2 Kings 2:1-9 When the L ORD 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 L ORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the L ORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the L ORD 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 L ORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the L ORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the L ORD 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 L ORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the L ORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

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.

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.

Swimming Against the Current 2 Kings 1-8:15

The lives of prophets are a lot like the salmon’s life… they spend a lot of their time going against the flow. The prophets of the OT spend much of their time going against the kings and the culture who were ignoring God.

The purpose of their ministries was to restore respect for the Lord…they stood firm even when it wasn’t popular. Elijah and Elisha 1 and 2 Kings In the midst of the world, God had his faithful witnesses.

Elijah was introduced in 1 Kings His ministry to King Ahab was often left him feeling alone and isolated. But he wasn’t really alone – 7000 faithful

Elijah is introduced to Elisha (19:19). Cloak symbolized the call. Partnership Mentor and trainee

2 Kings, Chapter 1 Elijah is still at it! Challenging King Ahaziah’s decision to consult Baal-Zebub. Before the end of the chapter, the king died because he refused to call upon the Lord instead of foreign gods.

Chapter 2 The torch is passed from Elijah to Elisha. Elisha is faithful to his master even when he knows the end is near. The two traveled from Gilgal, to Bethel, to Jericho and the Jordon.

Chapter 2 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the L ORD 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 L ORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the L ORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

Each time Elijah moves, it seems he wants Elisha to stay behind so that he doesn’t have to experience the separation. But Elisha says the same thing 3 times --- in verses 2, 4, 6 “…I will not leave you…” Elisha is committed to Elijah to the end.

Perhaps it is a refusal to accept the inevitable, but I think it is simply commitment. And Elisha’s commitment is rewarded with a gift.

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.” Chapter 2

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. 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 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Not wealth or power or even wisdom, but the spirit is what Elisha desired for his future ministry. Though he was obviously committed to Elijah, knowing he had the Lord’s spirit passed on to him, he was willing to step out on his own.

*As much as we hate to say good-bye to our elders and mentors… There comes a time when we must take what we have learned and step out on our own – with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Although he was trained by Elijah, Elisha had his own unique calling. Elijah: confronted idolatry to call leader’s back to God. Elisha: continued to show God’s power to the leaders and people, he focused on compassionate care.

18 encounters with needy people. He put people in touch with the personal and all powerful God.

Elisha demonstrated God’s power by caring for all who came to him for help. The widow’s oil – 4:1-7 Shunammite’s son restored to life – 4:32-35 Feeding of 100 – 4:42-44 Naaman healed of leprosy – 5:8-10

*We each have our own unique gifts to be used… they often come out of our experiences. Many people here have ministries of compassion. Resist the temptation to think about your limitations…instead ask God to use them.

God sometimes works in strange ways. Some of the stories in these chapters are really strange. “Famine in Besieged Samaria” 6:24 – 7:20 ? What does is mean?! Several other stories as well.

The strange turn of events in these stories shows me that God sometimes accomplishes his purpose in unexpected, even absurd ways! So absurd, the kings had to know they were not from man.

*It our lives, we often think we know just the way God should help us. But that is often not the way God intervenes.

Missionary friends: Bob and Heather Cutillo Haiti Democratic Republic of Congo South Africa Denver, Colorado

Friend fighting cancer. Prayed for healing. The healing was not physical, but blessings came in different ways. Each of us has expectations, but what we ask for may not be what we need. Accept God’s way.

Putting it all together 1. Don’t be afraid to go against the flow of the world. As God’s witnesses, we are often called to hold to our beliefs and values. Stand firm and be a living witness.

Putting it all together 2. Be a committed learner, but be confident to step out when it is your time. 3. God has given each of us unique gifts for our unique calling. Don’t compare yourselves to each other.

Putting it all together 4. Many times, God works in unexpected ways. Acknowledge that He is the all powerful God and can intervene in many ways, simple or absurd.