of other believers and we need to lift one another up to God.  I have witnessed, first hand, the need for Christian Fellowship and the Support of others, during this Pandemic.  Fellowship and personal interactions are being discouraged, and for a legitimate reason, however, we can still maintain contact, with other believers, through mail, emails, texts, phone calls!  Since March 15, there have been times where I thought that I was simply, "Beating my head against the wall" and just getting a headache for the effort!  Have you felt that way??  He has Promised VICTORY!  He has Promised SUCCESS!  When we stay focused on His Calling, His Purpose, His Mission, then we will Honor His Word and will be effective witnesses of His power, provision and purpose!  So, is your "axe" dull and your life ineffective??  Simply put; dedicate yourself to doing what is RIGHT, by becoming a WORKING part of CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.  Conviction, Confession, Repentance, Receiving, Submission, Obedience, Witness, Work…Sound Familiar?  Folks, this is real and we have a responsibility to use the TOOLS that GOD Provides to WORK for HIM, to SHARE the GOOD NEWS and to CLAIM HIS PROVISION!  Please; Don’t Let Your AXE Get DULL!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!