How can we level up in our day with intense faith that completes the assignment? The Old Testament patterns and precedents speak to us now in Christ. Strike your ground with passionate faith.
In 2 Kings 13:14-19, the prophet Elisha was looking for Joash the king of Israel to be more passionate and determined in his faith. Elisha must have sensed that Joash was half-hearted and lacking a strong faith that would completely prevail. He would experience victory over Syria, but it would be partial. Israel could have experienced more. So with us. Think of the promises or a faith quest as a progress bar. We want to experience the full measure of God’s will and blessing. All to the praise of his glory.
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Resources
It Will Cost You if You Lose Your Fierceness! (Jesus Smart article)
Make a Strong Decision. Then Commit and Make Your Move! (Jesus Smart article)
Scripture — strike your ground with passionte faith!
The inspired Scriptures stand above all other literature and writing. They are full of the life and Spirit of God. To read, meditate, proclaim, and pray the Scriptures releases the potential of God in our personal world and the world we influence.
Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.” 2 Kings 13:14-19 ESV
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of armies will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:7 NASB (The zeal of the Lord accomplishes the complete will of the Lord.)
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV
Epaphras … always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12 NASB