If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge,
then he must exert more strength.
Ecclesiastes 10:10
Are you tired?
Are you weary?
Are you worn?
Don’t forget precious one that faith is not supposed to be work…
For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works,
so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
If you are worn out from swinging the ax then its because your blade is dull.
You need to stop.
You need to sharpen the edge.
“For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
of both joints and marrow,
and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
(Hebrews 4:12)
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“Iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17)
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“Though youths grow weary and tired,
and vigorous young men stumble badly,
yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
they will mount up with wings like eagles,
they will run and not get tired,
they will walk and not become weary.”
(Isaiah 40:30-31)
If you are tired and if you weary and if you are worn then it is time to stop and to exert your remaining strength in sharpening the edge of your axe. It’s time to put your nose, precious one, to the grindstone…
“Putting your nose to the grindstone” implies tedious, repetitious, and unending work. You will find that sharpening a dull or abused ax is indeed tedious and repetitious, but to do it right you have to do it slowly. Along the way, you’ll learn the value of patience, and appreciate the differences in steel tempering and ax quality as you sharpen different axes. Best of all, you will appreciate the usefulness of a razor-sharp ax, and the importance of doing everything you can to keep it sharp.
(US Dept of Transportation Forest Service)
To sharpen a blade you need a stone…
For this is contained in Scripture:
“ BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE,
A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
1 Peter 2:6
and you need a lubricate…
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know…
As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you,
and you have no need for anyone to teach you;
but as His anointing teaches you about all things,
and is true and is not a lie,
and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
Now, little children, abide in Him,
so that when He appears, we may have confidence
and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
1 John 2:20, 27-28
If your axe is dull and worn then most likely it is damaged and rusted from your own personal exertion and overuse and misuse. It takes more work to cut down a tree with a dull axe than one that is sharp. You will exert much strength and you will blister your hands and throw out your shoulders and wear out your arms and your back will be in pain and your knees will become weak and even your every breathe will become a labor too hard to bare…
The Word of God tells us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13)… precious one sometimes it takes the most strength to stop swinging the dull axe and just lay the burden of it down.
Stop swinging the axe… let go of the axe… be still.
Precious one that axe is too heavy, it is too worn, it needs to be restored. And yes, the restoration process takes time and it must be done with care. Have you been facing the same trial over and over again? Have you been swinging that axe relentlessly trying to bring down that same old tree? Have you been facing it alone? God never intended you to face it alone…
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;
and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all,
as anyone might have need.
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30
Precious one, do you have an axe to grind?
Maybe it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone…
Maybe it’s time to open up the Word of God and put your face down in that Living Water and let the Rock of your salvation rub all the rust of life off your weary heart… maybe it’s time to let the Holy Spirit soak you in the Oil of His gladness and let it run over over your head seeping into your thoughts, renewing your mind, restoring your soul.
Maybe it’s time to get that axe sharp and remember how much easier it is to keep it sharp, rather than to ignore the sharpening until it gets too hard to swing.
Let 2013 be your year of restoration.
Proven Path Ministries