Iron Sharpens Iron

A dear friend of mine from California and fellow soldier in the Lord wrote this blog on this one verse...

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

It really made me think and so I meditated on it for a while. He wrote a great blog, and this one is not a comment or critique of his. It just really made me think. The following is what the Holy Spirit revealed to my heart.

Back in ancient days, a black smith would work iron ore into useful tools. He would take raw iron, and heat it up in a furnace to mold it into a spongy mass of iron. The furnace was not strong enough to melt the iron, just enough to make it plyable, even when using bellows (an instrument that forced air into the furnace to increase the heat).

Once the iron was removed from the furnace, it had to be pounded into wrought iron and have the slag and air bubbles beat out of it with a hammer. Then after the piece was beaten into a shape against an anvil by the smith, it was sharpened into a useful tool as an axe or knife.


Application

When we as men come from the ground as a lump of useless blob, we are then heated up by the fire of the Holy Spirit, and then molded and shaped by the maker or craftsman for His use. The combined heat and beatings work out the slag (sin) out of our lives, and then heated up by the fire of the Holy Spirit and beaten against the anvil (Word of God) until we are molded into the piece we are to be made (axe or knife). The anvil is never effected by the beatings and always retains it's shape. Thus the Word of God is not effected by us at all. Same with the fire of the Holy Spirit. It is not effected by the piece being molded. The only thing being effected is the piece of iron being molded.

God molds us through the fire of the Holy Spirit and the beatings of the Maker against the Word of God. Then we are made in the image of the tool we are supposed to be. An axe or letter opener. An axe is designed to cut trees down so it is blunt and heavy. A letter opener is used to make precision cuts to open up mail, so it will be small and light. You wouldn't use an axe to open up mail, and thus you wouldn't use a letter opener to cut down trees. Each tool is made with a purpose in mind. They are going to look different, feel different, and weigh different. (Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:21)

The next step is to then sharpen the piece to make it even more useful, and to help make it cut even better. They are sharpened together, or by a wetstone. Small pieces heat up and are blasted accross the room and removed, and then chiped away to give the tool a nice sharp edge.
So are we to be sharpened by one another, to help us be even more useful for the master. How much easier would it be for a sharp axe to cut a tree down. Much easier than a dull one. It takes less work when the tool is sharp. We need each other to sharpen our own usefullness, and help us sharpen our gifts to help us become the best tools for the Masters work. It's painful at times, and we feel like we've been made into sparks, and pieces of us ignite, and thrown accross the room. It hurts to be shapen, but it's profitable in the end. To help each other, and when we each do according to the gifts we are given, we work together in harmony with other tools to achieve a common goal.

But...axes and knives that became dull, unable to be sharpened again, or unable to be shaped were cast back into the fire and recast, to be combined with other pieces that became useless. So are we as tools of God, when we become useless are cast into the fires to be consumed. (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43)

Thus, as iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

If I am wrong about this, please let me know. I'm quite confident...but human just the same.

What God Cannot Do...

Fail –

• In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. - Ephesians 1:11
• Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind. O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure, Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. – Isaiah 46:8-11.

Do Evil (Lie) - in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, - Titus 1:2

Be Tempted - Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. - James 1:13-14

Deny Himself - If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. - 2 Timothy 2:13

Be Unjust –

• to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. - Romans 3:26
• Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 4:17; Isaiah 45:21; Zep 3:5; John 5:30; Rev 15:3.

Contradict His Word –

• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
• for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. – 2 Peter 1:21

Make Mistakes – What He purposes, He does.

Forgive Sins without the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ –

• And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission (of sin). – Hebrews 9:22
• For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for your soul. – Leviticus 17:11
• [Jesus said] For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. – Matthew 26:28
• When Jesus was praying to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane He said, “Oh my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. - Matthew 26:39 (Since the Father did not save Him, it was the Fathers will that Jesus would go to the cross. If there was any other way possible, the Father would have done it, and saved His only Son).
• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” - John 14:6
• Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12
• For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time, - 1 Timothy 2:5-6
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. – John 3:16

No Difference Between Bailing Out Porn and Auto Industries???

This blog was a letter that I responded to someone who made a comment on this blog and thought there was no difference when it came to bailing out the porn industry and the auto industry. I thought it would be beneficial to enter it.

In response to your questions I can respond different ways. To just get this out of the way…theologically…porn, in and of itself is sin. It comes from the Greek word “pornea” which means fornication. Jesus said if you look with lust at someone you committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28). Cars in and of itself is not sin. The purpose of a car is to get you from one place to another to carry you or your stuff faster than a horse.

Second…porn contributes to the moral decline of the world. Since pornography entered the world, the moral decline has never been so great then now. There has been an increase of rape, sexual violence, child molesting, abortion, and divorce each year. I have talked with men…fathers, who have actually lusted after their own daughters because of their addiction to pornography. But what do you see on TV, news, and video stores? I’m not just talking about porn in magazine or video either. What about HBO, Showtime, have dipped into pornography in shows like Real Sex, with each episode pushing the limits of the last. Every porn has someone’s daughter in it. Somewhere down the line there is a mother and father who raised the girl or boy. They went to school, played sports, and opened presents at birthday parties. Think the government is not influenced by the porn industry? Did you know that the legal age of consent in Hawaii is 14? Your daughter is 14…right? How would you feel the government saying it’s ok for a 50 year old man to have sex with your daughter…your little girl? It’s also demeaning to women…and gives the wrong idea of what love is to our youth in this country. Do you know any cars that have contributed to the moral decline of this country? I can’t think of any off the top of my head…but if you know of any…let me know.

Third…porn has contributed to the health decline of the world. Psychologically, porn stars and prostitutes have suffered post traumatic stress disorders, depression, impulse Control Disorders, substance abuse, bipolar disorders and the list goes on. Not only that, but they also have contracted Aids, Venereal Diseases of all kinds, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Other health issues like ruptures and torn internal muscles, cancer, not being able to produce children, sterility, impotence, and not to mention death…self inflicted or otherwise. I have not heard of cars inflicting psychological trauma, health issues, and people who can’t get it up regarding the making of cars, or using of cars within the normal use of them.

Fourth…porn is addictive. It’s visually stimulating, and has caused the breakups and divorce of many couples regarding it. Enough is not enough when it comes to porn. You are constantly pushing the threshold. Before I became a Christian I was addicted to porn. I would sit in front of the VCR / Internet for hours. At least 4 hours a day while my relationship with my fiancé suffered in the process. Not only that…to make matters worse…she became addicted to porn as well because of me and looking to act out fantasies of ours with other people. Is that a healthy relationship? No, it’s not in the least. It’s not what God intended marriage to be. How many years I lost with her I can never get back because of what porn has done to my life. Can a car be addictive? I don’t know. I’m sure it depends upon the person. But it’s not as widespread and devastating as porn. You can at least agree with me on that.

Fifth…the country will not have an economic collapse because there is no porn. You don’t need porn to get to work, raise a family, and help businesses survive. It’s not a necessity of life. Your car on the other hand is. You need it to get to work, cart your wife and kids around, get groceries, and take people to the hospital and to school. It’s a need…not a want. You can’t ride a bicycle in Iowa now when it’s -5 degrees. If you do you need your head examined. Yes we would have used cars…but for how long? If the auto industry collapses…so does the factories making the parts to fix the used cars. The auto parts industries would not be able to survive without having new cars to make.

Sixth…porn is not regulated. Yes, there are age restrictions to the making and buying of porn (thank heavens for that). But, the health aspects of it is not. It’s not mandated to be tested before making a movie. It’s certainly not regulated in strip clubs, and prostitution (which is illegal). The government does not receive any taxes from the making of porn (an official porn tax). To be honest I don’t see them doing that. The auto industry is regulated. With restrictions on emissions, gas consumption, safety standards, and others I’m sure not off the top of my head. The government does receive taxes from the car industry (luxury taxes), and licenses to drive and operate them. They need to be insured, and also registered.

When you buy porn…what are your feelings toward it? Do you want to tell everyone of your new purchase? Do you want to share in your experiences with using it, tell your mother about it? Not really huh. I’d be horrified to tell my mother my porn stories. When you buy a new car…how is your feelings toward it? You want to tell everyone about it…right? “Lets take a ride?” “Check it out.” Makes you feel good right? You bet. My first car I wanted to whole world to know…and I was proud of it too. Porn…not so proud. In fact…I’m quite embarrassed.

Now with all industries…porn or car…as the technology advances…these industries need to get with the times. Back in the day of Hustler Magazine, there was no internet, or home video to choose from. As the technology changes…those old technologies fade out. Now with high-speed internet a person doesn’t need to leave their house, or pay for it. Why look at stilled images and photographs when you can have sound and visuals right in the privacy (and speed) of your own home for free. It’s just a click away. The same goes with the newspaper industry (which also wants a bail out), while I can go on the internet and get the news for free. It’s an old technology…and I don’t agree with bailing out the newspaper (and other old technology) out. They need to come up with new solutions to the problem. Innovation is the key!

This is how I feel. I hope you read all this, and I know it’s a lot. I don’t know how else to say it, without speaking to you. Take care. Thanks for reading and I hope you and your family are very well.