The Lord has been speaking to me about Elijah-Elisha relationship as I was preparing for the year 2015. The chapters to read as you cross the threshold of 2015 are 1 Kings 19 and 2 Kings 2. These are crucial chapters for the year 2015.
The word 'mantle' (or 'coat') here is 'addereth' (i.e.
something ample, like a wide garment/robe) in Hebrew, from the word 'eder'
meaning 'amplitude (i.e. greatness, largeness, abundance), glorious,
splendor'. This throwing of Elijah's mantle on Elisha here speaks of the adoption in a spiritual father-son relationship
between Elijah and Elisha.
'Elijah' ('Eliyah' in Hebrew)
comes from two words, i.e. 'El' meaning 'God, the Almighty, the
Strength', and 'Yah', the name of the Lord God, the YHWH (Yehowah), the
Self-Existent and Eternal God.
'Elisha' ('Eliysha' or
'Eliyshuwa' in Hebrew) comes from two words as well, i.e. 'El' meaning
'God, the Almighty, the Strength', and 'Shuwa', which means 'riches, in
abundance'.
If 'Elijah' speaks of 'the Spirit of God', then 'Elisha'
speaks of you and I! Romans 8:14-15 says,
'For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you
did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba,
Father."'
People of God, keep following the God of YHWH no
matter what this year, like Elisha following Elijah!
This is the key for you in the year 2015. And if you do so,
this shall be a year of ‘double portion’ and ‘double honor’ for you. Isaiah
61:7 says, 'Instead of your shame you shall have double honor
(double portion), and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their
portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double...'
As I was seeking the Lord for what the year 2015 brings, He gave a
deep assurance with these words:
"My grace is enough for you for
the year ahead, if you will look to Me."
By the way, His grace here speaks of His supply and His ability.
Not by might (of men) nor by power (of men), but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6-7).
Then, I heard further for this year 2015:
"This is going to be a year of pleasant surprises and a year the
fountain of revelation is being opened for those who seek Me."
Notice the words “if you will look to Me”,
and then “for those who seek Me” above? There’s a double emphasis
here, and I believe the Lord wants us to know this is not for everyone,
but for those who look to Him and seek Him.
For those who will, 'pleasant surprises' are
waiting for you, even in the midst of gloominess in the world. Just never limit
God - on what He can do for you, or how He’s going to do it! This is a year of endless
possibilities. Like Elisha, not only did he receive a double portion and
pleasant surprises, watch how he also walked in the fountain of
revelation that’s being opened for him!
Elisha is a 'picture' of riches and abundance. To plow
with twelve yoke (pairs) of oxen in the field at the same time is
rather extraordinary, and he was with the twelfth when the mantle fell
on him. He never looked back since then (1 Kings 19:21), and followed Elijah
till the very end (2 Kings 2:11-15). That was the key to his double portion of
anointing. By the way, the number 'twelve' doesn't just mean 'divine
government or authority' in Hebrew numeric, but this number is also the number
for 'divine power (or ability)'. In other words, the number
'twelve' speaks of the anointing!
Note: What is the anointing? It is ‘mish-chah’ in
Hebrew, meaning 'unction', from the Hebrew word ‘mashach’, i.e. 'to
rub with oil, to consecrate, to anoint'. ‘Oil’ here speaks of
'the anointing, enabling, or empowering of the Holy Spirit'. Jesus the Christ
(the Anointed) Himself quoted Isaiah 61:1-2 (that opens the way to Isaiah 61:7),
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me..."
as He began His earthly ministry (see Luke 4:18-19).
Indeed, this is a year to receive the anointing
like that of Elisha!
Look now how Elisha kept following Elijah no matter what.
2 Kings 2:1-2 (NKJV) says, ‘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. 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'.
From Gilgal, meaning ‘wheel, rolling thing (like a whirlwind)’,
Elisha kept following Elijah - to Bethel (i.e. house of God), then to Jericho
(i.e. the fragrance/breath of God), and finally to Jordan, where he
received the double portion (see 2 Kings 2:2-8).
May you also have the tenacity and perseverance to follow the
Lord no matter what, throughout this year 2015. And that’s how you’ll
eventually reach your ‘Jordan’ as well!
Interestingly, the name ‘Jordan’ (‘Yarden’ in Hebrew) means ‘descender’,
from the word ‘yarad’, which can mean ‘to descend, to come down, to light
upon’. In cross-reference, John 1:32
says, 'And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him (Jesus)."' And guess what?
This too happened at Jordan! Let Scripture interpret Scripture!
The above speaks of the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit
falling upon His people in a very special way this year 2015, such as happened
in the life and ministry of Elisha those days!
2 Kings 2:8-9 (NKJV) then says, '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. 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.”’
2 Kings 2:11 (NKJV) continues, ‘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’.
The word ‘whirlwind’ (i.e. a sudden gush of wind that moves in circular motion) here
comes from the Hebrew word ‘saw-ar’, meaning ‘to rush upon’. Many things
will happen suddenly this year. Indeed, we have already entered a time and
season of many suddenlies.
This is the end-time. But fear not, because for those who look to Him and seek
Him (with humility and the fear of the Lord), you’ll also be in for many ‘pleasant
surprises’ that also come suddenly! Receive this by faith for your life and
ministry. Amen!
Not only Elisha had pleasant surprises (1 Kings
19:19, 2 Kings 2:9), the fountain of revelation was also being
opened for him, such that 'no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those
who love Him' (see 1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Here are the examples of miracles, signs and wonders performed through
Elisha upon him receiving his ‘double portion’:
- Healing of water with salt (2 Kings 2:19-22)
- Widow’s jar of oil,
and the oil multiplied (2 Kings 4:1-7)
- Raising the
Shunammite woman’s son from death (2 Kings 4:32-35)
- Naaman’s leprosy
healed as he dipped in Jordan seven times (2 Kings 5:10-14)
- The iron ax head floated when he threw in a stick (2 Kings 6:5-7)
And many more! Speaking about double portion!
Watch how Elisha moved by the revelation
of the Lord each time! For each miracle, notice how he received afresh from the Lord, even in unprecedented ways
- never being done by others before!
You see, the fountain of revelation was being opened for him in many interesting ways! Elisha just knew what to do. For example, one may ask, “Why not ask Naaman dip in another river instead of Jordan?” or “Why not ask Naaman dip eight times instead of seven times?”
You see, the fountain of revelation was being opened for him in many interesting ways! Elisha just knew what to do. For example, one may ask, “Why not ask Naaman dip in another river instead of Jordan?” or “Why not ask Naaman dip eight times instead of seven times?”
And I want to believe the same for you this year. When many do not know what to do, or how to go about anymore, like Elisha, ‘you will know’! In other words, the fountain of revelation is being opened for you! This year 2015 is going to be like that - for those who look to Him and seek Him (the way Elisha followed Elijah).
See yourself like 'Elisha', and see the Lord like the 'Elijah'!
Here are the ways to receive the anointing for double portion and double
honor:
- Keep looking/seeking/following Him no matter what (even in difficult
situations)
- Partaking through someone God has anointed (like Elisha to Elijah).
