My Tuesday Reflection<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Ptr Nene Rubrico<\/p>\n\n\n\n
26 October 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Text:2Kings 2:1-18<\/p>\n\n\n\n
———————–<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beginning of the Prophet Elisha\u2019s Ministry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduction. <\/em><\/strong>Starting around the time of the prophet Samuel, an institution called the \u201cschool of the prophets\u201d was started. It has been suggested that these were started by Samuel to train men in being prophets – student prophets – in speaking for God or training to become His chosen spokesperson. Later In Elijah\u2019s day, Elijah seems to have become the head of these \u201cschools\u201d. Elijah\u2019s servant, Elisha will soon be recognized as the new leader of the prophets. In this Reflection, we will take the events verse by verse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0A. 2 KINGS 2:1-8. \u00a0Elijah takes a walk with Elisha. V1. \u00a0when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven<\/em><\/strong> \u2026<\/em>As we see things happen, there is a sense in which Elijah\u2019s time left on earth is short. This is the context. The first visit they make is to the town of Gilgal, where there was a school of the prophets. Elijah wanted to go alone there but Elisha swore that he would accompany him wherever the former would go. This happened three more times. V2 the LORD hath sent me to Bethel.<\/em><\/strong> Bethel \u2013 up in the hills. Apparently there is another \u00a0\u201cprophet school\u201d located there.V3 the sons of the prophets \u2026said unto him \u2026<\/em><\/strong>sons of the prophets \u2013 these are the prophets in training. These prophets are somehow aware of what will be happening on this day. It could be that Elijah has told them. It could be that the Lord has told them. Whatever the case, Elisha is aware of this himself, and asks them to just keep quiet and observe. V4 the LORD hath sent me to Jericho.<\/em><\/strong> Jericho is down the hill toward the Jordan River. V6 Tarry, I pray thee …<\/em><\/strong>Three times now, Elijah has given Elisha the chance to go take a break. You could almost get the idea that he doesn\u2019t want Elisha to be around. However it\u2019s more like a test. It was not uncommon for a dying person to pronounce a blessing on those around him. Jacob blessed his sons (Gen. 49). Moses blessed Israel at the time of his death (Deut. 33). Elisha doesn\u2019t want to miss that blessing. Lesson#<\/em>1. Easier isn\u2019t always better<\/u><\/strong>. I think there are times when God wants us to take a break, like a vacation. Taking a day off is good. Rest is good. But sometimes the \u201cbreak\u201d isn\u2019t the right thing. In our lives, there may be times when you face the choice of taking the easy way out and just getting something over with, or taking the long way. V6 the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. <\/em><\/strong>Jordan river is About 8kms east of Jericho.\u00a0 V7 to view afar off.<\/em><\/strong> Intensely curious, these 50 men want to watch what\u2019s going on.Lesson#<\/em>2. How close are you going to get<\/u><\/strong>? These student-prophets are going to see some pretty miraculous things, but only from a distance. \u00a0Me? I’d rather be in Elisha\u2019s sandals, getting to see the action from up close. But you only get there if you stick around and persevere! It\u2019s better to be in the game than sit on the sidelines. Worship – are you observing, or participating? Ministering to others?V8 Elijah took his mantle\u2026and smote the waters.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The prophet\u2019s mantle, or \u201ccloak\u201d was a symbol of his authority or power with which God clothed him. Earlier, when Elijah called Elisha to follow him in the ministry, he had thrown this \u201cmantle\u201d on Elisha as a way of saying he would be with Elijah (1Ki. 19:19). V9-10 Elisha\u2019s request. Double Portion Blessing. (1). V9 a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. <\/em><\/strong>thy spirit<\/em> \u2013 You might get the idea that the \u201cspirit\u201d was Elijah\u2019s spirit, but it\u2019s not, it\u2019s the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Double portion \u2013It seems like this is talking about the ability to do twice the miracles of Elijah. We have a record of Elijah performing 10 \u00a0miracles and Elisha performed 16. But this is not numerical or about quantity. The Bible refers to this as a right AND an obligation.\u00a0\u00a0 We believe this is talking about the right of a firstborn son. When a father died, the firstborn son would inherit a \u201cdouble portion\u201d, or, twice the amount that the other sons would receive. This is done so that the inheritor can take adequate care of his widowed mother, his sisters, and other siblings who do not have yet the capacity to take care of themselves. On the other hand, the Biblical principle of the firstborn \u2018s double portion is not just economic necessity, but SPIRITUAL POWER and LEADERSHIP as well also. Elisha isn\u2019t asking for possessions or fame. He\u2019s asking for the Holy Spirit. He wants the challenging work of the Holy Spirit in his life. And he\u2019ll get it, as we read. It is interesting to note that Elisha may also have had twice as many troubles. Elijah went through 3 \u00bd years of drought. Elisha will go through 7 years of drought. After Elijah, he had to minister to a nation that had been led and deceived into apostacy by their kings and leaders. His job was to UNDO the spiritual damage to Israel, and the ever-increasing encroachment by the powerful pagan nations surrounding them. Would he be up to it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lesson#4. He\u00a0 asked a hard thing<\/u>. <\/em><\/strong>It\u2019s not up to Elijah to grant this request. This is God\u2019s job.\u00a0 V10 if thou see me when I am taken .<\/em><\/strong>In other words, if Elisha will just hang around, he’ll get the blessing. 4.1. Jesus kept going. He asked God if there was any other way than to go to the cross.\u00a0 But He knew that He had to go to the cross in order to pay for our sins.\u00a0 And so Jesus kept going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Heb 12:1-2 NLT. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.<\/em> We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.2. Persevere for the short-term blessings. I think there are times when our walk seems dry and powerless. We need to learn to press in and hold on to the Lord until He blesses us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.3. Persevere for the long-term blessing: (Phil 3:13-14 KJV.\u00a0 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. \u00a0I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.<\/em> The best blessing is seeing Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.4. Keep going.:11-12 Elijah\u2019s departure.\u00a0 v11 a chariot of fire<\/em><\/strong>\u2026Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. of fire \u2013 These could be angels coming to pick up Elijah. Ps 104:4<\/em>.\u00a0 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire; Ps 68:17.\u00a0 <\/em>\u00a0The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; whirlwind \u2013 ca\u2018ar \u2013 tempest, storm, whirlwind. The text seems to indicate that Elijah is not taken up in the chariot, but in the whirlwind.\u00a0 V12 My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em>This is\u00a0 difficult. It sounds at first as if Elisha is talking about the chariot of fire. We think he\u2019s talking about Elijah. The idea is that Elijah was better for Israel than any number of chariots or horsemen because of his prayers for Israel.(2 Ki 13:14 KJV. Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.<\/em> Joash didn\u2019t see any chariots of fire. But he had another outstanding prophet before him.Lesson#6. The person walking in the Spirit is a BIG blessing<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong> Joseph was a huge blessing to the whole world \u2013 he saved the world from famine because he was in tune with what God was doing. Daniel was a huge blessing to Nebuchadnezzar and the whole world because God worked through him. You are a huge blessing to your family, your friends, and your work when you are walking in obedience to the Lord. They may not see it, but you are their \u201cchariot\u201d and their \u201chorseman\u201d. V12 he saw him no more.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Elijah was one of the few people who have escaped physical death. He apparently went straight to heaven. He would appear with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat. 17). He will be coming again. Malachi 4:5.\u00a0 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.\u00a0 <\/em>Some believe this will be as one of the two witnesses in Revelation 11.\u00a0 VV13-15 Elisha\u2019s anointing.\u00a0 V14 Where is the LORD God of Elijah?<\/em><\/strong> He isn\u2019t expecting the \u201cmagic mantle\u201d to do all the work by itself. Elisha knows where the real power is, it\u2019s simply the Lord at work. Gal 2:8 KJV<\/em>.\u00a0 For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles. Lesson#7. <\/strong><\/em>The power is God.<\/u><\/strong> It\u2019s not you. It\u2019s not some magic incantation. It\u2019s not some magic force called \u201cfaith\u201d that does the work. It\u2019s the Lord. He wants to work through you the same as He has worked through others. Warren Wiersbe: It was one thing to cross Jordan with Elijah, but quite another to step out by faith by himself. But when you trust \u201cthe Lord God of Elijah,\u201d you do not need Elijah too.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lesson#8. The problem is me<\/u><\/em><\/strong>. Where is the God of Elijah? Why don\u2019t we see the same miracles today? Maybe. Not too many, but we see them. God has not changed. God has not gone on a vacation. (Heb 13:8 KJV. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.<\/em> A pastor suggests that churches today are caught up too much in materialism. (Isa 59:1-2 NLT<\/em>) But take note. \u00a0The LORD is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call.\u00a0 But there is a problem–your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. (Mat 13:22 NLT<\/em>) The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.\u00a0 V16-18 Search for Elijah.\u00a0 V16 Ye shall not send. <\/em><\/strong>It\u2019s really quite a useless idea by the men. . Elisha knows where Elijah is, he\u2019s in heaven.\u00a0 V17 till he was ashamed. <\/em><\/strong>(2 Ki 2:17 NLT)<\/em>.\u00a0 But they kept urging him until he was embarrassed.\u00a0 V18 Did I not say unto you, Go not?.Lesson#9. Some people have to be allowed to fail<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong> They just don\u2019t want to hear it from you. They have to find out for themselves that they\u2019re wrong. When you teach a child to walk, you have to let go at some point and let them fall. Same thing when you teach a child to ride a bike. I hope we can learn to be an Elisha and size up a situation accurately, and not have to be told and told, and then fail before we understand. But there will be times that we\u2019re a little thick headed. Please be patient with us sinners!\u00a0 WE ARE HARD OF UNDERSTANDING SOMETIMES. Amen. \u2013 pn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n =============<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My Tuesday Reflection By Ptr Nene Rubrico 26 October 2021 Text:2Kings 2:1-18 ———————– Beginning of the Prophet Elisha\u2019s Ministry. Introduction. Starting around the time of the prophet Samuel, an institution called the \u201cschool of the prophets\u201d was started. It has been suggested that these were started by Samuel to train men in being prophets –…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6,7,22,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-71","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-nene-rubrico","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-elisha","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions\/72"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
B. 2 KINGS 2: 9-15. The Blessings.\u00a0 Lesson#<\/em><\/strong>3 .Shorter isn\u2019t always better<\/strong>. Warren Wiersbe: Had Elisha taken the easy route and stayed behind, he would have missed all the blessing of vv. 9\u201315. It pays to be faithful to your calling.[[Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the Old Testament (2 Ki 1:1].\u00a0 Henry G. Bosch:\u00a0 Most people are looking for an easy way through life. They think that if they had no burdens they could live pleasantly and triumphantly. They don\u2019t realize that God often keeps us going spiritually by the weights that seem to pull us down. Trials can serve to give our feet spiritual traction. Our burdens not only bring us blessing n this life, but they also are \u201cworking for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory\u201d (2 Cor. 4:17).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lesson#5. Persevere to the blessing!<\/u><\/em><\/strong> It seems that there are times when the Lord gives us a chance to take a break. But I like Elisha\u2019s attitude. He\u2019s not leaving Elijah until he gets his blessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n