Elisha 1 - The Double Portion

(2 Kings 2:9–10 NLT) … Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” {10} “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

In the final conversation between mentor and mentoree, Elisha asked the mature prophet for a double portion of the spirit that was upon him. Even Elijah said that he had asked a difficult thing. Obviously, only God could grant this request and Elijah knew that; he absolutely knew that it wasn’t his decision that could make this happen. But he did have a word from God about it: “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request.”

Thankfully Elisha did see the elderly prophet go in the whirlwind, and he did see and seize the mantle that fell from him as he left. Yesterday, we saw that this applies to us; we need to take up the mantle—the clothing of anointing from Jesus—that has fallen to us. Now, like Elisha, we need to take up that mantle and strike the river—which could be any barrier trying to prevent us from operating in God’s power—and cross over to our new level. Heaven’s time is now!

From God’s word, we see that Elisha’s supernatural ministry began at this point. His first miracle was parting the Jordan, but did he really receive a double portion of what Elijah had? Because if he did, we can too. How do we measure if he had double? Would it come out in double the size of the miracles, double the quantity, or double the impact? Let’s investigate in God’s word.

The next supernatural miracles that God did through Elisha were:

• Purifying bad water (2 Kings 2:19–22)
• Disrespectful people came under a curse (2 Kings 2:23–24)
• Wisdom and instruction from God about how to win a military battle through his supernatural intervention (2 Kings 3)
• Providing for a poor widow and her family through olive oil multiplication (2 Kings 4:1–7)
• Miracle birth of a son for the woman from Shunem
• The raising of the boy from the dead (2 Kings 4:8–37)
• Purifying poisonous food (2 Kings 4:38–41)
• Multiplying food (2 Kings 4:42–44)
• Healing of Naaman from Leprosy (2 Kings 5:1–19)
• “Seeing” Gehazi’s greed and declaring the supernatural consequences (2 Kings 5:20–27)
• Floating axe head (2 Kings 6:1–7)
• Intervention leading to victory in Military battles (2 Kings 6:8–12)
• Blinding and capture of enemy soldiers (2 Kings 6:13–23)
• Prophesied the end of the siege and great abundance (2 Kings 6:24–7:20)
• Predicted a famine and gave a word of wisdom for the Shunemite woman (2 Kings 8:1)
• Anointing Hazael to be king in Syria/Aram (2 Kings 8:7–15)
• Anointing Jehu to be king of Israel via his delegate, one of the group of prophets (2 Kings 9:1–13)
• Elisha’s final prophecy; he gave a prophetic action and word to king Jehoash of Israel (2 Kings 13:14–19)

After reviewing the quantity and effectiveness of Elisha’s miraculous prophetic ministry, we could see that he was well on the way to demonstrating a double portion of the spirit and power of Elijah. However, in the count before he died, he had raised only one from the dead—the same number of resurrections that were miraculously achieved through Elijah. But, after Elisha’s death …

(2 Kings 13:20–21 NLT) Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. {21} Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!

Finally, even after his death, the double portion of the spirit and power of Elijah that was on Elisha enacted a second resurrection from the dead. This confirms that God placed a double portion on Elisha—it was real, tangible, and even lingered on his bones. This is amazing; and it is of significant encouragement to us.

If we hunger for God to use us like Elisha did, God has no limits on what he can do through us. Jesus said:

(John 14:12 NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

This is an amazing promise, and it applies to us right now. Especially when we consider what God’s word says about the anointing that was on Jesus:

(John 3:34 NLT) For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.

The Spirit working in, on, and through Jesus was already “without limit.” So, when Jesus said that if we believe in him, we will do the same works and greater, he is encouraging us to believe and expect copious healing, gifts of the Spirit, prophetic words, and limitless miracles of all sizes, types, and forms.

I encourage you today to be like Elisha; don’t let go of your mentor/disciplor/leader until the transfer comes on you. This especially means to stay close to Jesus, abide in the secret place, walk in the spirit, live by faith, and worship God with all of your heart. Then, you can move in Jesus’s miraculous power and anointing … and do it through a love relationship with him just as he did with his Father:

(John 5:19–20, 30 NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. {20} For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.” ... {30} “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

Step out today; give someone a word from God, hunger for and expect the Holy Spirit to give you a word of knowledge or wisdom for another. Launch out by faith and offer to lay hands on someone who needs healing. Ask God to have his angels arrange a supernatural gospel opportunity for you. Pray, preach, and prophesy living word that comes by revelation as you read the Bible. Even expect some food multiplication and to raise someone from the dead. God is with you; he is ready now; and the limitless portion of the spirit and power of Jesus is available. According to your faith be it unto you.