Elisha - Equipped for Service
II Kings 2:1-15
Are you ready for tomorrow?
Kids are you ready for tomorrow?
Do you have all your notebooks and pens and #2 pencils crammed into your backpack ready for that bright and early wake up call?
Teachers are you ready for tomorrow?
Lessons plans in order, students desks lined up, books and supplies all ready to be dished out?
Bus drivers are you ready for tomorrow?
That alarm clock is going to be going off awfully early tomorrow morning for this bus driver
There is a lot of preparation that goes into each school year
And Melbourne has the added pressure of moving on top of everything else
In order for tomorrow and the rest of the school year to go off without a hitch is everyone must be properly equipped
You wouldn’t let some greenhorn come in and make up your class schedules
You don’t put a rookie in charge of all the bus routes
You must be properly equipped
This mornings message is entitled Elisha - Equipped for Service
Read Passage Equipped for Service
This greatly describes the life of Elisha
We first learn of Elisha in I Kings 19 and in v 19 we read
“Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him”
Now the cloak was the most important article of clothing a person could own
It was used as protection against the weather
As bedding, as a place to sit and as luggage
It could be given as a pledge for a debt or torn to pieces to show grief
Elijah put his cloak on Elisha’s shoulders to show that he would become Elijah’s successor
There is no indication in the scriptures how much time elapsed between the call of Elisha and the translation of Elijah
Whatever time there was must have included the constant companionship of the older prophet and the younger
Now it was time for old Elijah to be removed from the walks of men
And for Elisha to officially take his place
So this morning we are looking at several ways that Elisha was equipped for service
I. Follows his master’s footsteps
2 Kings 2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Elijah starts his final, long journey
As he left for his meeting with the Lord Elijah requested Elisha to remain at Gilgal while he proceeded to Bethel
But Elisha refused
He pretty much said “Not on your life! I’m not letting you out of my sight”
Once they made it to Bethel they met up with a group of prophets there
During these times there were companies of prophets that met and possibly lived together for study, encouragement and service
Somehow these men knew Elijah’s time had come
And it seems these young prophets thought that Elisha was unaware
2 Kings 2:3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
He answered them I know, hold your peace, say nothing about it, keep it quiet
It was like he didn’t want to talk about it
He knew what was going to take place
Probably didn’t know exactly how it would happen
But he knew his master must leave in order for him to take his place
But still Elisha followed
Again Elijah urged Elisha to stay as he went to Jericho
But Elisha refused
He continued to follow his masters footsteps
One last time Elijah asked Elisha to stay behind before he crossed the Jordan
But again Elisha continued to follow closely
At this point these two had gathered a crowd of spectators
It says in v7
2 Kings 2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
This group stood afar off to watch from a safe distance
But Elisha stood beside his master
To be equipped for service we need to follow our master’s footsteps
Personal devotion ought to keep us walking closely with the Master
Ruth 1:16 says “wherever you go , I will go
We should strive to follow our Master as closely as we can
There may be times we want to quit
There are always opportunities to quit
Elijah gave Elisha plenty of chance to quit
Jesus told His followers to take up their cross daily and follow Him
Daily we must choose to follow and follow closely
Not afar off like those prophets
Peter followed afar off during Jesus’ trial and what happened?
He betrayed Jesus, throwing a cussin’ fit, denying he even knew Him
We must follow our Master’s footsteps
The second way Elisha was equipped for service
II. Seeks his master’s Spirit
V 9 “ let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me”
This long journey which probably had taken several days comes to the banks of the dirty, dark Jordan river
As they stood there Elijah takes off his cloak, wraps it up like some sort of rod and smacks the water with it
Causing the Jordan to open up, divided so that they can walk across on dry land
This was probably very close to the very spot that the nation of Israel first crossed the Jordan when entering the promise land
Once they crossed Elijah asks Elisha “what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit
According to custom, the firstborn son received a double portion of the father’s inheritance
He was not merely requesting to succeed Elijah in his prophetic ministry
Since the Lord had already revealed this succession
Nor was to Elisha’s desire for a ministry superior to Elijah’s
Though Elisha did, in fact, do twice as many recorded miracles
Apparently Elisha was asking to succeed Elijah in the prophetic office, as God had promised, with spiritual power beyond his own capabilities
He desired that Elijah’s mighty power might continue to live through him
But the decision to grant Elisha’s request was up to God
Elijah only told him how he would know if his request had been granted
Elisha was seeking his master’s spirit
He loved to be with his master
Now he seeks to be like him
If we re to be equipped for service we must do the same
This is always the outcome of knowing Jesus
The desire to be made conformable as in Romans 8:29 “to be conformed to the image of His Son”
Every Christian has the same portion of the Spirit
We should seek to be like t he Holy Spirit
To conform ourselves into His image
Or allow Him to conform us
We should long to live a life that mimics the Spirit of God
Then we can be equipped for service
III. Witness his master’s glory
2 Kings 2:11-12 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. [12] 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.
As these two close friends were walking and talking together
Very dramatically this chariot of fire being pulled by horses of fire bursts between them
Separating them and snatching up Elijah
The horse drawn chariot was the fastest means of transport and the mightiest means of warfare in that day
Thus the chariot and horses symbolized God’s powerful protection
Which was the true safety of Israel
As earthly kingdoms are dependant for their defense on such military force as represented by the horses and chariot
One single prophet had done more by God’s power to preserve His nation than all their military preparations
As this fiery chariot whisked him away and this whirlwind carried Elijah to heaven
Elisha must have stood there in awe
He wasn’t expecting something like that
But he was the only witness to this occurrence
The other prophets still across the Jordan didn’t see
For they later wanted to go looking for Elijah’s body
Elisha was witness to his master’s glory
For Elijah was taken to heaven without dying
Having followed Christ unto death and burial by faith
We become eye-witnesses of His Resurrection Glory
Elisha had to follow his master over Jordan to see him taken up
Before Christ lives in us we must die with Him
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”
How have we been crucified with Christ?
Legally, God looks at us as if we had died with Christ
Because our sins died with Him
We are no longer condemned
Relationally we are crucified with Christ
We have become one with Christ and His experiences are ours
And since we have been crucified with Christ we have also been raised with Him
We are no longer alone
For Christ lives in us
He is our power for living
And our hope for the future
That is how we are a witness to our Master’s Glory
His death burial and resurrection equipped us for service
IV. Receives his master’s gifts
V 13 “he took up the mantle of Elijah that feel upon him”
The mantle falling from the ascending prophet seems symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s coming after Jesus was glorified
Just as Elijah ascended into heaven amongst that whirlwind
Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand
And just as that mantle, affirming to Elisha of his receiving a double portion of his master’s spirit
The Holy Spirit has descended upon us to give us the power as it says in Acts 2:4 “they were filled with the Holy Spirit”
This Holy mantle may be accepted or can be left unused
Without this gift of the Holy Spirit we can never be
“Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” 2 Corinthians 5:20
That is the ultimate service
To be ambassadors , bringing others to Christ
And we must rely on the Holy Spirit
He is the most vital part of our equipment
V. Overcomes in his master’s name
V 14 “He took the mantle and smote the waters and said where is the Lord God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it was not out of disrespect to God or Elijah
It was a plea by Elisha to God to confirm his appointment as Elijah’s successor
In crossing the Jordan as Joshua had before him
Elisha is shown to be Elijah’s Joshua
Elisha and Joshua are very similar names
Elisha meaning “God saves”
Joshua meaning “The Lord Saves”
Just as Joshua succeeded Moses and led the Israelites over the Jordan
Elisha succeeded Elijah in leading Israel to God
This parting of the water allowing Elisha to re-cross on dry land
Confirmed that Elisha had received form God the same great power as his master
He overcame by the gift from above
In the name of our risen Lord and with the anointing from above
Great and mighty things can be done
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
According to the power that worketh in us
There is nothing we can’t do through the name of Jesus Christ
I can do all things through Christ
We read in Acts 2 what the apostles accomplished after the mantle of power, the Holy Spirit fell on them
These uneducated men began preaching and everyone heard the message in their own language
Just like at the Olympics, but without those translators
It’s amazing what can be done even today in the name of the Lord
Finally we see Elisha - equipped for service as he
VI. Manifests his master’s likeness
V 15 “when the sons of the prophets saw him they said, the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha”
He did his masters works, and so reflected his master’s image
It says they bowed themselves to the ground
This indicated their recognition of Elisha’s succession to Elijah’s position
Elisha was now the Lord’s official representative
Does your life and testimony call forth such a confession?
Do others see you manifest your Master’s likeness on a daily basis?
Do we look like our Father?
To be called a Christian is to be Christ - like
That is what our testimony should be
Others should be able to see our master’s likeness reflected on our face
During this life changing experience Elisha was being equipped for service
And after seeing his master raptured into heaven
Elisha was even more ready to do the work of the Lord
He even more strongly listened to the voice of God
For this was only the beginning of a tremendous ministry
I found this news story from Austin, Texas
The headline read: MAN EXPERIENCES HEART ATTACK AFTER THE RAPTURE
Herbert Washington, whom co-workers at Significant Plastics Inc. say was unduly concerned with the rapture and the second coming of Christ
Suffered a serious heart attack when co-workers pretended they’d been caught away without him.
One Tuesday, they lay work outfits on their chairs and hid in a supply room, and when Herbert came back from the restroom, he thought the rapture had occurred.
The janitor, an outspoken Muslim, pretended to have witnessed everyone disappear and ran around the office feigning panic.
Herbert fell to the ground clutching his heart and screaming,
"I knew you’d forget me, Jesus!
What did I do wrong?"
He was taken to a local hospital.
The employees emerged, sobered, from the supply room and gathered up their extra clothes.
"We didn’t mean to scare him to death," said one woman.
"He’s just always talking about it, so today we decided to turn the tables on him."
Washington underwent bypass surgery and is recovering well and "digging into the Bible like never before," says his wife.
Are you digging into the Bible like never before?
Are you equipped for service?
Following your master’s footsteps
Seeking your master’s spirit
Are you a witness to His Glory?
Telling others of His death, burial and resurrection
Have you received the master’s gift of the Holy Spirit
Using the power available to you
Do you overcome obstacles in Jesus’ name
And do you manifest your master’s likeness?
Let us rend our own clothes , which is our self-will
Like Elisha
And take up the mantle, the Holy Spirit
Of our glorified Lord and Master
That we may show the power of His resurrection
By doing His works
John 14:12-13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. [13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
You can be equipped for service!
