A Deeper Revelation Concerning the

"Iron Sharpeneth Iron"

Proverb

The proverb is as follows:

"17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his

friend (Proverbs 27:17 KJV)."

A tree cutter's livelihood depends on the sharpness of his/her ax. Hence,

someone discovered friction while another person applied the concept to
keeping ax heads sharp. While the ax head stood still, the other object (made
of iron) moved against the ax head to create friction that made the ax head
sharp. The sharpening process started from using one's hands to rub iron
against the ax head to the process of creating a wheel of asphalt along with a
device that moves it very fast against the ax head. Here's a picture of such a
device:

http://www.axespecialists.com/product_images/uploaded_images/old-time-
axe-sharpening.jpg

Notice that the ax head remains in a stationary position while the wheel
creates friction and sharpens the ax head. In same way, God uses the
hardships of life to sharpen us. However, we must remain in a stationary
position so that spiritual friction can begin to sharpen us after a long day of
spiritual warfare.

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Let's discuss Apostle Paul's thorn in his flesh. Here's the reference:

"7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of
the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger
of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure . 8 For this
thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak , then am I strong (2
Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV)."

Apostle Paul asked God 3 times to take away the thorn. God said "no" 3
times. Why? God wanted to use that thorn to sharpen Apostle Paul.
However, Apostle Paul had to remain in a stationary position so that friction
can take place. In Apostle Paul's case, God used his thorn to keep him
humble, but don't limit thorns to humility only. God has a lot of different
fruit on his tree that He wants to grow in our lives. In your case, God may
want you to walk in a deeper form of love. It depends on the level of growth
of your fruit that's outlined in the following verse:

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law
(Galatians 5: 22,23 KJV)."

Which of the preceding fruit is not growing very well in your life? That's the
fruit that needs extra "soil nutrients." God has the answer for you. What is it?
Your thorn is the answer. All you have to do is to remain in stillness in order
for the friction between you and your thorn to make you perfect during times
of weakness. The moment you begin to move around is when you're no
longer dealing with your thorn. Instead, your untimed movement brought
about sin that provides no friction. You have to remain in stillness. God will
let you know when to begin moving again in the realm of the spirit.

Don't confuse movement in the natural realm with movement in the spiritual
realm. You can physically move around in the natural realm while remaining
in stillness in the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm is much more goal-
oriented than the natural realm. Stillness in the spiritual realm means to stop

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trying to reach a certain goal until you have heard from God that you are on
the right path.

Friction is an excellent time to be still because such a process may look as if

you're off the path. That's why Apostle Paul asked 3 times for the thorn to be
removed. He thought he was off the path of divine health due to his eye
sickness (Galatians 4:15). If you're in stillness, God will give you more
information about the nature of your hardship.

I hope that after reading this sermon you will never again take for granted
the following verse:

"10 BE STILL, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10 KJV)."

Remember that stillness produces the necessary friction required for the iron
of hardship (not sin) to sharpen the iron in your life.

The main point of this sermon is to apply the "iron sharpeneth iron" concept
to the following passage of scripture that has left scholars baffled for
centuries:

19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the
mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because
they had chariots of IRON. 21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive
out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with
the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day (Judges 1: 19,21
KJV)."

The reason why the preceding passage (verse 19 in particular) has left
scholars without an explanation is because chariots of iron didn't prevent
God's army in the past. Pharaoh's army had plenty of chariots or iron.
Joshua's enemies had plenty of chariots of iron. Why didn't Judah experience
the same victory as Joshua and Moses? Scholars don't know the answer. I
believe that God gave me the answer. God wanted to use the inhabitants as a
thorn in His people's flesh. God's intent was to sharpen His people.
However, the Jews' constant movement produced no friction. Hence, what
began as a thorn became a field of briars to the Jews.
You may be thinking about what would have happened if God empowered
Judah to drive out the inhabitants. It may seem that the Jews would have

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lived a prosperous life until this day with no battles with the Arabs. Before
you put on your "pie in the sky" hat, please remember that David's army
drove out the inhabitants. Did the Jews live a prosperous life afterwards?
No. The books of kings and Chronicles consist of the same highs and lows
as the book of Judges.

Don't allow your thorn to become a field of briars. Remain in stillness so

that the friction between you and your thorn can produce the necessary
sharpness so that you become strong in the midst of weakness. You become
rich in the midst of poverty. You become healed in the midst of sickness.

What does it means to be healed in the midst of sickness? Let's use Paul's
sickness as an example. According to the report of Doctors, Paul had an eye
disease that affected his sight. However, as Paul was ministering from place
to place, the limitation didn't prevent Paul from being obedient to God's
heavenly vision. It was as if Paul didn't have an eye disease. That's the
meaning of being healed in the midst of sickness. We would not have known
that Paul had an eye disease if he didn't mention it in his letter to the
Galatians. If you're sick and acting like you're not sick by accomplishing so
many God-inspired things, then that's what it means to be healed in the midst
of sickness.

In conclusion, don't spent lots of time trying to get rid of something that God
intends for it to be your thorn. You can't convince Him to move it. God
already knows the potential benefit of allowing that thorn to remain in place.
Instead, spend that time to operate in stillness so that friction between your
stationary position and your moveable thorn can produce the sharpest edge
in your entire life. Remember that it was God's gentleness (fruit of the spirit)
that made King David great in the midst of his weaknesses.