SACRED STORIES

“Getting Back Your Cutting Edge”
Pastor Gary Hoyt – July 23, 2023

2 Kings 6:1-7 — The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 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." Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied. And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" 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. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — If the axe is DULL and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength….

1. The first step to finding your cutting edge is to ADMIT you don’t have it.

2 Kings 6:5 — As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out…."

2. Your true motive is revealed when you ACKNOWLEDGE the TRUE OWNER of what is missing.

2 Kings 6:5 — As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"

3. If you want to get back on track, it helps to ASSESS WHERE you got off track.

2 Kings 6:6 — The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?"

4. God’s way of raising and restoring us is for us to APPLY our hand to His ANSWER.

2 Kings 6:6-7 — …When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.