2 kings 1-3

April 20

2 Kings 1-3

Elijah was a great prophet of God. He dealt with depression and at times felt like he was fighting his battle with evil all alone. God brought along Elisha. Elisha was a great help to Elijah, but Elisha was a mentor to Elijah. When it came time for Elijah to leave this earth, Elisha knew what was going to happen, but did not want to talk about losing his best friend and mentor. But he asked Elijah for one last favor. “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” (v9) This was a request Elijah could not promise. It is God’s place to give His Spirit.

Elisha did see Elijah as he was taken to heaven in a whirlwind and he picked up his cloak and received the blessings of God to continue Elijah’s ministry. The bible gives us evidence of Elisha doing twice the miracles that Elijah did, so is seems Elisha’s request was fulfilled. He received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit became available to any who would turn from their life of sin and turn toward Jesus. God wants to empower us to live lives that please Him. He wants to enable us to live lives of obedience. We live those lives when we have the same Spirit that was in Jesus.

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." (Romans 8:9-10, NIV)

We do not have to wait and wonder if we will receive the Holy Spirit, God wants to give us His Spirit. He wants to empower us. Jesus said in Luke 11:13; "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”"

If you want to live a life of power, all you have to is ask and God will fulfill your request.