ELIJAH & ELISHA WALKING IN GOD’S ANOINTING

From the lives of Elijah and Elisha, we learn that there are special places in our spiritual journey through which we must pass that lead to God’s double anointing for service in His Kingdom.

GILGAL

Hebrew Gilgal circle of stones, rolled away, circle

II Kings 2:1 “And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.”

Elijah first took Elisha to Gilgal to show him that living by faith is the first step that will lead him to his full potential.

Joshua 4:19-24 “And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.   And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?  Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.  For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God forever.”

Israel first camped at Gilgal after crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land.  This is also where the Manna stopped falling from heaven to feed the people.  Now they had to walk by faith and not by sight.  For 40 years they saw the manna on the ground outside their tents but all that stopped at Gilgal.

On one’s journey to a higher anointing one must come to a place where the presence of God may no longer be felt and one may enter into a season of silence. 

BETHEL

Hebrew Beythel, Beth-el; originally called Luz; House of God

Jacob gave a new name for Bethel, he called it Peniel: the face of God; see God face to face

Genesis 32:30-32 “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.  Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.”

II Kings 2:2, 4 “And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here (Gilgal), I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel.  And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.  So they went down to Bethel.  And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here (Gigal) I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho.  And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.  So they came to Jericho.”

It was also at Bethel that Jacob wrestled with an angel all during the night.  Often the angel tried to pull away but Jacob held on even tighter. The angel said, “No!” but Jacob said “Yes!”  Jacob continued to wrestle with the angel and finally prevailed! 

Genesis 32:24-25 “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled with a man (angel) with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he (angel) prevailed not against him, he (angel) touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him (angel).”

Genesis 32:28 “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob (ya aqob heal catcher, supplanter), but Israel (yisrael He will rule with God; prince with God): for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed (yakol yakol to be able, endure, overcome).”

Hosea 12:2-4 “The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.  He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.”

Isaiah 63:7-9 “I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.  For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Savior.  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”

II Corinthians 12:7-10 “And lest I (Paul) should be exalted (huperairomai to raise oneself over, to become haughty, to exhalt self) above measure  (huperairomai to raise oneself over, to become haughty, exhalt self) through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn (skolops withered, bodily annoyance, physical disability) in the flesh (sarx stripped of the skin, the body, external, fragilities), the messenger of Satan (aggelo to bring tidings; satan the devil, Satan) to buffet me (kolapitizo to rap with the fist, buffet), lest I should be exalted above measure (same as above).  For this thing I besought (parakaleo to call near, invite, invoke, implore, entreat, pray) the Lord thrice, that it might depart (aphistemi to remove, desist, draw away, refrain, withdraw) from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient (charis Divine favor, redemptive mercy, unmerited favor, favorable, regard to be in favor with; arkeo enough, be content, sufficient) for thee: for my strength (dunamis miraculous power, ability, abundance, might, power, might) is made perfect (teleioo complete, accomplish, consummate, consecrate, finish, fulfill, made perfect) in weakness (astheneia feebleness, malady, frailty, infirmity, sickness, weakness).  Most gladly (hedista with great pleasure, joy, most gladly) therefore will I rather glory (mallon more in a greater degree, better by far, more and more, so much the more; kauchaomai to boast, joy, rejoice, glory) in my infirmities (astheneia feebleness, malady, frailty, disease, infirmities, sickness, weakness), that the power of Christ (dunimis force, miraculous, miracle, power, ability, abundance, might, mighty deed, worker of miracles, strength, mighty work) may rest upon me (episkenoo to tent upon, abide with, rest upon).  Therefore I take pleasure (dio through which thing, consequently, for which cause; eudokeo to think well of, approve, think good of, well pleased, take pleasure) in infirmities (astheneia feebleness of body, malady, frailty, disease, sickness), in reproaches (hubris insolence, insult overbearing, weakness, harm, hurt, injury), in necessities (anagke constraint, distress, needful, in need of), in persecutions (diogmos to put to flight, drive away, to pursue), in distresses (stenochoria narrowness of room, calamity, anguish, distress) for Christ’s sake (Christos anointed one, Messiah, Jesus the Christ): for when I am weak (astheneo to be diseased, feeble, impotent, sick, weak), then am I strong (duinatos powerful, capable, able, mighty, powerful, strong).”

Galatians 6:17 “From henceforth let no man trouble me (parecho to show trouble; kopos a cut, reduce strength, pain, labor, weariness): for I bear in my body (bastazo pains, labor, weariness, endure, sustain, receive, carry, take up; soma bodily, the body) the marks (stigma to stick, prick, scar of service, mark) of the Lord Jesus (kurios supremacy, supreme authority, controller, Lord, master; Iesous Jehoshua, deliverer, Jehovah is salvation ).”

Exodus 23:20-21 “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.  Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not: for he will not pardon your transgressions: for My Name is in him.”

After a long night of struggle, the angel whom Jacob held on so tightly touched his hip and threw it out of joint.  For the rest of Jacob’s life, he walked with a limp because of this wrestling match.  Jacob wanted to get blessed because he had said with bold determination, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”

The meaning of Jacob’s limp was that he would always need someone or something to lean on, and would have to deal with the flesh in order to do what he wanted to do.  Jacob wanting to walk in the blessings of God and have a higher anointing, had to learn to trust God because many more struggles would come his way.  There always has been and always will be a struggle to walk in the perfect will of God.  The decision one must make is whether or not we want to confront and have victory over these struggles in order to fulfill the call of God on our lives.

Experience will teach us that the rewards of getting blessed by God far exceed whatever struggle one may go through if we are willing to lean on God and not the arm of the flesh as Jeremiah 17:5 states “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord”.

At Bethel one learns to lean on God even though His presence may not be felt.  It is so vital that one learn this lesson because the next city Elijah took Elisha was Jericho and according to II Kings 2:4 “Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here (Bethel), I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho.  And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.  So they came to Jericho.”

JERICHO

Y’riycho Y’richo Yiriychoh a place of fragrance

The Jordan River was only approximately 5 miles from Jericho.  Jordan was a place of new beginnings.  It was where Joshua and Caleb began their quest to conquer the Promised Land. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River and immediately the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and filled Him with anointed power.

It was also near Jericho that Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness.  Jesus went to Jericho alone and waiting for Him there was the devil himself.  The devil always seems to show up when the presence of God appears absent from one’s life.  Jesus met the devil in the wilderness of Jericho and so will we.  It was Jesus who cried out in anguish on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Every demon in hell will show up at Jericho.  Like Jesus, you will also be all alone but you will learn from the Lord that at this critical point in our lives all we can do is follow His example and say, “It is written!  Just as when Job experienced his Jericho experience, he confessed, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” Job 13:15.

It was here (Jericho) that Elisha asked for and received a double portion of the spirit that was on Elijah.  It should be noted that Elijah performed sixteen miracles, and it is recorded that Elisha is credited with thirty six.  Before the double portion, one has to go to Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho. 

Miracles God wrought through Elijah:

I Kings 17:1 Prophecy of 3 ½ year drought

I Kings 17:4 Fed the ravens

I Kings 17:22 Widow’s son brought to life

I Kings 17:14 Widow’s provision of flour and oil

I Kings 18:38 Fire from heaven on the altar

I Kings 18:45 Rain from a small cloud seen by servant

I Kings 19:5-9 Fed by an angel

I Kings 19:7-14 The still small voice

I Kings 21:22 Prophecy that Ahab’s sons would be destroyed

I Kings 21:23 Prophecy that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs

II Kings 1:4 Prophecy that Ahaz would die of his illness

II Kings 1:9-15 Fire from heaven upon first 50 soldiers

II Kings 1:10 Fire from heaven upon second 50 soldiers

II Kings 2:8 Parting of the Jordan

II Kings 2:10 Prophecy of Elisha’s double portion of his spirit

II Kings 2:1-11 Elijah being caught up to heaven in whirlwind

Miracles God wrought through Elisha:

II Kings 2:14 Parting of the waters of Jordan river

II Kings 2:21 Healing of the waters

II Kings 2:23-25 Elisha rebukes the children that insult him

II Kings 2:24 Curse of the she bears

II Kings 3:17 Caused a flood to save Israel and foil Moabites

II Kings 3:22 Deception of Moabites with valley of blood

II Kings 4:1-7 Elisha provides oil for a poor widow

II Kings 4:16 Prophecy of Shunammite woman would have son

II Kings 4:32-37 Shunnammite’s son brought back to life

II Kings 4:38-42 Purified poison soup

II Kings 4:41 Healing of the gourds

II Kings 4:43 Miracle of the multiplied loaves

II Kings 5:1-19 Elisha heals Naaman a Syrian general of leprosy

II Kings 5:26 Perception of Gehazi’s transgression

II Kings 5:27 Cursing Gehazi with leprosy

II Kings 6:6 Floating of the ax head

II Kings 6:8-23 Elisha defeats Syrian army

II Kings 6:9 Prophecy of Syrian battle plans

II Kings 6:15-17 Elisha’s servant shown the power of God

II Kings 6:17 Vision of the chariots

II Kings 6:18 Smiting Syrian army with blindness

II Kings 6:20 Restoring sight to the Syrian army

II Kings 7:1 Elisha prophecies ending of siege of Samaria and famine

II Kings 7:2 Prophecy that nobleman would see but not partake of the abundance

II Kings 7:6 Deception of Syrians with sound of chariots

II Kings 8:1 Prophecy of the seven-year famine

II Kings 8:7-15 Elisha prophases Syrian atrocities

II Kings 8:10 Prophecy of Benadad’s untimely death

II Kings 8:12 Prophecy of Hazael’s cruelty to Israel

II Kings 9:7 Prophecy of Jehu smiting the house of Ahab

II Kings 13:14-19 Elisha prophecies defeat of Syria

II Kings 13:17 Prophecy of Joash smiting Syrians at Aphek

II Kings 13:19 Prophecy of Joash smiting Syria thrice but not consuming it

II Kings 13:21 Miracle of Elisha’s bones bringing man back to life

II Kings 19:19-22 Elisha heals water of Jericho

JORDAN

Hebrew yarden a river that rushes down; the down rusher; a descender; to descend

Always remember that Jordan is the place where your destiny begins.

II Kings 2:9-14 “And it came to pass, when they were gone over (Jordan), that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.  And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared  chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.  And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 

He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah?  And when he also had smitten the waters (Jordan), they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.”

In conclusion, at Gilgal one learns to live by faith.  At Bethel one must be willing to wrestle and struggle to gain the victory.  At Jericho one experiences the darkest moment of one’s life; however, at the Jordan one experiences a new beginning and anointing to fulfill all that God created, saved and empowered each us to be and do in His Kingdom for His glory!