Life Lessons From The Life Of Elisha

ELISHA RECEIVING ELIJAH'S MANTLE

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. (1 Kings 19:19-21 NLT)

We are to serve faithfully in whatever God has put before us trusting Him that in His timing a leader will recognize our calling and take us under their wings.  

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.” (2 Kings 2:9-10 NLT)

The test of a good spiritual son/daughter is will they stick with their spiritual Father/Mother until God's character is fully developed in them.

Many are those that are promoted because of their gifting and therefore are not ready to build on what their spiritual Father/Mother has done because of lack of godly character.

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 2:14-15 NLT)

When replacing a leader if the mantle is now on our life it will be demonstrated and the honor given to that leader will be now given to us.

ELISHA WALKING IN THE DOUBLE PORTION

One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.” Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the LORD says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility. ” And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said. (2 Kings 2:19-22 NLT)

When we hear about a problem it does no good talking about it without seeking a strategy from God how to resolve it.

Elisha addressed the king of Israel, “What do you and I have in common? Go consult the puppet-prophets of your father and mother.” “Never!” said the king of Israel. “It’s GOD who has gotten us into this fix, dumping all three of us kings into the hand of Moab.” (2 Kings 3:13 MSG)

Puppet prophets are those that speak what the people want to hear and not what The Lord wants to say in fear that it may offend them.

We are not to be anyone's puppet but rather God's partner to serve people and speak God's word whether it pleases them or not.

PROVIDING FOR THE WIDOW AND HER SON

Elisha said, “I wonder how I can be of help. Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Nothing,” she said. “Well, I do have a little oil.” (2 Kings 4:2 MSG)

What we think as nothing God makes it into something when it is surrendered to Him.  

God always has a way to meet our needs if we simply trust Him to use whatever little we think we have.

One day Elisha passed through Shunem. A leading lady of the town talked him into stopping for a meal. And then it became his custom: Whenever he passed through, he stopped by for a meal.  Elisha conferred with Gehazi: “There’s got to be something we can do for her. But what?” Gehazi said, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is an old man.”  Elisha said to her, “This time next year you’re going to be nursing an infant son.” “O my master, O Holy Man,” she said, “don’t play games with me, teasing me with such fantasies!”The child grew up. One day he went to his father, who was working with the harvest hands, complaining, “My head, my head!” His father ordered a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”  The servant took him in his arms and carried him to his mother. He lay on her lap until noon and died.He called Gehazi and said, “Get the Shunammite woman in here!” He called her and she came in. Elisha said, “Embrace your son!” (2 Kings 4:8, 14, 16, 18-20, 36 MSG)

Those who take the blessings of God to be a blessing to His people will be blessed with the deepest desires of their heart.  Those who use their home to provide hospitality for others will be granted miraculous provision of all kinds.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDES DURING FAMINE

Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two they cried out, “Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!” So they would not eat it. Elisha said, “Bring me some flour.” Then he threw it into the pot and said, “Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat.” And then it did not harm them. One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.” “What?” his servant exclaimed. “Feed a hundred people with only this?” But Elisha repeated, “Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the LORD says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!” (2 Kings 4:40-43 NLT)

When we are following the leading of The Lord their is no lack but plenty as long as we walk by faith not by sight.

THE HEALING OF NAAMAN

Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: “Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you’ll be as good as new.” Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, “I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I’d at least get clean.” He stomped off, mad as a hornet. (2 Kings 5:10-12 MSG)

God is more about the condition of the heart than healing the body and often when ones heart changes their physical need is healed as well.

THE GREED OF GEHAZI

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the LORD lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.”  “Yes,” Gehazi said, “but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.” “By all means, take twice as much silver,” Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi.  But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? (2 Kings 5:20, 22-23, 26 NLT)

We must keep those near us constantly in prayer and when God reveals wrong that they have done we must deal with it, if our enemy can't take us down he will use those near us.  There is a place in the spirit that God reveals what He wants us to see so that we are not hoodwinked.

THE FLOATING AX-HEAD

“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. (2 Kings 6:6-7 NLT)

Every difficult incident is an opportunity to step out in faith that the hand of God may be seen.

ELISHA TRAPS THE ARAMEANS

The king of Aram was furious over all this. He called his officers together and said, “Tell me, who is leaking information to the king of Israel? Who is the spy in our ranks?” But one of his men said, “No, my master, dear king. It’s not any of us. It’s Elisha the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel everything you say, even what you whisper in your bedroom.”  Early in the morning a servant of the Holy Man got up and went out. Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city! The young man exclaimed, “Oh, master! What shall we do?” He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.” Then Elisha prayed, “O GOD, open his eyes and let him see.” The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha! When the Arameans attacked, Elisha prayed to GOD, “Strike these people blind!” And GOD struck them blind, just as Elisha said. (2 Kings 6:11-12, 15-18 MSG)

God exposes the plans of the enemy so we can counter his every move, when he shows up no matter how big he is (how bad the situation may appear) our God is bigger for we have more with us than against us and we will be delivered, unless our eyes be blind spiritually from unbelief.

ISRAEL PLUNDERS THE CAMP

Every word of the Holy Man to the king—“A handful of meal for a shekel, two handfuls of grain for a shekel this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,” with the attendant’s sarcastic reply to the Holy Man, “You expect us to believe that? Trapdoors opening in the sky and food tumbling out?” followed by the response, “You’ll watch it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat so much as a mouthful”—proved true. The final stroke came when the people trampled the man to death at the city gate. (2 Kings 7:18-20 MSG)

Change is normally a long process, but God can do the impossible and change can take place instantly.

JEHU ANOINTED AS KING

One day Elisha the prophet ordered a member of the guild of prophets, “Get yourself ready, take a flask of oil, and go to Ramoth Gilead. Look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi. When you find him, get him away from his companions and take him to a back room. Take your flask of oil and pour it over his head and say, ‘ GOD ’s word: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and get out of there as fast as you can. Don’t wait around.” (2 Kings 9:1-3 MSG)

We have the authority to anoint those who are called to govern, so let us be willing vessels that are set apart to release the called into their God ordained positions.