Four Steps To Renewing Lost Spiritual Vitality Thomas Schetelich There is a curious account recorded in II Kings Chapter 6 that illustrates a key to success in a Christian’s life: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Vitality — or in the better words of Scripture, being transformed by the renewing of your mind.There was a group of young men who studied under Prophet Elisha, who were called the Sons of the Prophet. They needed to build new living quarters, and had gone out to cut down trees at the Jordan River. As one works, the iron ax head flies off the handle, lands in the river, and sinks to the bottom.This is not good. It is the 9th Century BC and you cannot run down to Home Depot and buy another.An iron ax head is a rare and valuable tool, and now it is sunk to the bottom of a muddy river. To make matters worse, the ax head was borrowed. “Alas” cries the young man.Elisha asks where it fell, tells him to point out the spot, and then threw a stick into the water at the place. The ax head floated to the top, the man reached out to get it, and the day was saved.It’s a nice story with a feel good ending – but more importantly, it teaches us about Christian renewal in business and in ministry.The Christian life is one of renewal. There are times when you feel weary and discouraged in your soul; and when your efforts in business or ministry seem ineffective. But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Renewal should be daily thing, for the inward man is renewed day by day. This floating ax head illustrates that concept.Consider the ax handle to be your business or ministry. It is a tool that you put your hands on daily. I am an attorney, and put my hands on the tools of the law. You may use the tools of education or administration or finance or technology, or one of many others. When the Lord asked Moses at the Burning Bush – what is that in your hand? Moses answered a rod – the tool of his profession as a shepherd.The ax handle is your business or ministry; and the ax head illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the ax handle is not to cut the tree – the purpose of the ax handle is to deliver the power of the head. So it is with my business or ministry – its purpose is to deliver the power of the Spirit of God to a particular cause.The picture further develops when we remember that the ax head was borrowed. The ax head did not belong to that young man. He had free use of it; but it was not his. As a Christian in business and ministry, the power that makes a difference is not ours but the Spirit’s. We borrow it daily.As Christians, we are like those men at the Jordan, each one with an ax, working together to build a testimony to Jesus Christ. Some have greater strength or skill or work ethic than others, but everything that is ultimately effective is done by the power in the ax head. If you are swinging an ax handle without the head, the only thing that you make is noise.There are times when, in the imagery of our story, the ax head can come off the handle. A Christian cannot lose the Spirit of God who seals us unto salvation; but you can certainly lose the power and vitality of the Holy Spirit. This young man had an ax handle empty of a head – a Christian life without power, without excitement, and without joy.Notice that he did not lose it through sin or neglect or inactivity. He lost it while he was very busy at work. It is not uncommon for a Christian to become so busy in business or ministry that he or she can lose the power of the Spirit. Many Christians mistake activity for effectiveness. Today, is your ax head firmly attached to the handle in your hands?When this man found himself with an empty ax handle, the first thing he did was recognize the problem. He cried out ‘Alas.’ He did not try to put on a good show. He knew it was gone and said so.Second, he told the man of God. He does not give up and lament his loss. He honestly tells Elisha; and we tell Jesus Christ. As David said to the Lord: Restore unto me the joy of your salvation.Third, notice Elisha’s question: Where did it fall? If you lost your car keys, the logical question is Where did you see them last? That’s a good question to ask if you have lost something spiritual. Where did it fall? Maybe you lost that spiritual joy when you had to make a hard decision; or when another Christian really let you down; or when there was a crisis in your life; or even because of sin. Tell the Lord, and then point out to Him the place. Go through the exercise of understanding where and why the ax head came off the handle, and commit that event to the Lord.Finally, Elisha tells this man to reach out and take the ax head. The Lord will raise the iron to the top, but you have to pick it up yourself, to embrace forgiveness and renewal as you welcome the dawn of each new day. And may the Lord bless our work for Him.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 14:58:39 +0000
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