Strike Again!!!

Introduction

This morning we have gathered to celebrate Jesus on this Black History Service. I believe we can all stop from here and agree that God has been good to us as a race of people. We’ve come a mighty long way. I think we ought to give God a hand clap of praise for what he has done. As I was asking God what should I say today to you, I began to search the scripture. Now some folk have that sure enough Holy Ghost that they ask God what to say and they go right to the place, but I have to study as Paul told Timothy. I began to search the scripture and I ran upon this scripture and became stuck.

Background

Here in this book of history our text opens and plainly tells us that we are in the final moments of the life of the Prophet Elisha. You know Elisha, don’t you? The same Elisha that saw Elijah taken up into heaven on a Chariot of Fire. This Elisha was the same Prophet that when the Shunammite woman son that was prophesied on her to have died, Elisha came and stretched himself on the child and the child came back to life. This powerful Man of God was getting ready to die and Joash the King of Israel went to be with him and the Bible tells us the he was crying. He was crying because he felt that as long as the Prophet was there there was a guarantee of safety of the Kingdom and Israel was in a conflict with Syria. Verses 1-4 tells us that because of the Sins of Israel time after time, God would turn them over to the Syrians. Though they still had their name and a King, Israel was tributary and subservient to Syria. and Joash felt as if the Kingdom’s wellbeing was wrapped in presence of the Prophet. He felt as if as long as this man is here, I have connection with God. The sad but true thing is that we are still like that as well, we have lived and still living on our mother’s prayers and father’s prayers. We act as if our relationship with God hands on the balance of someone else’s relationship. Yet, I must tell you child of God, that you should have a relationship with God for yourself. You can’t live on the back of you parents, aunties and uncles, cousins or friends, you have to get to know THE LORD for yourself.

The King was terrified. How in the world am I going to win this battle without you? He comes in saying “My father, My father, the chariots of Israel, and the Horsemen thereof.” He was saying, Chariots and it’s riders are getting ready to be destroyed. Yet, what sticks out to me and where I want to pitch my tent this morning is the next portion of text before us.

Body

Shoot the Arrow Eastward

Elisha tells Joash to grab the bow and arrows. Elisha tells Joash to open the Window Eastward, which is in the direction of Syria. He tells him to grab the bow, and after he grabs the bow, Elisha puts his hand on the hand of Joash, and he shot the arrow eastward, in the direction of their Enemy. What I need you to understand is that customary at this time that war was proclaimed by an arrow being shot into the enemy’s country. In other words, shooting the arrow into the enemies country was a sign of waging war. But what is significant about this is that when Joash shot the arrow Eastward, Elisha’s hand was on his!! By Elisha putting his hand on the Hand of Joash, he was letting him know, ok I’m not going to be here long, my time is just about up, but just because I’m not here, does not mean God is not here! Just because I’m gone does not mean God is gone. And I came by to tell somebody today that it’s time to be direct with the enemy and shoot in his direction. Let the enemy know that you are aware of his schemes. But understand, when you wage with me, you must realize that I’m not by myself, God has his hand on me!!!! Let the devil know I’m coming for everything that you took from me, I’m coming for my joy, my peace, my love, my freedom, my breakthrough, I’m coming for my deliverance, I’m coming for my family, my money, my marriage, my career, my dream. Shoot the arrow in the enemies camp and tell the devil what Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” We’re shooting in your directions and victory is on me. Victory is mine, victory is mine, victory today is mine, I TOLD SATAN GET THEE BEHIND, VICTORY TODAY IS MINE!!!

Strike the Ground

He tells him to shoot the arrow, but then he says to the King he says take an arrow and strike the ground with them. He strikes the ground 1,2,3, and then he STOPS. Then the bible says that Elisha gets angry. He gets mad, he says you should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times, then you would have struck Syria till it was utterly destroyed. I asked the question, why did he stop? Didn’t use all the arrows in the arrow case, why did he only use three.