Ahab or Elisha

“In a World of Ahab’s Dare to be an Elisha”

How God Makes Men

I think we all will agree that we are living in chaotic times in a world filled with crisis.

We see that in Scripture, it tells us repeatedly that in perilous times (Chaotic, troubled, hard times) that God looks to raise up men. Powerful men… Men that have been forged and tested during and in times of great trials, ones that have passed the tests in tribulations.

I have a conviction that the answer for every problem we see on the earth today is a God-people bold enough, daring enough to defy the cultural norms and the status quo.

Homes with Godly men tend to translate to better marriages, they tend to cultivate a more peaceful, less stressful environment where humility, kindness and honesty are exhibited. Conflict is handled and addressed with love and forgiveness that promotes unity and understanding. And a generational Faith is built, and it is passed onto others.

Contrast of two leaders –Ahab and Elisha

Elisha and Ahab (1 & 2 Kings) are two prominent but contrasting figures in the Old Testament. Each of them had significant character traits, and their roles had great impacts on the narrative of Israel’s history.

Summary of Contrasts

Elisha is a model of faithfulness to God, while Ahab is just the opposite – an example of unfaithfulness and apostasy.

Elisha’s life is marked by his devotion and service to God, while Ahab’s is marked by weakness and moral failings.

Elisha’s role as a prophet brings divine guidance and miracles to Israel leading the Nation back to God., whereas Ahab’s kingship brings idolatry and ultimately God’s displeasure that led the nation further away from God.

Do you see the impact that leadership and faithfulness (or the lack thereof) can have on a nation. The same is true of a Church or a Home and every area of your/our lives…

1 Kings 19:¹⁹ So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. ²⁰ Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” ²¹ So Elisha left him and went back.

He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

2 Kings 2:¹ When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ³ The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.” ⁴ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

⁵ The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.” ⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. ⁷ Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. ⁸Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. ¹⁰“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.” ¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. ¹² Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

¹³ He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. ¹⁵ The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

¹⁶ “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.” ¹⁷ But they persisted until he was too ashamed to refuse. So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. ¹⁸ When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?

Why did Elisha get the anointing and his peers did not?

1. Once Elisha was touched by the mantle of Elijah, nothing else would satisfy!

2. Elisha’s are in lonely pursuit of God’s anointing, while others hang out with each other! – There are a lot of people that have an intellectual relationship with God… but Elisha’s develop an intimate relationship with God.

3. Elisha’s act on what God is about to do, while others talkabout what God is about to do!

1 Thessalonians 1: ⁵For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

4 Times Elijah tested Elisha

A. At the very beginning (the onset of his journey)

²⁰ Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

B. At Gilgal (Means rolling around or taken away)

2 Kings 2:¹ When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you

C. At Bethel (House of God

³The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.” ⁴ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here,

D. At Jordan (The place where you face your enemies – face to face (spiritual warfare))

⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”

5. Elisha tore up his cloak in order to on put the anointing of the Lord!

¹² Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.¹³ He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

6. Elisha’s will put God to the test!

¹⁴ Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

7. Elisha’s stay at the place of intimacy with God!

¹⁸ When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho,