You Have Asked A Hard Thing

YOU HAVE ASKED A HARD THING

2 Kgs. 2:7-10

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Churches have often been better known for their banquets than their spirituality.

2. The pastor of one Church was asked what was required to join his church. He said, “You need to be saved and to have an 8½ X 11 casserole dish!” I hope that’s not what’s uppermost in your minds today!

B. TEXT

7... Elijah and Elisha ...stopped at the Jordan (river). 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. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

C. THESIS

1. This passage is about a man named Elisha. The key thing about Elisha was that he understood the value of being filled with God’s Spirit and was determined to keep seeking God until he was filled.

2. We Christians also have a promise from the Lord Jesus of being filled with His Spirit; “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses of Me [to all nations]” Acts 1:8.

3. The Holy Spirit came upon the early church on the Day of Pentecost; “...they were all together...in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent

wind came from Heaven and filled the whole house... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:1-4.

4. The Apostle Peter told us that this anointing of the Spirit is for all Christians of all times (Acts 2:38-39). It’s God’s will for all believers to be constantly filled with His Spirit (Eph. 5:18, Greek).

5. Being filled with God’s Spirit is an easy thing, when it happens. The hard part is for modern Christians to prepare our hearts and to seek Him until we’re filled.

6. So we’re going to look at the Value of the Holy Spirit to us and how to prepare ourselves to receive His anointing.

I. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO YOU?

A. THE SPIRIT MAKES YOU A CHILD OF GOD

1. Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:6-7

2. Just as you were born into this physical world, you must be “born” into God’s spiritual world – it happens by faith in Jesus Christ. He implants His divine nature in you and you become a new creature (Rom. 8:15, 2 Cor. 5:17) -- a Child of God.

B. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES YOU POWER TO LIVE VICTORIOUSLY

1. God says, “I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and...laws,” Ezek. 36:27. Not only does the Spirit convict us of sin (Jn. 16:8), but His indwelling presence overcomes our temptations, when we cooperate with Him (Rom. 8:3a,2).

2. That’s why John said, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!” 1 Jn. 4:4. He transforms us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).

C. HE GUIDES US & LEADS US, Jn. 16:13

1. ILLUS. a. The ancient Norsemen were the first

Europeans to reach America. They had no scientific instruments to guide them. They used the stars, but sometimes they became uncertain which way to go. Then they would release a raven.

b. As the bird flew high into the air, the daring sailors would follow the same direction that the bird took, knowing that the raven, with its keen eyesight and higher vision would lead them to land.

c. When we don’t know which way to go, that’s when we turn to the Holy Spirit, who points the direction for us.

2. Paul said, “As many as are LED by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God” Rom. 8:14.

D. HE’S THE VOICE OF GOD TO US

1. The Spirit of God illumines the Word & opens our minds so we can understand God’s truth. He’s our infallible teacher (Luke 12:12; John 14:26). He reminds us of everything Jesus has said to us.

2. Isa. (30:21) said, “...your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” That’s the voice of the Holy Spirit.

3. Our society tells us there’s times when people need DESIGNATED DRIVERS -- where one person let’s another person drive for them. We need to let the Holy Spirit be our Designated Driver!