A SUGGESTED LENTEN JOURNEY (Lenten7)

An African Brother send me a WhatsApp message with simply the words 2 Kings 2 in it. I don’t know whether it was a “broadcast” message or simply for me, but I went to my Bible and read the exciting story afresh of Elisha journeying with Elijah, and the places they stopped at, until Elijah is taken up in a fiery chariot.
NKJV And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from GILGAL. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to BETHEL.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to JERICHO”
But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the JORDAN.”
But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “PLEASE LET A DOUBLE PORTION OF YOUR SPIRIT BE UPON ME.
So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

INTERESTINGLY ELISHA’S NAME MEANS GRACE-JEHOVAH MY SAVIOUR

I don’t have to remind you that the whole Bible is the Word of God, but many portions like this above we need to pass through the Cross and apply New Covenant truths to these verses, and let the Holy Spirit open up the verses for us. This blog is not a Theological paper simply some Pastoral thoughts that may be a blessing to you.
This is a journey you may like to take during this Lenten period.
Firstly, we see the awesome Mentoring relationship between Elijah and Elisha. Do you  have a Mentor or Mentors in your life,? pray the Lord will lead you to someone who you can seek to build a relationship with, until you come to that place where you are open to letting that person speak into your life.
Elisha also had opposition from those who should have been encouraging him, Men from the “School of the Prophets” he had to say to them BE QUIET, in other words shut up, and if you decide to go on this journey, there could be those who will say “don’t get so carried away” etc, or the evil one will whisper in your ear, RESIST HIM AND HE MUST FLEE.
The first place they came to was GILGAL which means rolled away. “This is the place Joshua re-introduced circumcision  to the Children of Israel Did you ever sing in Sunday School “Rolled away, rolled away, and the burden of my sin rolled away” Let us sit and reflect on God’s so great Salvation to us. This was accomplished at Calvary, where Jesus shed His blood for us,  and rose again for our Justification Rom 4;25 PASSION Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that he had made us right with God!
MESSAGE The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.
LET US THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT WE ARE BORN AGAIN ON THE SPIRIT.
Each place they came too, Elijah said “Elisha you stay here”  but Elisha’s response was always “AS THE LORD LIVES I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU”. What determination Elisha had, I don’t know about you, but I need more of the determination, it is so easy to get slack and lazy. Let us reflect on this, and ask God TO PUT STEEL IN OUR SPIRITUAL BACKBONE. So that even in the hardest times we keep on pressing on and in to God.
They then moved on to BETHEL which means HOUSE OF GOD.
They then moved on to JERICHO which means a place of FRAGRANCE, the more time we spend in the presence of God more of the fragrance of the rose of Sharon & the lily of the valley will be upon us, there have been numerous people over the years that I have known that when we had concluded our conversation they left a fragrance, YOU KNEW THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. I want my life to carry the fragrance of Jesus on my life, I want people to Jesus in me.  Let us spend some time reflecting on this awesome truth. Firstly Paul tells us in 1 Cor.3:17 NKJV If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple HOUSE  of God is holy, which temple you are. This time is an opportunity to ask the Lord to SEARCH OUR HEARTS and see if there is any defilement, and deal with it, so there is no hindrances in our walk with God.
Our local church is also our BETHEL, and this Lenten time is a great opportunity to assess our commitment and involvement in our local church. Sadly, for some it seems an optional extra, or the first thing that is dropped if something else comes along. There will always be things about your local church that is not “perfect” and the enemy loves to use those things and people to hinder our commitment and loyalty. It is good to remind ourselves we aren’t “perfect” and let us pray for that person or persons that concern you, we are family, let’s love them and believe for their growth in grace too.
 
Then they moved on to JORDAN which means “descending into” this could speak to us of our public identification with Christ in water Baptism. or even more our “BAPTISM WITH CHRIST. Rom. 6:3 NKJV Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Paul’s teaching on Holiness and Entire Sanctification is another sadly neglected truth in the 21st century church. Our old nature was “crucified” with Christ and as we learn more and experience more  THE SURRENDERED LIFE, that as we learn to lay on the altar of sacrifice our old nature is RENDERED POWERLESS.Let us meditate and reflect much on Romans 6, and let it become revelation to you, the level of victory and purity and power will increase in our lives.
As a result of Elisha’s continued determination to stay with Elijah, we read in verse 9 Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” and instantly Elijah replied “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
All the above places relates very much to Calvary and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, CALVARY COMES BEFORE PENTECOST. As I am writing to Believers who have been filled with the Holy Spirit let me conclude this blog, that in all our REFLECTION, MEDITATION, FASTING, REPENTANCE DURING THIS LENTEN PERIOD, may it take us deeper into SPIRIT FILLED LIFE. There is no references in the N.T. that I am aware of to a “double portion” of the Spirit,  but we can move to deeper level of the Spirit filled life, and experience Eph. 5:18-21 AMP. N.T. But ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.
Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,
At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Be subject ot one another out of reverence for Christ(the Messiah), the Anointed One)
Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
This is potentially a JOURNEY THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER, let me encourage you to consider this journey, and please do not keep the exciting results to yourself, but please share, either on FB, Messenger, or email [email protected], or WhatsApp +61417458230, I really would like to hear from you and rejoice with you,
YOU SEE THE RESULTS OF ELISHA’S JOURNEY (INITIALLY) IN 2 KINGS 2: 10-14