Chariot of fire… (4 things)

• 1^st – I will not leave you… vs. 1-8 Read: II Kings 2:1-8
  • 1^st – The Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven… vs. 1
    • God had revealed to Elijah that his time on earth was coming to an end…
      • So the prophet went to Gilgal – where there was a school of the prophets…
      • Most believe Elijah had started the school – teaching men about the Lord…
      • He returned there wanting to say goodbye to these ‘sons in the faith’!
      • Right up to the end of his life – Elijah was looking to serve / bless God’s people!
      • When Paul wrote the book of II Timothy – he was on death row…
      • II Timothy 4:6 – “The time of my departure is at hand.”
      • But Paul used every opportunity to minister to his son in the faith – Timothy…
      • Right up to he took his last breath – Paul used his time to serve the Lord!
    • It is very easy for us to get caught up in the routines of life…
      • But if God told you today you would be in heaven – what would you do different…
      • Would you still spend hours watching TV / or looking at Facebook!
      • We do not know how much time God has given us here on this earth…
      • The question is what are we going to do with the time God has given us…
      • We can waste it on the things of this world – living an empty life…
      • Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 – “People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born…. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away.”
      • Or we can take the time we have been given and use it serve Jesus – and find joy!
  • 2^nd – God told Elijah to go to Bethel – but he asked Elisha to stay in Gilgal… vs. 2-6
    • Elisha said – ‘As the Lord lives – as long as you live – I will not leave you!’
      • That was the right answer – because the question was actually a test…
      • Would Elisha finish what he stated – would he follow Elijah to the very end!
      • In John 6 – Jesus gave a hard teaching that caused almost everyone to leave Him…
      • John 6:67 – “Jesus turned to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’”
      • Peter simply answered ‘ where would be go – you have the words of eternal life.’
      • There are going to be days when life is hard – and we question following Jesus…
      • God does not make anyone stay – He gives us the freedom to choose…
      • We can come and go as we like – there is no membership / there are no walls…
      • But even though it is hard – are we willing to stick with Jesus to the very end…
      • Knowing that if we want to go to heaven – there is only one answer – Jesus!
    • Elisha went along with Elijah to the city of Bethel…
      • Prophets came and told Elisha – ‘you master will be taken today’…
        • Elisha told them he already knew that – but they needed to be quiet…
        • From Bethel God told Elijah to go to Jericho – again he asked Elisha to stay…
        • Again Elisha said – ‘As the Lord lives – as long as you live – I will not leave you!’
      • In Jericho Prophets came and told Elisha – ‘you master will be taken today’…
        • Elisha told them he already knew that – but they needed to be quiet…
        • Elisha was not focused on the  bad – he was excited to see what God would do!
        • I was driving to church one day when I got a flat tire…
        • I kind man stopped and help – and I was able to share Jesus with him!
        • Everyone in the car was so focused on the problem they missed the blessing…
        • The flat tire was just the opportunity to share Jesus with a stranger!
        • People often like to focus on the negative things in life – point out problems…
        • But in doing so they miss the blessing God brings out of the problems!
    • God told Elijah to go to the Jordan River – one last time he asked Elisha to stay…
      • But Elisha said – ‘As the Lord lives – as long as you live – I will not leave you!’
      • So the two of them traveled on to the River together…
      • I love the persistence Elisha had – he did not give up not matter what!
      • So often we give up just because things do not go our way….
      • Yet we need to be persistent in stepping out in faith – do not give up!
      • I have noted two characteristics in the people God uses…
      • They have humility – realizing it is not about us – it is all about Jesus…
      • They do not give up – they persevere – do not quit hanging on to Jesus – John 15:4-5 
  • 3^rd – Crossing the Jordan… vs. 7-8
    • 50 prophets from Jericho watched as the two men approached the Jordan…
      • They were fully expecting to see something amazing – they were not disappointed…
      • Elijah came up to the River and struck it with his mantle / robe…
      • The Jordan divided into two – allowing Elijah and Elisha to cross over on dry land!
    • Cause the 50 prophets were watching – they got to see the last miracle of Elijah…
      • A lot of people ask why we do not see miracles any more…
      • The simple answer is because we are not watching – we are too distracted…
      • We miss the simple miracles all around us – answered prayers / God providing!
      • We need to stop staring at cell phones – and start looking for the Lord!
• 2^nd – The double portion… vs. 9-12 Read: II Kings 2:9-12
  • 1^st – On the far side of the Jordan Elijah asked what Elisha wanted… vs. 9-10
    • Elisha asked to receive a ‘double portion’ from Elijah – Deuteronomy 21:17…
      • Elijah had no children – so Elisha was asking to be counting as the ‘first born’…
      • He wanted to inherit the office of Elijah – take his place as the prophet of God!
    • Elijah admitted that was a BIG request…
      • Because it was not his choice to make – God would have to choose Elisha…
      • But if he saw the Lord take Elijah to heaven – it meant God had chosen him…
      • When people just place men for a position – usually nothing happens…
      • Because the question is not who has the most talent – or the best ideas…
      • The question is whom has God called – who has God anointed for a work…
      • The best ideas – the most qualified – can do nothing without the power of God…
      • The worst ideas – the least qualified – cannot fail when God is on their side!
  • 2^nd – A chariot of fire… vs. 11
    • While Elisha was watching a Chariot with horses of fire appeared…
      • It came between them – and Elijah was carried off in it to heaven in a whirlwind…
      • Elijah did not die – he was quite literally translated into heaven!
    • A picture of the rapture of the church…
      • I Corinthians 15:51 – “Let me tell you a wonderful secret… Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye…”

• When we least expect it – like a thief in the night – I Thessalonians 5:2
• Jesus will come for His church – it will be so fast we cannot even blink…
• If we are not ready – if we miss it – then we will be left behind…
• Luke 21:28 – “Stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!”

• So we need to be ready – because although no man knows the day and the hour…
• But we know we are the last generation – Jesus is coming in our lifetime…
• Let us live every day – knowing today could well be the day we see Jesus!
• 3^rd – Elisha cried out ‘My father – the chariot of Israel and its horsemen’… vs. 12
  • Meaning Elijah had done more for Israel than all their army – ‘chariots’…
  • He had single handedly stood up to Ahab and prophet of Baal at Mount Carmel…
  • He stood up for the Lord – and pointed a nation back to their God!
  • God does not use bombs or guns to defeat His enemies…
  • God uses men and women who are willing to stand up for the truth / stand up for Jesus…
  • Like Elijah – it only takes on Godly man / woman to turn a whole nation to Jesus!
    

Instead of tearing others down – we should be building them up in Jesus!

3^rd – A new prophet of God… vs. 13-18 Read: II Kings 2:13-18

1^st – Elisha came back to the Jordan river… vs. 13-14

He took the mantle of Elijah and struck the River – and it divided again!

Because what God can do in one man – He can do through any man…

We might read the story of Elijah and Elisha – and think that could never be us!

We might read about Peter preaching and thousands receiving Jesus!

Or we might read about Paul raising the dead – and think – only they could do that!

There are no special people – God is just as able to use us – as Elijah / Peter / Paul…

If we step out in faith we can part rivers / preach to thousands / raise the dead!

If we have the faith of a mustard seed – nothing is impossible – Matthew 17:20

That does not mean we go down to the river while everyone is doing laundry – part it…

It means if God asks us to do anything – then by His grace it can be done!

That might mean praying for someone who is sick – believing God can provide…

It might mean sharing Jesus with a friend – or teaching a Bible Study…

When God is the one who leading and directing us – nothing is impossible!

2^nd – Searching for Elijah… vs. 15-18

The 50 prophets from Jericho saw Elisha part the Jordan…

The prophets had not seen the Chariot and horses of fire – only the whirlwind…

They assumed God had taken the Prophet of Israel off into the wilderness…

So they ran down to greet Elisha – and offered to go and look for Elijah!

Elisha told them there was no need to look…

Yet the prophets were so insistent – Elisha was embarrassed to say no…

But though they looked for Elijah for three days – they found nothing!

Some people will not listen no matte how many times you tell them something…

They have to find out for themselves – they have to learn the hard way!

4^th – The first miracles of Elisha… vs. 19-25 Read: II Kings 2:19-25

1^st – Healing the water… vs. 19-22

The prophets came to Elisha with a problem…

The city of Jericho was located in a beautiful place – but the water was bitter…

You could not drink it – you could not even use it to water the plants…

It is very possible the water was salty – Jericho is close to the Dead Sea!

Elisha asked for a bowl filled with salt – and he threw it into the spring…

Immediately the water became pure – and was ok from that day forward…

Certainly adding salt to salty water is not a cure – it was a miracle!

Salt is a preserving agent in food – If you do not want something to spoil you add salt…

Salt is also a healing and purifying agent – it cleans wounds (though it is irritating)…

Salt is also what makes things tasty – makes you desire a certain food…

Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth…”

The world around us is bitter / spoiled – God has us in this world to preserve it…

The Lord has given us the Gospel that we might heal and bring life to a dying world…

And it is by living a Holy life we make the Gospel appealing – desirable to a lost world!

2^nd – Do not make fun of bald men… vs. 23-25

Elisha left and went to Bethel – some ‘youths’ came out to mock him…

They told him to ‘go up’ – a mocking reference to him following Elijah to heaven…

They did not believe the story of Elijah / or Elisha was the new prophet of Israel!

They called Elisha baldhead (or empty head)…

Elisha turned around and cursed them in the name of the Lord…

And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled the 42 boys…

A good lesson not to make fun of those who have no hair!

In seriousness – it is unfortunate that people feel the need to make fun of others…

Everyone has ‘something’ they are self conscious of – hair / weight / nose / height…

People make fun of other’s shortcomings – so they feel better about themselves…