Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Greetings from Grace World
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.
If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these request on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
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2 Kings 6:1-7 ESV
But the young man replied, “I don’t have time to sharpen my ax, can't you see I’m busy cutting down this tree.”
2 Kings tells the story of a young prophet, trying to build God’s house, but had lost his edge
The Effectiveness of your life is contingent on the Edge on your life!
3 Missteps The Young Prophets Made And 3 Steps To Restore Your Cutting Edge
1) INTERNAL GROWTH WAS CONTINGENT ON EXTERNAL FORCES
1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.
My GROWTH doesn’t have to be the consequence of my environment; my environment can become a consequence of my GROWTH!
Take responsibility! It's your decision, it's your determination, it's your duty
2) THERE WAS A WAY UP THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE FIRST GOING DOWN
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.”
In God’s Kingdom there is no ASCENDING unless there has first been a DESCENDING
God looks for the humble and the meek
3 "Please consent to go with your servants"
For the Believer there are two options; be HUMBLE or be HUMILIATED
3) THOUGHT THEY COULD BORROW WHAT CAN ONLY BE BOUGHT
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.”"
Why do we borrow something?
- Because we don't have it
- Because we are unwilling or unable to pay for it at the time
Somethings can not be borrowed!
Ps 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”
Steps To Restoring Your Edge
1)RETURN TO PLACE YOU LOST IT!
v 6 So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place.
2) ALLOW CHRIST TO REVIVE WHAT WAS LOST
v 6 So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.
In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. (Jeremiah 33:15 NKJV)
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1-2 NKJV)
The branch didn't become like the iron, the iron became like the branch - This is the Gospel… This is the power of the resurrection!!! Want to restore the edge upon your life… you must become like the BRANCH!!!
3) RECEIVE WHAT WAS LOST
7 Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
What came out of the water was not like what went into the water
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.