During The Trial Faint Not

2 Kings 2:2 KJV (WS)

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.

Proverbs 24:10 KJV (WS)

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Elijah was about to be taken away “into heaven by a whirlwind”

2 Kings 2:1 KJV (WS)

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

His helper wanted the blessing promised if he saw Elijah depart.

2 Kings 2:9–10 KJV (WS)

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

Before we get great spiritual blessings.

Many times God will run you through some tests to determine if you are worthy of the blessing.

You will not get the blessing if you do not pass the tests.

We note some of the tests from our text which Elisha had to pass.

FIRST—THE TEST OF SUGGESTION

“Tarry here”

Sometimes the best of people, will give us advice that runs counter to our calling.

This sometimes will open the door to a shameless opportunity to back out of the commitment.

But you also lose the blessing.

(Preacher I want to go to heaven, but I don’t want to live right).

SECOND—THE TEST OF SITUATION

“The LORD hath sent me to Bethel.”

Our situation may not be helpful or useful to our calling.

Continue to follow.

You may be trained for other tasks.

The military cross train every soldier first to fight then a special skill.

Salvation

Holy Ghost

Concenstration/living right

But if you want the blessing you must past this test.

THIRD—THE TEST OF SPEECH

“Elisha said …

As the Lord lives and as you soul lives.”

You must give a public profession of your faith and also your calling.

If you can’t talk it; you may be a phony.

Soul winning as a child of God is a option, we are all to God’s field for the Harvard.

FOURTH—THE TEST OF SWEAT

“So they went down to Bethel.”

This trip was a real test as were the other journeys involved.

They required effort, energy, zeal in the commitment.

The travel was on foot and had to be very tiring.

But God’s best spiritual blessings are not for slothful or lazy people.

FIFTH—THE TEST OF SACRIFICE

“So they went down to Bethel.”

Elisha would have to sacrifice his own desires, his energy, his time, etc. to travel with Elijah. Spiritual blessings require sacrifice

SIXTH—THE TEST OF SINCERITY

“So they went down to Bethel.”

All his great talk would be proven sincere then he went with Elijah.

Your talk and your walk must agree if you would gain spiritual blessings from God.

SEVENTH—THE TEST OF STEADFASTNESS

“So they went down to Bethel.”

Faithfulness is seen in Elisha’s going to Bethel.

God requires faithfulness to serve him.

God is not interested in haphazard, irregular service.

1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV (WS)

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

EIGHTH—THE TEST OF SCORN

“So they went down to Bethel.”

Going to Bethel brought some sarcastic remarks from those in the school of the prophets there.

You will not last long in spiritual pursuits if you cannot survive scorn and reproach.

Serving God, desiring spiritual blessings will not get you any Nobel prizes or ‘man-of-the-year’ awards in Time magazine.