UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT

2 Kings 2:1–14 ESV

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Intro:

From the moment Elisha was anointed I believe there was a knowing of assignment. Though he may have hesitant or weary of what he was hearing or feeling, in his dept he knew.

There were 3 stops in the last stretch of Elijah’s life and to Elisha’s double portion. Each stop offered the opportunity to settle. As we press we must understand the Assignment to know where to stop and not stop.

1st Stop Gilgad

2 Kings 2:1–2 ESV

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

GILGAL

1. Town near Jericho. Gilgal was assigned to Benjamin’s tribe when Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel. For many years it was a center of religious, political, and military importance, especially during the periods of the conquest of Canaan and the early monarchy under Saul.

Gilgal was the first place where Israel encamped in Palestine after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (Jos 4:19).

Gilgad represented the foundational beliefs the olds days; the way we always did it.

Elisha was offered to stay here and warned the one who he was following would soon be gone

2 Kings 2:3 ESV

And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

Elisha knew his assignment

2nd Stop Bethel

2 Kings 2:4 ESV

Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

BETHEL.—1. On a rocky knoll beside the great road to the north, about 12 miles from Jerusalem, stands the modern Beilīn, a village of some 400 inhabitants, which represents the ancient Bethel. Four springs furnish good water, and in ancient times they were supplemented by a reservoir hewn in the rock, south of the town

Bethel was a good place to abide or settle. to go no further

Elisha was offered to stay here and warned the one who he was following would soon be gone

2 Kings 2:5 ESV

The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

Elisha knew his assignment

3rd Stop Jericho

2 Kings 2:6 ESV

Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

JERICHO Ancient city on the west side of the Jordan River. The name Jericho may be connected to the ancient name of the Canaanite moon god. The Hebrew words for moon, month, new moon, and Jericho are very similar. Others associate it with the word for spirit or smell, assuming that the pleasant fragrances of the fruits and spices that grew in this oasis occasioned the name of the place. The OT occasionally calls it “the city of palm trees” (e.g., Dt 34:3; 2 Chr 28:15).

Jericho represents wealth comfort earthly treasures.

you have done well Elisha take your reward and retire. Elisha had to decide again will i be an Orphan or a Son. am i in this for the long haul.

Elisha was in he proved that when he left. he killed his team of OX and burned the plow. Elisha had nothing to go back to he understood the assignment.

Elisha heard the Jordan

so Elijah and Elisha and 50 prophets set out for the Jordan.

2 Kings 2:9–11 ESV

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

You have to stay on your assignment until you see your Jordan.

you not gone get your double portion in the field where you got anointed because there you wouldn’t know what to do with it.

you not gone get your double cause you poured some water and that is all some will remember you for after you get your double portion

you not gone get our double at:

Gilgad

Bethel

Jericho

you have to stay on assignment until you see your Jordan.

because by the time you get there you have obtained some things

you’ve got some experience of some things

you appreciate the cost and no longer demand the honor for the cost paid

Patience has had her good work you have come to full term and can birth this thing.

you are ready for it. ready to make room for it

and when you get it you go work.

2 Kings 2:12–14 ESV

And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Elisha understood the assignment to go work

waste no time

go im not just gone wear as a token to show people what i got lets get to work.

are you ready?

where are you on your assignment?

are you suppose to be working but youve been in Gilgad or bethel or Jericho stacking chips. it is time to go to work. it is time to strike you cloak on the Jordan and say lets go.