Tuesday: Elisha the Prophet
The ministry of the prophet Elisha in the ninth century B.C. comes to us in a series of 18 episodes, extending over more than fifty years. His ministry was conducted mostly as the head of the school of the prophets and was largely public. It included displays of signs and wonders at both the personal as well as the national level.
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Elisha was a prophet whose counsel and help were sought by both kings and commoners.
Read 2 Kings 2:1-15. What does this tell us about the calling and ministry of Elisha?
No question that Elisha was called of God; he had some incredible experiences that must have confirmed his calling in his own mind. More important, his request for a double portion
of the Spirit showed his awareness that for him to do what he was called to do, he would need divine power, because in and of himself he would be helpless. Thus, even back then, this man of God understood what Jesus said many centuries later:
(John 15:5, NKJV). It’s a lesson that no matter our position in the Lord’s work, we all need to recognize.I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing
Obviously, as we can see from the story of Elisha’s calling, this power had, indeed, been granted to him. Thus, Elisha revealed that he had a healthy and honest understanding of his own role and calling when he declared to the king: let Naaman know that there is a prophet in Israel
(2 Kings 5:8).
Also interesting must have been the scene when this military commander and his retinue showed up in all their glory at the door of Elisha’s house, probably something relatively small and modest in contrast to the luxury that Naaman enjoyed. Elisha, however, didn’t seem all that intimidated by Naaman and his troops. In fact, Elisha did not so much as step outside to meet his powerful caller; instead he sent a messenger, who gave the military commander a command! The only reward for his long trip from Damascus was the blunt directive to go to the Jordan and bathe! But it was accompanied by a promise: you will be cleansed,
(2 Kings 5:10 NIV).
No doubt the pride of this important man was hurt. Perhaps, though, that was the point.
(36)
God is willing to give us double portion of the Holy Ghost to do his work effectively. Why don't we ask for the SPIRIT?
Many do ask for and receive the Holy Spirit and are using the Spiritul Gifts they have been given. So why would some not ask? Lack of knowledge? Lack of trust? To comfortable? To involved in earthly work and pleasure? You ask a good question Lorraine, one that each one of us needs to answer for ourselves if we have not asked for the Holy Spirit.
God has already made this double portion available. It's just for us to get our life in order to access it.
We all have a work to do in sharing the love of God, it allow depends on how we shall yield to the call. May God bless you as you yield yourself to the call of God.
I would like to add a little to the last thought. Namaan had a little faith that the prophet would heal him abecause of what the little maid said. He even was a little humble, forced by leprosy, to come to Israel, but not humble enough to accept God's plan for him. Elisha not coming out and the Jordan river experience brought him down to earth. When we have trials, is one of the reasons a lesson for humility?
When we humbly ourselves to learn under the feet of our Leaders, God will surely give us double portion of His Spirit to do exploits .
Sometimes what we think is God's worst command for us is God's best cure for us. Pride, selfishness, disobeying God's simple commands,and forgetting that only through Christ we can do anything,even to breathe.
Where else can we find such TRUE, vivid, soulful and awesome stories! The scriptures are ever new no matter how many times we read. Our God is simply awesome and his words are Life & Light! May we not forget that the Lord giveth to those who ask in Faith according to his will. God bless you all! 🙂
Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s power, strength of character and belief in God! Was it any wonder that he was able to lead and teach young prophets? To commune with and direct kingdoms? To heal and prophesy of the wonderful goodness of God? He was such a man of God that he did not have to do anything to the children who mocked him. God acts on our behalf when we are following Him and remaining connected to the Vine, He does not need our interference. What I am learning from this is that when I am tempted to react, retaliate and/or seek revenge, that I am to leave everything in the hands of God as He does not need my help. We must be ready to ask for those things that are relevant to and beneficial to the service of God as opposed to the usual - job, house, cars, etc. (although He hears when we ask for those too), but if we seek Him first, everything else will be added to us. Lord keep me humble and connected to you.
When Elisha failed to personally meet Naaman, the pride of this military general was dealt a serious blow. He must have thought: "Doesn't this man know who I am?"
If this was not enough, the prophet instructed the proud general to deep himself seven times in the dirty water of the River Jordan.
Once his pride was destroyed, he was ready to receive God's healing and blessing. Could it be that we often need the same remedy?
God knows the best treatment for each one of us. All what we need is to be be humble and willing to follow. Naaman needed to know that it was not the water which healed him, but the God of Isreal.
Elisha makes me view life positively for the experience we go through imagine a whole commander to dip himself in a river he regards as dirty but in that river was the healing chance am made to understand the river dint have any medicinal value or power but the healing was all in the change of attitude on his way of perceiving things and humility and indeed when he got that in his heart he got healed.
Another lesson learnt is without God's holly we are like a vine without fruits lets all call upon the holly spirit and we shall trully accomplish the call to be Lords missionaries and we shall perservere to the end and be victors
However much we proclaim the word of God ,we must be empowered by Him.
We can only proclaim it when we get the strength that He gives. (php 4.13)
Many of us are like this commander.we want God's blessing but are not willing to follow His instructions.
God's blessings do not come easily ,you have to crave for it like Elisha became persistent until he received the power to continue with God's mission.
God loves us so much that He is willing to provide and give unto us the things which we need , if we just ask of Him. We should realize we are stewards , salt and light of the world called by God to share and take care , so asking Him for His strength we should always do.
I often find myself being selfish when it come to prayers. I mostly ask for worldly blessings and prosperity. What we learn from Elisha is that we should ask Jehovha to bless us with power to go out there and preach about his coming, to pray so that we can be able to witness within our communities. We need double portion of strengths to be witnesses of the imminent falling of Babylon. We should pray for God to give us more wisdom.
so amazing the wonderful God He is can change litle to something big, let us never underate poor people coz Our God knows where the journey end for our life.