2 Kings 2:1-15 Determination wins the Day I. ELISHA'S LESSONS ON LOVE A. His Commitment 1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. (a) The Reason For His Commitment ie. Elijah 1. There was a SPIRITUALNESS about Elijah: " And Enoch walked with God." ( Gen 5:22 ) Elijah ended his life the way he had lived it, in submission to God's will. 2. There was a STILLNESS about Elijah: He knew that before long he would be standing in eternity, beholding the face of God, But meantime instead of being taken up with ecstatic things, he visits the " schools of the prophets," and quietly talks with his friends till the chariot comes and sweeps him away. 3. There was a SELFLESSNESS about Elijah: ( 2:1, And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.) For although he knew about his glorious departure he makes no mention of it. Here is a man on the verge of heaven full of genuine humility. (b) The Resolve Of His Commitment 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. Elijah offers Elisha three opportunities to leave him while he makes a final round of ministry to some tough areas ... a. Gilgal to Bethel ... from the mountains to the valley! b. Bethel to Jericho ... to a city that God had cursed! c. Jericho to the Jordan ... the boundary of the Promise Land to the wilderness! ( 2:2 )" I will not leave thee." ( 2:2 ) So " they went down to Bethel," ( 2:4 )" they came to Jericho," ( 2:6 )" they two went on," ( 2:7 ) " they two stood by Jordan," ( 2:8 )" they two went over on dry ground," ( 2:9 ) " they were gone over," ( 2:11 ) " they still went on," Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Each time Elijah offers Elisha a way out ... to stay behind while he makes one last call on these cities and the schools of the prophets that existed in each one!
(c) The Result Of His Commitment 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. B. His Communication 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. ILLUS: A stranger "We'll never get this washing machine in there!" To this the homeowner responded, "IN! ... I'M TRYING TO MOVE IT OUT OF HERE!" " God always gives the best to those who leave the choice with Him." The psalmist says, " My times are in God's hands." ( Ps 31:15 ) 1.The TIMING of your Departure is in God's Hands: 2. The MANNER of your Departure is in God's Hands Elijah being taken to glory without having to pass through death. 3. The PLACE of your Departure is in God's Hands: For Elijah it was the banks of Jordan, Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.," C. His Companionship 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. Elisha was in this relationship for the long haul, even when the trip was to be a difficult one, or a final one! ILLUS: 1984 in Chicago was a tragic fire. The firefighters discovered the bodies of a mother and 5 children in the kitchen of the apartment. (could'nt choose) Only events beyond Elisha's control would break up the companionship they had forged! II. ELISHA'S LESSONS ON LEADING :7-10 A. His Challenge :7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 1. Elijah was about to cross over the Jordan, to leave the Promised Land, for the greater PROMISED LAND! 2. Elisha would make the trip with him as far as possible ... right until the end! 3. Faithfulness to God and His people is what determines success ... leadership in the kingdom is based on WHAT YOU ARE ... not on WHAT YOU DO! B. His Character :8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. Elisha follows without hesitation,
ILLUS: A man approached the front entrance of an office building in which he worked. A young feminist came he stepped back and held the door open for her to pass through. "Don't hold the door for me just because I'm a woman." "I'm not, I'm holding the door open for you because I'm a gentleman!" C. His Choice :9-10 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. (a) The Context of the Request - Elijah's Departure (b) The Content of the Request - Elisha's request for the Spirit of God i.e. double portion - inheritance of firstborn Deuteronomy 21 v. 17 "But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his." Elijah's spirit was a spirit of:- Conviction in God's Word, God's Person, God's Presence, and God's Power Conformation to God's Will i.e. his obedience was instant, intricate and intense Confrontation in God's Work - i.e. by his stand he:- Revealed the Sin, Rebuked the Sinners, Reprimanded the Sovereign, Restored the Sacred (c) The Character of the Request - v. 10 "And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so." Hard :- Because of its Source - "Power belongeth unto God" not in Elijah's power Because of its Sacredness - "A double portion of the Spirit of God" Because of its Significance - "A double portion" (d) The Condition of the Request - v. 10 "And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so." III. ELISHA'S LESSONS ON LEAVING A LEGACY:11-18 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. A. His Conviction : 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
a. It was his conviction that his own garments were but filthy rags b. It was his conviction that Only the covering of God's Spirit would suffice B. His Continuation 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, Ironically, Elisha's first miracle was Elijah's last miracle ... Elisha begins where Elijah leaves off! 1. The PROVISION of God is Still the Same: The God who sustained the prophet in the Raven Hotel, by the brook Cherith, in the widow's home is your God " my God shall supply all your need " Phil 4:19 2. The PROMISE of God is Still the Same: " Ask and it shall be given .... " ( Matt 7:7 ) 3. The POWER of God is Still the Same: Has God's power diminished ? Is anything too hard for the Lord ? Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. C. His Confirmation 15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. D. His Clarification 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not? The King is dead, Long Live the King.
