Every goal in life is ahead of us, and we need to go forward to reach, attain, or obtain it. Remember the word of God affirms that God’s divine power has given us everything that pertains to life … (2 Peter 1:3).
Now, let’s see how Prophet Elisha depicts how to go forward in life:
Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-25)
Since God’s divine power has given us everything that pertains to life …, including what we need to help us to go forward, we should ask, what did Elisha have? He had:
1. A knowledge of the goal: Elisha knew what he wanted from Elijah. 2 Kgs. 2:9 states, “And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” Do you know what you want in life?
a. Pray that God will reveal to you what you should be pursuing. If you are not pursuing anything, you cannot go forward to get it.
2. The grace to be resolute: Even when his boss (Elijah) discouraged him three times from going forward, he discerned that going forward with Elijah was going to yield good fruit. He therefore remained resolute (2 Kings 2:1-2; 4,6). Remember, your goal is ahead of you, and if you want to reach it, you must go forward.
a. There may be stops at different places along the way (Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, then Jordan). Sometimes, to reach your goal, you may have to try this school and that school; sometimes you may experience hopping from one job or business to another, but if you keep going forward, you will reach your destination.
b. The road may be long: From Gilgal to Bethel is estimated to be about 10-12 miles; Bethel of Jericho is a little over 11 miles; Jericho to Jordan is about 6 miles. You may have been studying, researching, praying, and taking all kinds of steps for a long time, but I say if you keep going, you will arrive at a safe shore, in Jesus' name.
3. Determination of heart: He determined to shun negative and condescending comments of discouragers. If you are going to go forward, you must shun and silence all negative voices, comments, dreams, and thoughts that often come from within and without. The bible says, “Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” – 2 Kgs. 2:3. My father said in one of his sermons that if you wake up after having a bad dream, get up and cancel it with the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus. Then, go about your business. Go forward, never allowing that dream to weigh you down or hold you back.
i. Pray that God will give you the grace great enough to resist the spirits and manifestations of distraction in life.
4. Focus: Going forward requires focus. The condition given to Elisha required focus. Elijah told him in verse 10, “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.” Praise God, verse 12 records “And Elisha saw it, …” In the mighty name of Jesus, you will see what you set out for.
a. Pray that you will always employ a focused mind to receive what you desire in life.
5. Let go of sentiments: Elisha did not allow the mockery of people at different junctions hold him down. The sons of the prophets repeated their mockery in verse 5. They did not stop there, but went on to the bank of the river Jordan, standing at a distance to see what was going to happen – in verse 7. Can you imagine that it was the sons of the prophets who were mocking and disgracing Elisha, a fellow prophet? It is your colleagues, close friends, church members, and family members who expect you to fail? Do not worry, you must let go of whatever keeps you down. Go forward.
a. Pray that God will give you a mind that is focused on arriving at the goal.
6. Reward of waiting:
a. If you press forward, you cannot be stuck. In going forward with Elijah, Prophet Elisha gained power for miracles and wonders. He caught the mantle needed for the miraculous. The first person to experience a miracle was Elisha himself, who parted the river by using the mantle of Elijah (2 Kgs. 2:13-14). Listen, there is a miracle waiting to happen if you go forward. You can rescue/deliver yourself if you press forward. If you press on in your prayer life, you become fire that burns enemies.
b. Going forward will bring you recognition and honor:
i. The same sons of the prophets who had been mocking Elisha now recognized that he had caught something. The bible says, “Now, when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.” 2 Kgs. 2:15. Those coworkers, family members, teammates, friends, etc., who once mocked you will bow before you, in Jesus' name.
ii. The people in your neighborhood, city, state, country, and even the world will acknowledge God’s grace upon your life, and they will seek you for solutions. The bible says, “Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.” 2 Kgs. 2:19-22. Because Elisha did not mind the long suffering that goes along with going forward, he now carried the power and authority even to affect nature (healing a barren ground, giving sweet water). Oh, God is great. Go forward with Him, and you will experience His glory.
iii. You can command destruction upon wickedness: Some youths mocked Elisha, and he commanded animals to destroy them. The bible says, “Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.” - 2 Kgs. 2:23-24. Are you willing to go forward? There is no end to what you can do or achieve in Christ.
Prayers:
1. Pray that God will help you in your going, to reach the point of honor, as Elisha did.
2. Pray that God will help you to go forward, getting to the realm of being a solution provider for your community, in Jesus' name.
3. Pray that God will deal with every power that wants to frustrate your moving forward in life. Every power that wants you to go back to the plowing that you already left, the good Lord shall destroy them (whether they are fellow prophets or not).
4. Every power of mockery in ministry, Lord, silence them. Let your judgment come upon them.
5. Pray that, from now on, you will be honored. Pray that God’s grace and power shall be recognized in your life from now on.
1) Whom did God use to bring blessings to the house of the woman with a jar of oil? Elisha? (2 Kgs. 4:1-7)
2) Who healed the son of the Shunammite woman? Elisha. (2 Kgs. 4:8-37)
3) Whom did Naaman consult for his leprosy healing? Elisha. ((2 Kgs. 5:1-14)
4) Whom did God use to make an axe head float? Elisha. (2 Kgs. 6:1-7)
5) Who blinded the captors from Syria when they came to abduct the Prophet? Elisha. (2 Kgs. 6:8-23)
6) Who prophesied that there would be a surplus in Samaria? Elisha. (2 Kgs. 7:1-2)
All of these and more we can do if we make up our minds to GO FORWARD.
Concluding declarations:
In your prayer life, go forward
In your faith (believing) life, go forward
In your educational life, go forward
In your business life, go forward
Where you are working, go forward
In your husband-wife relationship, go forward
In your parent-child relationship, go forward
In your ministry assignments, go forward.
Go forward! Go forward in the mighty name of Jesus. Go forward.
