4/3/2011 8:00:13 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time
Focus: God rewards
service
Bible Reading
& Meditation Reference: 2Kings 2:7-12
Message of the verse: “7 Now
fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a
distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together
and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of
them crossed over on dry ground.
“9 ¶ When they had crossed over,
Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from
you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit
be upon me." 10 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." 11 As they were going along and talking, behold,
there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of
them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father,
my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no
more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.”
Dr.
Wiersbe has brought up some very interesting points about this Scripture that I
had not thought of before, and I suppose that this is actually the case with
many of the Scriptures that I study with him.
For instance when Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of Elijah’s
spirit Dr. Wiersbe writes the following about it: “the only inheritance he desired was a double
measure of his master’s inner spirit of courage, faithfulness, faith in God,
and obedience to God’s will. In saying
this, Elisha was accepting the prophetic ministry that Elijah had begun and
declaring that he would carry it on to completion, with God’s help.” The request that Elisha made was probably
based upon Deuteronomy 21:17 “But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son
of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is
the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.’”
Elisha must have had this request
already thought out, and it was the Lord who gave it to him, and the way that
he knew that he would receive it was when he saw Elijah being transported to
heaven. Elisha was probably the only one
who saw this for the others would go on looking for Elijah afterwards.
It
was fitting that the Lord transported Elijah to heaven with a fiery chariot and
fiery horses, for Elijah was the prophet of fire as was demonstrated on three
instances.
Elijah
was a great prophet while here on earth and as I said before I truly believe
that he along with Moses will be the two witnesses’ from Revelation as neither
one of them finished their ministry while here on earth the first time.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I am
thankful to the Lord for the timing of my study on this great prophet Elijah,
for God’s timing is always perfect even though at times it does not seem that
way.
I
would like to focus in on how quick Elisha answered Elijah with the request he
gave him. As stated above Elisha must
have been thinking about this for some time, and I truly believe that it was
the Lord who put this into his heart because this is what the Lord planed for
him to have, but involved Elisha in this process by putting this in his
heart. If this request came to me from
someone who could grant it, and that would mean it would actually come from
God, then my request would be to be what Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Not
that I speak from want, for
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” I believe that contentment is one of the
greatest gifts that the Lord could give to me, for in being content with all
things as Paul stated then when troubles come I will be assured that God is
truly in control and will work it out for my good and for His glory. Paul learned this and I too have a desire to
learn this.
My Steps of
Faith for Today:
1.
Continue to learn contentment.
2.
Remember that the battle that I face each day begins
in my mind and I am to keep my mind on the Lord, and I am to keep my spiritual
armor on each day.
3.
I give myself to the Lord for worship and service
this day.
4.
I trust the Lord will give me wisdom for the job
that He has called me to do.
4/3/2011 8:31:59 AM
No comments:
Post a Comment