Hi Everyone,

We are living in an increasingly stressful world and stressful environment. All indications point to a time of greater stress instead of lesser stress. Stress has a way of weakening us, not only bodily, but also spiritually. It has a way of weakening our effectiveness and also our personal vitality – losing our cutting edge or momentum

The story of Elisha restoring the lost axe head in 2 Kings 6:1-7 holds a powerful message on restoring our cutting edge.

Five Ways God Can Restore Your “Cutting Edge”

1. Recognize God is Present With You

The prophets came to the prophet Elisha, their leader, with a proposal. “Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “Alright,” he told them, “Go ahead.” Elisha confirms that the work is of God. When you receive confirmation that you’re in the right place at the right time, you have a strong foundation. Jesus promises to always be with us. Something powerful happens when we welcome and recognize the presence of His Holy Spirit.

2. Turn to God in a Time of Need

“When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his axe head fell into the river.” At that moment of loss, he knew instinctively where to turn — the prophet Elisha. “Oh, Sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed axe!” (2 Kings 6:4-5) The Lord wants you to know there is power in your prayers — even your simple cries for help! And He hears you.

3. Receive God’s Grace and Watch Him Move on your Behalf.

Elisha doesn’t criticize or blame him or question what went wrong. We don’t know why the man lost the axe head. It could have been carelessness, or an accident or simply hard at work and in his weariness, lost his grip? None of it mattered to Elisha. He only asked, “Where did it fall?” (2 Kings 6:6) Can you identify with losing your momentum or cutting edge? Now is the time to lean on God, and to rely on His strength. God does not require your analysis. He is offering His grace and mercy to you. You only need to acknowledge it and watch Him work.

4. Lean On Jesus’ Finished Work.

Having identified the spot, Elisha does something unusual—yet extremely symbolic. He cut a stick and threw it into the water and the axe head floated to the surface. (2 Kings 6:6b) The Hebrew word “stick” is mostly translated as “tree” throughout the Bible (Strong’s H6806).As the “stick” goes in, the axe head rises—until it floats upon the surface.

In Exodos 15, God shows Moses a tree (same Hebrew word) and when he casts it into the bitter water, it became sweet! The tree represents the cross of Christ.

God’s abundant grace is available in Jesus for you! The power of the blood of Christ is the solution for your specific need—the one you have right now.

5. Respond to God in Faith.

Elisha is the agent for the miracle, but the man must still pick it up. “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. (2 Kings 6:7) The Lord says to many of us, “Pick up that gift. I am restoring you and equipping you with a fresh anointing.” You are Equipped and Anointed to Build. Sometimes, a disrupting event happens in our lives or the ministry. You may be in a new space and need to begin again. Or someone we relied on, leaves us or moves on. The situation changes. Loss may knock you for a while. But God is giving you a new strength—greater than your past strength!

The Lord is saying to you as you ready this article,

“I am anointing you to build you again. And though you may feel weak, I have made springs of resilience available to you by My Spirit. In your dependence upon Me, there is the abundance of power!”

Your Pastors,

Pastor Ong & Pastor Nancy.