Prayer – Lord, I am hungry for Your love and attention. Isn’t that what everyone craves—love and attention? The Holy Spirit certainly draws attention to people in the Old and New Testaments. It is surprising how He works in peoples lives even before Pentecost. I am so grateful that He is mine for the asking—and unlike Elisha I don’t have to ask to inherit it from my teacher or master. The Holy Spirit was given to me when I confessed my sins and believed in Jesus as my Savior—and as I asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit, His gifts became more evident in my life. I see that as my double portion. Thank you, God, for Your plan and the blessings You have bestowed on me through the Holy Spirit.
Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, "Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?" "Of course I know," Elisha answered. "But be quiet about it." Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River." But again Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you." So they went on together. Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away." And Elisha replied, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor." "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah replied. "If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won't." As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!" And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah's cloak and cried out, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, "Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha!" And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 2 Kings 2:5-15
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| The Jordan River--near the headwaters. Israel Rushing Water |
Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture. Read God’s
word and listen to what He is saying.
Have you ever crossed a river on dry ground? Whacking the
water and it divides—separates so that people can walk through it on dry
ground. When did that happen before? The first time was when Moses led the
Hebrew people through the Dead Sea on dry ground during their exodus from Egypt,
Then, when Joshua led that same group of people—a generation later—into the
Promised Land it was across the Jordan River on dry ground. God was with His
chosen people when they crossed those bodies of water. At this point in the
history of Israel, Elisha became filled with the same spirit—The Holy Spirit of
God. Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha! Elijah was filled with the Holy
Spirit while he served as God’s prophet. Now as the same Holy Spirit was
indwelling Elisha, his first amazing act was crossing that same Jordan River on
dry ground. No slip-sliding through mud or across wet rocks. They all were sure
footed on dry ground. Definitely a miracle in all three incidents.
Elisha got the double portion of the Spirit—just as he had asked of Elijah. Do you ever ask the Lord for something—maybe not a request to cross a body of water on dry ground—and expect a larger portion that you needed? Or perhaps you were blessed by more than you asked for? I just reread a post from an earlier “Banquet With The King” from several years ago and it reminded me that we should ask BIG of God. He has the best of everything and wants to provide us with just that. It is useful also to keep a log of your prayer requests and the answers to your prayers so that you can see just how God is working in your life. You might be surprised at the number of times that He gives you a double portion of what you were wanting or needing. Yes. I do want a double portion, just like Eliasha.
Verses of Salvation ~ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD
is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has
sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be
released and prisoners will be freed. ... Instead of shame and dishonor, you
will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of
prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. Isaiah 61:1, 7
© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.a
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
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