The Phrase “iron sharpens iron” is found in Proverbs 27:17:
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
There is mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together; the edges become sharper, making the knives more efficient in their intended use. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is sharper than any 2 edged sword, and it is with this that we are to sharpen one another – in times of fellowship like this, or any other interaction.
Proverbs 27:17 also indicates the need for constant fellowship w/ one another. Genesis 2:18 says, even before the fall that “it is not good that man should be alone”. If it wasn’t good before the fall, how much more then after the fall of man do we need to come together w/ our brothers and sisters in Christ for times of fellowship and prayer?
There are a couple of points I want to make about Proverbs 27:17. First, the meeting of two or more together in the Lord’s name will always guarantee a blessing. It is a means of grace that the Lord promised in Matthew 18:20 – “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them”. When we sharpen one another in real Christian fellowship, the Lord listens from heaven and is pleased. Not one word about Him that brings Him glory goes unheard.
If a knife is dull, it still continues to be a knife, although it is less effective, less useful. So resolve to spend more time w/ Christian friends, encouraging, praying, admonishing, sharing God’s word, and striving to become more effective in the ministry that God has assigned to each of us. Too often what passes as fellowship in the modern church is centered on food and fun instead of sharpening one another w/ the Word of God.
Finally, a knife that has been sharpened will also shine more because all the dullness has been rubbed off. We also will shine brighter for our Lord if we do these things consistently, all of which will unite us. Psalm 133:1 says “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity”. And as the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
From Bible Questions .com www.gotquestions.org
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
There is mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together; the edges become sharper, making the knives more efficient in their intended use. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is sharper than any 2 edged sword, and it is with this that we are to sharpen one another – in times of fellowship like this, or any other interaction.
Proverbs 27:17 also indicates the need for constant fellowship w/ one another. Genesis 2:18 says, even before the fall that “it is not good that man should be alone”. If it wasn’t good before the fall, how much more then after the fall of man do we need to come together w/ our brothers and sisters in Christ for times of fellowship and prayer?
There are a couple of points I want to make about Proverbs 27:17. First, the meeting of two or more together in the Lord’s name will always guarantee a blessing. It is a means of grace that the Lord promised in Matthew 18:20 – “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them”. When we sharpen one another in real Christian fellowship, the Lord listens from heaven and is pleased. Not one word about Him that brings Him glory goes unheard.
If a knife is dull, it still continues to be a knife, although it is less effective, less useful. So resolve to spend more time w/ Christian friends, encouraging, praying, admonishing, sharing God’s word, and striving to become more effective in the ministry that God has assigned to each of us. Too often what passes as fellowship in the modern church is centered on food and fun instead of sharpening one another w/ the Word of God.
Finally, a knife that has been sharpened will also shine more because all the dullness has been rubbed off. We also will shine brighter for our Lord if we do these things consistently, all of which will unite us. Psalm 133:1 says “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity”. And as the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
From Bible Questions .com www.gotquestions.org
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