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Lessons from the life of Elijah, Elisha and Gehazi
What is the Double Portion?
2 Kings 2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
(KJV) I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
This scripturally is something that Elisha asked for as he served and followed Elijah his master.
It’s interesting that Elisha recognizes the spirit is in Elijah. I believe that it is a gift inside the man deposited their by God. Elisha is asking for the ability to express the tangibility of God through signs wonders and miracles like Elijah did.
In the context of the life of Elisha, a double portion of his master’s anointing means twice the major miracles flowing from his life. Elijah 14 Miracles
Elisha 28 Miracles
Miracles Performed Through Elisha
1) Parting of the Jordan (2Ki 2:14)
2) Healing of the waters (2Ki 2:21)
3) Curse of the she bears (2Ki 2:24)
4) Filling of the valley with water (2Ki 3:17)
5) Deception of the Moabites with the valley of blood (2Ki 3:22)
6) Miracle of the vessels of oil (2Ki 4:4)
7) Prophecy that the Shunammite woman would have a son (2Ki 4:16)
8) Resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2Ki 4:34)
9) Healing of the gourds (2Ki 4:41)
10) Miracle of the bread (2Ki 4:43)
11) Healing of Naaman (2Ki 5:14)
12) Perception of Gehazi's transgression (2Ki 5:26)
13) Cursing Gehazi with leprosy (2Ki 5:27)
14) Floating of the axe head (2Ki 6:6)
15) Prophecy of the Syrian battle plans (2Ki 6:9)
16) Vision of the chariots (2Ki 6:17)
17) Smiting the Syrian army with blindness (2Ki 6:18)
18) Restoring the sight of the Syrian army (2Ki 6:20)
19) Prophecy of the end of the great famine (2Ki 7:1)
20) Prophecy that the scoffing nobleman would see, but not partake of, the abundance (2Ki 7:2)
21) Deception of the Syrians with the sound of chariots (2Ki 7:6)
22) Prophecy of the seven-year famine (2Ki 8:1)
23) Prophecy of Benhadad's untimely death (2Ki 8:10)
24) Prophecy of Hazael's cruelty to Israel (2Ki 8:12)
25) Prophecy that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab (2Ki 9:7)
26) Prophecy that Joash would smite the Syrians at Aphek (2Ki 13:17)
27) Prophecy that Joash would smite Syria thrice but not consume it (2Ki 13:19)
28) Resurrection of the man touched by his bones (2Ki 13:21)
Elisha's ministry superseded Elijah's in certain ways.
Elisha's ministry lasted about twice as long as Elijah's (25 compared to 13 years).
Spiritual success is faithfully fulfilling God's role for you--not how you compare to others or how much approval you get from others.
Keys to catching the Spirit that is on a person
1) Burn the ships to your old life.
2) Spend time with the person who’s spirit you want a double portion of by serving the person in Spiritual Authority.
3) Persistently follow even when they can be offensive keeping an eye on the prize.
1. Burn the Ships
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
When Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez landed in Mexico, one of his first orders to his men was to burn the ships. Cortez was committed to his mission and did not want to allow himself or his men the option of going back to Spain. By removing this option, Cortez and his men were forced to focus on how they could make the mission successful.
1 Kings 19:19-21
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you."
"Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" 21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
New Testament Radical Followers
Matthew 19:27
Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
Luke 5:11
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:28
and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Why would someone be so radical?
Remember the Kingdom Parables
Matthew 13:44-46
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
2. Serve the Person
Spend time together
Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
John 13:12-17
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Elisha’s Job Description
2 Kings 3:11 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?"
An officer of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. [b] “
b-That is, he was Elijah's personal servant.
Service
Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Luke 22:25,26
25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
Benefactor - one that confers a benefit ; especially : one that makes a gift or bequest
1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Be persistent
It appears as Elijah is preparing to be taken away into Heaven he’s asking his servant to leave him. Basically, “Go away Elisha.” but Elisha won’t leave his side.
3. Keep Your Eye on the Prize
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Gilgal to Bethel
2 Kings 2:2 Elijah going from Gilgal to Bethel Elijah says, Stay here. Elisha replies with, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you."
Bethel to Jericho
2 Kings 2: 4 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho."
And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.
Jericho to Jordan
2 Kings 2:6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan."
And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two of them walked on.
2 Kings 2:9 When they had crossed (the Jordan River supernaturally), Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not."
Elisha sees Elijah taken up in a whirlwind and strikes the Jordan river with Elijah’s mantle and the water parts. The company of the 50 prophets interprets this sign that "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha."
Do we serve men or the Lord?
Colossians 3:23
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
I believe that God has ordained people on the earth to do great exploits for him. I believe that we’re to serve one another in brotherly love and the greater reward you want the greater your level of service.
However when we serve the Lord through a man I believe we can get on the fast track because of the practical hurdles and difficulties our predecessors have overcome. It helps us learn faster and move quicker not to mention the favor factor. If God has truly anointed you and commissioned you to start some kind of ministry PRAISE GOD, I believe God flows through established authority though.
Operating outside that authority is your choice but I believe you are exposing yourself to difficulties that are unnecessary. It’s better and easier to serve and be sent than to launch yourself out into some kind of ministry. I believe serving and being sent is the New Testament model for church planting or ministry launching.
Every time I’ve served under someone that person’s input has been very helpful and honest. They can give you the type of information that no one else has because of their perspective. It’s incredibly valuable!
So if you want a double portion of the anointing should you get in every prayer line you can find and have anointed men and women of God lay their hands on you? Well, that’s not necessarily a bad idea but that’s not how Elisha got the double portion.
He…
1. Burnt the ships to His old life.
2. He spent time with the person who’s spirit he wanted a double portion of by serving the person.
3. He persistently followed even when they can be offensive keeping an eye on the prize.
Jubilee Family Church