Have you ever lost something of importance just to find out that you had it on you the entire time? I think we can all relate to running out of the house in a hurry to find that you have no idea where the keys to the vehicle is. As you run back inside and turn everything upside down looking for them, you kick yourself as you realize that they were actually in your hand.
I’ll never forget losing something of great worth to me. I was just 10 years old when I received the coolest Christmas present. I opened the wrapping to find that I had received an official Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen wrestling t-shirt. Yes, like many kids in the late 90’s I was a big wrestling fan and I was so excited about this gift. I knew when I went back to school that I wanted to wear this shirt the first day back. My stepmother was so kind to wash it, however, something horrible happened. I never got it back! She didn’t know where it went and neither did I. I tore the house apart looking for this shirt and guess what… I never found it and I was heartbroken!
I’ll never forget visiting my dad a few years ago. Here I am, 30 years old, with kids of my own and my dad says, “I think I found something of yours.” He comes out of his bedroom with a black t-shirt with Ric Flair and the Horsemen on it. I was stunned! I was shocked! I said, “Where did you find this?” and he replied, “It was in my dresser. I guess Bobbie thought it was mine. But I think she shrunk it.” My dad had no idea that this shirt had been missing for 20 years. It hadn’t shrunk, the shirt was a mint condition small, and I’m now a not so mint condition large.
A similar situation happens in the scripture. A young man loses something of great worth to him and it’s a journey for him to get it back.
2 Kings 6:1-7 (NKJV)
1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.
2 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.”
3 Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”
4 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.”
6 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.
7 Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
This young man was building a school for the prophets or as I like to say, a Bible College. Just like any broke college student he must borrow tools. In the process of doing the work of God the ax is broken and goes flying into the water to the young man’s horror. He has lost something of great importance!
It’s important two ways: 1) It belonged to someone else. 2) He needed the tool to finish his work for God.
Although the young man lost something of physical importance, I want to focus on the importance of our spiritual lives. This may come to a shock to you, but we are spirit beings. Often, we focus on our physical needs and neglect our spiritual. If we’re going to give our best for God, then we have to be balanced.
How’s your prayer life? Are you still witnessing and sharing the gospel? Are you living a life of separation from worldliness? Are you fellowshipping with the right people? Hopefully you haven’t allowed that job to make you a part-time Christian. Hopefully that relationship that you’re pursuing hasn’t caused you to cut corners with God. It’s easy to lose our focus and break our spiritual edge. Believe me, I get it! But, just as easy as it is to lose it, we can get it back. Notice two things from our scripture.
1. We must be honest about where we lost our edge
The man of God says, “where did it fall?” or in other words, “where did you lose it?” Remember my shirt? I lost it after it got washed, but what I failed to tell you was that I threw it in my dad’s clothes basket. No wonder it ended up in his dresser!
So, spiritually speaking, where or when did you start to lose your spiritual edge? We must be honest with ourselves because nothing is as important as being in the will of God. Maybe we must remove some obstacles from our lives in order to relocate what we’ve lost. That’s ok, because it’s important that you get your edge back!
2. God can help you take back what you didn’t mean to lose
You know what’s awesome about Jesus Christ? He’s in the restoration business! Our God specializes in helping us get back what we didn’t mean to lose. Notice, after the young man shows the prophet where he lost his edge, God goes to work. A stick sinks and the iron ax head floats! What a miracle! Why? Because God is involved. He wants to help you get back what you didn’t mean to lose.
But, here’s the key, notice what the prophet says as the ax head is floating, Elisha says, “pick it up for yourself.” You must take it back for yourself! God can give you the Holy Spirit to fire you up for His work, but you must put in the work to make it happen. God is partnering with you for His kingdom. He performs the miracles and we do the practical. Isn’t it cool that God wants to partner with you and me?
You may feel overwhelmed today. You may even feel defeated. But our God wants to restore you and get you back on the saddle. What’s causing you to feel the way you are? When did you begin to feel that way? Now that you’ve identified it I encourage you to give it to God. Now, take back His joy, and His vision for your life. God will strengthen you through the Holy Spirit to do a good work. I believe in you!
In Christ,
Hank
This blog post is taken from Pastor Hank’s sermon “Getting Your Edge Back”. You can view that message by clicking below.
Apostolic Insights 
Leave a comment