Kingdom Life Without Strive

And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (2Ki 2:14)

Here is a clear example of a spiritual heritage passed down which didn’t diminished but doubled. There are few cases of which we hear of today that the spiritual heritage remains strong to the subsequent generation that neither diluted in its doctrines or lack the faithfulness to stay on course with the Almighty. Solomon was half hearted and didn’t walk before God like his father David who was the standard bearer for kings. Gehazi could have received quadruple of Elijah’s portion but missed the boat because of his own covetousness (2 Ki 5:25-27), because he sought for the earthly not the ‘hard thing’ (2 Ki 2:20) that only God can give.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Rom 8:37)

“Where is the LORD God of Elijah?’ was not as a question per se, but more of a declaration. He stood upon the foundation of the God of Elijah and remained true to that for the rest of his life and prophetic career which didn’t require any striving. If he didn't know a matter even as a prophet he wasn't striving (2 Ki 4:27). For us we need to know (not in our minds, but deep down in our soul) our foundation or bedrock of our belief, Christ the Chief Cornerstone (1 Pet 2:6). Are our souls anchored on hope (Heb 6:19) such that our will, mind and emotions respond in Godly ways to people and circumstance that come our way. If Jesus is truly the Rock of our Salvation what is there to strive?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Mat 6:32)

Hope cannot anchor us if we strive in worrying for our needs. Even our prayers reflect whether we are striving or not, do we pray deeply knowing that ‘your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.’ (Matt 6:8) or we ask in prayer as though we need to remind God. Our striving will stop when we rest in the revelation that God is our Father. Thus our prayer begins with ‘Our Father’. Not that we don’t pray, but do continue to pray. Initially we will pray with the idea that God will conform to our prayers, but the truth is as we continue to pray, He will conform us to His answer which is His will. But the condition is if we are truly Father's children.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (Matt 6:12)

Do we still strive in unforgiveness? Is there bitterness of heart for our enemies? More than forgiving our enemies, we are to love, do good to them and pray for their best. Jesus warns us that we will be imprisoned in bitterness and the pain of paying to the uttermost penny (Matt 5:15, 26). This kind of striving is probably the most painful, if we want to live in His Kingdom He will relentlessly deal with us. This deals with our will and emotions of the soul beyond our mind (lest we reason why we shouldn't forgive). Get out of striving and be reconciled.

Elisha acted on his belief in the God of Elijah. Faith is to act in accordance to our belief. If we believe on our God who is the Creator of Heaven and the Earth, the Almighty, we will act accordingly. Acting according to God’s principles is what righteousness is, because our actions are right in God’s eyes.

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: (Mar 2:27)

Man was created on the sixth day. Therefore the first full day is the Sabbath and not of striving. We rest in the completed work of God, the devil’s powers are done away with (Rom 16:20), we sit with Christ (Eph 2:6) and sin no longer have dominion over us (Rom 6:14). Now all we have to do is to live the Kingdom life, without any striving.

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:28-29)