A Double Portion II Kings 2 1-15 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Before Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Their journey to Jordan, where Elijah was taken up, reveals some steps through which we can be filled with the Spirit of God [Eph 5:18].
The steps we see in 2 Ki 2:1-15 for being filled with the Spirit are seen in the places that Elisha and Elijah visited before Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit after they went through:
Gilgal – 2 Ki 2:1 – Gilgal is the first place the Jews stopped when they came into the land of Canaan [Jos 5:9]. Gilgal means “rolling.” It’s where the Lord said, “I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” Then you and I must go through our Gilgal. This is where you separate and come out from the world. You must leave the world behind. John said, “Love not the world.” When you leave the world behind you notice a greater filling of the Spirit in your life.
Bethel – 2 Ki 2:2 – Bethel is where Jacob communed with God and where he saw what we call, Jacob’s ladder [Gen 28:12-19]. Bethel means, “the house of God.” It is the place where Abram first built an altar to the Lord [Gen 12:7-8] when the Lord appeared to him. There are two applications here. First, you come to church [“the house of God”] after you get saved and there’s where God deals with you. People faithful to a good Bible believing, Bible preaching church are more likely to be filled with the Spirit than people who aren’t under good preaching and teaching of the words of God. Second, when you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, you sanctify your body as the house of God. The Holy Spirit desires to fill a holy house.
Jericho – 2 Ki 2:4 – see Jos 5:13-6:1-25. This is where you go into battle with the Lord’s help [Eph 6:10] against a real spiritual stronghold in your life and totally defeat it without keeping any of the spoil. You “give it God,” as we say. It is a real break with this stronghold in your life. These strongholds can be addictions, bitterness, people-pleasing, envy, anger, lust, covetousness and so forth. You and the Lord will fight multiple battles in your life as you grow, just like Joshua and Israel fought multiple kings in Canaan. As these strongholds are defeated, there is more capacity in your life to be filled with the Spirit of God.
Jordan – 2 Ki 2:6 – the Jordan River separated Israel in the wilderness from the Promised Land. Elisha and Elijah crossed at the place where Israel crossed, where Moses was taken up, and where Jesus was baptized [Matt 3:13]. This is where you cross over to set your affection on things above and not on the earth. When you cross Jordan, you’re not just leaving the world and letting go of a stronghold but you are stepping onto higher ground with the Lord. The Lord said to Joshua, “the place whereon thou standest is holy!” [Jos 5:15].
Conclusion: when Elijah was taken up [2 Ki 2:11-12], a double portion of his spirit was on Elisha. Something similar happens to you when the man you have been following is “taken up” from you. Jesus told his disciples that after he ascended, they would do greater works than he did [Jn 14:12-17] through the Spirit of God. This didn’t happen till Jesus ascended. Likewise, there comes a time in your life when there is a “cut” with men and a total reliance upon the Lord. The person you are following must be, in type, taken out of the way so that you are dependent upon the Lord and not on man [Gal 1:11-12]. It is perfectly normal for men to emulate the man that trains them. At some point this emulation should cease, as the Lord makes you what he called you to be. Notice how much Peter developed and matured after Jesus’ ascension. And here is when a double portion of the Spirit of God becomes apparent.