Leaving On A Whirlwind or Ready To Go
Lessons From Elijah – part 5
INTRO: A few weeks ago we started this series about Elijah. He is a great character. Today, as we prepare to say goodbye to him, we see some unusual things happen to him (again). Let’s get started.
2 Kings 1:1-8 KJV
1Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
2And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was
in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go,
inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up
to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it
not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire
of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
4Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from
that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
5And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them,
Why are ye now turned back?
6And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said
unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus
saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that
thou sendest to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not
come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
7And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came
up to meet you, and told you these words?
8And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a
girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the
Tishbite.
Older
Retired
After they have partied out
After they have done all they want, etc.
Like Ahaziah they continue ion their ways or old tricks – vs. 2
If we listen to God He will set us straight – vs. 3
Elijah pronounced God’s judgment – 4
Right time
True
Sure
Lasting
“Avoidable” through Christ
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Elijah was known as he was – vs. 7-8
How are you known?
Does our closeness to God really matter?
2 Kings 1:9-17 KJV
9Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And
he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto
him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
10And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be
a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy
fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
11Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his
fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king
said, Come down quickly.
12And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of
God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the
fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
13And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And
the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before
Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my
life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
14Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two
captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be
precious in thy sight.
15And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be
not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
16And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast
sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not
because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou
shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely
die.
17So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had
spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son
of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
We face satanic opposition continually - 9
It pays to be on God’s side
It costs to be against God
Nothing else here except to mention there are those who think Elijah will be back. They think he is one of the two prophets in Revelation 11. They will be able to shut up the rain from heaven, turn the waters into blood, fire will come out of their mouth to consume their enemies, and bring plagues on the earth.
2 Kings 2:1-14 KJV
1And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven
by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD
hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to
Bethel.
3And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth
to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy
master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your
peace.
4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the
LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as
thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to
Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master
from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your
peace.
6And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD
hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as
thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view
afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and
smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two
went over on dry ground.
9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said
unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.
And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if
thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if
not, it shall not be so.
11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that,
behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted
them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the
chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he
took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went
back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the
waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had
smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
Elijah is getting ready to leave and he needed to go to three places. I want to look at these three and see if we can use them in our lives today.
It is good to know where we have been, but we need to step forward where God wants us to be in life.
House of God. Jeroboam had recently used it for Golden Calf worship.
We need to go to God’s house, seek strength and guidance and worship Him.
Victory in the Lord. God had given Joshua a great victory.
We need to recall the victories God has given us and reach for more.
Start of blessings. Jordan was crossed and they were “home.”
We need to know we are just a step from “home.”
Jordan was a sign of great blessing. They knew it was from it their land was blessed.
We need to thank God for His blessings and trust Him to give us even more.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 090708am