Kool-Aid And A Cookie

By Kay Franklin

One of my fondest memories from childhood is the cup of kool-aid and a cookie that I would get on Tuesdays after attending Mrs. Butler’s bible class. Mrs. Butler would share a bible story, kool-aid, and a cookie one day each week after school with a room full of elementary school students. It was a highlight for us. As I reflect on those days when we would make our way to her house, I’m grateful to have such a memory to share.  I wonder where the other children are now and if they have continued in walking for the Lord or if they are chasing after “kool-aid and cookies“.

God’s Presence in my life has led me to amazing places. He has blessed me in so many ways. All I can say is that “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.”  Psalm 122:1. This verse is significant because we find ourselves quarantined, not gathering. We find ourselves distancing and not huddling together listening to a story while wondering “what flavor kool-aid Mrs. Butler had prepared or what kind of cookies that she would serve“.  I encourage you today that God what God has for you is beyond your wildest dreams. “Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love Him”.1 Corinthians 2:9.

God bless you!

3 Things Every Christian Must Know During COVID-19

By Robert Hotchkin

We are in the midst of some really interesting and challenging times.  There is all sorts of information, theory, confusion, opinion and conjecture swirling about in regards to this COVID-19 CCP Coronavirus pandemic.

Some voices are shouting that the virus is a man-made conspiracy meant to “thin the herd” with a bio-weapon.  Other voices are barking that it is a natural occurrence and evidence that the earth is trying to “shake off” humanity so it can rebalance its ecosystem.  Then there are voices screaming that this is the judgment of a wrathful God.  And others blaring that it is all a scam – just a deep state power grab and suppression of civil rights.

On top of all that, we also have a cacophony of opinions about the best way to deal with the virus.  Some say masks and gloves help.  Others say they have little or no effect.  There are those who claim ventilators are part of the solution.  Others say, no, ventilators might actually work to weaken the lungs.  And then we probably don’t even have room to get into all the conjecture, theories and arguments about the best drug treatments and vaccine approaches.

What are we to listen to?  What can we trust?  What are we to believe?

As is always the case for Christians, the best person to listen to is Jesus.  He actually taught into this very type of situation more than 2,000 years ago in Matthew 16:13-20.

Remember the story?  He and the disciples are coming into the region of Caesarea Philippi.  As they do, Jesus asks His followers what the report of the world is about Him.  The disciples tell Him that some sources say He is John the Baptist, while other voices are declaring he is Elijah, and then there are those who say He is Jeremiah, and still more proclaiming that He is one of the other prophets.

Jesus gives no heed to any of that.  He doesn’t even address all the theories and opinions being blared out by His day’s version of CNN, MSNBC and Fox.  Instead, He asks them, “Who do you say that I am?”

When Simon Peter responds that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lord says something truly profound that speaks into the very situation we are facing with the swirl of COVID-19 news, media, theory, information and conspiracy:

 

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18 NKJV emphasis added)

 

Jesus is giving Simon Peter kudos for being able to “hear” past the noise of all the voices and opinions and conjecture and agenda and politics of the world, and instead tune into what heaven is speaking and revealing about the situation.  Jesus is showing His disciples then, and all of us now, that the key to thriving and even being blessed in challenging times is to focus on heavenly truth as opposed to earthly debate.  When we do this, He reveals, we will be established in truth, built upon the rock, and empowered as His church and Body. The result will be that nothing of hell will be able to prevail in the earth no matter how well fortified those demonic strongholds seem to be.

So, with that in mind, let’s look at three key heavenly truths that are critical for every Christian to know, and live from, right now. 

 [1]  WHO GOD IS

Who do you say God is during this pandemic?  In seasons of great challenge and need, what you believe about God is huge.  The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Hebrews 13:8).  That means we should not allow our temporary circumstances to impact our revelation of who God is and what God is like.  Just the opposite.  We should allow our revelation of who God always is, and what He is always like, to impact our circumstances.  No matter what is going on in the ever-changing happenings in the earth, the one thing we can count on is that God is the Lord and He does not change (see Malachi 3:6).  That means that God is still God.  He is still healer.  He is still deliverer.  He is still provider.  He is still protector.  He is still good, and He is still well able to bring about the very best results in this current set of circumstances.  COVID-19 has not changed who God is to you, for you, or with you.

 [2]  WHO YOU ARE

There is a reason you did not go home to heaven as soon as you got saved.  It’s because you have a key role to play for the Kingdom here in the earth.  When you said yes to Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you were not only forgiven of your sins and restored to relationship with your Heavenly Father for all eternity.  You were also restored to the plan He has had since Day Six – to have children made in His image who operate in His deputized authority and Holy Spirit power as His dominion stewards in the earth.  You want to know what God’s plan is to deal with COVID-19?  Look in the Word (see Genesis 1:26-28).  Then look in the mirror.  It’s you!  He knows it (see Luke 10:19).  He needs you to know it.  So that you start operating in the power and authority He has given you to heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the hungry, bring peace to the panicked, send forth His never-failing Word in intercession, pray for our leaders, and basically arise and shine because there is darkness in the earth that needs dealt with (see Matthew 10:1, 8; Matthew 14:16; Isaiah 55:11; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Isaiah 60:1-1, and John 14:12)!

 [3]  ALL THAT YOU HAVE

2 Peter 1:3 is a great scripture to be meditating on right now.  It reminds you that by God’s great and divine power, He has blessed you with everything pertaining to life and godliness.  Did you catch that?  EVERYTHING.  Isn’t that amazing?!  Whatever you need for everyday life – He has blessed you with it.  Whatever you need to put God on display through your life – He has blessed you with it.  Not will bless you with it one day in the sweet by-and-by if you are good.  But has blessed you with it here and now because He is amazing.  So no need to panic.  No need to fear.  No need to hoard.  You have it.  And He will lead you into all of it (see Psalm 23:1-3).  This will allow you to look, sound and act differently than the rest of the world right now.  To be at peace when others are anxious.  To be confident when others are shaken.  To be a source of blessing, encouragement, wisdom, solutions, love, compassion, joy and much, much more when others are feeling bereft.  As you look and sound different from the rest of the world, the world will eventually take notice and ask why.  That’s when you get to share with them the greatest thing you have been blessed with – Jesus!

Don’t let the WHO, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, YouTube, your next-door neighbors, or anyone or anything else tell you what is true right now.  Let the Word of the Lord speak to you.  Let eternal truth remind you.  Let your Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit edify, encourage and empower you.  Let them remind you who God is, who you are, and all that you have been blessed with in Christ Jesus.  Because when you do, COVID-19 will not stand.  And neither will anything else hell tries to send at you.

  

Robert Hotchkin is an author, minister, speaker and media host.  He is the founder of Men on the Frontlines, and one of the core leaders of Patricia King Ministries. He hosts the weekly Heroes Arise broadcast, co-hosts the show Propel with Patricia King, and is a regular guest and co-host of the show Supernatural Life on GodTV.  Robert’s newest book, 31 Decrees of Blessing for Men, is a powerful daily devotional that activates men to walk in all that they have been blessed with as sons of God.

Between Fake and Authentic: a Lost Identity

By Roula El Azzi

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

As a woman living in the Middle East in a country called Lebanon, I can say it is very challenging to stay simple and natural. Plastic surgeries have invaded our society and the media has had a big role in promoting it. Today, our society is suffering from fake beauty, fake identity, and loss of confidence in God who wonderfully and fearfully created each one of us.

The beauty of the woman has always been considered an important measure of her worth in society. As a woman, this made me always wonder “what if I am not physically beautiful according to the fake criteria of beauty?” I wanted to stay natural and simple without relying on heavy make-up, plastic surgery, or clothes that do not reflect my personality.

For several years, my label was “the girl with the big teeth”. It hurt, but I persisted in fixing my dental issues without changing my authentic identity. Even when in desperate moments I tried to copy others in following the latest trends and fashions and failed, the question of what authentic beauty that amazes the soul and create a lasting print of uniqueness in life is has always been on my mind. I asked myself this up until the day my soul met the one who loved me unconditionally; “Jesus”.

Experiencing Jesus was a turning point in my life, and yet I kept struggling with my physical appearance for several years until one day, I was on my knees praying and crying to the Lord: Please Lord let me see myself through your eyes only, not mine, not the eyes of the people around me, not the society’s, ONLY through your eyes! Suddenly, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, peace and calmness filled my heart… I stopped weeping, stood on my feet and looked at the mirror… In that very moment I felt like I was out of time and space, as if I was looking at another person, a beautiful charming woman full of life. I touched my face in wonder, asking in a loud voice: “Roula is that really you?! Wow!” I saw myself as the most beautiful woman I have ever met! Since then, I understood that my identity is in Jesus Christ, and that nothing in this world can make me more beautiful than how He sees me.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter 3:4

How does a woman living according to God’s call live in the modern world and remain an influence to others, a role model to follow who is not affected by the world? By wearing the righteousness of God and not the latest trends of the world, by reading the word of God and not the words of labels, by hearing the voice of God and not the voice of bullying, by knowing who she is in Christ and not in the opinions of the world. Jesus saved us and gave us eternal life, He gave us power over all of the plans Satan has prepared to destroy our peace and joy in the Lord. His precious blood shed on the cross is our worth, Let’s rejoice in Him!

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

Satan’s goal is to destroy the holy image of the woman. He works on making her out as a commodity for sexual lust, a tool for seduction and a shopping robot. We all, as women of God, have at times fallen into this trap, but our Lord did not leave us without guidance. He gave us His words as a lamp to our feet and His Holy Spirit to guide us in every step.

We all have an invitation today to remember our identity in Christ, to embrace His love, and accept ourselves as He created us.

His light is shining upon our lives, revealing the truth and unmasking Satan’s lies. His voice is calling; let us wake up to our true mission, a mission to make life, to speak life, and to give life to whoever needs it. To be the bride of the groom, loved unconditionally, cherished and honored, while remembering His words: You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Songs 4:7

Daddy’s Face

By Sara Obeid

Seek My Face”My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Ps 27) 

I have always been learning about the importance of seeking the Face of God before anything else! But I never truly understood what it means until I had my son John (who is 2 years old now).

Newborns do not have our developed vision, all they see is blurry and the focus gets clear at 8 inches! Did you know that the most interesting object for newborns to look at is the face? When I came to think about it, it made lots of sense! ·

It is the center of interaction with others.  It is where our emotions appear through our mouth smiling, our eyes crying, our voice changing, etc… It is also where we can effectively communicate with each other. So I could see my baby’s big smile whenever he saw my face! It was the highlight of his life. 

I learned that seeking God’s face is important for genuine interaction with Him. But that was not everything.

One night as I was putting John to sleep, it hit me. I had been in his bed for more than 40 minutes waiting on him to doze off. He finally closes his eyes and starts snoring, oh the joy! few minutes later, he wakes up as i maneuver to escape, crying he turns around and touches my face; he put his fingers in my nose, on my eyes, my lips, checking my teeth and suddenly this peace fills him and I could feel as he went back to calm breathing. In few seconds, he went back to sleep.

It was a new revelation to my soul! Seeking His face gives me PEACE! It is not only seeking God’s approval and interaction, but it is also resting in the knowledge of Daddy’s presence and touching His eyes and mouth. It is about memorizing His features and details, knowing that He did not forsake me and never will. It was more than just seeking the face of “God”, it is the comfort in seeking Daddy’s face. I discovered that I needed to walk into the childlike faith where I would reach out to touch my Daddy’s face even if my eyes are closed and allow His peace to fill me.

“The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”(Num 6)  

 

In The Gap

By Kay Franklin

It’s so amazing that we are looking for God and at the very same time He is looking for us.  A few weeks ago, I shared with you from John 4:2, 24:  But the time is coming, indeed it is here now when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Today, God is still seeking, He is still looking!

Listen to Ezekiel 22:30-“I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me before the land that I should not destroy it but I found none.”  God seeks for a man to make up the hedge and stand in the gap…

I like to look up definitions to words and so I would like to share with you the definitions for a few of the words that I looked up:  The sought means to seek, require, request, face to face.  Hedge means fence, wall, fortified wall.  Stand means to remain, stable, endure, take a stand.  Gap means breach, bursting forth, outburst, and broken wall.

Here are some examples of people who have stood in the gap:  Abraham was invited by God to stand in the gap for Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham had a visitation and before the visitation was over, made clear to Abraham was He was considering with regard to Sodom important and Gomorrah.   

Genesis 19:10 shows us that because of Moses standing in the gap, that the city of Sodom and Gomorrah was not saved, but Abraham’s family who resided there was saved.  This is why standing in the gap is so Moses models standing in the gap.

 In Exodus 33:11, it is said of Moses that the Lord spoke with him face-to-face.  Moses spoke to God on behalf of Israel. 

Genesis 32:30 reveals to us that Jacob had a face-to-face encounter with God and he was preserved. 

Be encouraged to stand in the gap for yourselves or for your nation! 

We can stand in the gap in prayer but stand in the gap to repent.  Nehemiah stood in the gap and repented on behalf of his nation for things that he did not do but in order for the nation to advance, repentance was required.  As a result, the dilapidated wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in less than 60 days.

2 Chronicles 20:21 shows us that those who sang went out before Judah’s army singing, praising, giving thanks and worshiping God.  They were in the gap for Judah!  Because of their bold moved to sing, praise, give thanks and praise in the gap, those that came up against Judah were ambushed.

So far, we have seen that we can stand in the gap with prayer, repentance, praise and thanksgiving.  Other ways that we can be in the gap is with fasting.  In Esther 4:16, it is recorded that Esther said to observe a fast for me-do not eat or drink for three days night or day.”  This fast was requested by Esther because she was planning to approach the king without his summons which was against the law.  The Jewish people complied with her request and Esther’s life was spared.  The Jewish people fasted in the gap. 

So, many times we feel led to be in the gap for others.  Just know that all of these things can work as you are in the gap:  pray, repent, praise, give thanks, worship and fast!  God bless you!

Is God Upset With You?

By Wayne Sutton

“… But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness …” (Nehemiah 9:17)

I invite you to read the above verse very slowly…

Ready to pardon.
Gracious and merciful.
Slow to anger.
Abundant in kindness.

Wow.

I ask you to consider how you perceive your God? As I look at the above verse it reminds some of just how loving our creator is, and how he moves with compassion towards his people.

Are you participating in sinful or rebellious activities? He is ready to pardon.

Have you been rebellious for quite a long time? He is slow to anger.

Do you need healing in your emotions or in your body? God is abundant in kindness! Today, slow down to reread a simple verse that displays the love and kindness of our heavenly father! He is waiting for you!

Go to http://www.thesecondadam.com/newsletter.html for your free newsletter and resources!

Your Faith Creates Miracles

This month is critical. This is the month of Nisan 5774, which means “miracle,” and the meaning of 5774 means, “Door” in Hebrew. The year Ayin Dalet in 5774 represents the Prophetic season we are in right now. It is the head of the year.

I hear the Lord saying that the Doors are not only swung wide open and torn off, but He has set trap doors for the enemy. That’s why in this time we must have faith. I hear the Lord say, Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” That is what Faith is. It created an atmosphere for miracles.

Faith is birthed within your heart. The mind will always want to reason you into logic, but Mark 11:22-24 decrees:

And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

Your Faith can and will create the miracles that you need in your life.
That’s why Romans 10 8-10 Decrees:

But what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

There will be times that we will need to lay down our own dreams and desires at the altar of the Lord and trust that the Father has a plan for our lives. Faith decides your timing. Remember, God always reacts to faith.  In Acts 1:7:8  Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.”

Acts 2 1-4 Decrees:

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. In Acts  And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]. Remember there was around 500 men an woman and yet only 120 [the #120 means Children of Promise] There Faith was unlimited. Faith will command and expect the word of God to move, but you  will need to receive it.

Deuteronomy 27-3 Decrees:

Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. 2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you this day, on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster.

I keep hearing, “Tell my people that if they will come into agreement with Me, then the seed that has been lost or stolen from them will be resurrected back to them. Stand on Deuteronomy 27:3.

The seed of 273 is just this:
The #2 means Agreement
The #7 means Divine Completion
The #3 means Resurrection

Also the numbers mean this:
The #27 means To Proclaim/Prophecy
The #3 means  Trinity Resurrection

In Romans 10:11 the Scripture says, “No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. Let’s believe God the Father for as we come into agreement with not only Him but Heaven itself and prophecy that the promises He has given you will come to pass. You will see Divine plan for your life.  Let’s choose to be the 120 and see His Glorious Resurrection power unfold, in every circumstance of your life.”

My prayer for you is this, “Father, just like the day of Pentecost of 120 [which is the Promises of God] we are in the Upper Room waiting [like many of your children].  One drop of oil fell from heaven and as it accelerated to earth, that one drop become Fire and one-hundred and twenty sons and daughters were ignited into their callings. All one-hundred and twenty went from active to accelerated!  Today Lord, let your sons and daughters be refreshed and renewed in you! I hear a new E.R.A. [Evangelism/Radical/Acceleration] will explode in you!”
In Jesus name!

Till the end,

Angela Greenig

www.AngelaGreenig.com 

Temptations Will Never Cease

By Joe Tannous

Many times we ask ourselves, we ask people around us, even we ask God Himself, ” why I am always tempted to fall in sin? Why this desire to sin is always alive? Why wherever we go we find temptation?” I’ve been asking these questions a lot, until one night I got the answer. We were at church, worshiping God, my hands we lifted high, not singing but enjoying the presence of God in the place, and deep in my spirit I heard a voice saying:” temptations will never cease”, then the whole understanding hit me. Temptations will never cease, do not be deceived if someone tells you that you can come to a place where Satan cannot send temptations into your way, that place will be heaven, even Jesus was tempted. The bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15). In every way means every single thing that crosses your mind. His whole life Satan kept on tempting Him to fall, all the way Satan tried to kill Jesus through sin, even he thought that the cross would kill Him, so he led Him to the cross, but, and be careful here, when Jesus was on the cross, blameless, without sin, after conquering every temptation, after overcoming every sin, Satan although he knew he is defeated, he never gave up, rather he changed the temptation, you can see him trying to make Jesus go down from the cross (Matthew 27:42). I am saying this, to tell you, TEMPTATIONS WILL NEVER CEASE, even it seems that the devil is not tempting you, even when you think you have a break, even when it seems that Satan is convinced that you belong to God and he cannot make you fall, listen, he will never give up, he will always study you more, he will always have eyes on you to see how he can make you fall, he did that with Jesus in the wilderness, the scripture records ” Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”(Luke 4:13). When he is leaving you alone, it’s not because he gave up, it’s because he is waiting until an opportune time. Is that a chance for us to go and sin? Absolutely not! Sin has no power, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”(Romans 6: 14). Jesus conquered sin, and he made more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) hallelujah! Every time you are tempted, it’s an opportunity to overcome, an opportunity to fly higher and higher just likes eagles.

Blessings

Taking up Your Cross

By Joe Tannous

I hear many people speaking about “taking up your cross”, and what they mean by saying that, is passing through hard circumstances, sickness, poverty, trials…. but I am getting into an understanding that this is not what Jesus meant. If we want to know about taking up the cross, we should look at Jesus and learn from Him, He is the leader, He said “Take up your cross and follow me”. Following Him, is not only walking behind Him, is learning from Him, is following His example, to walk the same path He walked. Now, Jesus faced hard circumstances, yes, but was that the cross? Absolutely not! He was rejected, yes, but was that the cross? Absolutely not! In some place He didn’t find a place to sleep, but was that the cross? Absolutely not! The cross is DYING!!!! Through all this circumstances, Jesus was learning how to die, Jesus died long before being nailed to the cross, Jesus took up the cross all His life. Jesus would never be able to do one single miracle if He wasn’t dead already. What did He die for even before dying on the cross? The answer is self, Jesus died to self, and that the example we should follow. Taking up the cross is dying to self; it is a daily thing to do. Every day I should die to self, I should die to my desires, my lusts, my will, and ask God to live in me, to show me His will, to walk in the Spirit, in union with the Spirit and not in the flesh, now this is what taking up your cross means. Even when we face bad circumstances, this is not the cross; this is only a way helping us to see the cross. The cross wasn’t easy to Jesus, it cost Him His precious sinless life, and it won’t be easy to us, it will cost us our lives. But dear friends, when you put your life away to Jesus, you will gain and save it to an eternal life. Jim Elliot said this:” He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. Give your life to Jesus completely, on a daily basis, because you cannot keep it, to gain what you cannot lose, which is eternal life with the master.

Blessings

Elisha’s Double Anointing

By Barbie Breathitt

Christlikeness From the Life of Elisha: Tests and Double Mantle

Tests and a Double Mantle

After Elijah trained his servant Elisha to look and see, listen and hear, and prophesy the word of the Lord, it was time for him to return to Heaven. The heavenly chariot of God carried Elijah away from Elisha into the spiritual expanse of Heaven’s eternity outside of time. Elisha was told by Elijah, “If you see me when I am taken from you, [you will receive a double portion of my spirit]…”

Elisha had to pass many tests and persevere in order to walk in Elijah’s double mantle (see 2 Kings 2:1-18). Elijah asked Elisha to stay in Gilgal, the place of cutting, circumcision, and the rolling away of reproach, but he refused. This is a picture for us that when God removes our past failures and reproach, we must walk through the gates of authority into the new place with God; and so Elijah then moved on to Bethel, the place or house of God, the gates of Heaven. Bethel was a place where people went to seek counsel from God. Elisha followed Elijah to Bethel to learn how to obtain God’s counsel.

We must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to the next place of testing to progress spiritually. We cannot remain complacent or stagnant; the river of God always flows.

Next, the sons of the prophets came to Elisha in Bethel and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?’ And Elisha said, “Yes I know; be still!” Elijah told Elisha to remain in Bethel while he went on to Jericho. But Elisha said, “I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:3 NASB).

The sons of the prophets in Jericho, a place of fragrance and warfare, had also been shown that Elijah was going to be taken away from Elisha that day.

From Jericho, Elijah and Elisha traveled on to Jordan, a place of flowing down or descending, where fifty men of the sons of the prophets stood opposite them at the Jordan River. Elijah took his mantle, folded it together, and struck the waters of the Jordan, which divided, allowing both prophets to cross over on dry ground.

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.” 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.” 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. Elisha saw it [the chariot] 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. 2 Kings 2:9-12 NASB

However, Elijah did not hand his mantle onto Elisha; Elisha had to pick it up after Elijah was taken into Heaven.

What Was the Significance of Elijah’s Mantle For Elisha?

The word mantle in Hebrew is addereth; its root word being adar, which is also the word for the last month on the Hebrew calendar. The month of Adar is the best time to remove any personal barriers to holiness, thus it is a time to create the potential for the greatest joy. Adar is the final month of the year, i.e. it completes the year, and hence it is a time of completion.The root meaning of adar is glorious, splendid, marvelous, and mighty. In a noun form it is rendered as a cloak or mantle.

He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over. 2 Kings 2:13-14 NASB

Jewish traditions indicate that the mantle that fell from Elijah was a tallith or prayer shawl. The tallith of a prophet or master teacher would have dark purple-blue threads in the corner tassel. People believed that the purple thread contained miracle power. This is why the woman with the issue of blood wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ tallith or garment. When she was healed, Jesus said, “Who touched Me?…I felt virtue leave Me.” Then He told her, “Your faith has made you whole,” not a purple thread (see Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48).

Elijah’s tallith, mantle, or “adar” symbolized that Elisha had removed any barriers to his relationship with God. He was no longer the servant but now stepped into the place of the prophet he had served. Elijah’s mantle was a doorway to God’s power. Elijah told Elisha that if he saw him taken, he would have his desire to carry on the prophetic ministry with a double portion of his spirit.

The mantle is a symbol of joy and completion. Elijah left his mantle as a sign that he had completed his assignment. Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle indicating the start of a new year; he was picking up where Elijah left off and beginning his own ministry as a prophet. Elijah’s mantle was a symbol of an agreement of power and authority between Elijah and God. Elisha’s picking up Elijah’s mantle symbolized that he was entering into the same agreement with God. When Elisha used Elijah’s mantle to part the Jordan River, God established His agreement or covenant with Elisha.

What The Double Portion Looks Like

Everyone is at a different level of hearing and seeing in their spiritual understanding. Elisha had walked and been personally trained by Elijah for years. He had been tested and tried in spiritual disciplines. The sons of the prophets had been through training as well, yet they did not possess the level of seeing that Elisha had developed. Elisha saw the chariot of fire and the horses come to separate him from Elijah. He cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” (2 Kings 2:12 NASB).

The sons of the prophets only saw the whirlwind the chariot created. The sons of the prophets were left wondering if Elijah had been translated to Heaven or if he had possibly been transported to another geographic location. They had to search for three days in the natural to come into peace. Elisha knew Elijah had been taken to Heaven because he saw beyond the natural into the invisible realm of the Spirit.

Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. They said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” 2 Kings 2:15-18 NASB

The New Testament shares an example of the audible voice of God speaking from Heaven when Jesus foretold of His death. Some that stood by didn’t hear anything. Others who were present in the crowd heard God’s voice manifested in thunder, while still others thought it was an angel.

So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.” John 12:29-30 NASB

The names of both Elijah (meaning “the Lord is my God” or spiritual champion) and Elisha (meaning “God will save me” or protected) carries the record of what they represent, but not necessarily how they saw, if they are thought to be seers. Elijah’s name means God is Jehovah or YHVH is my God. He functioned as the Father’s recorder on earth.

In the case of God’s servant Elijah, the chariot was a trans-dimensional carrier of God’s servant. The chariot of God transported Elijah out of time into the eternal realm where Elijah had always existed in heavenly places. When the fullness of time came, God reached down to retrieve the recording of Himself He had placed within Elijah.

Elijah came to restore all things back to God. He was called to turn the hearts of the Fathers back to the sons, and to turn the sons’ hearts back to the fathers’, to make ready a people for God lest God curse the earth (see Malachi 4). Elijah’s anointing was to restore righteousness and protect the earthly realm from being struck with a curse caused by sin.

Elisha’s name means “GOD is salvation” or “My God is salvation.” He functioned under a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

Walk Like the Prophet Elisha

Elisha’s eyes saw beyond the veil of the natural into the supernatural realm where God’s army of fiery angels and chariots reside. His eyes were not limited by situations or hard facts. He knew to look beyond the natural to see God’s provision. He trusted more in the realm of faith than what seemed to appear in the natural.

When fear blinded Elisha’s servant, the prophet’s prayer was able to open the attendant’s spiritually blind eyes to see the coexisting spiritual realms of angels. Knowing that there are more for us than against us brings a peace beyond our present understanding.

Prayer delivers us from fear. Prayer opens our eyes to see God’s ever-present answer, while at the same time prophetic decree will blind our enemies and place them at our mercy. For God to trust us at this level, it requires us to develop greater levels of obedience of compassion. God wants to trust us with the lives of our enemies. God tests and tries us until He knows that we will not execute our own judgment or harm people in any way.

When God delivers our enemies into our hands, we must return good for evil, blessing for cursing, and lovingkindness for abuse. The Lord is the only one who should ever move in judgment. He said, “Vengeance is Mine.” We have no right to be vengeful. It is God’s place to vindicate us.

We are called to love our enemies, to be kind to those who persecute, use, and abuse our kindness. We should lead our enemies to salvation, and their eyes will be opened to God’s saving word, loving spirit, and grace. It is time to love like God loves; see like God sees; obey what God’s Word says, and then do what God does.

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17 NASB

When Elisha’s enemies came down off the mountain to pursue him, Elisha prayed. We should follow his example. Elisha’s prayers struck his enemies with blindness. This removed the enemy’s power and control. They were forced into a vulnerable place, wandering in darkness and confusion. The army had come to do the prophet great harm, but God protected him. The prophet placed his trust in God. In this new state of total dependence and humiliation, the enemy had to trust and blindly follow Elisha to Samaria. Elisha said, “Follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek” (2 Kings 6:19 NASB). (Photo courtesy: Global Recordings Network)

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria. 2 Kings 6:18-19 NASB

Elisha’s enemies had to walk through the process of trusting the one they were sent to destroy. Once they arrived at the promised location, Elisha prayed that God would reopen their blind eyes. Their vision was restored. New vision was given in the midst of their enemies.

When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 2 Kings 6:20 NASB

Many of us have been wounded by an enemy or betrayed by a close friend, but we are to respond to them with God’s lovingkindness and compassion.

Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow?…2 Kings 6:21-22 NASB

Elisha told the King of Israel to respond according to the greatness of God’s loving-kindness, to make his enemies the objects of compassion in the presence of all their captors. Elisha encouraged the king to feed the Arameans, to provide for and care for his enemies instead of killing them. The king prepared a feast for the enemy soldiers and they ate to their fill.

“…Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel. 2 Kings 6:22-23 NASB

Elisha’s mercy triumphed over judgment. Great grace leads us to victory. The King of Israel’s enemies were delivered into his hands. The King was eager to execute judgment and destroy his enemies, but the prophet carefully redirected his focus to blessing and not destruction.

Good will always triumph over evil. Love will also bring forth a better result than hate. Never greet your enemy in the same malignant spirit. Never return evil for evil but learn to bless instead of curse. We are not of this world, so we cannot respond in the spirit of this world. God is love so we must respond in the power of His might.

Barbie L. Breathitt Ph.D.
Breath of the Spirit Ministries
Email: Barbie@BreathOfTheSpiritMinistries.com
Website: BreathOfTheSpiritMinistries.com