2Kings 2: 1-6

2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”  “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

 In 2Kings 2:1-6, we see a very serious, and important look at these two men of God, Elijah, and Elisha, yet “to me,” somewhat amusing as well ‘in a way’. We begin here with Elijah preparing to depart the scene, almost as fast and mysterious as he can upon the scene.

Here in:

in 1 Kings 17: 1-4. We see where it all began:

7 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”  2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

Elijah was a man always coming and going, but by (mostly by) the “word of the Lord.” He appears out of nowhere from a place called Tishbe, and was called, a Tishbite ! He came upon the scene immediately with a prophecy to king Ahab prophesying a drought.   He had a few ventures that were not what God told him to do, but for the most part this man of God followed Good’s direction and word. Most of all, he was a true Prophet of God !   A man of God, not sold out, or joining up, or following status quo.  He was sold out to God, not the religious system of the day, and did not care what others thought or did, he was going to follow the Lord God Jehovah ! 

Well, here in our text 2kings 2: 1-6, he is still coming and going.. This is the part I will focus a very very small amount of time on as this is a morning discussion, and not meant to be a lengthy sermon, but to encourage, or convict us, in some things I believe will help us. Along with Elijah, is his protégé/apprentice, Elisha.  Elisha has been a very faithful servant to Elijah for a good long while, and he wants to get more mileage out of this relationship than just hanging out and running Elijah’s errands.  I do not mean that in a light hearted way, at all, because it is good for us all to understand we do not always have to be “first,” but being under the wing of someone where God has placed us, can be a very beneficial thing, if we submit ourselves to learn, and yield ourselves to humility under God’s mighty hands, and at the proper time, God will exalt and promote us and use us in his perfect will, “when we are ready.”

See 1Peter 5:6-9

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

So, Elisha, walked humbly before God and his master (teacher) Elijah, as Elijah, walked humbly before God ! Remember, that somewhere along the path, and walk, someone has to be fully consecrated and devoted and humble, and obedient to God himself ! It’s like counseling. People come and ask me to counsel them. That is fine, and sometimes, I find with some people, they run to several different men, to counsel them.. But, in it all, who counsels the counselors ? Someone somewhere hopefully is standing in much word and prayer before almighty God !  Hearing from him, and having an understanding of his word and ways..  Amen !  

So with Elisha, he was learning from a man of God. A man who loved God very deeply, and would obey him with all his heart, even if at times he needed a small jump start. But, his heart was always turned toward the Lord, and he was always ready to jump up and out run a chariot, or to Call a drought in the land, or put 400 false prophets to death by the sword. But all by the leading of his God ! Never asking permission of other men. Oh, I pray that today, and until Jesus comes back for his espoused bride, that the men who are called of God, will stop fearing man, and fear God instead, and obey ‘him,’ without seeking the approval of others, or needing their Stamp.  Elisha knew this, and saw this in his teacher Elijah, and wanted to be like him. So bad in fact, that here in 2kings 2: 1-6, we see that he was not going to settle for anything less than Elijah’s spirit (anointing) , and not only that, he wants  a ”double portion” of it ! Good for him, this is as it should be in the body of Christ. We need to have the Elisha mindset and heart, that we cannot get enough of God, and we hunger and thirst for more continually, never slaking off, or letting up, or laying down.

Again, this is meant as a morning discussion here among you, and we are talking as the spirit of God would lead us, and to see what he would have for us. So, as Elijah begins his journey here to be ‘taken up,’ to heaven in a chariot of fire, we see Elisha growing ever more hungry and intent upon having this double portion of Elijah’s anointing. He too, wants to serve God in a mighty and powerful way, and first of all let us as well understand that in these last days on earth, filled with more trouble and turmoil, and division, and filth and sin, and those who hate God and his holy word as never before, we need to have the presence and power of God in our lives in an ever increasing way ! There is no time left to be indifferent and complacent, no time remaining to be slack and cowering in fear behind closed doors, or the street corner or at work, or the pulpit ! We are, as men and women of God, under demonic attack, and the powers of darkness will use all hell can muster up against those who will step out by faith and speak the truth !   From the white house to the Church house, the truth must be told, without  a sherd of fear and approval of men . Dear ones here, who are ‘reading’ this discussion that was given, whether called to be an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher, you are a Christian first and foremost, and therefore are “all,” ambassadors of Jesus Christ, commanded to minister his word as a follower of Christ. If a minister, then you and I need his anointing, and all of it we can handle. 

We are told:

Mark 16:15-20

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Jesus said.. “vs 16, “whoever believes…”  Are you an “whoever “? Have you been born again by the cross and blood of Christ ? Have you been baptized, and declared that great salvation to the world in doing so ? Then my brother or sister, you are that “whoever,” that Jesus speaks of here !  Praise God forevermore ! Amen !   So then, if you and I are to be effective in the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are going to have to carry his anointing. The anointing to  cast out demons, and by the way, all who are lost in this world, and lost in the Church, have them you know !  Satan isn’t scared or removed from or by our titles or denomination, or non-denominational jargon, or quotes, or our dress codes, and outward  appearance or traditions. Satan, is cast out and sent to the dry places by the presence of Jesus Christ ! The very name of Jesus Christ, sends him out of the picture, if it is spoken by one who is a true disciple, and covered in the blood of Christ, and walks daily taking up his cross as Jesus did, and understanding that where Christ was going with his cross was to die !  So, we also must die daily. Understand that the flesh and the devil can no longer have a place, or rule in our lives, not just say, “ well, I am saved..” That is only the prerequisite, to follow Christ. There is much much more ahead, and to do the ‘works,’ that Jesus did, and commands us to do as well, in these last days, as in His day, will still take one who has the anointing upon their lives.

Simply put.. “The anointing is the presence of God upon us.” It starts when we come to Christ, and then when we receive the baptism of the holy ghost and fire upon us, and continues on as we walk in the word of God, and in prayer and draw closer and closer to Jesus !  Ever fervent as Elisha, to have the anointing, the power, the very presence of God upon us to do his will. The anointing is not something you just run and get. The ‘anointing,’ is the very presence of God himself.  it involves walking in close fellowship with the holy spirit. You see, the anointing isn’t an it, The anointing is a person. It is the very presence of God upon us by the holy spirit in us ! The fellowship in the spirit of God, the ever increasing hunger and drawing to him daily. To cast out demons, heal the sick, spread the gospel to a hardened and rebellious people, to raise the dead, to not be effected or overcome by the evil, and deadly perils that await us, (the attacking of the deadly poison and serpent that brings it in Mark 16:18),  to serve God without fear of men or the devil, to be an  ambassador of Christ to a world, and to some churches, that are steeped in darkness, we need a powerful anointing !

Moses said to God in:

Exodus 33:15-20

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

 Ah, Moses here, is asking for the anointing. What is that again. Look at vs. 19 again. “I will cause my goodness, to pass in front of you..”  The holy righteous, presence of almighty God !  This is the anointing.  You see, Moses knew that he could not go up and face the people without the anointing, the presence and power of God.

Look again here at Exodus 33: 14

 14. The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

The word used here for “Presence,” means: FACE or COUNTENANCE. How wonderful and encouraging is this !  God is saying to Moses.. Don’t fear Moses, when you step out in faith at the direction of my word, no matter what or who you will be confronted with, no matter what happens, no matter how difficult, My Face, My Countenance, will go with you. They will behold my presence upon you Moses. They will see the very countenance of God upon you !  Beloved in Christ, it is the same with us when we step out by faith to tell those in darkness and sin, those bound by religious form, those held captive by the devil and those in their suffering and pain and sickness and blindness about the saving, delivering healing power of Christ, God’s presence will be with you !  For those who have been in their secret closet, for those who cry out to the Lord to know his heart, and will humble themselves, and submit themselves in obedience to him, they will go out with an “unveiled face,” reflecting the Lord’s glory. We will look like Jesus ! That is to say, “we will reflect his countenance, his character,”  and people around us “will sense the presence of God in their midst !”

Look at:

2 Corinthians 3:15-18

15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate ( reflect ) the Lord’s glory,  are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (emphasis mine).

Praise God !  Talking here about the ‘law,’ and the ‘Spirit.’   But what I want you to take away from this is.. When the traditions and customs, and rituals, and ceremonies, and,  “trying to please and serve God in the energy of the flesh, (human reasoning and human effort, trying to ‘help God out’),  are dead to us, and we serve Christ with a whole heart, and knowing .. Jesus said.   “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).  Apart from Christ, we can do nothing ! But because of him and his life in us, we with an unveiled face, are showing forth his very countenance, the reflection of the face of Christ is upon us, Christ is not hidden, the veil is removed, as we walk in the spirit of God by faith, unafraid, and speaking the truth, then we look like Jesus, we have his radiance, the power and anointing is upon us,  and we show forth the glory of God, Christ is the Glory of God !  Amen !  

Again in Exodus:

 Exodus 33:13

 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

Teach me your ways oh God ! This must be the cry from our heart !  We have got to come before the Lord continually with the hunger and thirst for his righteousness and his wisdom and know him in a more intimate way ! Desiring the power of almighty God, to walk in the anointing that will work through us as the very hand and words of God will fill the atmosphere with the weighty heavy presence of the holy spirit. Others will sense this, and know that God is among them, and cry out to him for salvation and healing and deliverance and all God desires to give them, but I tell you today, that the one who has this anointing, must hide himself in Christ and never once entertain the thought of being seen or receiving the praise of men, no no no, all the Glory belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. All the recognition goes to the one who has worked these mighty miracles through these vessels and jars of clay. The anointing will remain upon you if you are constantly seeking to walk in the right motives, and a pure heart, and obedience to God !

 How, do I obtain this kind of anointing, and maintain it ? Here is “one way.”

 James 4: 4-10

 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

 “God opposes the proud

 but shows favor to the humble.”

 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Oh that is hard, someone says..!  It is only hard to the’ stubborn flesh’ of men ! It is NOT hard to the ‘heart’ of those who are truly ‘captured’ by Christ ! to those who made Christ their life ! To those who continually hunger and thirst for more of him, to all who seek him without an hidden agenda, without the wrong motives, to all who cry out for and walk in a heart purified by the word and the blood of Christ, to these, he will show his great presence.   Moses said, “ if your presence does not go up with us (or me), how will they know you sent us/me, what will distinguish me from all the other people on this earth” ?  It will be the anointed presence of God !  You will do miracles.  That is not a nasty word you know.  Remember in Mark 16? We saw and heard that Whoever (in Christ), Filled with his spirit, will believe upon him to be his disciple, and believe upon him in us, to do the things he already said, “we can and are expected to do,” that these signs will follow him !   The world, and the Church, frankly, need to hear the word of God in power, to experience the word of God by faith, but experience it they must!

Both the world, and what is called Church. People should be saved, and healed, and set free from all manner of demonic strongholds, but first, they, in the Church for example, need to be taught of these things, and most of the modern day pulpiteers, are too afraid to tread there, and as a result they pick and choose the word for Sunday morning out of fear to lose their position and parsonage, and paycheck ! It is true. It is a sad but true statement I have made to you all. These self- proclaimed preachers of the easy gospel, (which is no gospel at all) are afraid to speak all the truth, so the sheep only get ‘parts.’ Now it is, “Let us just seek to speak of love, and Christian kindness and fellowship one with another, let us hold hands and skip and tiptoe through  the word of God on the “light side.” My goodness, let us not stir things up, or make the rich folks and Church bosses here upset ! I tell you, Jesus best be the “boss,” the head, and director of “everything you do sir in that gathering, or you are no more than a hireling ! Unfit for service in the kingdom of God !

So James Chp 4 just said, to “humble ourselves.” Again we see humility, and not stubborn self and pride, will receive the things of God. He said, “draw near to God, and God will draw near to you..” His presence. But there was much more amen ? Purified hearts, Changing the laughter to mourning and joy to gloom… Simply,  (changing your folly and foolishness and sin to  brokenness and repentance).  Gaining a pure heart.  Righteousness, simply means,  ‘what is right in God’s eyes, not our own.’  A pure heart before God and right motives for all we do and ask for, is a prime prerequisite for this powerful anointing, a “double portion” we are talking about this morning here. Hot burning fervent tenacity as Elisha had. Humility, submissiveness, sincerity of heart, and right motives.  This, will bring the anointing . Amen !  No man can adequately teach you how to walk this way, you “must develop the heart to do so,” and then propose to do it, by faith and obedience to God’s word.  But watch out. That old dragon Satan hates this. He will come at you with all he has.  But fear not oh child of God:

 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6 says:

 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Living in the world, not of it.  We have divinely powerful weapons to wage this war with, against the flesh and the Devil himself. Walking in and with a pure heart. Seeking to do the will of the Father in all things, in every way, and in serving him. This, while it is the very thing Jesus has commanded us to do, is the very walk and life Satan hates. But remember beloved, James 4: 7-8 said, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.” There is nothing to fear. Not at all. You see, if our heart is tied to Jesus. If we love Christ more than our very lives. If we have nothing but his interest in mind, then what is there to be afraid of ? But if our heart is tied to a system, a seminary, a list of rules and regulations, or to a paycheck, or to ‘keep a good name in town, and not look foolish,’ then we will fear. If we do not want to offend folks with the word of God, then we will fear. If we want to make sure book sales are up (wrong motive) then we will fear.

You have to fear when your heart is tied to you, or something else, or someone else in life. Because, if your heart is tied to something else, you have to protect and save ‘self,’ or the thing your heart is tied to will be lost. Your double minded heart says to you, “ if you lose this, you will have nothing, you’ll go down, what then, what will they all think of you, how then will you make it and be noticed by men ?”  Submit yourselves to who?  To what?  Oh, submit yourselves to God ! When we are submitted to God, we have nothing else to lose! We have nothing to cling to and rely upon except God !  What can we be robbed of, what can be taken away, what will cause us to fear and draw back from the whole truth, what can I be stripped of?  If all I am is completely devoted to almighty God, and I will not stand anywhere else,  I tell you, Nothing, is the answer !  Amen.  Praise God !

Folks I tell you, I think we are just getting started here ! Amen . What was meant to be a short discussion is going to go Gods way and time in Jesus name .  Praise God.

So, 2kings 2:1-6. Elijah is ready to go and be whisked up to heaven and be with God and rest from all his adventures of faith and miracles, and enter into the miraculous place that awaits him, heaven !  All the while, Elisha, is sticking to his master like there is no tomorrow. Indeed, there is no tomorrow for Elisha ! Time is very short . He is continually reminded of that fact by all the other prophets along the way.

 2kings 2:1-4:

 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3. The company of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha and asked, Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today ?” 4. “Yes I know”, Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.”   

What is this ? Do not speak of it ? I thought it would be a glorious thing to speak of a brother going to heaven, and especially on a flaming chariot of fire !   Not for the prophetic apprentice of Elijah. He was getting weary of the reminder. But do we not need to hear the reminder that “time is short,” and Jesus is coming soon ? Also, in his ‘bark’ toward the other prophets trailing along, he must have thought, ”boy, I do not need them around, what if my master gave one of them his anointing instead of me” !   So the ever eager Elisha wanted to make sure that in this very short time left, he would not miss the anointing his heart yearned for, and that nothing would stop him, and no one else would cheat or beat him out of it !  How we must learn from this as well. Stick close to the only one who can give us this heavenly holy ghost desire he has placed within us for his mighty anointing. His powerful presence upon us to do his will in the earth and serve the kingdom of God. Not only stay close, submitting to him, (in our case Jesus), knowing time here is short.

But also, we must have the heart and tenacity of Elisha, that nothing, nor anything, or anyone is going to rob me of this anointing. I will not tolerate anything in my walk in Christ to rob me of his glorious presence, not anything !  Not anyone !   “I will not leave your side”,  was the cry from the heart of Elisha, and must be our heart as well.  Jesus I will not leave you, ever !  I will not leave your side and presence until I receive that which is promised to me. I will fervently remain and abide in you Lord God, until you touch me ! Whether it is the anointing, or healing, or deliverance from a besetting sin, or something distracting us and causing us to lose sight of Christ and his dealings in our lives, I will never leave his side until he touches me ! Never !  Just look at how many times Elisha was told stay “stay here,” But he would not stay ‘where he was’,  ”that place did not have what would bless his heart, there was nothing there any longer for him once his master left there.”

Why would we want to be somewhere in our walk, where Jesus is not ?  Why would we want our mind, our eyes and ears, or heart turned away to other distractions, to many amusements, that might come to “rob us,” from having that which Christ wants us to have in him ?  I tell you all here, do not allow these meanderings, these earthly distractions to lure you away ! Stop them. Use the weapons of your warfare in 2 Corinthians 10 3-6. Use the whole armor of God provided for you dear one in Ephesians 6: 10 -18.  Be ever vigilant, be on your guard, stay before the Lord and his word, with prayer and thanksgiving and praise, and sing unto the Lord new songs, all you can, while you can,  time is short !

Remember Elisha!  He would not leave his masters side, he was devoted, tenacious, and determined to have this powerful “double portion of anointing,” and would not let anything get in his way !

 Hebrews 11:6

 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who “earnestly” seek him.  (emphasis mine)

Come to God and bring your faith! Stay before him often. Seek his will and heart for those you minister to.  Cry out to him from a pure heart, and in much diligence and earnest, and he will reward you !  Walk with him with a burning white hot passion. Be serious. Be earnest. Be as Elisha, devoted and tenacious, never moving off what he wanted from God, and with purity of heart and sincere right motives, to walk in this kind of anointing to bring glory to God!  Amen.

~END OF PART 1~