TOPIC : THE ROAD TO THE ANOINTING
SERIES : UNDERTANDING THE ANOINTING
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this teaching you will be able to:
i. Understand what Christianity is
ii. Understand the purpose and the assignment of a Christian
iii. Identify the 3 major keys of the kingdom. (faith,anointing,glory)
iv. Define the anointing, its purpose and how to receive it
v. This teaching will also answer the heart cry of those who have hungered for reality instead of religion. It will move you from being a spectator to a demonstrator of the power of God.
SCRIPTURES: Mathew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
1 Kings 19:19-2119”So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, whose plowing was being done with twelve yoke of oxen, and he drove the twelfth. Elijah crossed over to him and cast his mantle upon him. 20He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you. And he [testing Elisha] said, Go on back. What have I done to you? [Settle it for yourself.] 21So Elisha went back from him. Then he took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the oxen's yoke [as fuel], and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, followed Elijah, and served him” -
2 kings 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.
2:2 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.
2:3 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.
2:4 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.
2:5 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.
2:6 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.
2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
2:8 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.
2:9 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.
2:10 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.
2:11 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.
2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
2:15 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.
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION
• Christianity is not a religion
• Religion is man trying to reach/know God
• Christianity is God starching his hand to reach man by grace
• The vail was torn from top to bottom, not from bottom to top!
Religion is the attempt of man to know God. It is ritual and regulations, works and words without power. Religion brings spiritual death.
The power of God is the visible demonstration of His desire to reveal Himself to man.Spiritual power is God's Kingdom in action. The kingdom of God is not in words but its in power. It brings spiritual life. Many have experienced religion. They have joined various religious organizations and denominations. These organizations have lulled them into an unconcerned spiritual attitude. They have not experienced the power of the Gospel which can change their lives. They are defeated and discouraged, sick and wounded. They are dying spiritually. Their heart cry is as that of the Psalmist David who wrote. . .
O God, thou art my God: early will I seek thee; my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. (Psalms 63:1-2)
These people need to experience life after religion. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
DIFERENT FORMS OF GRACE
Last Sunday (for those that were not with us) we talked about different forms of grace on the message; GOD OF THE PROCESS
We live in a generation of speed and many people , including most Christians prefer or are looking for shortcuts or the easiest way out to their goals or destinies.
The God that we serve is a God of process (as we will discover later on this outline)
Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
a). Common Grace
• poured out upon all men regardless of their spiritual condition
“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44-45).“
b). Saving Grace
• salvation on the cross of Calvary
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesian 2:8)
c). Securing Grace
• Stand in challenges ,secure, protection
Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! (1 Peter 5:12).
d). Sanctifying Grace
• Bring growth, maturity, and progress in the process of becoming Christ-like:
But by the grace of God I am what I am, (1 Corinthians 15:10).
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
e). Serving Grace
• To manifest the life of our Lord through the saints.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Ephesians 4:7).
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).
f). Sustaining Grace
• Given at special times of need.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
g). grace to recover
1 Samuel 30:8 And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. (See john 10;10, Joel 2;25)
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A NAME TAG
• Christianity is a lifestyle
• Christianity is the Life of God in man…ZOE ( John 10;10, 6;63)
• Acts 11;26 …And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
A TITLE DOSENT GET THE JOB DONE..IT IS THE WORK THAT YOU DO THAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE TITLE
Mahatma Gandhi once said; I COULD HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN IF IT WAS NOT FOR CHRISTIANS
THE CHURCH IS TO BE THE PROPHETIC VOICE TO THE NATIONS
• 11 chronicles 7;14
• Mathew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth
• Vs 14 Ye are the light of the world.
• Vs 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
UNFORTUNATELLY WE ARE COT IN A RELIGIOUS TRADEMILL
• The church is like Samson after He was shaved by Delilah
• Busy entertaining the philistines
• Busy but not effective
• Judges 16:22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
THE DESTINY OF YOUR MINISTR, COMMUNITY, CITY, NATION, AFRICA AND THIS GENERATION IS IN YOUR HANDS
• The greatest injustice to humanity is not war, poverty, sickness,lack of shelter, lack of education, murder or even the devil
• The greatest injustice to humanity are the good people that are silent
Example of people who refused to be silent
• Nelson Mandela; ……. RSA/ APARTHAID ABOLISHED
• Martin Luther king …….. USA/ SLAVERY ABOLISHED
I wonder how the landscape of our environment could have looked like if you and I could have refused to be silent and spoke for the good cause….SELAH!
IT IS WIKEDNESS NOT TO USE YOUR TALENTS, GIFTS AND RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY
• two of the biggest hindrances progress and to the move of God in our generation is silence and ownership
• If we want to see God work in us and through us like He did in the early church, we must empty ourselves of ownership and start seeing ourselves as stewards.
A steward is someone who has been entrusted with another’s property or wealth and Charged with the responsibility of managing it, In the owner’s best interest.
Acts 4:32-33 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
Matthew 25:14-15 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
GOD OWNS EVERYTHING
• Psalm 50:10-12 (God says) “Every animal of the forest is mine,and the cattle on a thousand hills…and the creatures of the field are mine…the world is mine, and all that is in it.”
• Haggai 2:8 “ The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” declares the LORD Almighty.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 “Everything in heaven and earth is yours (O Lord)…Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.”
• Leviticus 25:23 (God says) “The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.”
• Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world,and all who live in it.”
Deuteronomy 8;18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
GOD IN IN CONTROL BUT YOU ARE IN CHARGE
Ezakiel 3;17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
Vs 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it……….Vs 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
A TIME HAS COME FOR THE CHURCH TO REDISCOVER, HER PURPOSE AND ASSIGNMENT
• Paul's Prayer Concerning Our Perspective.
Ephesians 1:15-19 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
YOU ARE AN A OVERCOMER
• 1John 5;4
• Luke 10;19
HOW DO WE OVERCOME?
• Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
• John 15;5 without me you can do nothing
KEYS OF THE KINGNDOM
Mathew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
There are 3 major keys to operate in the realm of the supenatural
• Faith, Anointing and glory of God
WHAT IS FAITH?
Hebrews11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
• Faith is the title deed
• Faith is the Legal entry to the invisible or supernatural realm
• This natural realm is controlled by the invisible realm
• Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:
• It is the key to live and work in the supernatural realm….the just...
• It is the ability of the believer to believe something that is unreasonable.
• Faith is NOW and requires a revelation from now.
• You cannot have a present faith without a present revelation.
• We don’t see miracles today in the church because miracles occur in the NOW, not yesterday. Most of the decisions we make are based on time, not on faith.
• If it is not now, it is not faith.
WHAT IS THE ANOINTING?
• The Anointing is a Divine enablement of God’s Supernatural Ability imparted into the life of the born-again believer.
• Anointing is the power of God working through you.
• The anointing is an aspect of the supernatural power of God that empowers us to fulfill the purpose and calling here on earth.
• The Anointing is a precious and essential element that allows the believer to do things outside of their natural ability.
• The Anointing is a tangible measure of God’s ability that can flow through the life of the born-again believer as to see God-given results and Divine Victory.
• The Anointing is a Supernatural Manifestation of the Holy Spirit that can affect everything and everyone it comes in contact with.
GO BEYOND BLESSING TO POWER
Many believers do not experience power because they never get beyond the point of spiritual blessing. The Holy Spirit begins to move upon them and they feel great joy.
They may express it in singing, shouting, dancing, or crying. They are blessed by God and respond emotionally. There is nothing wrong with this. The Bible is filled with such spiritual experiences. But God wants to move His people beyond the point of blessing into the realm of spiritual power, beyond emotion to demonstration.
There is a story in the Old Testament which illustrates this truth. It also illustrates the link between a promise and the possessing of that promise. The nation of Israel traveled for many months from Egypt through the desert to the land God promised them. When they reached the edge of this promised land, Moses sent in spies to check out the land.
Ten of the spies brought back a negative report. They said there were giants in the land and there was no way Israel could go in to possess the land. Only two spies urged the people to enter the land and possess it as God had promised.
Israel chose to listen to the negative report. Because of this, although it was only an eleven day journey from where they were camped to the Promised Land, it took Israel forty years to make the journey (Deuteronomy 1:2).
God brought Israel to the point of blessing. They were at the edge of the Promised Land. God's power was available to conquer the enemy. But Israel refused to move forward in God's power. There was nothing wrong with the promise. The problem was Israel's refusal to possess it.
You must not stop when you get to a point of blessing in your life. You must break through into the spiritual realm of power. If you do not do so, you will continue to wander in a spiritual wilderness of dry, powerless existence.
You must move beyond the point of blessing into the realm of power. You must become a demonstrator instead of a spectator; a doer instead of only a hearer. When you do so, you will experience the true flow of God's power. You will experience a life force and anointing within you which you have never before known. You will experience life after religion.
The Psalmist wrote: “My horn You have exalted like a wild ox, I have been ANOINTED with fresh oil” Ps.92:10
Isaiah declared: “…the ANOINTING destroys the yoke…” - Isa.10:27
Psalms 23;5 thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
All through the Bible we read about God calling and anointing people to do his work.
Aaron and his sons were anointed to the priesthood (Exodus30:30; Leviticus 8:12).
Moses had an anointing of God’s Spirit upon him (Numbers 11:17).
Joshua had the anointing imparted upon him through the laying on of hands (Deut 34:9).
Saul was anointed to be king (1Samuel 10:1).
David was anointed to be king (1 Samuel 16:13).
Jesus was anointed to manifest His Messiahship (Acts 10:38).
• The anointing was given to us for the earth.
• There are no blind, deaf or sick people in heaven.
• There are none who are brokenhearted and oppressed.
• You do not need anointing in heaven; it is for the earth.
• It is not for your pride or for your fame.
• God wants to release His anointing to humble people who love the people
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the
gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed; - Luke 4:18
• God give us anointing because we all fell short of the glory of God.
• Man was under the glory, not anointing, before sin and so God gave us anointing. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:23
WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD?
• The glory of God is the manifested presence of God Himself.
• It is the atmosphere of God Himself.
• It is not His power operating through us, but rather it is God Himself doing His own works.
• We have limited God because we think He has to do His works through a human being.
• While this is true in the anointing and in faith, in His glory He works by His own initiative.
• It is beyond your measure of faith and anointing. It is God Himself, in all of His attributes and majesty.
• When God performs a miracle in you without you having the faith to believe for it or the anointing to manifest it,
• it is God Himself touching you directly.
THE ANOINTING COMES WITH A PRICE
Child of God, before you covet your neighbor’s anointing, ministry or possessions …
• Make sure you are ready to pay the price they had to pay.
• Make sure you are ready to cry like they have.
• Make sure you are willing to suffer the way they have.
• Make sure you are prepared to lose friends like they have.
• Make sure you are able to stand in the midst of hell like they have.
• Make sure you are willing to fast as much as they have.
• Make sure you are willing to pray and consecrate as much as they have.
• Make sure you are able to say ’no’ when everyone expects you to say ’yes’.
• Make sure you are willing to be faithful to God, even when other Believers are compromising.
• Make sure you are ready to experience severe spiritual warfare.
• Make sure you are ready to be lied on, laughed at, kicked around, ridiculed, gossiped about, and/or criticized.
In spite of this spiritual truth, it is still alarming how little attention is paid to the necessity of the process among those who so eagerly speak of the power of God. My conviction is that we should be afraid of listening to anyone who teaches us about the power of God but does not teach us about the necessity of the process. Isack asked Jacob, “how is it that you came back so quikly”
Invariably the power, once received, will pollute the spirit and pride will set in. Weakness, humility, brokenness, suffering, pouring out our lives, and taking up the Cross – this language seems to be lost among the seekers of power. How tragic that is!
19”So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, whose plowing was being done with twelve yoke of oxen, and he drove the twelfth. Elijah crossed over to him and cast his mantle upon him. 20He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you. And he [testing Elisha] said, Go on back. What have I done to you? [Settle it for yourself.] 21So Elisha went back from him. Then he took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the oxen's yoke [as fuel], and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, followed Elijah, and served him” - 1 Kings 19:19-21 AMP.
In 3 remarkable verses of Scripture, we see amazing revelation of how Elisha moved from being an ordinary ploughman to becoming the famous and extraordinary prophet who succeeded Elijah.
Elisha is the best example of someone who
• Chose the Anointing.
• Asked for the Anointing.
• Received the Anointing.
• Used the Anointing.
• Received his spiritual mentor as a father.
• Served until he received his Anointing.
• Was more Anointed that his father.
Let us join Elisha on this road to the Anointing. You can receive the Anointing of the Holy Spirit if you walk the road Elisha walked
7 Steps on the road to the Anointing:
1. Accept the call eagerly.
20”He left the oxen and ran after Elijah…” – 1 Kings 19:20 AMP.
It is important for you to accept the call of God. God calls many but not everyone accepts the call. Pouting a thousand and one excuses, they give themselves to other pursuits. Many whom God called choose to live uneventful lives as “normal”, moral, good Christians. In the name of being conscientious parents and responsible citizens, they choose to ignore the call of God.
These people receive a pat on the back from society and friends. They are applauded by the world as the “type” of Christian they want to see.
However, Elisha eagerly ran after the call. God is looking for people who respond eagerly to the offer of ministry. The word Call means to sermon The biggest problem in the body of Christ is that most people serve God when it is convinient
2. Be a fighting man.
“…and him who escapes the sword of Jehu Elisha shall slay” – 1 Kings 19:17 AMP.
• Elisha was a man who could fight with a sword.
• The Christian life is a battle and the ministry is even more of a battle.
• Much of the fight goes on in the mind and in the form of temptations, ideas, imaginations, and alternatives to the will of God.
There will be continual pressure to fulfill your natural desires and instincts in the wrong way. Satan will present you with a cocktail of fantastic thoughts, suggestions, deceptions, and delusions. Until your very last day, an array of people, events and circumstances will present themselves as a complicated network of tests and temptations. Devils presenting themselves as angels and angels whom you suspect to be devils, will add to the confusion and the clamour of the battle on this earth.
If you are not prepared to fight, you cannot have the Anointing.
Paul fought throughout his life and ministry. When he was dying he said, “I have fought a good fight.” You will fight for every drop of the Anointing that you ever receive. You will fight for every position that you ever occupy.
3. Be a ploughing man.
“So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, whose plowing was being done with twelve yoke of oxen, and he drove the twelfth…” – 1 Kings 19:19 AMP.
• Elisha was ploughing when he was called.
• Ploughing the ground speaks of hard work.
• Elisha was a hard-working and diligent person before he was called.
• The ministry is full of hard work that lasts for many years. Rarely does a lazy person amount to anything in the ministry.
4. Understand what it means when the mantle is thrown on you.
“…Elijah crossed over to him and cast his mantle upon him.” – 1 Kings 19:19 AMP.
It is important for you to understand what is happening in your life. The call of God is mysterious and may be vague. However, exactly what God is saying and what He intends to do is often hidden from you. It is important to understand the gentle indications that God sends to you.
Elisha could have asked Elijah, “Why did you throw your mantle on me? What are you trying to say? Do you think I need some extra clothes?”
• Elisha did not say any of those things. He knew what it meant.
• He lost interest in his oxen!
• He did not want his ploughing business anymore!
• His eyes were lifted up to something higher.
• Sometimes when a mantle falls on you, you just have a desire to serve God and to live for him.
• Sometimes when a mantle falls on you, your interest in secular things die. Nothing attracts you and no amount of money can lure you.
• These changes in your life are signs that a mantle has fallen on you.
5. Kill your oxen.
21”So Elisha went back from him. Then he took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the oxen's yoke [as fuel], and gave to the people, and they ate” – 1 Kings 19:21 AMP.
• Everybody has something valuable when he is called.
• It is important to sacrifice what you have and to follow the call of God to its logical conclusion.
• Every call has a price.
• Do not think that you are going to have the Anointing without paying as high a price as all Anointed people do.
6. Leave your family.
“…Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you…” – 1 Kings 19:20 AMP.
The call often involves some kind of separation from your family. Your family always pays a price for you to live out the call of God. Jesus said:
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters--[yes] and even his own life also--he cannot be My disciple - . 27Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple” -Luke 14:26-27 AMP.
Husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters all pay the price because God has called you. Although the cost of ministry is high, the cost of disobedience is even higher and this is what people do not know.
7. Serve the Anointed man.
“…Then he arose, followed Elijah, and served him” – 1 Kings 19:21 AMP.
How necessary it is to humbly serve in the house of the Lord.
• Elisha was known to the public as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11).
• The apostles were known as the servants and disciples of Christ.
• Joshua was known as the servant of Moses.
• Before you receive the depth of the Anointing, you must become a servant.
The Elijah / Elisha Principle
Elisha recognized that the greatest thing he could inherit from Elijah was the Anointing.
“And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” – 2 Kings 2:9 AMP.
• Receiving the Anointing was not easy for Elisha.
• Elijah told him that he had made a difficult request.
• Elisha had to battle for the Anointing.
• He had to battle to stay with Elijah.
• The battles took place in 4 locations: Gilgal, Jericho, Bethel and Jordan.
• Each of these 4 places is symbolic of something important on the road to the Anointing.
• The mention of each city brings memories of important spiritual events that took place in the Bible.
1.Fighting for a Double Portion in Gilgal:
• At Gilgal, Elijah tried to get rid of Elisha.
• This was a test of persistence, spiritual hunger and thirst
“WHEN THE Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel” – 2 Kings 2: 1-2 AMP.
The Symbolic Meaning of Gilgal:
a. Gilgal – The place of circumcision before they crossed the jordan Joshua 4:19-24
It symbolizes the pain of sacrifice:
• cutting away of the flesh,
• the painful cutting away of the world;
• Painfully cutting away the things you love.
“Though all the people who came out were circumcised, yet all the people who were born in the wilderness on the way after Israel came out of Egypt had not been circumcised” – Joshua 5:5 AMP.
b. Gilgal – The place where the manna ceased. … Joshua 5:10-12 AMP.
The supernatural provision of manna ceased in Gilgal.
• From now on, the Israelites would have to sow and reap for themselves.
• They were no longer going to stumble into things accidentally.
• When you get to Gilgal you will be expected to deliberately do the right things that lead to the Anointing.
• We often stumble into many kingdom blessings. However, there comes a time when God expects you to deliberately work to get what you need.
• The time comes when God will expect you to deliberately choose a man of God to serve and to follow.
2.Fighting for a Double Portion in Bethel:
• In Bethel, other prophets tried to discourage Elisha from following Elijah.
• Be aware of religious church folks
“The prophets' sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. Elijah said to him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho” – 2 Kings 2:3-4 AMP.
The Symbolic meaning of Bethel:
a. Bethel – The place of dreams and visions. Genesis 28:10-19 AMP.
This is the place where Jacob had dreams and visions of God.
When you come to Bethel you will have visions and dreams and God will direct you in more supernatural ways.
b. Bethel – The place of encountering God personally.
Bethel is the place where Jacob encountered God himself.
• He did not depend on Abraham’s experience.
• He got to know God himself when he got to Bethel.
• When you get to Bethel, you will not depend on what someone says about God…Daniel 11;32b
• You will begin to know Him for yourself.
• It will not be about what you have read or what you have watched. It will be about what you have experienced.
c. Bethel – The place of committing your finances to God.
It was at Bethel that Jacob committed his tithes to the Lord.
• Surprisingly, many people of God have difficulty in doing the right thing when it comes to finances.
• When you have been to Bethel, tithing will not be a problem for you.
d. Bethel – The place of making covenants with God. … Gen 28:18-22 AMP.
It was at Bethel that Jacob made a covenant with God.
• He promised to serve Him and worship Him.
• Your ministry enters a new dimension when there are covenants between you and God.
3.Fighting for a Double Portion in Jericho:
Once again, junior prophets and other Anointed people tried to discourage Elisha. Elijah told Elisha that it was all over and that they needed to separate. Elisha refused to leave the old man even though he knew they had come to the end. What is the point of following an old man who has no future? But that may be the road to the Anointing.
“The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. 6Elijah said to him, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on” – 2 Kings 2:5-6 AMP.
The Symbolic meaning of Jericho
a. Jericho – The place of war.
This is the place where Joshua fought his first battle.
b. Jericho – The place for getting rid of disloyalty,lies and murmuring
This is the place where disloyal people must be eliminated.
• The elders of Israel promised to kill anyone who murmured against Joshua.
• This is a good place to get to.
• With the removal of disloyal traitors and liars you have the peace you need to build.
“Whoever rebels against your commandment and will not hearken to all you command him shall be put to death. Only be strong, vigorous, and of good courage” – Joshua 1:18 AMP.
c. Jericho – The place of authority. .. 1 Kings 16:34 AMP.
It is in Jericho that Joshua cursed anyone who would attempt to rebuild Jericho.
• His words came to pass because he had become a man of authority in Jericho.
• When you get to the Jericho of your ministry, you will become a person of authority.
4.Fighting for a double portion in Jordan:
Finally, they got to Jordan, the place of the Anointing. Elisha had to ignore the staring eyes of 50 unanointed prophets. Under the intense glare of these other ministers, Elisha persisted with his vision of getting a double portion – and he got it!
“Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood [to watch] afar off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan” – 2 Kings 2:7 AMP.
The Symbolic meaning of Jordan.
a. Jordan – The place where your desires are met.
Elisha’s dream of receiving the double portion was fulfilled at the Jordan.
Your dreams and visions will come to pass at Jordan.
b. Jordan – The place of spiritual vision.
Elisha’s eyes were opened at the Jordan and he saw spiritual chariots and spiritual horses. This was a condition for him to receive the Anointing: “If you see me!!” When you get to Jordan, you will begin to see important visions and dreams that will lead you to the heights of ministry.
“Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood [to watch] afar off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan” – 2 Kings 2:7 AMP. “He said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you--but if not, it shall not be so” – 2 Kings 2:10 AMP.
• Having spiritual eyes and spiritual vision is key to receiving the Anointing.
• Paul’s eyes were touched on the road to Damascus and he saw a bright light.
• Jesus’ eyes were opened and he saw a dove and heard a voice at Jordan.
• Every time you have a vision, you are being drawn nearer to the spirit realm.
c. Jordan – The place of alertness.
Spiritual alertness is important to receiving the Anointing.
• Elisha was awake and alert when the spiritual chariots and horses were passing by.
• That is why he received the Anointing.
d. Jordan – The place of becoming a son with your father.
It is at Jordan that Elisha called Elijah his father.
• When you get to the place where you see your spiritual mentor as a father, you are qualified to receive the Anointing.
• You may initially see him as a friend, a Pastor, a prophet or even a boss.
• But when he becomes your father you are ready to receive the blessings of a son or a daughter.
e. Jordan – The place of rending your clothes and putting on the mantle of your father.
This is the place where you take off your own identity and put on the identity of the spiritual person you are following.
• You will begin to look like him and act like him.
• John the Baptist looked like Elijah because he carried his Anointing.
f. Jordan – The place where you receive the Anointing.
• Jesus was baptized and filled with the Spirit in the Jordan.
• Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9).
Eight Miracles of Elijah
1. Three years of drought (1 Kings 17:1)
2. Multiplying of meal and oil (1 Kings 17:8-16)
3. Resurrection of a boy (1 Kings 17:17-24)
4. Fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:30-40)
5. Rain after 3½ years (1 Kings 18:41-45)
6. Fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:9-10)
7. Fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:11-12)
8. Drying up of Jordan (2 Kings 2:7-8)
Sixteen Miracles of Elisha.
1. Drying up of Jordan (2 Kings 2:13-15)
2. Healing of the waters (2 Kings 2:19-22)
3. Bears from the woods (2 Kings 2:23-25)
4. Water filling ditches without rain (2 Kings 3:16-20)
5. Increase in widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7)
6. Barrenness healed (2 Kings 4:12-17)+
7. Resurrection of a boy (2 Kings 4:32-37)
8. Pottage healed (2 Kings 4:38-41)
9. Bread multiplied (2 Kings 4:42-44)
10. Leprosy of Namaan healed (2 Kings 5:1-14)
11. Judgement of Gehazi (2 Kings 5:25-26)
12. Making iron to swim (2 Kings 6:1-7)
13. Blinding the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:18)
14. Provision of food (2 Kings 7:1-8)
15. Seven year famine (2 Kings 8:1-2)
16. Resurrection of dead man (2 Kings 13:20-21)
Dr. Tg Badia
