Date: 14-Apr-2025
Name: Michael Ngethe
Topic:
KEEP STRIKING, KEEP BELIEVING!
Content:
Key Text.
Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”
And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.
A. Take a bow and some arrows. So he took himself a bow and some arrows.
Symbolism:
• The bow represents potential, preparation, and the ability to launch something beyond your reach.
• The arrow symbolizes purpose, prophecy, and power—a tool meant to hit a specific mark.
• Together, they are not just tools of war, but instruments of God’s strategy for victory.
• The act of taking them is a prophetic gesture—God asking you to be ready for action.


2 Kings 9:24
And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
2 Samuel 22:35
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Ezekiel 39:3
And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
Hosea 1:5
And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
Psalm 127:4-5
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
B. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
• When God puts His hand on your hand, He adds supernatural strength to your natural effort.
• The aim of the bow represents your vision, your purpose, and your obedience. — “Write the vision, and make it plain.” — Habakkuk 2:2
• The pull of the string represents your preparation, discipline, and faith.
• The arrow’s flight is determined by both direction and power.
• Without aim, your arrow misses the purpose and without pull, your arrow never reaches the promise.
“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” — Psalm 18:34
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord. — Zechariah
Proverb 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Psalms 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Isaiah 30:21
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
Proverbs 11:14
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lordestablishes his steps.
C. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot.
“Open the east window” — Step into the direction of promise and purpose.
• The east often represents new beginnings, victory, resurrection, and the rising of the sun.
• Windows represent opportunities; the east represents new dawns and God’s intervention.
• “Shoot” — Faith requires action. You must release what you’re holding.
The arrow became a symbol of God's deliverance, not just the king’s warfare.
Remember:
Your obedience activates God’s outcome
Prayer point
Let seek the Lord for clear direction, new window of opportunity, Lords leading.
D. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped.
Lessons.
1. Partial Obedience Limits Full Victory
• The king only struck the ground three times—not because that’s all he was told to do, but because that’s all he was willing or bold enough to do.
• Elisha was angry because the king lacked passion, persistence, and prophetic insight.
• Half-hearted action leads to half-won battles.
“You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it!”— 2 Kings 13:19
2. Faith Is Proven in Action
• Striking the ground was not just symbolic—it was a test of faith, zeal, and prophetic understanding.
• When God tells you to move, He’s testing how much you believe in the breakthrough.
• Don't stop short. Go all in.
3. Spiritual Lessons:
• Don’t settle for small victories when God is calling you to complete deliverance.
• Your level of engagement often reflects your level of expectation.
• God honors bold, persistent faith—the kind that presses in until the job is finished.
• The ground-strike was a prophetic act of war—each strike represented a future victory.
• The king’s hesitation limited the victories God had prepared.
• Don't stop until the assignment is done.
• When God gives you arrows—strike the ground with all your strength.
Prayer Point:
Lord to be full committed my calling, assignment to struck the ground 5-6 times. Lord help me to be an active participant full of Faith in your instructions.
Prayer Points:
Prayer Point:
- Lord to be full committed my calling, assignment to struck the ground 5-6 times. Lord help me to be an active participant full of Faith in your instructions.
- Let seek the Lord for clear direction, new window of opportunity, Lords leading.
