March 20, 2021 Elijah: Following Truth in an Age of Lies

Part 6 | “Where are the Elishas?”

Sent by God.
Fed by Ravens and Widows.
Standing for righteousness.
Hated by his world.

These are the phrases that describe the life of Elijah. Yet James says “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” James 5:17

Can modern-day Christians really learn something from this ancient wild prophet? His story seems out of the realm of possibility and yet he speaks to us in our day louder than ever.

The journey of following Christ will be filled with constant temptations, hostile opinions, and devastating occasions. But God’s still small voice will always lead you home. The key is to learn to listen.

From 2 Kings 2

THE CALL OF ELISHA:

📖 1 Kings 19:21 (ESV) And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Like Elisha, I’ve been to God’s .

📖 Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called

I cannot accomplish the of God without the of God.

1.Come to “ “.

📖 2 Kings 2:1-2 (ESV) Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

📖 Genesis 28:16–17 (ESV) Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

“Bethel” – the place of to God.

2. Come to “ “.

📖 2 Kings 2:4 (ESV) Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

Jericho – a picture of the life of faith – is a place of:

A)

📖 Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

B)

📖 1 John 5:4 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

C)

📖 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT) I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

“Jericho” – the place of to God.

📖 Matthew 16:24 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

3. Come to “ “.

📖 2 Kings 2:6 (ESV) Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

📖 Joshua 3:15–16 (NLT) But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away… And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

📖 Matthew 3:16-4:1 (ESV) And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

📖 Acts 10:38 (NLT) And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

“The Jordan” – the place of from God.

📖 2 Kings 2:8-9 (ESV) Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”

Elisha has an , but he knows he needs an .

📖 2 Kings 2:10 (ESV) And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

📖 John 16:7 (ESV) I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Jesus’ ascension made it possible for the to come down from and us. .

📖 2 Kings 2:13 (ESV) And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

📖 Luke 11:13 (ESV) “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”