{"id":4024,"date":"2025-06-28T21:04:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T21:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/?p=4024"},"modified":"2025-06-28T21:09:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T21:09:03","slug":"lessons-from-bible-lives-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/28\/lessons-from-bible-lives-6\/","title":{"rendered":"LESSONS FROM BIBLE LIVES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ELISHA \u2013 MAN WHO RECEIVED \u201cA DOUBLE PORTION\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings chaps 2-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION: <\/strong>In today\u2019s vernacular, we would say that Elijah\u2019s was a tough act to follow. In other words, after all the miracles performed by Elijah, what do you do for an encore?!? But as we shall see, Elisha\u2019s faith had become so strong as he watched God work through his master Elijah, that he believed God could do even more. His faith was well founded, for God said to Jeremiah, \u201cBehold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?\u201d [Jeremiah already knew the answer to that question \u2014 see Jeremiah 32: 17. There is nothing too hard for God!!]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day D. L. Moody heard a preacher say, \u201cIt is yet to be seen what God can do through one totally yielded person.\u201d Mr. Moody left that meeting determined to become that person! No doubt this same spirit prevailed in the breast of Elisha. May the dear Holy Spirit kindle a desire in our hearts today to experience more of the power of God in our lives, as did Elisha\u2013the man who received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 .ELISHA WAS HUMBLE IN HIS BEGINNINGS<\/strong> He Was Busy at Home \u2013 1 Kings 19:19 In response to God\u2019s command ( 19: 16) Elijah comes to Abel-meholah to anoint Elisha as his successor and finds him laboring in the field on his father\u2019s farm. Elisha was a faithful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He Was Busy at Home \u2013 1 Kings 19:19 In response to God\u2019s command ( 19: 16) Elijah comes to Abel-meholah to anoint Elisha as his successor and finds him laboring in the field on his father\u2019s farm. Elisha was a faithful worker, doing his best in the work at hand. Elisha had character, and this is much more important to God than talent! Be faithful to perform the task at hand to the best of your ability if you would desire God to call you to greater things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He Was Obedient to His Call \u2013 19:20-21 Elisha responded at once to the call of God given through Elijah. This spirit of surrender without reservation to the will of God reminds us of Samuel and also of Isaiah. Samuel was very young and did not yet know the Lord. But when Eli explained that it was the Lord calling, Samuel responded submissively saying, \u201cSpeak; for thy servant heareth.\u201d And in the midst of Isaiah\u2019s awesome encounter with God, he heard the voice of the Lord asking \u2013 \u201cWhom shall I send, and who will go for us?\u201d His answer is a classic expression of total surrender: \u201cHere am I; send me.\u201d Have you been obedient to the call(s) of God in your life? Four important calls are: salvation, separation, soul winning and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He Was Content to be Servant to the Man of God \u2013 19:21 b Notice the words \u201cministered unto him.\u201d In 2 Kings 3: 11 we gain a little more insight into this as we learn that Elisha \u201cpoured water on the hands of Elijah.\u201d In other words, he was the personal servant, valet, and errand-boy for Elijah. This illustrates the truth Jesus taught His disciples in Matt 23: 10-12, namely, the greatest thing we can do is serve! Jesus said that the servant is greatest of all. No wonder Elisha achieved such greatness, for he delighted in serving\u2013he was a man of true humility!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. ELISHA WAS BOLD IN HIS DESIRES<\/strong> \u2013 2 Kings 2: 1-9 The persistence of Elisha is simply amazing and seems so out of character for one who had been so much in the background\u2013just the body servant of the great man of God! Would we not say he was audacious, even presumptuous? Oh, but God delights in such behavior when it is a direct expression of faith in Him! God is looking for men who will stand in the gap before Him and make up the hedge. (For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chr 16:9) God delights to show Himself strong through thirsty, yielded men and women. Remember, \u201cwhere there is no vision, the people perish.\u201d Elisha saw the need of his people\u2013he knew that even though Elijah had had a great ministry, there was still much wickedness and idolatry in Israel, and they needed a man who would not only display the power of God, but would also rebuke their sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. ELISHA WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS CLAIM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He Was Persistent \u2013 2 Kings 2: 1-6 Elisha would not be turned aside from his goal\u2013he would not go back from following Elijah, because he wanted a special blessing! We must realize that Elijah was not trying to hold back the blessing\u2013rather, he was simply testing Elisha\u2019s will and determination in the matter. Consider Luke 11:9-13; Isa 44:3. Here is a principle that operates in the whole sphere of prayer, not just in the matter of obtaining power. (See also Luke 18: 1-8) Far too many Believers today are either not sincere in their desire for power, or else they give up too soon. We must learn to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Faith Became Sight \u2013 2 Kings 2: l 0-12 This reminds us again that believing is seeing and not the other way around. See John l l:23-26, 40. How many wonderful things we would see if only we would believe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He Received the Power He Sought \u2013 2 Kings 2: 13-13:2 With 16 miracles, compared to 8 recorded for Elijah, it is clear that God honored Elisha\u2019s request for a double portion of the spirit and power which rested upon Elijah!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESSONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. One we have noted before in this series: Do not seek for position or promotion\u2013 rather, do the task at hand, regardless of how menial and obscure it may be, and God will exalt you in due time. (James 4:6, 10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Our power will be proportionate to our hunger for it \u201cBlessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Faith honors God \u2014 much faith honors God greatly!<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"