How to Take Up the Mantle – Part 2
(Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over [2 Kings 2:14-15].
We ended our last study with Elijah raptured to heaven and Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and taking his place. There was Elisha, standing alone on the east bank with the Jordan River blocking his path to the west bank. Let’s continue at that point now.
When Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind, his mantle fell off. Elisha picked it up. It now was the property of Elisha, so he took it and struck the waters of the Jordan River. Then he gave an authoritative command to the waters, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?
Those are the words from the Bible verse with which we began this study. And there is the moral to this story. Elisha hadn’t been a prophet before. He was Elijah’s protégé. Suddenly Elijah was gone and Elisha was on his own. What to do? We might think Elisha’s knees would buckle and knock together. He might let out an audible gulp and turn into a worry wart.
Not so! Elisha had received his request. He received a double portion of the Spirit of God. He was bold but not arrogant. He exuded confidence but tempered it with love. He didn’t worry one iota. He proceeded straightway to the Jordan, struck the waters with Elijah’s mantle, and imitated what he had seen from his teacher.
His command to the waters wasn’t a question, though he phrased it as one. He knew the waters would divide because Elijah had done it that way, and Elijah granted his request for a double portion of what Elijah had. The waters could not help but divide and permit Elisha to cross over on dry ground.
The moral to the story? Elijah was gone for good, speaking in terms of this earth. Elijah would never again be available for Elisha. But Elisha wasn’t afraid because the God of Elijah never left! The God of Elijah was the One who performed the miracles and commanded such a presence before men. The same one true God would do the same, and even more, in and through Elisha.
Dear friends, we need to spiritually exercise ourselves on a daily basis, so that our spirits grow strong while our flesh weakens. Otherwise we remain infants in spiritual matters. Instead of fixing our sight on the Lord Jesus, we fasten our attention on men. We expect the pastor or the Sunday School teacher or an author or some other man to serve as Jesus for us.
Alas, but every man will soon be gone. Notwithstanding this fact, the Lord Jesus will still be here with us and for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. So let’s learn to focus on the One on Whom we can depend, rather than on that which is passing away even as we speak.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We ended our last study with Elijah raptured to heaven and Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and taking his place. There was Elisha, standing alone on the east bank with the Jordan River blocking his path to the west bank. Let’s continue at that point now.
When Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind, his mantle fell off. Elisha picked it up. It now was the property of Elisha, so he took it and struck the waters of the Jordan River. Then he gave an authoritative command to the waters, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?
Those are the words from the Bible verse with which we began this study. And there is the moral to this story. Elisha hadn’t been a prophet before. He was Elijah’s protégé. Suddenly Elijah was gone and Elisha was on his own. What to do? We might think Elisha’s knees would buckle and knock together. He might let out an audible gulp and turn into a worry wart.
Not so! Elisha had received his request. He received a double portion of the Spirit of God. He was bold but not arrogant. He exuded confidence but tempered it with love. He didn’t worry one iota. He proceeded straightway to the Jordan, struck the waters with Elijah’s mantle, and imitated what he had seen from his teacher.
His command to the waters wasn’t a question, though he phrased it as one. He knew the waters would divide because Elijah had done it that way, and Elijah granted his request for a double portion of what Elijah had. The waters could not help but divide and permit Elisha to cross over on dry ground.
The moral to the story? Elijah was gone for good, speaking in terms of this earth. Elijah would never again be available for Elisha. But Elisha wasn’t afraid because the God of Elijah never left! The God of Elijah was the One who performed the miracles and commanded such a presence before men. The same one true God would do the same, and even more, in and through Elisha.
Dear friends, we need to spiritually exercise ourselves on a daily basis, so that our spirits grow strong while our flesh weakens. Otherwise we remain infants in spiritual matters. Instead of fixing our sight on the Lord Jesus, we fasten our attention on men. We expect the pastor or the Sunday School teacher or an author or some other man to serve as Jesus for us.
Alas, but every man will soon be gone. Notwithstanding this fact, the Lord Jesus will still be here with us and for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. So let’s learn to focus on the One on Whom we can depend, rather than on that which is passing away even as we speak.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
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