How does God use us as parents, as a church, or as community members to break into where there has been darkness?
Think about some of moments of breakthrough that you've experienced in your life. Moments such as learning to tie your shoes or ride a bike... Achieving a goal...
Elijah was one of the great prophets of Israel. This is the story of him passing the baton to Elisha, his protégée. Elijah had stuck close to God through some intense opposition. He was a mighty man of God.
Elijah Taken Up to Heaven
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.
7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah 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, it will 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 garment and tore it in two.
13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah 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.” 2 Kings 2:1-2, 7-15
This is an example of a breakthrough moment. Elisha longed to live out of what Elijah had. He wasn't worried about what would be lost when Elijah went to Heaven; rather, he wanted desperately to carry on from where Elijah had left off.
Sir Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
Breakthroughs pave the way for others. These breakthroughs start to happen when we build on what others have sown into us. We've had heroes in our lives who have shown us God.
Elisha boldly asked God for a double portions of what Elijah had. We too can get a double portion by “standing on the shoulders of (the) Giants (who went before us)”. How might this happen?
1) it's personal – Elisha learned from Elijah. He spent many hours with him.
2) it's God-given. – And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:3
3) it doesn't just happen. - Let’s ask ourselves who God put in our lives so that we could go further.
Elisha did double the miracles, but he didn't do the same miracles. God is a creative God. The same principles of God might best be articulated and heard by others in a different way.
Let's reflect on and honour the giants in our lives. Let's seek from God the way He would have us stand on their shoulders and carry on their legacy. Let's practice carrying the torch for others.
Perhaps there are some people in your life that you would like to thank for planting in you hope, dreams, Jesus, acceptance, and other seeds that you particularly value. Then, think about how you might pass that along to the next generation.
You can listen to the audio version of this sermon by going to: