ELISHA’S DOUBLE PORTION GIVEN TO POSSESS THE LAND
Gods people have grievously backslid den, they had torn down the Alters of Jehovah and built alters to Baal. Only a few prophets were faithful to God. One of these was Elijah.
ELIJAH:
(James 5:17)(Elijah was a man just like us. A man of like passions to ourselves.)
Elijah’s strength did not lie in himself or his surroundings.
HIS SOURCE OF STRENGTH CAME FROM:
“As Jehovah liveth”. To anyone else Jehovah might have seemed dead, but to Elijah, He was the “One Supreme reality of life.” Just as we have heard Jesus say, ” I am He that liveth.” “Before whom I stand.” Even in the presence of King Ahab, Elijah realized that Gods presence was greater than that of the King. The name “Elijah” means – “Jehovah is my God”, but may also be translated, “Jehovah is my Strength.”
NB!! Thus God was the Strength of Elijah’s life.
Elijah said to King Ahab, “This land is perverted, the people have turned away from God. King Ahab had broken the “Law of God”, by being unequally yoked to an unbeliever, Jezebel.
(1Kings 18:36) Elijah challenged the Prophets of Baal, and prayed to the Lord to demonstrate His great power. After Elijah had done many great feats in his life, he said to the Lord, “I am worn out and tired, I can’t go on”. God said, “I have picked out a young man, Elisha.”
ELISHA: 3 Things happened to Elisha.
1 His shoulders were rubbed with Elijah’s mantle.
2 He killed his oxen
3 He burnt his plow.
NB!! The rubbing of the mantle was his calling to the ministry and by killing his oxen and burning his plow; he showed his commitment to that call. Thus he could not turn back in moments of doubt or discouragement.
(II Kings 2:2) Elijah tried to discourage Elisha, but Elisha wanted the “double portion,” Elijah’s spirit. That is, he wanted to be Elijah’s eldest son, so that he might inherit the blessing of Elijah, and thus receive the Holy Spirit resting on Elijah. We know that this was granted because he cried out, “My Father, My Father,” and received Elijah’s mantle. To attain the “double portion, “Elisha put his faith into action, by saying, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”
HIS DECISION DEMANDED ACTION
GILGAL – means rushing around in circles, having a false sense of freedom, feeling independent, nobody can push you around.
BETHEL – house of God, “deep revelation” pit, bogged down
JERICHO – fragrant place, you’ve got it made, everything is going your way.
JORDAN – self humbling, alone with God.
OLD TESTAMENT “DOUBLE PORTION” MEN
- (Exod 14:21) Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea and it divided
- (2Kings 20:8-11) Hezekiah and Isaiah. sun tilted backwards 10 degrees.
- (Joshua 10:12-15) The Sun stood still for about a day.
- (Joshua 4:18) The Jordan dried up like the Red Sea.
NB!! Joshua 3:15 The Jordan was in flood.
POSSESSING THE LAND:
(Joshua 1:3) Every place on which your foot shall tread had been given unto you.
NB! The right attitude will give you the right altitude. (Joshua 1:5-9)
God will never leave you or forsake you Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the Law. Don’t waver left or right. Don’t let the “Word of the Law” depart from your mouth, Meditate on it day and night. (Walk and talk it.) so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. We are commanded to be strong and courageous, and not to be terrified or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Gen 14:19) God is most high God. He is the possessor of heaven and Earth. He is the deliverer of all our enemies. Thus we in return give “tithes” of all.