Shaped and Sharpened; Ready for Battle

Most of us like to be able to understand what God is doing. We want to know what is ahead in these unpredictable and uncertain times, so we can be prepared. We frequently complain or become impatient about His work within us and struggle to understand how it all fits together.

We prefer the fast food drive through McDonalds approach. We want to quickly drive through, order and collect it all in just a few minutes. We are resistant to the longer and uncomfortable processes of learning, relearning, being trained, corrected, moulded and sharpened.

Convenience, efficiency, and impatience overtake and delay the vital process of preparation for purpose.

Let’s look at TWO uncomfortable but necessary processes we should be welcoming and cooperating with in this season.

Softening the Hard Places

Jeremiah 18:3 

"Then I went down to the potter’s house and there he was making something at the wheels. And the vessel he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter so he made it again into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make.”

Those who are familiar with pottery may know that it is very difficult to work with hard clay. It usually becomes hard when it dries out and adding water to it does not have an instant effect. It actually takes a number of days to rehydrate hardened clay by adding water gradually and pounding to try and mould it. Sometimes if it is a big hard piece it has to be broken into several smaller pieces first before the hydration process. The smaller pieces are then softened separately and gradually bought back together as a whole piece.

Only soft and hydrated clay can be used in the potter's hands

This is a powerful illustration of God’s reshaping work in us. The word shalom which is used as a greeting of peace means completeness and wholeness. 

The gradual rehydration watering of our soul softens the hard pieces; places that have dried out through heat, drought and resulting weariness. 

Raw clay is pummelled, watered, and softened to be readied for the potter's wheel.

Photo: Raw clay is pummelled, watered, and softened to be readied for the potter's wheel.

The pressing, pounding, and pushing may seem harsh but the movements are necessary for reshaping us so we can be made whole and become usable again. There can alao be SHALOM peace in the discomfort of reshaping because we know and trust our Shaper!

Shaping and Sharpening Arrows

Isaiah 49:2

In the shadow of his hand He has hidden me as a polished shaft. In his quiver he has hidden me.”

Arrows are weapons and tools with a specific design for a specific direction and purpose.

Psalm 7:12-13

“He bends his bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for himself instruments of death. He makes his arrows as fiery shafts.”

It’s clear in these verses that an arrow is not meant to remain in a quiver. (A quiver is the carrying case or holder bag for arrows.) The arrows are readied and even polished for battle in war. They are described as instruments of death (to the work of the enemy). Fiery shafts indicate intended destruction and the carrying of the Holy Spirit through the atmosphere into the target.

The quiver is a carrying bag for transporting weapons; not a permanent location for holding or hiding!

Arrows are designed and intended to hit a target.

Arrows are weapons of warfare (even the enemy uses them! If you remember in Ephesians 6:16 there is a reference to needing the shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the enemy- both opposing warring sides use fiery shafts!)

The enemy fire is to kill and destroy, the Holy Spirit fire is to purify, cleanse, heal, and restore!

Let's consider the specific design of an arrow to better understand the specific details of our war function.

4 Parts Of An Arrow:

• Shaft: The shaft is a straight central part of an arrow. All the other parts are attached to the shaft which is like the spine running right through the middle. It is long, straight and strong. It keeps everything in alignment.

We must be totally aligned with God. His design and identity runs right through the centre of who we are. Knowing who we are and who we belong to determines our direction. An arrow cannot fly straight if it is crooked or weak. Our identity in him must be straight and strong.

• Feathers: The feathers at the rear end of the arrow are vital for stabilising. They determine the direction that the arrow flies in. Without the feathers the arrow can be dangerous and unpredictable as it can fly off target and even injure fellow soldiers.

Feathers are positioned precisely to govern the arrow's direction so the positioning balance is key.

Remember that character is tested and developed by challenges! Without character we will be unstable and easily get off track.

Romans 5:4

“We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character and character hope.”

The challenges are developing our character; testing who we really are in each moment and revealing the areas that need attention.

• Nock: The nock is a small essential part of the arrow located at the end of the shaft. It is the place where the arrow shaft connects to the bow string. This is the place where the power from the bow is released to launch the arrow forward.

The nock represents RELATIONSHIP. It is the place of connection (and balanced tension). Our relationship with God determines everything. Power is only released from the place of connection.

The bow and the arrow shaft of identity engage for power release.

There is a term in archery called the ‘Nocking Point’ which describes the arrow and bow's engagement with each other.

The archer combines strength, skill, accuracy and the tension to propel an arrow towards the target. One does not operate without the other. Two tools come together for a fiery powered launch forward.

• Arrow Head: The arrow head is the sharpened tip of the arrow which enables it to successfully fulfil its purpose. It is the point that impacts the target. Many different types of arrow tips are available each for a particular purpose. The archer knows what arrowheads are required for each target location.

The arrowhead is designed for sharp and lasting impact.

The arrow head points towards the target; our PURPOSE, DIRECTION and MISSION of impacting every enemy territory.

The arrowhead is specifically designed to impact and remain in the target until the archer removes it. It must be sharp and strong. A blunt arrow will not fulfil any purpose. It is actually useless as it can bounce off the target and fall to the ground.

Ancient cultures used rocks and blades to sharpen and reshape arrowheads! The process involves pressure, striking, skill, grinding and some sparks flying! 

Iron sharpening iron means collision and friction. There is heat that refines but the tip is readied so it can be aimed straight and remain in the target.

NOTICE that the arrow is not just left in the target! The archer follows through to retrieve the arrow. We are not left once we are released. There is always follow-though actions and response.

Returning to Purpose

Many of us prefer to remain in the comfortable quiver, hidden or uninvolved but this season of war is a reminder of who we are, who we belong to and what we have been designed for.

We have been designed with a purpose. We are being shaped and sharpened for a battle. We are part of God’s plan to invade and impact broken lives, take back lost territory, occupy new spaces and expand to the right and left. There is no place for timidity, withdrawal or complacency. We are the arrows and most of us are not ready!

The arrows are held close to the archer once they are sharpened and ready to be used.

Some of us have dried up in the previous challenging seasons and have become hard and brittle. 

We need rehydrating!

Some of us have character weaknesses and can’t fly straight. 

We need realigning.

Some of us have lost our identity and are weak and fragile.

We need to be restored, hidden in his quiver for a time, protected and repaired. 

Some of us have disconnected our relationship with

Him. We are wondering why there is no power to move us forward but we have failed to see that we are not connected to the source.

He is knocking at the nocking point and waiting in anticipation for your return and relaunch

We need to reconnect.

Some of us have lost our passion, vision, direction and mission and just don’t know anything anymore. The direction and the resounding warcry mission is a forward advance.

We need to hear, align, assemble, and respond.

There is no age gap for being used. The only qualification is availability and trainability.

Only alignment with the purposes of God assures final victory. 

Isaiah 42:13 “The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry He will prevail against His enemies.”

If you have said YES to God then you are in a war and are part of the fight.

There is no room for blunt arrows stuck or hidden useless in the quiver. YOU are part of the plan.

HIS bow is ready and raised; the question is are we his arrows ready?