Faithfulness

Introduction

-2 Kings 2:1-25

Theme: What does it mean to be faithful to Christ?

-Background: Elijah was a prophet of God, in fact, he was THE prophet. His faithfulness and story is what led him to be remembered as the Model Prophet: he was their representative. The Jews in the first century were waiting for Elijah to come. On the Mount of Transfiguration, when the glory of Jesus shone through, two men appeared: Moses & Elijah. Elijah did many amazing feats and was faithful during the good and the bad. But he was not perfect and he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.

When Elijah was at his lowest point: on the run again from Queen Jezebel/her soldiers after his victory over the 450 prophets of Baal. He was wandering aimlessly and laid down under a juniper tree hoping to die. God made His presence known, that He was in the whisper (God was with him during his darkest moments). God did not leave Elijah purposeless, He gave Elijah a task (anoint the next king), He gave Elijah good news (7,000 have not bowed the knee to Baal), and God gave him a friend: Elisha, who left the farm, his family, and everything to follow Elijah and minister to him. This is his story.

I. A Daily Choice (v. 1-7)

A. Elijah has travelled far and wide doing many feats in the name of God. But now his end is drawing near (v. 1)

1. Elijah sought to go on alone but Elisha said no, “As the Lord lives and as you live I will not leave you” (v. 2, 4, 6)

a. Elisha was grieving the loss of his master but he wasn’t about to leave him alone again. When Elijah felt alone it was Elisha that ministered (served/comforted) him. He was going to stick by his side to the end.

b. Elisha traveled around 26 miles with him South and East (from Gilgal to the other side of the Jordan) and refused to leave his side

2. This faithfulness/dedication set him apart from everyone else. The sons of the prophets in Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan knew Elijah was being taken up to God. They obviously were told by Yahweh about the departure of Elijah and they chose to stay behind, it was his time with God. They each attempted to persuade Elisha to let his master go and his response was “I know, be still”. In other words, “Don’t talk about it” (v. 3, 5)

a. Doesn’t that remind you of some other people? In the book of Ruth we read of Naomi’s husband and her sons dying while in Moab. Naomi started toward Israel and her two daughter-in-laws walked with her. Naomi told them to stay behind and remarry. One left them while Ruth said no: Ruth 1:16–17 “But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”” Her faithfulness was rewarded with a new husband, Boaz, and she is in the lineage of the Messiah

b. Or, how about the masses following Jesus? Everyone loved His miracles, especially when 5,000+ people got fed from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. But when Jesus got to the heart of the matter that He is the bread of life then the crowds said, “This is a hard saying, who can know it?” And the multitudes left Him. John 6:67–69 “So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”” Look at what God did through those disciples: the church was born, the Scriptures written, witnesses of the resurrection abounded and we benefit from their dedication today

B. This is where the rubber meets the road. What sets you apart from the half-hearted believers? A choice

1. When we are grieved and beaten down by the struggles of life and we still choose to walk with Jesus. That is faithfulness

a. It’s not about perfection, it’s not about my strength. It’s about choosing to stick by His side when I don’t feel like it. It’s about walking with Him through rough terrain when everyone else stays behind

b. Faithfulness is not about understanding all the reasons or feeling like a king but it’s deciding to follow Christ in His journey anyway, when you could have chosen to stay behind

2. The sons of prophets, the believers, the religious, they knew what was about to happen to Elijah and tried to get Elisha to stay behind. But he wanted more. He cared about his master and wanted to stay until the end

a. When you can’t see the end of the tunnel but you walk forward anyway because Jesus lights the way. He has promised life, protection, a transformation. You don’t take the next step because of your strength but because of your trust in Him

b. You believe His promises and that’s enough. So you make the choice to follow Him wherever He leads because His end is greater than our fear and struggles. So, we choose to walk with Jesus daily. That is faithfulness

II. A Desire for More (v. 8-14)

A. Clearly, God was with Elijah (v. 8-14)

1. He parted the Jordan just as Moses parted the Red Sea, when Joshua/the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land

a. Now Elijah/Elisha cross the Jordan on dry ground and Elijah asks the burning question, “What do you want from me?” Elisha wanted more of him (v. 9)

b. Elisha wanted to be more like his master: a closeness with God that was unlike any other in that day. Elisha had a calling to minister/profess the messages of God. He had been trained by Elijah, what was he going to do now that he was leaving? Thus, he wanted a double portion of his spirit (probably the Holy Spirit). He wanted more of what Elijah had

2. Elijah’s answer? “That’s tough but pay attention. If you see me taken up to God then you will have what you have asked for” (v. 10-12)

a. Imagine how intensely Elisha watched his master. Not wanting to miss a thing and desiring more than ever before. He probably stood a step closer until the time came.

b. Finally, a flaming chariot with horses separated them and a whirlwind (a mighty storm with strong winds) swept through them when it was least expected (they were in the middle of talking) taking Elijah upward. God intervened

1. God demonstrated to Elisha that it wasn’t just Elijah that was the protector of Israel, it was God through Elijah

2. Elisha’s cry of “father, father, the chariot of Israel and its horseman” is a declaration of Elisha’s revelation that the man of God is nothing without the presence of God. He grieved the loss of his master but also was humbled by God’s manifestation

3. (v. 13-14) Elisha saw the departure of his master in the whirlwind, picked up his cloak, went back to the Jordan River and asked where God was (testing the promise of Elijah) and the waters parted just as his master had done

B. Why be faithful? We have a desire for more

1. Elisha wanted more of his master and he realized that it only came through God. We want more of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and so, we walk with Him

a. In Acts 1 we read of Jesus’ final interaction with His disciples. He called them to be His witnesses and ascended to heaven behind a cloud. Angels promised the disciples turned apostles that He would return in the same way He left. 10 days later, when they were praying in the upper room, a loud rushing wind blew through the house and tongues of cloven fire descended on the apostles, they were filled with the Spirit, and demonstrated mighty works of God

b. Similarly, Elijah is taken up in a storm, a loud/high wind when they least expected it (when they were talking). God’s intervention proved His presence and endowed Elisha with the power of God for mighty works

2. We choose to walk with Jesus when we don’t understand because we get more of Him in ways we don’t expect

a. Faithfulness is a pursuit of God to gain more of Him. We may ask “Where are you Lord?” But then He demonstrates that He has been by our side the whole time

b. We choose to follow God daily so we can have more of Him. Not just be better and more godly but to have more of God Himself. Just a closer walk with Him

c. Elisha was walking with Elijah and God separated them by riding right between them. It’s not about just imitating Jesus because it’s what He did, it’s about the presence of God enveloping our whole being. He then transforms us into Himself. Our choices are about choosing God in everyday situations: meditating on Him, praising Him, demonstrating God in everyday life because He lives in us

3. We choose faithfulness because we get more of God when we walk with Him

III. Fruit of the Spirit (v. 15-25)

A. Elisha came back in the power of the Spirit. Others could see God’s presence through him (v. 15-25)

1. Wisdom: It was obvious to the 50 prophets that the Spirit was with Elisha (he parted the Jordan just as Elijah had done) and they honored him as taking the mantle of his master: the prophet of God (v. 15)

a. They still wanted Elijah though, they were probably trained under him and respected him as a master and man of God. So, they wanted to find him. Elisha said no (because he knew Elijah was nowhere to be found) but they kept pressing, so Elisha said fine (v. 16-18)

b. “Shockingly” they couldn’t find Elijah. But you know what they did find? The wisdom of God through Elisha. They should have trusted his word but they had to see for themselves that the man of God Elisha was the leader

2. Power: God proved again that He was with Elisha by providing for Jericho (v. 19-22)

a. The land was unfruitful and the water was bad, this would lead to famine and drought. So, Elisha purified the water: a miracle of God

b. What God does is beautiful and permanent. Truly, God was working with and through Elisha

3. Authority: Not only this, but Elisha demonstrated the authority of God (v. 23-25)

a. The prophets and city of Jericho accepted Elisha as a prophet like Elijah, but these young men in Bethel rejected him

1. In Bethel, a place where God had dwelt with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a place important to the Israelites where all should recognize God and His workings. Instead, we find a group of ne’er-do-wells who made fun of God’s man

2. It’s more than just a joke. They are berating God’s man as fake, wanting him to “go up” like his master, not wanting what he had to say nor whom he represented

3. No, Elisha is not just mauling a bunch of kids. These are younger men who chose to reject God/His messenger (In 1 Kings 12 the king set up a worship structure for a cult, these must be followers of said cult)

b. So, they paid the price. Elisha cursed them and God sent two bears as judgment (Elisha didn’t call the bears. He cursed the group, God did the rest)

c. This moment showed that Elisha not only possessed the power of God but he was God’s representative. You disrespect/reject God’s man you disrespect/reject God Himself

1. The same thing happened to Saul of Tarsus. He was persecuting the church but on the road to Damascus he saw a bright light and Jesus said “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Persecuting God’s church is the same as persecuting Jesus because we are His body. God lives in us

2. Similarly, Jesus taught His disciples that if you care for anyone in the name of Jesus then you do it to Him. Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

B. Here’s the point: When you are faithful to God and get more of Him there is an obvious change in you

1. Jesus promised His apostles that they would receive the Holy Spirit and… John 16:7–8 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”

a. In us, who have the Holy Spirit inspired Word planted in our hearts and the Spirit of God living in us, we demonstrate conviction of righteousness and sin and judgment. For the truth and life of Jesus emanates from us

b. When we choose Jesus each day, we draw close to Him and have more of Him then we walk different. Others notice it (like with Elisha, “the spirit of Elijah rests on him”)

2. Some might reject our witness and God will handle that. But when we are faithful to Christ and trust in His promises and want more of Him then we will get more of Him and we can be the vessels of God’s goodness, mercy, and love in this world. Our lives, then, are the message of the gospel in realtime. We show what God can do because He has done it and is doing it in us

Conclusion

The call is to choose God every morning. When we feel burnt out and burdened by the weight/difficulty of life, we get up and take one more step for Him. We choose to be in the Word, we decide to pray, we choose to show mercy, we choose Him. Not because we are perfect but because we want more of Him. When we want more of God then we walk a little closer to Him and He changes us for the better. So choose Him today, tomorrow, and the next day until God calls us home. God has made His home in us and will use us to do great things if we choose to be faithful today.