The Journey is all up to You!!!!!
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
2 Kings 2: 1-15
1). Opening:- Catechism is not biblical scripture but they are a summary of Christian principles in the form of questions and answers that are used for instruction to teach young converts and children Christianity.
One catechism I am particular to says “What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever”.
*** Glorify to give praise, honor, and worship****
***GLORY is the very essence of God***
***So the question becomes how do we glorify God when His very essence is glory?
WATCH THIS:- We glorify Him when we open our mouths and offer the fruit of our lips in Praise. We glorify Him when we thank Him for all He is and all He has done – that’s honor. When we stand with our arms out stretched and our hearts open wide – that’s worship. However; if we don’t praise Him the rocks will cry out, if we don’t honor Him the heavens declare His glory. If we don’t worship Him the angels cry Holy Holy Holy. So the question is How can we glorify God in a way the rocks can’t do, the heavens don’t do, and the angels aren’t able to do? -- We bring an offering unto Him, not a monetary offering, but one that involves agreement with, adherence to and submission under. Romans 12:1-2 says “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God”.
UNDERSTAND:- the presenting of your body is a 2 fold journey, it’s a physical and a spiritual journey that will take you from destination to destination, from the outer court to the inner court to the Holy of Holies. It’s a journey that will take you to higher heights and deeper depths and from glory to glory; however, the journey is all up to you!.
TEXT:- 2 Kings 2:1-15
2.). Here we find the journey of Elijah and Elisha. It’s the physical journey that these two men had to take; however, it is a spiritual journey that each and every person that has chosen to follow Christ must take until we become like Him.
3). Vs#1 “And it came to pass” This is a very important statement because it establishes the fact that after a period of time. The question is what is that time period? Understand that on this journey timing is everything! Elisha was the servant of Elijah for 6 years and during that period he didn’t perform any miracles, he didn’t prophecy, he never lead a prayer meeting, he didn’t run a revival, he didn’t start his on church, he didn’t get the title of prophet, bishop, apostle or anything like that, he was a servant that served faithfully, he was the epitome of being a steadfast and unmovable servant. As a matter of fact 2 Kings 3:11 states that he is the servant that poured water on the hands of Elijah. That is all the recognition that he had yet he remained faithful to Elijah his spiritual head and covering. The problem with many especially young preachers today is that they are in such a hurry to get recognized or get a title thinking that is what is going to make them great instead of faithfully serving and waiting on God.
OK Elisha served Elijah for 6 years this is important because what Elisha is going to ask in the near future.
WATCH THIS:- Deuteronomy 15:18 says “It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest”. Remember Elisha served Elijah 6 years.
There are 3 points I need you to remember about Elisha
1. He understood Timing.
2. He had a servants attitude
3. He had determination
**Determination:- is a positive emotional feeling that involves persevering towards a goal regardless of obstacles**.
Vs1) continues:- “when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal”.
UNDERSTAND:- when a name is given in scripture it is not just given so you will know the name but because there is something significant about that name that needs to be understood. Example:- Elisha = understood timing, had a servants attitude, had determination. The same is true when a place is named there is something about that place that has a spiritual significance that we must understand.
So the journey begins from Gilgal.
A). Gilgal – Joshua 5:2-9 “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
Gilgal = circumcision. Before the Children of Israel could enter into the promise land flesh had to be dealt with. The reproach of Egypt (sin) had to be removed and they had to come into covenant with God. WATCH THIS:- it is medically proven that a man that is not circumcised has a harder time getting a woman pregnant than a man that is circumcised WHY because flesh hinders pregnancy. God wants to impregnate you; however, your flesh is hindering that pregnancy. Understand God will not give you say the gift of healing and you haven’t been to spiritual Gilgal and dealt with your flesh. If He impregnated you with that gift right now and you laid your hands on someone that was sick and they recovered you would think you did something because you haven’t dealt with flesh yet. God gets all the glory! Question:- Are you willing to go to Gilgal?
David said create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Paul in Romans2:29 said circumcision was of the heart. David in fact was saying circumcise me Lord! Are you willing to go to Gilgal and say like David circumcise me Lord cut away flesh so I can be more like you.
Vs 2) says “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”.
Bethel = Communication & Revelation. In Genesis 13:3-4 Abraham built an altar after he came out of Egypt at Bethel and communed with God. Genesis 28 10-19 Jacob has a dream of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels descending and ascending and at the top of the ladder the Lord said I am the Lord of thy father Isaac and the Lord of thy father Abraham – that’s revelation!.
At Bethel you have to have your own communication and revelation of God. You can’t go on what you mother said, you can’t go on what your father said, you can’t go what other people say about Him you have to have your own understanding, your own experience, your own personal relationship with God. Paul said that I may know Him. That is what happens at Bethel we get to know Him for ourselves.
I grew up in the church when we had testimony service I knew how to testify and say I thank God for being a lawyer in the courtroom and a doctor in the sick room I was 11 years old never been sick and the only thing I knew about a courtroom was that my mother worked at the court house, but when the doctors scratched their head and said I don’t know and God stepped in and became my doctor, when the jail cell doors closed behind me and God became my lawyer my testimony changed I didn’t say He was a lawyer in the courtroom and a doctor in the sick but I now said You don’t know like I know and you can’t tell it like I can tell it what the Lord has done for me. I got a new walk, I got a new talk, I got a new attitude because I went to Bethel. Now I know the meaning of the words to the song “And He walks with me and He talks with me…” It happened at Bethel.
Vs 3) says “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”. WATCH THIS:- On this journey you are going to have people even so-called church folk who will try to hinder you simply because they don’t have the desire to go all the wat through. They will criticize you say you trying to be holier than thou, they will say what’s wrong with you because they come to church and all they can talk about is where are we going to eat after church and you are trying to get into His presence, hear His voice and be like Him. You have to have determination like Elisha and say hold your peace and keep on keeping on in Jesus name.
Vs 4) says “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”.
Jericho = Warfare – its not a physical war fought with guns or bombs. Its not a warfare where you fight against principalities and powers nor spiritual wickedness in high places. It’s a war that we fight within ourselves, it’s a battle between the old or Adamic nature and the divine nature of the new creature after we have been born again.
Romans 7:18 says “For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good, for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not”. Everywhere you go there you are.
Let’s stay at Jericho for a moment. WATCH THIS:- John 3:6 says “That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is spirit”. Galatians 5 talks about the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit. Understand they both manifest themselves in 2 categories in our attitudes and actions; therefore, we must constantly fight with what we think say and do.
Jericho is also the place where walls must come down. There are people that are struggling with walls of past hurts, walls of guilt, walls of tradition. There are walls of denominations that must come down.
Vs 5) says “And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace”. Every step of the journey and at every turn there is going to be someone that is going to try to stop you, there are going to be people that criticize you and think you think you are holier than thou, but you have to be like Elisha and say hold you peace for I am determined to go all the way.
Vs 6) says “And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on”.
Jordan = Death, Burial, Resurrection, it is Transition from old things to a new creature. WATCH THIS:- When the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea they were being persued by the Egyptians and if they hadn’t crossed the Red Sea they would have been killed but the crossing of the Jordan was volunteary. Understand at Jordan we volunteer to die out to sin, die out to selfishness, we must say as Jesus said not my will but thy will be done.
Dying out to self, sin, and the world is prerequisite for being a disciple. Luke 14:27 says “And whosoever doth not bear his cross (cross is the symbol of death) and come after me cannot be my disciple”. You have to die! Then bury yourself in Him and in His word! Understand it’s going to cost you, people are going to talk about you, scandalize your name, but you have to hold on.
Vs 7) says “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan”. WATCH THIS:- The ones that criticized, the ones that try to discourage you, the ones that tried to place doubt in your spirit they are the very ones that are not willing to go trough but they will watch you from afar off just to see what you are going to do.
Vs 8) they both crossed over Jordan that was burial.
Vs 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. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. Remember Elisha served Elijah 6 years so he was worthy of a double portion.
Vs 10) You have to keep your eyes on the prize on Jesus.
Vs 12) Elisha saw it because he remained focused.
Vs 14) Elisha performs his 1st miracle after he been cross Jordan.
Vs 15) says “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”. People attitude about you will change after you go through Jordan.
Closing:- You have to do like the old song used to say “I’m going through I’m going through I don’t care what the rest of the world decides I started with my Jesus and I’m going through”.
