Elijah And Elisha – The Work Develops

Ill:

• A man was driving home from work one evening;

• When he suddenly realized that it was his daughter’s birthday;

• And he hadn’t yet bought her a gift.

• So, the man rushed off to ‘Toys R Us’ asked the assistant,

• "How much is that Barbie doll in the window?"

• The assistant replied in a disinterested tone,

• "Which Barbie?

• We have Barbie Goes to the Gym for $19.95,

• Barbie Goes to the Ball for £19.95,

• Barbie Goes Shopping for £19.95,

• Barbie Goes to the Beach for £19.95,

• Barbie-Goes-Night-clubbing for £19.95,

• and the Divorced Barbie for £250"

• The overwhelmed man asked,

• "Why is the Divorced Barbie £250 and all the others are only £19.95?"

• "That’s obvious!" said the assistant.

• "The divorce Barbie comes with Ken’s house, Ken’s car, and Ken’s furniture.”

Life is about relationships!

• Sadly some of them don’t work out!

• And at times we get surprised when some of them do!

• The two men in our passage this session;

• Had an interesting relationship.

• These two men represented different generations and opposite personalities;

• Yet they were able to work together.

Note:

• There are three things about Elisha that I want to pull out from this passage;

• Three principles, three truths that we can apply to our own lives;

• And three principles that can deepen our relationship with God.

(1). Like Elisha we must be committed to our calling (vs 2/4/6).

• Notice: Three times in this passage a phrase, a saying, an expression appears.

• Verse 2: “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”

• Verse 4: “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”

• Verse 6: “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”

• Three times Elijah tried to send Elisha away but he refused to go!

• ill: disobedient dog who repeatedly told to stay insists on following the child to school.

• Notice: in verse 2 the prophets of Bethel came out to him;

• These are real encouraging diplomats – look at what they say:

• “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”

• In other words: “Elijah is about to die and you will be on your own!”

• I love Elisha’s response:

• “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

• In other words: “Shut up!”

• “If you haven’t got anything better to say then don’t say it!”

Elisha refused to be distracted or discouraged by anyone;

• And that anyone even included Elijah himself!

• Who told him to ‘stay put’ three times.

• God had called Elisha to a mission, to be a prophet;

• And Elisha planned on fulfilling that calling!

Note:

• I believe that Elijah is testing Elisha in this chapter.

• You may remember from an earlier study in 1 Kings chapter 19 verse 20:

• Elijah had made a promise, a commitment;

• He said to Elijah; “I will follow you”.

• Maybe now in this passage Elijah is seeing if Elisha really meant it;

• You made a promise at the start of our relationship;

• Now through death it will soon be time to end our relationship;

• Did you really mean that promise!

Ill:

• A young man walked into a photography studio with a framed picture of his girlfriend.

• He told the assistant that he wanted the picture copied.

• When the assistant removed it from the frame.

• He noticed an inscription on the back of the photograph.

• “My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day.

• I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.”

• It was signed "Helen,” and it contained a P.S.:

• “If we ever break up, I want this picture back.”

• Application:

• How many of you think she was NOT totally committed to that relationship?

• Elisha had said to Elijah; “I will follow you”.

• Maybe now in this passage Elijah is seeing if Elisha really meant it;

• Application:

• What have you promised the Lord?

• How are you doing with that commitment!

(2). Like Elisha we should be passionate about our calling.

• Elisha was a passionate man;

• We might use the word; ‘zealous’ to describe him.

• Quote: Dictionary describes ‘zealous’ as "eagerness in the pursuit of something."

• The idea being to "pursue" something with strong feelings;

• Until that ‘something’ is found or completed.

Ill:

• When William Sangster was minister of Westminster Central Hall;