1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it." 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. 5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it." 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. 7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 2 Kings 2:1-8 (NIV)
The sons of the prophets (Bible college students, as it were) knew that something fantastic was about to happen. They asked Elisha at both Bethel and Jericho if he knew about it. It had probably been a hot topic, and most of them had discussed it amongst themselves at length.
Fifty of these men even turned out to watch it – and they witnessed a spectacle unmatched to this day. But only on participated in it! Unfortunately for the fifty – they were content to view from afar.
It is said that there are three kinds of people in the world:
• Those that make things happen
• Those that watch things happen
• Those that wonder “what happened?”
I invite you to travel with me from Gilgal to the other side of Jordan today. In a short while, things are going to change. The anointing is about to fall – God’s spirit is going to be given. When the Spirit is outpoured – where will you be?
There’s nothing wrong with Gilgal, Bethel, or Jericho. But when God wants to do a work on the other side of Jordan – in which of those cities do you want to stop?
Will you participate in what God is doing – or will you be content to view from afar?
First – about Elijah and Elisha
There is a great significance in the names and character of these men. And we are talking about a transfer of anointing between two of the most powerful prophets of the OT.
Elijah – first appears in the 17th chapter of 1 Kings. His most famous act was calling down fire from heaven before the prophets of Baal.
Elisha – had followed Elijah as an “assistant” of sorts for 8 years. In our text today, we see Elisha asking Elijah for a double portion of his spirit. It is interesting to note that the Bible records exactly twice the number of miracles in Elisha’s ministry (Elijah 7, Elisha 14)
Key point – in this chapter – we see the old, which was good, transferring the anointing to the new, which was better. Follow me as we discover a striking parallel to this story in the Kingdom of God.
The names of these prophets tell a story in themselves:
• Elijah – means God is Jehovah (Old)
• Elisha – means God his Salvation (New)
The significance of these names is amazing to me. The story is about the transfer of anointing between the Old and New. In the Old Covenant, God performed many miracles. Lives were changed, hearts were touched. The anointing was present (Holy men of old spake as they were moved on by the Holy Spirit – 2 Pet 1:21). But in the New Covenant – that anointing rested upon Jehovah’s Salvation (Jesus).
• Jesus – means “Jehovah is become salvation”
• Christ – means the “Anointed one”
When you speak the name “Jesus Christ”, you are saying The One Anointed to Become Jehovah’s Salvation. No wonder we are baptized in that name! No wonder we pray in that name! No title or name of God encompasses the entire plan of God like that name – Jesus!
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (KJV)
The nature of their ministry is equally significant. Remember as you are thinking of these two prophets, consider the differences between the Old and the New (Covenants).
• Elijah – a Bedouin, spent most of his time in the wilderness. Nearly inaccessible, he appeared now and then in a blaze of glory. His hair was long and disorderly. He was fearsome in his appearance. His miracles are cataclysmic in nature.
• Elijah – a city dweller – the prophet is now approachable. He word the normal clothing, or beged, of the Hebrew. Unlike Elijah, he was bald. His appearance was far from fearsome, as even children were bold enough to mock him. His miracles most often met the basic needs of human life.
Notice the contrast between the Old and New Covenants:
• Old – Jehovah God is accessible to only a few, and misunderstood by most. One man, once a year, can enter his presence, and then with fear and trembling. In the few occasions he does appear to others, it is often with a terrifying display of power.
• New – Jesus is living amongst us, and is our friend. He appears so normal - only those that are really seeking him even recognize him, others tend to scorn him. His miracles are common, and meet our basic needs.
Elisha’s first miracle was giving life to the dead springs at Jericho.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38 (KJV)
Elijah did not die. This represents the eternality of God in the Old Covenant. Elisha did die, but in his death gave another man life! This represents the life-giving sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Romans 6:8 (KJV)
That’s all neat, you might say – but what does it mean to me?
You see – the Bible is really the story of all of our lives. We are all born in the Old Covenant – sinners convicted by the laws of a Holy God. But we can be born again into the New Covenant! The Old will become New!
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature... (2 Cor 5:17)
What is the major difference between the Old and the New? It is the Holy Spirit of God, which once moved on men, now working in men. First in Christ, the One Anointed to Become Jehovah’s Salvation. Through faith in Christ, that anointing is also available for us.
Do you see what I’m saying? The Old in your life is about to become New! The distant, fearsome God is about to become approachable. The anointing is about to fall on someone.
Will it be you? Or will you be content to view from afar?
Unfortunately, many don’t really understand how much is available to them in that anointing. Because they don’t really understand it’s power and privilege, they are content to stop in so many places… Take a look at the various places in the final journey of Elijah and Elisha. In all of these cities, some of the “sons of the prophets” remained – and missed what could have been theirs!
Gilgal – means wheel, rolling. It is a starting point, a place of beginnings. In Gilgal, Israel made their first alter in the Promised Land. Israel anointed their first king. Israel erected a memorial of twelve stones.
Thank God for a starting point. Thank God for a place of faith and repentence – of giving yourself over to the Lordship of Christ. But don’t be content to stop there!
Bethel – means the House of God. It was at Bethel that Jacob received a vision and calling for his life. It was at Bethel that the Ark of God resided until the days of Samuel.
Thank God for a place where I can go and experience God.
I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Psalms 122:1 (NIV)
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold… … till I entered the sanctuary of God… Psalms 73:2,17 (NIV)
But going to church isn’t enough… Someone once said that going to church makes one a Christian like going to a garage makes one a car… What matters is what you do when you’re in church!
Jericho – means a place of fragrance. It was at Jericho that Israel had watched the glory of God fall when the people worshipped. It was at Jericho that they received strength and encouragement to conquer the rest of the land. Jericho was a gift to God – as the Israelites were instructed to remove nothing from the city (they could not take spoil).
In Rev 8:3-4 our worship and communion with God is characterized as incense which rises before him day and night. What victory is wrought – what strength is received – when we our lives become a sweet savour of worship. When we decide it’s all about him, and not about us…
Jericho is a wonderful place. But we can’t even stop there!
Jordon – means descender. Throughout the scriptures it symbolizes death.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20 (NIV)
You see – we cannot afford to stop until we have given our very lives to him. At some time in all of our lives, the Lord will invite us to give Him everything. To descend… To die…
Only after they had gone through Jordan did Elijah finally say, “What do you want?”
Elijah said, “I want a double portion of your spirit!” You see – he had felt the touch of the anointing before (1 Kings 19:19), but it was not his. He had been living with the memory of that touch, though, and now he was saying… I want it!
Tonight – God’s Spirit – his anointing – is here for you. You have felt the touch of His mantle (Spirit) upon your shoulders – but now, it’s time for a transfer. God wants to give it to you!
I urge you – don’t just stop with a good start. Don’t just be satisfied with coming to church, or even worshipping him in church. Make up your mind today that whatever it takes – you must have his Spirit for yourself!
A sad ending for some…
For those prophets that had been content to view from afar… Now, they saw that the Spirit of Elijah rested upon Elisha. There must have been some regret now – they asked Elijah to allow them to go search for the body. Could it be that they hoped to find some other article that they could keep for themselves? But it was too late…
Today – it is not too late for you. God is offering His anointing to you…
