A focus on the discipleship course of Elisha                                  O3-10-93

“The making of a bold witness in a new world order”
Text: I Ki.19-22
The Man Elisha
His name means “God the Saviour or God that Saves”
Like his mentor-Elijah, he was introduced to us in action and obedience, with a sensitive and burning zeal to follow the course of God. From the onset, he displayed that principal character that marks God’s frontier-men- which is whole hearted surrender and implicit obedience to the call of God. I Ki.19:19-21

He appreciated the call of God in his life, and knew that if God should indicate an interest in a man, it is the duty of that man to respond promptly and wholeheartedly. cf. Gideon – Judges 6:11-14,25- ; Simon Peter  - Luke 5:1-11
Little was said about his background except that he was the son of Sha-phat, from Abel-me-holah; a farmer, and that his parents were still alive at the time of his calling.

“Pre-Ministry Condition of Israel”
18:21 - It was a time of great spiritual declension
a time of uncertainty
a time of despair/persecution of the true messengers of Jehovah. 19:1-3,10
a time of judgement determined V17.
It was a time for change of guards, both in the spiritual/secular fronts. V15,16

          I.       Elijah                 Elisha          the Church
II.       Ahab                    Jehu         National front (Israel)
III.      Ben-ha-dad         Hazel            the Gentiles (World)

These were men – chosen by God, for whatever reason, but destined to play out the drama in the preceding generation. V17
The present order – all children of circumstances (but permitted) were on their way out; and the unfolding events and melodrama were designed to accomplish just that. Their successes and failures were there for all to see and learn from their mistakes.

However, the pre-destination of the coming ‘world order’ does not imply that all the actors will perform according to God’s standards. But they and not God shall be responsible for all their failures, as we shall see.
It was a time of great stress/troubles. I Ki.20:1-6-
It was a time of sporadic but tailored witnessing, following the short-lived revival brought by Elijah. 20:13,22,28,35. Win the war prophets.
It is pertinent to note that God did not appoint one of the sons of the prophets (20:35) to succeed Elijah, but chose a new comer altogether! Why? I Ki.22:5-7-14
It was a time of conspiracy/betrayals. 21:8-14; I Ki.21v25-26
People especially even those in authority have shut their ears from hearing “thus saith the Lord …” 22v8; 2 Tim.4:1-5
But the finger that created the universe is constantly directing its course; and none, repeat no one can alter its determined purpose.

The Call of Elisha                                                                             10-10-93
Text: I Ki.19:15-21
Review “The Man Elisha”
Elisha’s calling was by election of grace. V.15-18. cf I Ki.1231;  Gal.11,15-17; cf.Act.2618; Lk.10:1-3. Levi – Judge.175-13; 1818-21
He was sensitive to the move of God; and was able to recognize the day of his visitation. V19,20. cf. Jer.6v7-9; Lk.10:1-3
He was poor in spirit/not willing to miss the call of God for anything. V.20,21

NB. We are all called to witness, but we are not all called to start churches Jas.31. The pulpit is not for experiments, it is for serious business. Gal.115-17; Acts 85-8

The preparations of Eli-sha
Text: I Ki.19:21
By himself
By God through Elijah

a.       By himself: V21
He knew he had a mandate from God, so he submitted himself for discipline.
He knew that every man who has not lasted under God’s discipline cannot last under his anointing. Cf.2Ki.5:20-22
This is the reason for the current shift of emphasis from holiness to materialism; from obedience and humility to pride and egocentricism. And though we might not acknowledge it, we are almost becoming tribalistic. There is nothing wrong with Biblical contextualization, but there is everything wrong with discriminative alliances.
He understood God’s principle of discipleship. Cf. I Ki.6:7/Lk.24:28-32.                                                           He feared God and knew that God is not hesitant to drop anyone who is not willing to walk with Him wholeheartedly. V3

b.       By God through Eli-jah.
There is no clearer way of knowing what Eli-sha went through except by looking at the character of the man who prepared him for God. 2Tim.3:10,11.

From the onset, Eli-jah was a man of brazen zeal and unqualified reverence for God and His holy ordinances. To him, even a moment’s hesitation is an indication that one is not serious with God. I Ki.19:20.
He was a none compromiser who will declare the truth anywhere, anytime even at the expense of his life. ‘Has God said it? Then, it must be told’. 2Ki.1

He was a man of purpose/vision who has no time for trivial. God does not trifle with His purposes. The gains of the revival that started under Him have not been fully realized, and the impending flood of judgment was capable of sweeping away whatever must have been gained. Therefore he needed a prudent and powerful hand to stay the hands of the avenger. Lk.14:28-32; k.11:21-23
It was under such a man that Eli-sha has to learn how to do the will of God. And what it takes to be a prophet of the Most High.
The effect of Eli-jah’s heat upon his soul could be gleaned from their first recorded conversation as master – servant. 2Ki.22. *I Ki.21:15-24; 2Ki.1:1-

* Who is discipling you for Jesus? Or are you a master of your own self?
Cf. Barnabas/Saul – Acts 923-30; 1122-26 etc
* Pride/Lack of discipleship is responsible for the recklessness we have in the church today. Matt.2819
* There must be a relevant authority over your head until you have obtained the promise, if you are ever going to fulfill your ministry.
* This is clearly contained even in the ‘Great Commission’. – Matt.28:19,20. Gal.41 
And so Eli-sha persevered, and obtained the promise and … 2Ki.2:19-22.
cf.II Ki.4:18-37.
God has not revealed any other method of making men apart from the cross.

The Enduement                                                                               17-10-93
Text: II Ki.2:1-15
The last days of Elisha’s discipleship were very pathetic, as he stood the chance of loosing all that he had laboured for. “Tarry here”.
Of what use will it be, if all he could shoe for the efforts of his youth was a mere testimony that he “poured water on he hands of Elijah, or at the most, a hopeless/powerless methodology/traditionalism – “the sons of the prophets”, without the spirit of the great prophet – Elijah?
And that appeared to be our demise. We have gotten “a form of religion” but denying the power thereof.
Not so with Eli-sah! He refused to be discouraged or distracted either by the reluctance/testing of the prophets; or by the prophesying of the Old Order. V3,5.
Not even the supernatural “chariot of fire” could scare him from that which he laboured so much to obtain. Yet at the point of Victory, he needed more than ever before to be bold, and watch. V9. Eph.613,14.
Note V12: He tore into shreds, his garments, signifying his own righteousness; before picking up the “mantle”. By this, he declared that, that which he has now received was all sufficient for him. Cf.Acts31-11. And it is indeed all sufficient for me. I don’t know about you.
This is the reward of diligence, and without it, no disciple is complete. ETBC hasn’t arrived yet. We must obtain the wind, or we will preach the Gospel with words only. Have you forgotten the wind? I Cor.2: 1,4,5.

Application: Acts.18, Lk.24:49
It was the same mantle that fell on Eli-sha, that later became the source of his power. Cf. I Ki.19:19; 2 Ki.2:12-14
The power cannot pre-ceed the Spirit; and the spirit is not the power, but the power is not effective/available to us, until we have “waited”. The purpose of waiting is to receive “the power from on high”.
Hab.3:3-5; I Chron.29:11,12; Acts.10:38; I Cor.2:4.
The Holy Ghost was taken away from Jesus at his death but a power was exerted on his behalf at the resurrection and He woke up with the Holy Ghost. Selah. Eph.1:18-23; Acts1:2

Waiting implies: re-dedication, consecration, purging; re-examination.
If all you do as a Christian is go to church every Sunday, and have a good praises and worship session, you will never be “clothed with power from on high”. Cf.Lk.41,14.
The Holy Spirit endues you with power to bear witness for Christ; and not to become an astute business manager/Christian intellectual – you already have grace for that.

But the “hack saw” of the Gospel was the power to fasten “saving impressions upon the minds of men”. This was the thing which the apostles understood Christ to promise; for He has commissioned the church to convert the world to Him. And they can do it by no other means. Acts.21-3,14,36-39.
There is no price for receiving the Holy Ghost, except to accept Christ, and ask the merciful father who is ever willing to give (Jn.7:37-39; Lk.11:10-13). But there is a great price to pay if you must be “clothed with power from on high”. The price involves death to self/the world. Gal.220;614.

Without the Cross, there can be no Power. Heb.11:25-27
This power to “savingly impress”, abode with them and upon them. It was doubtlessly the great and the main thing promised by Christ; and received by the apostles and the primitive Christians. Conversions came as a result of the power behind the message.

Now how did they wait?
Not in listlessness and inactivity.
Not in making preparations by study/otherwise, to get along with it.
Not in going about their business and offering an occasional prayer that the promise might be fulfilled; But they continued in prayer and persisted in their petitions until the answer came. Acts.114;21.
God is speaking but the servants are not faithful. “Wait” was a command and neither a promise nor an admonition. Whatever our vocation/volition be, our influence should be permeated by this enduement.

Our Dilemma: But we have become Like Gehazi. 2Ki.4:18-37
We have become more preoccupied with the “Rod of Eli-sha” (methodology) than the spirit of the prophet – which spirit waits upon God to receive clear instructions and enablement to execute it. There is a difference between “He arose”; and “He hastened after”. This is so because our motive/focus is not different from that of Gehazi (2Ki.5:20-26), who sought the reward of ministry: rather than the “staying power” the abiding presence of the “chariot of Israel”.
Cf. Acts.10:38; I Thess.1:5-10
The power of God which you are going to receive, you will be tested about it.

Comment:
This message could not be delivered today because of the spiritual opposition that was present during the service. Thrice the congregation was called upon to intercede; I had to pray a prayer of agreement with the pastor; and still even his wife had to be called to lead a short prayer session before I finally decided to round up the message.
I was duly informed the previous day that there was going to be spiritual warfare but I didn’t understand. Nevertheless, all glory belongs to Jesus. All power belongs to Jesus and I am His messenger.

These lessons were obvious:
The enduement cannot come by preaching but through prayers and intercessions.
The spiritual forces we confront cannot be routed through any other means except by the agency of prayer and spiritual warfare.
Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

24-10-93
2 Ki.2:1-8;  cf Isa.6:1-8
Now that I know:
“I am not so much bothered with the opposition of the enemy as I am with the timing of God’s promised visitation in power – i.e. the enduement from on high.

Both Eli-sha and the apostles never knew the appointed day of their visitations, but none of them was caught unawares by the out-pouring. After it, every opposition became an opportunity.

 

Cities of note: Locating your spiritual …
Gilgal: Rolling away; the place where the Israelites ate the first-fruits; a place of testimony and ‘cessation’ of rebellion. Spiritually, it is a place of cleansing!

Beth-el: Though “the house of God” by interpretation, it now implies “ a place of substitution”. Cf. I Ki.12:25-33.

Jericho: City of the moon. Highly idolatrous; Situated between Jerusalem and Jordan: in-between (lukewarm); a cursed place. Jos.6:26. Jericho speaks of desolation. A place of rebellion cf. I Ki.16:33-34.
It is a place of shame. Outcast. 2 Sam.10:4,5. The kingdom of God cannot be built by anybody whom God has made desolate. Luke warmness is desolation – Rev.3:14-22.

Jordan:  Descending; Obstacle; death to itself.
There are two sides to it. One speaks of backsliding; the other speaks of victory – a place of miracle and assuring faith. 2Ki.2:7-15. Eli-sha had to be taken to the other side of the Jordan so that he may return in power and with authority. Cf.Jos.4:10-18

But for the other side of Jordan, all these places speak of mis-placed priorities. None of those who abide in them can receive the New Anointing, which God has promised! This is because God has shown that He was going to introduce a New Relationship, based on more personal and intimate relationship. He was no longer going to manifest Himself by “signs”, but by revelation; and person-to-person communication. – Well within. Cf. I Ki.19:10-18; Rom.10:17,6-8; 2 Ki.5:8-19

We can never receive “a double portion”/the New Anointing, without a proper/thorough assessment of these places; and the subsequent renunciation of their anti-thesis in our lives.

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication … and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly …” - Acts 114, 21,2.
These symbolic sites/places represent strategic locations in your spiritual walk with God. Therefore, Isa.40:4, 5.