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ElishaGod is Salvation

Elisha

• Elisha is one of the most interesting characters in the Old Testament.• It seems that almost everything we read about Elisha

is connected with some type of miracle•With the exception of Jesus, Elisha performs more

miracles than anyone else recorded in scriptures• Jesus performed between 35 and 40 that are recorded

and Elisha performed about 28 that are recorded

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Elisha

• Elisha took over the job as the main prophet in Israel from Elijah

• Although we don’t know for sure, some commentators believed he spent 7 or 8 years as a pupil of Elijah’s

• It is believed that Elisha was “The Prophet of God” in Israel for about 60 yrs

• Elisha prophesied during the reigns of Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash kings of Israel

Elisha

•We first read about Elisha when Elijah is running from Jezebel.• Elijah has come to Mount Horeb and is staying in a cave when

God gives him three things to do.• 1Ki 19:15 Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your

way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.• 16 "Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king

over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

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Elijah Calls Elisha

• These two great men first meet just a few verses later.• 1Ki 19:19 ¶ So he departed from there, and found Elisha

the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.• 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said,

"Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"

Elijah Calls Elisha

•21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

• I believe Elisha understood immediately what was meant by Elijah putting his mantle on him

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Elijah Calls Elisha

• It meant he was being called to be a prophet

• Elisha or at least his family must have been wealthy having 12 yoke of Oxen to do the plowing necessary on their land

• If his family was wealthy as it seems, then this was going to be a great financial sacrifice on the part of Elisha to live the life of a prophet.

Elijah Calls Elisha

• This does not seem to deter this righteous man at all.•How often in our lives do we make decisions based on

our finances?•Many of our decisions are based on whether or not

something is a good idea financially and rightfully so.• If we are going to be good stewards of the things God

has blessed us with then we don’t need to be reckless with those blessings.

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Elijah Calls Elisha• But what about when it comes to obeying God? Do we

make those decisions based on our finances?

• Some people do:• They choose where to go to Church based on whether

or not they can strike up a business deal with some of the members.• Some take jobs that prevent them from regularly

attending worship services.• Some refuse to become a Christian so they won’t be cut

out of their parent’s will.

Elijah Calls Elisha

•When we do these type things we are putting Fleshly things ahead of Spiritual and that is a huge mistake!• Joh 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits

nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.• Ro 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to

those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.• Ro 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be

spiritually minded is life and peace.

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Elijah Calls Elisha

•Ga 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.• 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap

corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Elijah Calls Elisha

•We simply cannot allow our life to be governed or ruled by Money!

• If we do, we have become its slaves:•Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either

he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

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Elijah Goes Home

• After the call of Elisha we don’t hear any more about him until 2Kings chapter 2, just before God is about to bring Elijah home.• 2Ki 2:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when the LORD was about

to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.• 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the

LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.

Elijah Goes Home

•2Ki 2:3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"• 4 Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please,

for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.

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Elijah Goes Home

• 5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" So he answered, "Yes, I know; keep silent!“• 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the

LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.

Elijah Goes Home

• 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.• 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and

struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

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Elijah Goes Home

• 9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."• 10 So he said, "You have asked a hard thing.

Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

Elijah Goes Home

• 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.• 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father,

my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

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Double Portion

•What an amazing story! Elijah is one of only two men that I know of in the Old Testament who did not die like everyone else. The other being Enoch

• Just before Elijah is carried away he tells Elisha "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?"

• Kind of reminds me of what God ask Solomon.

• Elisha like Solomon does not ask for wealth or fame or physical comforts.

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Double Portion

• He asks for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah.

• He is asking for the portion of the first born son but not in the sense of a physical inheritance

• Elisha wanted the same boldness, zeal, passion, courage and determination as a prophet of God that Elijah had demonstrated so many times.• Elijah had a moment of weakness but that was no

coward that faced down those 400 priests of baal on Mount Carmel but a Mighty Man of God!

Double Portion

• Elisha wanted to serve God and not fear man in doing so. This is a characteristic we should desire.

• God granted Elisha’s request. We know this because he did witness Elijah leaving this earth. • The next two points may just be a coincidence but they

are very interesting • Elisha was a prophet in Israel twice as long as Elijah• The Bible evidently records 14 miracles that Elijah

performed. Do we remember how many Elisha performed? 28

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Who Do We Fear?• The principle of “serving God and not fearing man while

doing so” is one that is recounted in the scriptures many times• David and Goliath•Queen Esther and Ahasuerus•Mordecai and Haman• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego• Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Who Do We Fear?

• Do we sometimes “fear man” when obeying God today?

• Do we worry about what men may think of us or say about us because we serve God?•Our friends may ridicule us•Our families may disown us

• Do we worry about what men may do to us because we serve God?• Boss may fire us• Government may arrest us

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Conclusion

•We can’t allow these worries and fears to stop us from obeying God.• Lu 12:4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be

afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do….• 5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear

Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

Conclusion

•Heb 13:6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?“

• Elijah demonstrated that lack of fear on most occasions and this has to be one of his attributes that Elisha wanted most and it should be one that we greatly desire.

•Without it we will have a very difficult time serving God.