Iron Sharpens Iron
“If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.”
Ecclesiastes 10:10 NKJV
Powering through is usually my default. I think we all do that. When things get tough we lower our shoulders and push harder trying to overcome under our own strength. We don't want to bother others with our problems or trials and we don't want to just get real with God and diligently pray for His help either. We just keep swinging a dull axe hoping our own strength will power us through.
If we would take the time to sharpen the axe:
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
And if Wisdom brings success:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV
Then why don't we:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:13-16 NKJV
Seems too easy I guess or maybe the process seems to take too long.
Salvation is for the individual and God alone, but life as a Christian is a team effort. Yes, we all have to run our own race but:
“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 NKJV
We all need help getting across the finish line. Encouraging one another by sharing our testimony. Especially if it's an outcome of a prayer you've been asking for. That alone will remind us of the power prayer has and that God hears us when we pray.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
Ask for prayer. You don't have to go into detail but ask for help praying for whatever it is:
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Matthew 18:20 NKJV
And the sharpest tool of all, use the Word of God:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
As believers in Christ there are times when we have to stand shoulder to shoulder as an army fighting against darkness. There are times when we dance and sing before the Lord and there are times when we have to work together, even busting up a roof as we earnestly seek an answer to prayer for each other.
“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”
Mark 2:4 NKJV
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
We continue to pray in Jesus Name-Amen
-Pastor Doug
