The stages of Elisha’s maturity
Teacher
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Lesson 4
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
2 Kings 2.5-11
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
2 Kings 2.5-8
5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. 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.
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
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.
2 Kings 2.9-11
GOLDEN TEXT
Psalm 143.10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
AIMS
* To get to know the story of Elisha’s life;
* Understand that God calls, to His work, men and women available to serve;
* To recognize that Elisha was powerfully used to perform miracles.
INTRODUCTION
Elisha was the successor of the great prophet Elijah. Elisha was plowing the field with the twelfth team of oxen, when Elijah passed where he was. The prophet threw his cloak over Elisha
(1 Kings 19:19). When Elijah's robe touched his body, Elisha felt that the hand of God was calling him to a powerful prophetic ministry that would wonderfully bless the people of Israel.
In this lesson, we will see that Elijah led Elisha to various places, which represent the stages of his spiritual growth and maturity (2 Kings 2:1-7).
1. GILGAL: IT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE OPPROBRIUM
1.1. GILGAL REPRESENTS THE REMOVAL OF THE SLAVERY SHAME
For 430 years, Israel people remained enslaved in Egypt. The humiliation, shame, dishonor and manipulation deeply wounded people hearts. God, however, heard the children of Israel cry and delivered them (Exodus 3:7, 8). God's attitude to forever remove all humiliation and the marks of shame was symbolized in the act of circumcision (Joshua 5:2). By cutting off flesh, God was cutting off every sinful relationship, every spiritual connection, every compromising involvement with the sinful patterns at work in Egypt.
1.2. Gilgal represents the place of liberation
The word Gilgal is a Hebrew word from which the term "golgolet" comes, which means "Golgotha", "Skull" or "Head". On the mount of the Skull, on Golgotha, Christ died for our sins (Rom 5:6). In this sense, Elisha's passage through Gilgal makes us understand that the Christian walk involves the understanding that we need to receive, first of all, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, which removes our sin and all weight of shame.
Elisha accepted the call to be Elijah's helper, auxiliary, servant (1 Kings 19:20,21). If we want to grow in maturity to be used by the Lord, the first step to climb is that of service (to God and to men).
2. BETHEL, THE HOUSE OF GOD: IT’S NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN YOURSELF
The second stage of Elisha's spiritual maturity took place at Bethel, which means "House of God".
2.1. AT BETHEL, IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, WE GROW UP IN COMMUNION
Just as the human body has several different members, linked together, in the same way, we are all linked in the Body of Christ, which is his church (Eph 1.23). In times of exacerbated individualism, the Church continues to be a space for fraternity and sharing; of solidarity and generosity; of acceptance and forgiveness.
2.2. At Bethel, in the house of God,
we grow in knowledge and wisdom
Jesus founded the Church, established it, giving it guidelines. Today, the Lord builds it (Mt 16:18-20).
Elisha's passage through Bethel makes us understand that the Christian walk involves the understanding that, after being born again (at Gilgal), we need to be reunited as a Body (at Bethel).
3. JERICHO: IT’S NECESSARY TO FIGHT
The prophet Elijah then told Elisha that the Lord was sending him to Jericho. Elisha's passage through Jericho makes us understand that the Christian walk involves the understanding that struggles are part of life, but the Lord will guide us in peace to the destiny that has been prepared for us.
What are the battles happening right now? The battle between God and Satan (2 Thes 2); the struggle between light and darkness (John 12:35); the struggle between the spirit and the flesh (Rom. 8:5); the war between angels and demons (Rev. 12:7); the conflict between good and evil (Rom. 7:19).
3.1. We have a certainty: fights are part of life
Just as the people of Israel fought courageously to conquer Jericho, every person who wants to evolve and overcome difficulties will have to fight. Battles began from the Fall; there, in Eden, the three great enemies of mankind appeared:
the devil (1 Peter 5:8), sin (Heb 12:1) and death (1 Cor 15:26).
3.2. We have a weapon: the tongue
The Lord established a requirement that would determine victory in the great battle for the conquest of Jericho: all must be absolutely silent, until Joshua commanded them to shout the cry of victory (Joshua 6:10).
The man and woman who want to grow into maturity must learn to master their tongue. The words we say (or don't say) can determine life or death.
4. JORDAN: IT’S NECESSARY TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE END
Everyone followed the journey of Elijah and Elisha, recognizing that Elijah was the prophet placed by the Lord to train and prepare Elisha for the ministry.
4.1. We have a destination: heaven
The biblical text gives us knowledge that Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:10).
Elisha's passage through Jordan makes us understand that the Christian walk passes through the understanding that our time in this world will cease; but we will be raptured of the Lord if we remain faithful to the end.
CONCLUSION
This lesson shows us the paths, the attitudes that we must follow and take to be stable, balanced and mature people. The work of the Lord needs men and women with the profile of Elisha: he was persevering and faithful and got where the Lord wanted. The God whom Elisha loved, adored, and served is the same God whom we are to love, worship, and serve. In this way, we will all reach maturity.
GOD BLESS YOU!
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