Sunday Sermonettes #072
The Dying Prophet and the Lesson Taught
Prophet Elisha was dying. The king of the land went to see him. And when they met, Prophet Elisha taught him a lesson of persistence–the hunger for victory which the king failed to grasp.
In all likelihood you might be lacking power to win in your personal struggles, spiritual battles, and maybe progress in your career too. So this lesson of persistence and hunger for victory might help you to do better.
The Source of Power
The king knew that the prophet was the spiritual source of power for his nation. Therefore the prophet was more powerful than the chariots and horsemen of the land. He knew that the Spirit of God guided and spoke through the prophet.
The king wished for victory against his enemy nation oppressing the land. And he knew that more than military strength, reliance on God and his help was going to determine the outcome of battles against the enemy. Therefore his visit to the dying prophet was an attempt to catch the flame before it burned down.
Symbolic Gesture Hand on Hand: The Transfer of Power
Prophet Elisha in a symbolic gesture placed his hand on the king’s hand. He commanded him to take a bow and some arrows, open the east window (towards the enemy land) and shoot. The prophet said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory,” over the enemy. The prophet told the king that he would be able to defeat them completely in the next battle.
The symbolic gesture of the prophet placing his hand on the king’s hand showed that the power of the Spirit of God would empower the king to achieve this victory. It showed that spiritual strength was needed beyond their physical power. In Psalms we read: “Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of our LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm (Ch. 20: 8, 9).”
Half-Hearted Attempt: The Cost of Complacency
Having said that, we move on to the next event. The prophet asked the king to take the arrows and strike the ground. The king struck the ground three times and stopped. Prophet Elisha was angry. He told the king you should have struck the ground five or six times. Then he would have defeated the enemy completely. But now he would be able to defeat them only three times.
Why was the prophet angry? It was because the king lacked the hunger for victory. He merely did the act of striking the ground with a half-hearted commitment. He was not persistent. He did not have a burning desire to conquer and emerge victorious. He had a complacent attitude.
The Hunger for Victory
Great victories and progress come from your burning desire to finish strong. It comes from a persistent drive to get things done. You need that attitude in your spiritual life as well as your career. You need to rely on God’s strength; at the same time your human action should be full of energy, enthusiasm, drive, and zeal to get things done.
There is no space for excuses when you are in this kind of persistent mode and hunger for victory. Nothing will stop you from giving your best effort to get things done. As Sir Winston Churchill said during the World War II, “You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”*
Take Action Now: Strike More Times Than Expected
So looking forward at the year ahead, and trusting in the Spirit of God’s hand on you; push forward with courage, renewed hope, persistent effort, and stop not until you get things done. Victory is not just coming from human effort; it comes from a recognition of God’s hand upon you and energizing you to win.
Victory comes only when you strike the arrows to the ground more than the expected three times. Do things more than expected. Go the second mile. Pursue excellence which does not stop at three; but strikes the ground five or six times to bring things to completion and victory.
Reflect and Ponder: What area of life can I improve? Which is that area where I am striking the ground only three times? How can I ignite my hunger for victory and persist to make it five or six strikes to get victory?
*This famous quote comes from Winston Churchill’s first speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons on May 13, 1940.
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