Getting back your spiritual Edge

Well it happened. You made through another thanksgiving. You gained 7 lbs and made fun of crazy uncle Joe whose shirt doesn’t quiet cover his belly and he always falls asleep where everyone tries to sit and talk. But he snores. But its over now and we are getting ready for the next holiday. More importantly, I believe we are stepping into something here at LWF that is greater than anything you have seen or been a part of before.

We have been looking at the life a guy by the name of Elisha. We talked at the beginning about burning the plow and killing the cow. Because Elisha gave it all. He didn’t hold anything back. He could have kept the cows. He could have given them away or sold them. But he said, I will not be back to this. Then the second week I talked about giving greater. Leaving a legacy. How when Elisha killed the cow and burned the plow he gave to everyone with him and they all ate. He lived a life Greater. Then last week I talked about when you’re in the waiting period between calling and commissioning. It isn’t passively waiting but actively serving. But what is the biggest problem.

So much of greatness and why people don’t achieve it is because people don’t know how to define it. This is what we are talking about today. Then when we get to the point in which can understand it we begin to lose our spiritual edge to live it.

2 Kings 2:19–22 NKJV

Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

​ NKJVThen the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

There are so many people that have been asking me what is greater. I think in these passages will help us to define greater. Have you ever noticed that you can win at one thing and because you win you also loose at something else. You know what I am saying? Let me help you. Marriage is one of those things. I have been married for 14 years now. There have been some arguments in that time. It is a clash moment in which, I am right about something and my wife thinks she is right about something and those two opinions oppose each other. Now in these moments sometimes a decision has to be made.

You can win something and lose something much more important.

So your business is blowing up. You are making money but your family never see you. Your bank account is full but you got rid of your integrity. That boy loves you. But you had to loose something for that to happen. A greater life is defined as winning at what matters most. What matters most is making a difference.

God does not want to give you a better life, he wants to give you a greater life.

We are going to study a brief section of Elisha’s life. It is his first public miracle. This is the what sets the stage. 3 things that we can learn from the life of Elisha as to what matters most.

2 Kings 2:19 NKJV

Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

​ NKJVThen the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

So let me give you a bit of history here. This city in which Elisha just walked into was Jericho. You may or may not remember this city. This city had been warned and warned of its disobedience to God. It had been told that judgment was coming and that it needed to change. The people didn’t. Joshua is told that he is to destroy the city. A city with walls so big and thick that they would have chariot races on it. He is told that he would bring down those walls without tanks or ramparts. He just needed to walk around the city walls and watch them fall. So they begin to do this. Then guess what? The city falls. They destroy the city. This was an incredible moment. Then Joshua gives this command, after they destroy the city.

Joshua 6:26–27 NKJV

Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, “Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.” So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.

Joshua 6:

Joshua says that if this city is rebuilt, it will be cursed. It was never supposed to be rebuilt. By anyone. But for some reason the people of Israel decided to build it anyway. then things got bad. They were cursed. Look at what they said. Our city is in a good position. we are the same here at LWF. We are in a great position. I mean the entire city was at the center of things going on. But for some reason, things weren’t going well. The water was awful and causing people to get sick. So Elisha comes into this city in which it was supposed to be built and they begin complaining about the situation they are in. How many people do you know like that? You tell them don’t do this or do that and instead of listening they find themselves in the exact situation they didn’t wish to be in. Hello parents can I get an Amen. These people were in a place because they decided to disobey. They were the ones who created the problem. Elisha didn’t have to fix this thing. He didn’t have to help them. I mean after all, it was their fault. But here is the first thing about living a life of greater.

Joshua says that if this city is rebuilt, it will be cursed. They were cursed.

Joshua says that if this city is rebuilt, it will be cursed. They were cursed.

The life of greater always starts with Grace.

The life of greater always starts with Grace.

The life of greater always starts with Grace.

Your life of greater started with grace towards you. You cannot have a life of greater until you realize that the one who created you is calling you to a life of greater and He alone knows the way. His son is the sign of the grace given. He gave you grace in all of your problems and sins. He didn’t leave you there and say now you deal with it. You caused it so you can fix it. No that isn’t what He did with your life. But what do we do. We push people out and say deal. We don’t show them the grace so quickly given to us. In fact we tend to push people out. We don’t give to people because they made choices to get themselves there. We shy away from people that we don't like or have hurt us. We hide from groups because we feel like they bring the disaster upon themselves. But what if we should do something different. What if we are to do like Jesus did. Or what if we are to do like Elisha. Elisha didn’t run away from the epople as soon as they came to him with an I told you so. Or a you knew better. Here is the truth on grace.

Grace runs towards the mess not away from it.

The first public miracle was done to people who didn’t deserve.

2 Kings 2:20–22 NKJV

And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

The greater life requires you put actions behind your grace.

Generosity is that action.

I am not talking money. Get money out of your mind right now. If you are thinking about money when I said generosity, then you might be the one with the issue with money. I am not talking about that. I am just talking about your life general. Are you generous with time, with love, with grace. Jesus said it this way.

Matthew 10:5–8 NKJV

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

What had they freely recieved and what was he telling them to give?

The last thing we see is this about Elisha and his life of greater?

​ NKJVThen he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

2 Kings 2:21–22 NKJV

Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

The greater life still made a difference.

The greater life is a life that outlives itself.

Well pastor I hear about all that you are saying. I get the life of greater. but I am just not feeling this right now. I am just stuck it seems. It would appear that I have lost my spiritual edge and I am not making the strides I need to make. Well that is another story in Elisha’s life that I want you to see.

2 Kings 6:1–7 NKJV

And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. 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.” Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 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.” 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. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

2 Kings 6:1-

First things we notice in this story is this.

God cares about the little things of your life.

God cares about the little things of your life.

The next thing from Elisha who is the resemblance of God is this. He takes this stick and throws it in the water. Who would have thought about that.

God knows how to help you find what you did not mean to lose.

I mean the man comes running and says I lost the ax head and its worse because it was borrowed.

Elisha didn’t tell him well tough luck. As we said he helped him. This is God right here. YOu come to him with your issues. You come to him with what you lost. God is to restorer.

The message of Jesus is not rejection but restoration.

What happened to cause you to lose your spiritual edge?

Write it and leave it at the cross.

Have you become a full time _________________ and become a part time follower of Christ.

Be honest about where you lost it.

With God’s help, take back what you lost.

Communion you have lost communion

Candles prayers of intercession

Altar write out your hindrance

Prayer confess some things and ask for prayers.