Elijah and Elisha Discipleship Relationships 1 Kings 19:12-21

Introduction  Elijah  Mt. Horeb – after defeating prophets at Mt. Carmel  Consuming fire from heaven  Evil Queen Jezebel – Wife of King Ahab  May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them. (1 kings 19:12)  Fled for his life

Introduction  Elijah – Depressed  Mt. Horeb – still, small voice – a whisper  “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  Three things 1. Anoint Hazael King of Aram 2. Anoint Jehu King of israel 3. Anoint Elijah as disciple  A word about Elijah/Elisha

Side Note  Series – Discipleship  Elijah / Elisha example of pure discipleship relationship

Calling Elisha  The cloak is a sign of spiritual power, calling, position, and authority.  “What have I done to you” - you’re not gonna come  Oxen supper  Elisha willing and obedient.

The Next 4 Years  Wars and Kings  Ahab and Jezebel  Elijah dooms Ahab and Jezebel  'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. (1 kings 21:23)  No mention of Elisha until the end of Elijah’s life

Elijah Carried Away  1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.  2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.  Elijah is testing Elisha’s commitment

Elijah Carried Away  3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it."  4 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.  Says it again, Elisha will not budge

Elijah Carried Away  5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two of them walked on.

Elijah Carried Away  7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.  8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Elijah Carried Away  9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.  10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-otherwise not.“  Double-portion for a first born son  Elijah leaves It up to God.

Elijah Carried Away  11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.  12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.  13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.  The keeping of the cloak – double portion inherited

Elijah Carried Away  14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.  15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.  End of Elijah?

Side Note  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (Jas 5:17)

Side note  Called – You are Called  Faithful Prayer – Miraculous results  Failed and Restored – And so with us  Sent out – as we are sent out also in the great commission to Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)  Made Disciples – As we are called to do also.

Side note  Necessity and Outcome of Discipleship  Necessity – Elijah was not yet finished when he left  Outcome – Elisha to carry on his work

Elisha  In 2 Kings 3:16-20, God tells Elisha that he will provide water for a thirsty army  In 2 Kings 4:1-7, Elisha turns oil… into more oil.  In 2 Kings 4:23-37, Elisha brings a boy back to life.  And in 2 Kings 2:42-44, Elisha feeds a hundred men with 20 loaves of bread.

Elisha  2 Kings 2 Anoints Hazael  2 Kings 9 Anoints Jehu  2 Kings 9 Jezebel killed  2 Kings 10 descendants of Ahab  2 Kings 10 Jehu ends the prophets of Baal

Elisha  2 Kings 2 Anoints Hazael  2 Kings 9 Anoints Jehu  2 Kings 9 Jezebel killed  2 Kings 10 descendants of Ahab  2 Kings 10 Jehu ends the prophets of Baal

Larger Story  900 Years Later  John the Baptist  Jesus  Jesus’ disciples  Elijah was a man just like us…

Our Call  18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  Triple portion.