Have You Lost the Edge?
Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions in your faith? Like the fire and passion you once had for God has somehow dimmed? You're not alone. Many Christians find themselves in this place, wondering where their spiritual edge went and how to get it back.
The Difference Between Having the Spirit and Being Filled
When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your life. But there's a crucial distinction we must understand: having the Holy Spirit living in you is different from being filled with the Holy Spirit.
At the moment of salvation, you were completely filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember that incredible feeling? Like you could walk on air? The overwhelming joy and peace? That's what being Spirit-filled feels like.
Why Don't We Feel That Way Now?
The reality is that even though the Holy Spirit lives in every believer, we're not always filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 commands us to "be filled with the Spirit" - and in the original language, this means to be continually filled. It's not a one-time event but an ongoing experience.
Paul contrasts being drunk with wine (where alcohol controls the person) with being filled with the Spirit (where the Holy Spirit controls the believer). When you're Spirit-filled, you're no longer in control - the Spirit is.
What Keeps Us From Being Spirit-Filled?
The answer is simple but challenging: sin. Ephesians 4:30 warns us not to "grieve the Holy Spirit of God." When we harbor unconfessed sin, it's like the fuel level in our spiritual tank drops lower and lower.
The Problem of Going Through the Motions
Many Christians attend church services led more by routine than by the Spirit. We sing the same songs, sit in the same seats, and follow the same patterns - but without the Holy Spirit's power flowing through us. If you're not getting anything out of church services, there are only two possible reasons:
1. You're not saved
2. You're not filled with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit living in you is what leads you to worship, not the pastor or the music leader.
The Story of the Lost Axe Head
In 2 Kings 6:1-7, we find a powerful illustration of spiritual power lost and recovered. Students of the prophet Elisha were cutting down trees to build a larger meeting place. One student had to borrow an axe because he couldn't afford his own.It Was Loaned
The axe head represents spiritual power - and all spiritual power is borrowed from God. Everything you have - your abilities, your intellect, your spiritual gifts - is on loan from the Almighty.
As 1 Corinthians 4:7 asks: "What do you have that you did not receive?" When you were saved, God loaned you the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, you can do anything - but only through His power, not your own.
It Was Lost
While cutting down a tree, the axe head flew off the handle and fell into the Jordan River. The student cried out, "Alas, Master, for it was borrowed!"
This young man got so busy working that he forgot to check his axe head. Sound familiar? The church today is often so busy doing "great things" that we forget to check our spiritual condition. We lose our power because we don't examine ourselves.
Like Samson, who "did not know that the Lord had departed from him," we can lose our spiritual edge without even realizing it.
It Was Located
When the student showed Elisha where the axe head fell, the prophet cut off a stick, threw it in the water, and made the iron float. The student reached out and reclaimed what he had lost. That stick represents the cross of Jesus Christ. Because of what Christ did on the cross, we can reclaim our lost spiritual power through confession and repentance.
How to Reclaim Your Spiritual Edge
Acknowledge Your Loss
Like the student who cried "Alas, Master!" you must be heartbroken over what you've lost. Recognize that you've been trying to serve God in your own strength rather than His.
Confess Your Sin
1 John 1:9 promises: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This isn't about a general "forgive me my sins" prayer. It's about specific, personal confession before God's throne - acknowledging the particular ways you've grieved the Holy Spirit.
Let God Be God in You
God doesn't want your best - your best was never good enough. That's why He sent His Son to die for your sins. God wants His best to shine through you, and that only happens when you're filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Church's Missing Power
Why isn't the church making more of a difference in our communities? We've lost the axe head. We're trying to cut down trees with just the handle, wondering why we're not making progress.
The power is missing because church members won't confess their sins. We'd rather form committees and create programs than deal with the real issue - our need to be Spirit-filled.
Life Application
This week, commit to checking your "axe head" daily.
Before you engage in any spiritual activity -whether it's worship, Bible study, or serving others - ask God to forgive any unconfessed sin and fill you with His Spirit.
Stop settling for going through the motions. God has so much more for you than a routine religious experience. He wants to do His best work through you, but that can only happen when you're walking in the fullness of His Spirit.
Ask yourself these questions:
• When was the last time I felt truly filled with the Holy Spirit?
• What unconfessed sin might be grieving the Spirit in my life?
• Am I trying to serve God in my own strength rather than His power?
• How would my worship, relationships, and service change if I were truly Spirit-filled?
Don't be content with spiritual mediocrity. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. It's time to reclaim what you've lost and experience the abundant life God intended for every believer.