The Eagle Way No 14

A Time of Heighten Spiritual Awareness (Part 2)

We are living in turbulent times; the world at times seems to be spinning out of control. Life often seems unpredictable, and more chaotic than ever before wherever we look. There will be more challenges for each of us as Christians today and in the future. Are we prepared to make sacrifices and be ready to pay a higher cost for what we know is the truth? We will need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord and be there to support one another as well as unite corporately. 

The Gift of Faith - a time to operate and activate this gift 

Paul urges Timothy his young son in the Lord, in 1 Timothy 1:4 “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies which cause disputes rather than Godly Edification which is Faith.”

·       Ability to believe God without doubt.

·       Ability to combat unbelief.

·       Ability to meet adverse circumstances with trust in God’s messages and words.

·       Inner conviction impelled by an urgent and higher calling.

Faith is the eyes of our heart

Become a conduit - for the power of God to work in us and through us. God is too big to be understood but He may be discerned.

·       Faith is the mirror of your heart.

·       Your (heart) spirit is to be master over your mind. Heart – “kardia” means “to quiver”

 or “palpitate”

• The physical organ of the body;
• The center of physical life;
• The seat of one’s personal life. (Both physical and spiritual); 
• The center of one’s personality, the seat of one’s entire mental and moral activity, containing both rational and emotional elements;
• It is the seat of feelings, desires, joy, pain, and love;
• It is also the center for thought understanding, and will;
• The human heart is the dwelling place of the Lord and the Holy Spirit;
• The omniscient Lord sees into the innermost being where all decisions concerning Him are made.

1. Faith is the substance (realization) of God’s word to live in the unseen world.
2. Faith is the anchor (conviction) of all the unseen.
3. We need to access the unseen dimension of the Holy Spirit.

HOW? By Faith

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27;          2 Thess. 2:13).

·         Its primary idea is trust

•           A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust.
•         A full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests.

Jesus sees the Father

Jesus expects us to see from our hearts.

In John 5:19^  “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

• His activity is not self-initiated;
• The Son’s activity imitates the Father;
• The two always work together;
• God has been at work “seeking and saving” the lost;
• Jesus states that the Father enables Him to do what He does and reveals His knowledge to Him personally;
• His works (miracles) come from the Father, including the miracle of raising the dead.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God . . . “ (Hebrews 11:6). 

The word “faith” is used only twice in the Old Testament:

1. Deuteronomy 32:20, where God said He would hide from those who forget God and live wickedly: “Children in whom is no faith.” The Hebrew word used for faith is “emuwn” (pronounced “ay-moon”) meaning “established” i.e. “trusty, faithful, truth” (Strong’s).

2. Habakkuk 2:4 where it is stated, “The just shall live by his faith.” The Hebrew word used is “emuwnah” or “emunah” (pronounced “em-oo-naw”) meaning “firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity; faith, faithfulness, stability, truth” (Strong’s).

 The word “faith” is used in the New Testament:

Is translated mainly from the Greek word “pistis” (238 times) meaning “persuasion, i.e. credence, morally conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation: assurance, belief, faith, fidelity” (Strong’s). 

Bullinger’s says, Faith: a firm persuasion, the conviction, which is based upon hearing, not upon sight, or knowledge; a firmly relying confidence in what we hear from God in His Word.

Bullinger’s says, Hope: an expectation of something future; a dearly cherished and apparently well-grounded expectation and prospect of some desired good. 

Collins Dictionary says, Faith: “strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence - a complete confidence or trust in a person.”

Our unshakable belief is: All about what we do with what we hear from Jesus. The key to releasing faith is listening to Jesus and doing whatever He asks us.

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

1. That is why the “Faith Chapter” of the Bible – Hebrews 11 – is all about what men and women did by faith. 

2. They did what they did because of a conviction that God had spoken to them, and they were committed to obeying Him.

Faith is a prophetic word and an action (risk) because it is activated by the voice of God – and our recognizing it is the voice of God! 

Faith is born out of relationship – relationship with Jesus. “Whatever He tells you to do, do it!” (John 2:5). It is no different for us today. Whatever Jesus tells us to do, we should and need to be obedient! 

The “Faith happenings” and the “Faith characters” of Hebrews Eleven (and other parts of the Bible too) should be an encouragement to us to follow in their footsteps. They have run their race it is now our turn to move ahead in unwavering faith.

The root of our Christian life lies in our belief in God who is Spirit (John 4:24).

Our faith is in an unseen God, and the invisible spiritual kingdom. We have become unaware of the unseen reality of God; we focus on the temporal world and miss the beckoning of the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit desires to communicate with us moment by moment. Men who are lost in darkness need the eyes of their hearts enlightened by the Word of God. 

In Ephesians 1:18 we read, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

We need a spiritual shift from seen to unseen, the eyes of faith. A choose to live a more deliberate spiritual life, to encounter the risen Lord Jesus. In the gospel of Matthew 5:8 we are extorted to see, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (To see God - inward impression and spiritual experience)
 

          The pure in heart are joyful; for they shall see God. Here holiness and joyfulness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10.

The pure in heart are capable of seeing God,[inward precisions and a spiritual understanding].  As God cannot endure to look upon our iniquity, so we cannot expect to look upon His purity unless we are cleansed.

In John 1:49, 50, 51, Nathanael answered and said to Him, [Jesus] "Rabbi", You are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!" Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, truly, truly, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man." 

We need to teach disciples to see, to perceive and discern in these end times. It is absolutely critical that we as disciples can perceive and discern, the character of those we are in ministry with. Also be able to discern the agenda of the enemy when he is operating in the church or against the work of God or His people.

I  Saw in Greek "eidon" means "to see"

 a) to perceive with the eyes; b) to perceive by any of the senses; c) To perceive, notice, discern, discover; d) to look at, behold; e) To pay attention, and observe.
 

The nature of true Christianity, is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to Him, and treading in His footsteps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God must beware of prejudices against people, places, culture or denominations.

As we examine for ourselves, and sometimes we will find good where we have not looked for any. Many people are kept from the ways of knowing God by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. 

In Nathanael there was no guile [deviousness]. His vocation was not hypocritical. He was not hiding anything by pretense; he was of a sound character, a really upright, godly man. Christ knows what is in the hearts of man.  How is your heart today?

 

Let us desire to know Him

Let us seek and pray to be “a people” indeed, in whom there is no guile; truly Christian, approved of by Christ Himself.  At times we are all weak, imperfect, and sinful, but hypocrisy does not belong to a believer's character. Jesus witnessed and saw when He passed Nathanael under the fig-tree. Almost certainly he was then in fervent prayer, seeking direction as to the hope and consolation of Israel, where no human eye observed him. 

Had Nathanael been reading about Jacob’s dream under the fig tree? Is this why Jesus referred to the open heavens? How should we view this as a future prophecy or revelation? Is Jesus suggesting to us that “He Himself is the new mediator of revelation,” a surer link between heaven and earth than the ladder which Jacob saw in his dream? 

A Scriptural truth is that Jesus is the only way open to God? 

In John 14:6 " Jesus said to him [Thomas], "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Jesus shows Nathanael’s that his old covenant faith must now center in Him, the focus of the new covenant. Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man this title emphasized His humanity and suffering as well as the perfection of His human nature.

Let us be warned today, as Stephen declared in the book of Acts 7:51.

“You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.”

There are 4 species of un-circumcision in the world.

1. The un-circumcision of the ear.
   
   • Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and the cannot hearken, (Jeremiah 6:10).

2. The un-circumcision of lips.
   
   • How shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? (Exodus 6:12).

3. The un-circumcision of Heart.
   
   • If then their uncircumcised Hearts be humbled, (Leviticus 26:41).
   • Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, (Deuteronomy 10:16 and Jeremiah 4:4) 
   • For all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart, (Jeremiah 9:26).

4. The un-circumcision of the Flesh.
   
   • You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, (Genesis 17:11)

You do always resist the Holy Ghost

1. Because our heart is uncircumcised we resist the influences of the Holy Spirit, who brings light and conviction to your minds. The consequences of which we become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and we do not repent at the preaching of the word of God, nor to the good news told by Christ Himself.
2. Because our ears were uncircumcised, they could not hear the prophets, Christ or His apostles.
3. As their fathers did, so do we do also, we are disobedient children, of disobedient parents, will this generation have understanding? The eye of the mind refuses to behold the light and the will of mankind determines to remain obstinate.
4. Our conscience hardens itself against every argument and protests and resists the Spirit of God, the Spirit is grieved and the sinner is left to reap the fruit of their choices. The resistance of uncircumcised ear, heart and mind resulting in spiritual death.

EAM/LB  28/10/12

The Eagle Way No 13

A Time of Heighten Spiritual Awareness (Part 1)

We are living in a time and season of heighten spiritual awareness. This generation is being exposed, like no other time in history with the rise of misinformation and influence of movies, television, magazines and internet. Much of the “New Age” is now indoctrinating every aspect of modern life, with many institutions following these “new” trends. Our society is being persuaded by the onslaught of media which is slowly changing our values. There is an all out global influence on our society and our children to accept a world view that relate to so called modern philosophical trends that have distorted our true religious beliefs.  
Much of this misinformation seems to go unchallenged today and is in direct opposition to the true biblical teaching of the New Testament.

We need to ask the question what spirituality would look like without Jesus Christ. Is it the acknowledgment that all paths lead to God? Is it the understanding that no one institution has a monopoly on the truth? But, rather, the truth is shared by all. More and more men and women are following teachings of some sort of cultish association and founders of a religion system that has no true Biblical bases. 

Those who are spiritually minded are open and willing to embrace the teachings of all the great masters, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Spiritualists, Socrates, and Hinduism. Particularly Yoga which has grown in huge way today in the modern world it is an inherent part of Hindu philosophy. These teachings on Yoga are based around the nature of the divinity of man, an innate power within the human psyche; these practices are opening more and more people to different forms of the supernatural phenomena of magic and witchcraft. Today, many are interested in this occultist philosophy which comes from the Latin “occultus”, which means “concealed” or “hidden.”

It involves mystic knowledge and magic powers received from the spirit world [demons] and is dispensed or aimed at achieving their destructive strategies by those who have been initiated into its secret beliefs. The followers of this occult power are known as (men or women), such as witch doctors, witches, psychics, priests, sorcerers, astrologers, gurus, yogis, shamans, mediums, seers, healers and or medicine men or women.

Many books have been written recently about new business management success and techniques. Business executives today believe they are the initiated few and have become heavily influenced by information that has changed their business philosophies and they now use spiritual techniques. There staff are taught from a group of highly evolved Hindu Masters who lived centuries ago.  They claim to act as spiritual advisers to humans, whom they instigate in the use of these spiritual powers and so called techniques and cause spiritual bondage's.

What is our role in the church today?

We are to preach and teach the uncompromising Word of God. There is power in the preaching of God's Word, the gospel. Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation." The church is duty bound to preach the gospel, for it is the only message that can accomplish what God wants accomplished; for the salvation of the souls of man. If we preach something other than the gospel, we convert men to something or someone other than what Jesus intended.  The apostle Paul understood his responsibility to preach only God's Word. 

In 1 Corinthians 9:16 we read “for if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for the necessity is laid upon me; yes woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”  Paul ensures he would not transgress any laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some.

And in 1 Corinthians 1:21 Paul writes, “for since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God, through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. “ Paul preached the crucified Christ Jesus; this was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes and our joy. And by His death and resurrection we live in hope. The preaching of the gospel of salvation to the lost that reveals the truth against the sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious. The gospel opposes the philosophy of man and the world.

We need a spiritual awaking

We need a spiritual tsunami, to bring thousands into a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. I ask this question, have we become a professional church, creating an atmosphere of technical sophistication based on the latest ‘tech no’ with lights, smoke and mirrors to create an atmosphere devoid of the presence of God?  Has religion crept into our midst unwittingly causing us to become lethargic, worldly and now we accept high levels of noise as worship, and follow fashionable trends to attract people into our church.

We are seeing many charismatic Christians develop an attitude that Jesus Christ is just not enough, we want more, instead of seeking Jesus for a closer more intimate relationship. We have become animated and enthralled with some weird spiritual manifestation, always looking for the latest "unique anointing." O help us Lord, to seek You more.

We need anticipation and an expectation as what our faith is about and all Jesus has already accomplished for us on the cross. Let our life style be uncomplicated and our focus to be in pray, worship and the Word.

In Luke 24:5, 6 “Then, as they were afraid and bowed [their] faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when? He was still in Galilee.”

We need as God people to ask for His guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Let’s look to God for our daily directives for His guidance and teaching! (Isaiah 8:19-20). True hope is found in the life of the One our Lord Jesus Christ who has been raised from the dead and lives for evermore – Jesus the Eternal Son of God.

He has sent His Helper to be with us, the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4).Look to the One who has all authority over life and death for your guidance in these times of uncertainty.

Jesus said, in John 11:25, I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

EAM LB/April, 2012

The Eagle Way No 12

My father, my father - the cry of this generation

“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire [appeared] with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw [it], and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.” (2 Kings 2:12, 13)

Elijah was talking with Elisha, instructing, directing and encouraging him, in his work, and preparing him for his future ministry. Elisha was neither meditating nor praying, but engaged in edifying discourse with Elijah as a man apprehensive about the kingdom of God and his future ministry call among men and the nation.

In the mean time a convoy was being prepared from heaven, the Lord had sent for him—“a chariot of fire and horses of fire,” which descended upon them from the clouds - running towards them. Elijah was being taken away, with a heavenly envoy, carried as if ‘on eagles wings’ (Isa. 40:31).They appeared in the form of a chariot and horses, that he may ride in status, ride in triumph, like a prince, like a conqueror, yes, ‘more than a conqueror.’ 

The angels referred to in this passage of scripture as seraphim and cherubim, and their appearance here, though it may seem even to be below their dignity, answers to both those names:

1.      Seraphim - signify fiery, “God is said to make them a flame of fire.” (Psalm 104:4).

2.      Cherubim - signifies chariots, and they are called the chariots of God. (Psalm 68:17), and he is said to ride upon a cherub (Psalm 18:10), to which there is a quotation in Ezekiel’s vision of four living creatures, and wheels, like horses and chariots; in Zechariah’s vision, they are represented as such (Zechariah 1:8; 6:1).

As we compare Revelation 6:2, we see the readiness of the angels to do the will of God, even in the most difficult of circumstances in His services. For the good of those who will be heirs of salvation. Elijah must go away to the world of angels, and therefore, to show how eager they were of his company, some of the angles came to fetch him.

The chariot and horses appeared like fire, burning with brightness, not to afflict or consume, but to render his ascension and to be celebrated in the eyes of those that stood afar off who view it. Elijah had burned with holy zeal for God and His honour, and now with a heavenly fire he was refined and translated.

In the Book of Ecclesiastics’ 48:1, the fiery horses and chariot are considered as an emblem of that burning zeal, which Elijah manifested in the whole of his ministry: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet as fire, and his word burned as a lamp."

How Elijah was separated from Elisha. This chariot parted them both. The closest of friends must part; Elisha had protested that he would not leave him, yet now, it’s time to be left behind. Elijah was carried away – ‘He went up by a whirlwind into heaven.’ (2 Kings 2:12). The fire tends upward; the whirlwind helped to carry him through the atmosphere, out of the reach of the captivating value of this earth, and how he swiftly ascended through the heavens to the world of holy and blessed which we cannot conceive.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Elijah had once, in his passion, wished he might die; yet God was gracious not to take him at his word then, but to honour him with this singular privilege, that he should never see death; as with a similar case in point, that of Enoch.
1.  God showed how men should have left the world if they had not sinned, not by death, but by a fiery translation. 
2. God gave us a glimpse of that life and immortality which is sometimes brought to light by the gospel of the glory, reserved for the saints, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers, as with Elijah.

When Elijah was taken off the earth, the Elisha ministry began. There is not one miracle accredited to Elisha while the Elijah ministry existed. When the day came for Elijah to be translated, all the people of God knew it. The sons of the prophets (God's people) knew Elijah would be taken that day. So when Elijah parted the waters and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground. For us once we have crossed that river of death on to dry ground, we must not turn back or even aside. We must keep our eyes on Elijah. (my God, Jehovah).

When Elisha could not turn back or even tarry, then Elijah asked Elisha what he desired. God tells us in the Old Testament, ‘He will give us the desires of our heart.’ (Psalms 37:4)
^“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be on me. ¹⁰And he said, you have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (II Kings 2:9-10).

Elisha never took his eyes off Elijah. He did not take his eyes off God - Jehovah. He never turned aside, but continued to the end of Elijah's walk.

"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." (II Kings 2:11-12).

Elisha cried, "My Father, my Father."

^“For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”  (1 Corinthians 4:15).

There are many instructors in Christ, but there are not many fathers. God has raised up few fathers with the Kingdom message. These are the Elijah ministries bringing forth the ‘double portion Elisha ministries’ on the earth today. Those, upon whom the early and latter rain will come upon, they will go forth in power, reclaiming that which rightfully belongs in the Father's kingdom.

It will be those who have the true Word of God in their mouths. Elisha expresses the passing of that great prophet, by giving him an expression of high praise, v12, “And Elisha saw [it], and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more.” 

Here is, a true spiritual father, as the pupils of the prophets are called their sons. This was the end of a remarkable ministry, one that was in many ways similar to the ministry of Moses. Both these prophets Moses and Elijah teach us important principles:

·Stood alone for righteousness

·Were associated with fire upon mountains

·Were associated with the desert

·Met God on Sinai

·Were chased out of their countries by pagan rulers

·Knew God’s miraculous provision for food and water

·Wandered in the desert for a period measured by 40

·Fasted for 40 days

·Were powerful examples of prayer

·Parted waters

·Had close associates who succeeded them

·Had successors that parted waters also

·Had mysterious or strange deaths

Elisha saw it: he received a sign by which he was confident of his request for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He looked steadfastly towards heaven, ‘he saw him no more’ from where he was to expect that gift, as the disciples did, Acts 1:9,10, “ …while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven...” He saw it for awhile, but the vision was at the moment out of his sight; and ‘he saw him no more.’ He rent his own clothes, as a sign he had of his own public loss and as a token of his grief and loss. 

Though Elijah had gone triumphantly to heaven, this world would be a lesser place without his ministry. Without doubt their hearts would be disappointed by the taking away of a faithful man, and a call for weeping and mourning.

Though Elijah’s departure made way for Elisha’s eminent ministry even though he was sure of a double portion of Elijah spirit, his loss was great for he loved him, and could not serve him any longer. Elisha had lost his father and mentor of his youth: My father, my father. He saw his own condition like that of a fatherless child fearful of the world, and felt in adequate.
^“And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.” (II Kings 2:15).

Isaiah also prophesied about the manifest sons of God.

^“The sons also of them that afflicted you shall come bending to you; and all they that despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 60:14)

The sons of the prophets recognized the Elijah mantle, that there was a greater anointing. There is no record of the sons of the prophets bowing down to Elijah. But they did bow to the anointing that was upon Elisha, and they will bow to the Elijah mantle and anointing which is coming upon the manifest sons of God.
But before the Elijah mantle can be put on, the old cloth (the flesh) must be rent in two and discarded. The Elijah mantle will not hide the flesh, the flesh must go. When Elisha parted the Jordan, those same sons of the prophets saw a different Elisha.

The Elijah ministry is proclaiming the coming of these sons, but before the Elijah mantle can rest upon anyone, the flesh must be subject to the Spirit. We must become that sacrifice Elijah built on Mt. Carmel. We must be consumed by God. All the prophets of Baal must be destroyed in our lives. Only then will the Elijah mantle fall into place.

When Christ, left his disciples, He did not leave them orphans (John 14:15). When Elijah was taken up in the chariot, he gave them confidence in his prophetic office as if in this chariot; he was the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.  Israel did not use chariots and horses in their wars, but Elijah was to them, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God. His departure was like the routing of an army, an irremediable loss. 

"Better have lost all our men of war than this man of God.”
Our prayer for today is Lord - give us fathers that have a heart for this generation to raise up sons that will have a heart to pursue that Elijah mantle that will be consumed with the desire to do the will of God and to manifest the power and anointing of Holy Spirit.

EAM LB 20/8/2011

The Eagle Way No 11

A DOUBLE PORTION

Elijah an Old Testament prophet was used mightily by God in calling down fire and in other miracles including even raising the dead (1 Kings 17-22). On a certain day God handed out a number of assignments for him to do, including to anoint Elisha as a prophet to learn from and later, would succeed him (1 Kings 19:16).

 Preparation:

God prepared each of His servants for their assignments, there were also "schools" of the prophets in Ramah (1 Samuel 19:18), Bethel (2 Kings 2:3), Jericho (2 Kings 2:5), and Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38). 

Obedience:

One of Elijah’s strengths was to obey God’s instructions without a moment’s hesitation. Shortly after God spoke, he found Elisha ploughing in a field. Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha symbolizing he was choosing Elisha to receive God’s authority and to walk in his anointing. Elisha left everything, and committed himself to being Elijah’s servant for the next ten years.

There are two essential characteristics of an anointed person:

1. They give up everything for the cause.
2. They are willing to become nothing more than a humble servant until such time God appoints them to the position for which they have been called.

In 1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” The time came, for Elijah to pass on his anointing to the younger prophet.

However Elisha had a remarkable desire for more than Elijah was willing to pass on this young prophet. In our calling there will also be a time of testing that will occur to check out our heart attitude. It was no different for Elisha he had to pass a number of tests. God will test your faithfulness along the journey to our calling. We will read about an interesting series of events that took place which tested Elisha determination and endurance to receive his calling (2 Kings 2).

How did Elisha get hold of his “Double Portion.”

At each location Elijah prophetically tried to persuade Elisha not to follow him but to remain at that location, (v2, 4, 6) “Stay here, please for the Lord has sent me on to” teaches us something about Elisha tenacity and his motivation for acquiring such a noble inheritance from his master.

I do believe Elisha’s request for the “double portion” was not from a heart festering with selfish ambition, to become even greater than Elijah. Rather his aspiration to obtain a double portion was to develop into a vessel to demonstrate God’s power and glory on the earth. Elisha realized he did not have the capacity to fulfill the awesome responsibility of carrying on Elijah’s work. The “double portion” speaks of a multiplication of the anointing. The fact, whereas Elijah performed eight recorded miracles, Elisha performed sixteen.

Elijah’s and Elisha’s visited locations where schools of prophets were stationed. This symbolizes the importance of the prophetic words over our lives as we set our sights on the “double portion!” The call on Elisha’s life was confirmed by his dedication and determination to receive everything God had for him along the journey. 

1. GILGAL means “Rolling away and Cutting away.”

In 2 Kings 2:1, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal means “Rolling away and Cutting away.” There were things that Elisha had to cut away and shift away all that would stop him from his pursuit to receive his “double portion” before he could move onto Bethel. “I want you to stay at Gilgal,” but Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” Gilgal was the name of the place where Joshua crossed into the Promised Land. This was the location where the children of Israel were circumcised, so they named the place Gilgal, which means ‘rolling away’. This prophetically addresses the importance of cutting away the flesh life by having our “.........hearts circumcised” (Romans 2:29).

In Acts 7:51 we read, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”  The Lord is concerned about the condition of our hearts! Are we willing to do His will, to follow the commands of our Lord Jesus?

To have the “Double Portion” we will have to pass through Gilgal

1.      Sadly many stop here, they do not want to crucify the lusts of the flesh.

2.      They do not want to surrender their all.

3.      The price is too high for many.

4.      We will never know what could have been the full power of the anointing.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20). Those who have crucified the flesh live in Christ's (Gr: ‘the part of a person that is prone to sin’) with its passions and desires (affections and lusts) (Galatians 5:24).

This is something we need to regularly assess. The secret to the power of God flowing through the Apostle Paul, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

When you get to Gilgal you will have found ‘holy ground.’

Visiting Gilgal hurts, but it’s worth the glory that will be revealed after-wards!  When Joshua arrived at Gilgal, the Captain the Lord’s of Hosts commanded Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand [is] holy." And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:15).

2.  BETHEL means “The House of God”

Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please for the Lord has sent me on Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel (2 Kings 2:2).

To receive our “double portion,” we need to fully comprehend we are God’s tabernacle, the very dwelling place of the fullness of God. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Our relationship with God is our union with Him, our consecration to the same end – one mind, one purpose and one life. The Holy Spirit would speak into the mind of his prophets (Elisha) to illuminate his spirit and saturate his thoughts, while nothing of a person is taken away, yet everything that was essential was revealed to enable the prophet to declare divine truth in all its fullness that was imparted to him.

“They were "holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). 

3.      JERICHO  means “Fragrant”

Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho (2 Kings 2:4).

Jericho was the first major city the Israelite's conquered (in a rather unconventional way) as they took possession of the Promised Land. The city’s walls were reduced to rubble; Jericho became a symbol of supernatural conquest over the powers of darkness. Satan hates to see men and woman anointed with a “double portion,” so he will set up some roadblocks to try to hinder their progress. However, we are the fragrance of Christ (the gospel) to those who are perishing an aroma of death leading to death, and leading to eternal judgment. But to those who are being saved find knowledge of Christ to be an aroma of life leading to abundant life. The prophet is called to prophecy eternal destinies into lives.

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

The enemy’s effective strategy is ‘discouragement.’ This can adversely affect prophetic men and women, particularly when they are anointed but the doors for ministry appear closed.  We need to be reminded there are seasons for everything. There may be delays while God is preparing our hearts, remember, God’s delays are not His denials. Sadly, this is where many who are called, end their journey.

 The waiting period is a time of humbling. Again and again, we die to our vision, allowing God to place his vision upon our heart.  It isn’t easy; in fact it can really hurt, especially when we see others validated by those in authority while we continued waiting. As the war against an anointed person intensifies the journey can seem too difficult. Discouragement has the potential to take precedence over the desire for a greater anointing. Instead of rising up with determination like Elisha, many stop at the roadblock of discouragement. If anything is hindering your progress, be determined like Elisha – “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you”, put the past behind and move forward with perseverance.

 

 4.   JORDAN means “To Descend”

Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.

Elijah discouraged Elisha again from accompanying him, Elisha remained with him, perusing something he desperately desired. Elijah places his mantle in the water (v8); a path was made so they could cross the Jordon. This speaks of stepping out in faith and seeing supernatural signs, wonders and miracles.

We need to fully understand what Jordan represents?

Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit (anointing). Elijah replied, “You have asked a hard thing.”(v10) Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you;” Elisha’s eyes were firmly fixed on Elijah.

1.      Elisha was fully focused and absolutely nothing whatsoever would distract him.

2.      Elisha desperately wanted that double portion so nothing else really mattered.

3.      Are you that desperate? The word ‘Jordan’ means ‘to descend’ this reminds us that in order to gain a “double anointing,” we are going to have a humble attitude. John the Baptist example "He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

4.      In v.9 Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me,” v10 Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

5.      Elisha asked for the hard thing, the spirit of Elijah - the Holy Spirit is the Author of Elijah prophetic gift, the energizing power of his prophetic spirit.

6.      And Elisha stooped down (descend) ‘took up the mantle of Elijah,’ (v13), within you lies an anointing that far exceeds anything you have known, if you allow Jesus to fully complete His work in you.

Jesus said, as He preparing to return home: “that we’d do greater works than He” (John 14:12). Like Elijah, Jesus left us His mantle; “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (Gr: clothed) with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

The power from on high was in reference to being anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Elisha inherited Elijah’s mantle in order to fulfil his ministry to the nations.

The Hebrew word for ‘mantle’ speaks of it as being:  ‘glorious; magnificent; large and honourable.’  The anointing that dwells in you by the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit the ‘HELPER’ parakletos, Strong’s #3875 from para, “beside,” and kaleo, “to call” hence called to one’s side. The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, counselor.

The Holy Spirit is alongside us to lead us into all truth, to guide us and strengthen us to endure to the end.

LB/23/4/2011