2 Kings 2 Notes

2 Kings 2 Notes

When Elijah asked Elijah what he could do for him before he was "caught up", Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. This would allow him to be twice as effective in his generation as Elijah was in his.

Both men saw the need to live extraordinarily in an extraordinarily dark time. They were also just like us - they didn't have supernatural power on their own - they trusted in God

4 principles at work with Elisha

1. He replicated what his master did

In 2: 12 Elisha takes Elijah's cloak and strikes the water with it and the water parts - just as he had seen Elijah do. He emulated the very last thing he had seen his master do. One thing this tells us is that his eyes were focused on his master. If we look at Luke 22:47 we see the last thing OUR master and savior did.


47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Jesus last earthly miracle (obviously ascending up to heaven was miraculous but we are talking about about the last miracle Jesus perform in his ministry) was healing someone who opposed him and was wounded by one of his own disciples who was misusing the sword.

How often do Christians "HACK" someone with the sword of the Word. How do we share the gospel with someone who responds by saying the last time someone shared with them they lost their ear"

All we can do is apologize and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus so that we can begin to minister to people about Jesus love and grace.

Told a story about his four year old not wanting to eat his dinner. Noticed that when he would scratch his head, his son would scratch his head. When he touched his chin his son would copy - everything he was doing his son was doing. He laughed and his son laughed and he picked up his fork and took a bite and so did his sone. This went on until his son had finished his supper.

"Because his eyes were on his dad he was able to accomplish something his dad desperately wanted him to do."

2. Believe in God's miraculous power

The sons of the prophets kept asking Elisha if he knew that his father would be caught up that day and he kept saying yes he knew and be silent. After the first thing they did was ask if they could go look for Elijah. They didn't believe that he could have been taken up to heaven by God while still alive.

Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

rapturo : caught up

1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed

we can comfort one another in this - that as servants of God we will one day be caught up

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Story about Saturday being chore day - mom would leave to go to work or run errands and there would be a list of chores. At the beginning of the day tv was more interesting and laziness set in but as the day went on previous experience caused different behavior. Things got done because MOM WAS ON HER WAY. We as believers know that "dad" is on His way. We have to know that we can't hang out with the world thinking we have years to change our behavior .

3. He remembers the power of salt

The city of Jericho where they are when Elijah is taken, is in a good place but the water is poison and the ground is barren. (like a lot in this world - looks great on the outside but fruitless and devastating inside) Elisha tells them to bring him a new bowl and he puts salt in it and "heals" the water.

a. salt makes people thirsty (aaah thirsty for living water - we can be salt and cause others to thirst as well)

b. salt preserves

c. salt unifies (in adverse conditions the crystals adhere to each other creating larger crystals)

d. salt heals

Our speech should be salt that creates thirst, preserves, unifies, and heals

according to some study men use about 25000 words a day and women 35000. What are we doing with our words? Our speech should be edifying, healing, and building people up. We live in a society that is poison and devastating and fruitless and needs a dose of salt.

4. Don't mock God or the things of God

2:23 the youth mock Elisha and he puts a curse on them and bears maul them. the word for youth here is nahar which is the same term used to describe Jacob at age 28 and Joseph at 39 - these weren't little kids - when they say go up baldy they do not mean for him to climb a hill. They want him to be "caught up" or be gone - die?
Elisha makes things unBEARable for them