#4 “The Great
Issues Of Faith From Elijah’s Life” Series
"AGAINST THE OBVIOUS!"
TEXT: 2
Kings 2:1-18
INTRO: We have an
unlimited number of books on the best seller's list on how to be successful
today ... how to achieve success seems to be an obsession with Americans! Elijah and Elisha were two of the most
successful leaders in the Old Testament, yet a study of their successful lives
go against the obvious definition of success as defined by this
world!
The world defines success by: level of income, control or power, how
many work for you, how many departments are under you, how big a
project you manage, how large your home or farm is, how much profit you earn, or
how much inventory you stock and sell!
In God's kingdom
however, success is not as much WHAT YOU DO AS IT IS WHAT YOU ARE! The attributes of success in the
ILLUS: In 1923
six of America's most successful men met in Chicago to celebrate their success
in life, together these six men controlled vast sums of money, enormous power,
great enterprises that touched the lives of millions of Americans. They were the constant source of news
stories all over
1. Charles Schwab
... the president of the largest independent steel company lived the last five
years of his life on borrowed money and died
penniless!
2. Richard Whitney
... president of the New York Stock Exchange, served time in Sing Sing
prison!
3. Albert Fall ... a
former member of the President's Cabinet was pardoned from prison so he could
die at home!
4. Jesse Livermore
... the greatest bear on Wall Street committed
suicide.
5. Leon Fraser ...
the president of the Bank of International Settlement committed
suicide!
6. Ivar Krueger ...
head of the world's greatest monopoly committed
suicide!
Where was
the success they had gathered to celebrate in 1923 together? They had sought success by what they did,
instead of what they were! – Source Unknown
PROP. SENT: In God's kingdom, success is not so
much WHAT YOU DO as much as it is WHO YOU ARE! The qualities for real success are not so
obvious to the world, but are made obvious in the Word! God help us to be real successes in His
Kingdom!
I. LESSONS ON LOVE 2 Kings
2:1-6
A. Commitment
2 Kings
2:1-6
1. Since the key to success is
WHO we are and not WHAT we do success comes to those who know how to love
properly!
a. This involves
commitment!
b. Love without commitment is
just lust! It does not seek its own
way! (1 Cor. 13:5)
c. Our country today is
suffering from this neglected quality in all our institutions, from marriage, to
work, to friendships, and even to church life!
2. We are suffering from a lack
of commitment to ideals and values ... we do what benefits us the most, or helps
us gain the most, even if that means compromise on the values and ideals we hold
dear, this is called pragmatism!
3. Elijah offers Elisha three
opportunities to leave him while he makes a final round of ministry to some
tough areas ...
a. Gilgal to
b.
c.
4. Each time Elijah offers
Elisha a way out ... to stay behind while he makes one last call on these cities
and the schools of the prophets that existed in each
one!
a. Normally, a servant would
have obeyed his master when asked to stay behind...
b. But Elisha knew this was a
final trip ... he was committed to Elijah even until the end ... he would have
nothing to do with leaving him!
c. This act of commitment was an
act of love ... perhaps it reflected the same kind of commitment Elisha had
showed his own parents and the love he would have for God's people ... it was an
unconditional commitment!
5. Elisha's response to the
prophets that pointed out Elijah's soon disappearance indicates the heart of
Elisha ... he asks them "not to speak of it!"
a. He didn't want to think of
losing Elijah ... he would not take his leave just because Elijah was
leaving soon!
b. Committed to the very
end!
c. Love demands this kind of
commitment!
ILLUS: In 1947 a
professor at the
B. Communication
2 Kings
2:1-6
1. The up-coming translation to
heaven was to be no surprise for Elisha ... they both had good communications
with one another!
a. This is an attribute of
Kingdom success!
b. They kept no secrets from one
another!
c. Elijah had obviously told
Elisha about his planned departure.
2. Success can sometimes be
dependant upon good communications ... certainly love is! It is so important that we learn to
communicate properly.
ILLUS: A stranger
was walking down a street and noticed a man struggling with a washing machine at
the doorway of his house. The
stranger went over and volunteered to help the man move the washing machine.
As they worked together they were
both struck with how difficult the job was turning out to be! After several minutes of no success the
two men stopped their efforts and just stared at each other in frustration! They both were on the verge of total
exhaustion. Finally, when they had
caught their breath the stranger said to the homeowner, "We'll never get this washing machine in
there!" To this the homeowner
responded, "IN! ... I'M TRYING TO MOVE IT
OUT OF HERE!" Good
communications would have helped them to succeed! – Source Unknown
3. Any successful saint ...
especially those who lead must learn to communicate to be a success! This is a quality of love as well as
leadership!
C. Companionship
2 Kings
2:1-6
1. Elisha was in this
relationship for the long haul, even when the trip was to be a difficult one, or
a final one!
a. His companionship was not
based on what he alone would get out of the
relationship!
b. Whatever came they would face
it together, right until the bitter end, the moment of
departure!
ILLUS: In Dec.
1989 a story ran in the
2. Elisha was this committed to
Elijah ... he wouldn't part from him until forced to!
3. Only events beyond Elisha's
control would break up the companionship they had
forged!
a. Fifty prophets from the
“
b. While they stood as
spectators Elisha stood by Elijah's side as a faithful
companion!
II. LEARNING TO LEAD 2 Kings 2:7-10
A. Challenge
2 Kings
2:7
1. Elijah was about to cross
over the Jordan, to leave the Promise Land, for the greater
2. Elisha would make the trip
with him as far as possible ... right until the end!
3. This was a quality he learned
from Elijah as a teacher, now he was learning to lead
himself!
4. His love for God's people
would challenge him to be committed to them even in their rebellious ways, to
offer an example of leadership even to the bitter end if
necessary!
5. This would determine his
success before God, not how many would be saved under his ministry, his
faithfulness to BE what God called him to be!
6. This is always a great
challenge to us ... to not think of our success based on statistics and values
the world uses to gauge success!
Faithfulness to God and His people is what determines success ...
leadership in the kingdom is based on WHAT YOU ARE ... not on WHAT YOU
DO!
B. Character
2 Kings 2:8
1. Elisha follows without
hesitation, his character is about to be revealed by an offer of any thing he
wished for would be granted!
a. If God offered you any wish,
what would you ask for?
b. The understanding of success
you hold would likely be revealed by that request ... certainly the real
character of your life would be revealed!
2. Character determines
everything in life ... what you do will flow from what you
are.
3. If we are the right people
before God, we will make the right choices!
4. This is the essence of God's
will ... being the right person will ensure the right choices, thus being in the
Will of God!
ILLUS: A
middle-aged business man approached the front entrance of an office building in
which he worked. A young feminist
came up to the door at the same moment so he stepped back and held the door open
for her to pass through. She looked
at him with annoyance, "Don't hold the door for me just because I'm a woman."
To her surprise, he looked right
back and replied, "I'm not, I'm holding the door open for you because I'm a
gentleman!" It wasn't because of
who she was; it was because of who he was! – Source Unknown
C. Choices 2 Kings 2:9-10
1. Elijah's request for a wish
from Elisha finds a unique response, one that reveals the good choice for a
successor for his ministry!
2. Elisha is offered anything he
wishes for ... so he requests "A DOUBLE PORTION OF ELIJAH'S
SPIRIT."
a. This was not a request for
twice as much power!
b. This was not a request for
twice as many miracles!
c. It was the
language of a first born son desiring his father's blessings!
3. The idea behind the request
was simple; Elijah had never married, no children ... who would carry on his
ministry?
a. Elisha desires to be
pronounced his "SON" and inherit his ministry!
b. He desires the Spirit of God
that rested on Elijah!
4. He could have asked for
anything ... he asks for God's Spirit instead!
a. Elijah's response indicates
the clarity of this request, "YOU HAVE ASKED FOR A DIFFICULT
THING..."
b. Why was it such a difficult
thing? Because this was one of the
few things Elijah was not free to give ... only God can give His Spirit to men
and women! It was not in Elijah's
power to offer this; yet, the very request shows Elijah that God would likely
answer this kind of prayer!
5. Have you ever stopped to look
at the choices you make in life ... what is it that you desire
most?
a. Those choices are likely to
determine what kind of success you find in life!
b. Why? Because those things we really desire we
are likely to strive and sacrifice for!
ILLUS: In the
1976 Summer Olympics, Shun Fujimoto competed in the team gymnastics for
6. The price you are paying in
life indicates the type of success you are striving
for!
a. Some pay the price of
ignoring family to make that extra buck or to get a better
promotion!
b. Some are willing to sacrifice
their own health, their values, etc. to just gain worldly success ... is it
worth it?
c. Others choose to sacrifice
the extra's to have a strong family ... full of love, and they also realize
their success!
7. The freedom to choose is a
sacred gift from God ... how we use it is a sacred responsibility that can bring
us life or death; blessing or curses, choose wisely!
III. LIVING A LEGACY 2 Kings
A. Convictions
2 Kings
1. Elisha had learned well how
to lead from Elijah! Now he was
about to continue Elijah's legacy of godly leadership!
2. To get what he wanted, he
would have to be present when Elijah's ministry ended, and to receive the mantle
that had first been used to wrap him in at his call!
3. The mantle was the symbol of
God's Spirit!
4. Like Jesus did hundred's of
years later ... He told his disciples that when He ascended they should wait and
the Spirit would fall on them too!
5. It was Elisha's conviction to
believe Elijah's word on this!
a. He could have asked, "Why do I have
to get the mantle?"
b. Perhaps it seemed a strange
request ... but he believed it!
c. It perhaps seems strange to
us ... but sometimes we have to wait for God's Spirit to fall on us, to be
obedient to the process believing it will happen!
6. The moment arrives ... they
are separated by God and Elisha's heart reveals the love for Elijah he holds as
he cries out, "My father, my
father..."
7. Elijah is gone ... Elisha
tears his own garments in remorse of separation!
a. Why so sad? Elisha knew Elijah was going to heaven, a
much better place!
b. It was the human response of
seeing a loved one depart, something we still feel when a loved one dies and
goes to heaven ... the anguish of separation, because of
love!
8. Besides, these garments of
his were but rags now ... a more important garment was floating down for him to
recover and wear! THE MANTLE, THE
SPIRIT!
a. It was his conviction that
his own garments were but filthy rags now...
b. Only the covering of God's
Spirit would matter now!
B. Continuation
2 Kings
1. Ironically, Elisha's first
miracle was Elijah's last miracle ... Elisha begins where Elijah leaves
off!
a. Elijah's final miracle had
been parting the Jordan, Elisha's first is parting the
b. Elijah's ministry would not
end because the Spirit of God was still present!
c. We may not accomplish
everything in this life we would like but our work will go on after us if it has
been done by God's Spirit through our lives!
d. God can and will raise others
who will go in His Spirit to serve and minister, continuing His
Work!
2. The fifty seminary students
who were watching all this noticed this dynamic also, as soon as they saw the
Spirit's work through Elisha just like Elijah they responded, "The Spirit of
Elijah is resting on Elisha" ... they were witnesses of God's
presence on God's chosen leader!
a. They rush down and honor
Elisha as they had honored Elijah!
b. Their recognition helped
establish Elisha's ministry right at the beginning!
C. Clarification
2 Kings
1. These students from
“
a. They want to go looking for
Elijah!
b. Perhaps Elijah hadn't made
the full trip to heaven ... only a "get
away" to the nearest mountain!
Before they follow Elisha, they want to know that their old teacher was
really gone!
c. Besides, maybe God took
Elijah's spirit to heaven and dropped the body ... at least they could bury
it!
2. Elisha is sure and protests
their desire ... until he feels ashamed by his constant refusal to
look!
a. Perhaps Elisha felt a little
strange refusing these immature saints, they might think he was anxious to be
the new leader and didn't care what happened to Elijah, even though he was
convinced of God's action!
b. As a demonstration of his
love for them, he finally agrees, he meets them as a leader at the stage they
are in spiritually!
3. For three days they searched
and found nothing ... like Jesus' three days in the
grave!
a. Elisha clarifies his
conviction three days later that God had taken him and it was time to move
on!
b. As a new leader he clarifies
the issues even when it makes him unpopular, but he is also willing to nurture
the need for growing faith in those he leads.
4. And now ... his ministry
takes off, he too becomes a great success for the Lord, going against the
obvious standards of success by the world he becomes a great success for the
Lord!
CONCLUSION: What made Elijah such an effective
leader? It wasn't his obvious
natural abilities; he was flawed like the rest of us! IT was his determined efforts at seeking
God's power, not worldly power. Elisha proves himself a cut from the same
mold and thus continues Elijah’s legacy. The other sons of the prophets fail to
achieve Elijah's success in ministry because they operated from the obvious and
therefore missed the realm of the Spirit. What is the source of your ministry for
God?