ELISHA MANIFESTED A STEADFAST RESOLVE

ELISHA MANIFESTED A STEADFAST RESOLVE

Prayer: God Almighty, thank you for encouraging us when we feel afraid and inadequate. Help us always to listen to you and to trust your guidance for our lives.

1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 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.

Intro: This passage records the home going of one of the greatest men in the word of God. Elijah was greatly used of the Lord in his generation, but his time on the earth came to an end. The day came when it was time to pass the baton to a new generation. Our text tells us about a young man named Elisha. He was a man hungry for all God could give him. He wanted the Lord and His power in his life and he was willing to pay the price to get it.

This passage tells us what it took for Elisha to obtain the double portion he asked for. What we learn here from him is valuable in our own lives as well. Like it did for Elisha, the mantle of ministry in these days rests upon you and me. If we are going to be as effect as we should be for the glory of the Lord, then we too need the power of God’s Spirit. This passage tells us how to go about getting the power of God on our lives. Let’s look into these verses together this morning as I preach about ELISHA MANIFESTED A STEADFAST RESOLVE.

(Ill. From the time it became apparent that Elijah was leaving until the moment he left and Elisha received the blessing, several trials crossed his way that attempted to hinder them. However, Elisha remained focused on obtaining the double portion.)

A. Opposition Did Not Shake His Resolve 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”V. 3-5

Opposition Did Not Shake His Resolve - At every turn the sons of the prophets ask Elisha the same question, The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” This question is literally this: “Why are you still following that old man? The Lord is through with him and is calling him to heaven today. You would be better off to stay with us, or to strike out on your own.” They tried to talk him out of his resolve! (Note: If you decide that you are going after God until you obtain the double portion, you have better look out! All around you there will be people who will do there best to talk you out of it! I don’t know if they are bothered or offended when someone progresses farther than they have, but you can be sure that they will attack you and oppose you if you go with God! Wholehearted commitment to the cause of Christ leaves many people baffled! (Ill. Joseph - Gen. 37-39; Ill. 3 Hebrews - Dan. 3; Ill. Daniel - Dan. 6; Ill. Paul - Acts 26:24; Ill. Jesus - John 7. Don’t let that crowd shake you, just run with God!)

A.Opposition Did Not Shake His Resolve

B. Opportunities Did Not Shake His Resolve 1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.V. 1-6 Opportunities Did Not Shake His Resolve - Every time they passed through a city, Elijah even attempted to get Elisha to stay. This wasn’t an effort on his part to hinder Elisha’s progress, it was designed to test his resolve. Of course, each of the places mentioned help a special place in the heart of the Jew and would have made a pleasant stopping place. These were opportunities for Elisha to stop and to settle down!

1. Gilgal - The place of beginnings - It was here that the Israelites first celebrated Passover in the promised land. Here the males born during the wilderness wanderings were circumcised and the covenant was renewed, Josh. 5.

2. Bethel - The place of dreams - It was here that Jacob met God and dreamed of angels descending and ascending out of heaven, Gen. 28.

3. Jericho - The place of past victories - It was here that Israel had its first military victory in the promised land, Josh. 6. Jericho was also a border town. To pass beyond this location was to enter wild, new territory.

4. Jordan - The place of death - That river represented the boundary for the Promised Land. To cross it meant to enter into death. It was a formidable barriers that few would ever want to cross.

(Note: We too find ourselves at these same places in our walk with the Lord. Far too many believers spend their entire Christian lives at Gilgal. They never grow and they never leave the place of beginnings. Some go as far as Bethel. They catch the vision of God’s great work which must be done. They see the needs, they feel the tug, but they never get past the place of dreaming about what they might do. They never take the next step of making those dreams and visions realities. Still others hold onto their Jericho’s. They live in the victories of yesterday. They remember what happened back there, forgetting that the same God Who blessed then is desiring to bless now. Then some come to Jordan. This is the barrier between the self-life and the Spirit-life. Few ever take that final step of faith and sell out to go with God all the way. Notice that of all the prophets, only Elisha had enough faith to cross the river and go with Elijah, and it was Elisha who received the double portion. Don’t allow the opportunities to settle down along the way to hinder your progress, but by faith, proceed with God and watch Him remove the barriers, v. 8.)

A.Opposition Did Not Shake His Resolve

B. Opportunities Did Not Shake His Resolve

C. Obstacles Did Not Shake His Resolve 1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

V. 1-6 Obstacles Did Not Shake His Resolve - Even Elijah seemed to be an obstacle to Elisha’s progress. After all, he tried 3 times to get Elisha to stay behind. The Jordan also stood as a barrier between Elisha and his receiving what he desired. Still he went on! He resolved in his heart to stay with Elijah until he was taken away. He did not want to miss the blessing. Even the Jordan was no obstacle to this man’s faith. After all, if Elijah was going to pass over Jordan, then so was Elisha! Whatever means his master used would be the means he, himself would use to cross the stream! (Note: When you resolve to go with God, be forewarned that obstacles will cross your path. Remember when they do that they are there because God has permitted them in your life, Rom. 8:28. These obstacles will test your resolve, but they are God’s responsibility! When Elijah and Elisha arrive at the banks of the Jordan, Elijah flexed his faith and God parted the waters. Elisha got in a miracle because he did not back away from an obstacle! If God has put a resolve within your heart to go with Him, then let nothing short of death keep you from going with Him! If He has called you, then it is His responsibility to clear your path! Ill. Caleb - Josh. 14; Ill. David - 2 Sam. 17; Ill. Moses - Ex. 14)

Conc:Where are you in your spiritual journey this morning? Are you hard after God? Are you seeking the double portion? Do you long to see God move in great power? If so, then get focused and stay focused. In His time, He will move in power in your life. But, if you would have to admit that everything under the sun but God has your attention, maybe you ought to get before Him and get after God until you get all He has to give you.

If He is calling you, then you come and seek Him for the double portion you need for your life, your family and for this church!