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What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Wednesday, September 24, 2003
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the truth of Your word, that teaches that we are not put here on Earth simply to take up space, or even just to bask in Your presence, but to love You with all of our hearts, souls, mind and strength, and to love one another as we love ourselves. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may demonstrate my love for You, through service to those around me in Jesus name. I pray that my thoughts, words and actions will be a faithful testimony to those around me. Use me this day to glorify you in everything that I am and everything that I do. Give me Your eyes to see the needs of others, and Your heart to reach out with compassion and challenge to those in my sphere of influence. In all things may Your kingdom grow and advance. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Verses
2 Kings 2:1-14
1When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went on together to Bethel. 3The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Quiet!” Elisha answered. “Of course I know it.” 4Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho. 5Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Quiet!” he answered again. “Of course I know it.” 6Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together. 7Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. 8Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! 9When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken away?” And Elisha replied, “Please let me become your rightful successor*.” (*a double share of your spirit)” 10“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” 11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his robe in two. 13Then Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14He struck the water with the cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.
Reflecting on Ministry
What is the source of all power for carrying out ministry in Jesus’ name?
Exploring Ministry
In this account of Elijah’s being taken up to heaven, what is Elisha’s role?
What does the Scripture tell us was the result of Elisha receiving a “double share” of Elijah’s spirit?
Understanding Ministry and My Purpose
According to the Scripture we read today, why was Elisha unwilling to leave Elijah’s side? What do you suppose Elisha hoped to accomplish by being with Elijah to the very end?
What role does the Holy Spirit play in your daily carrying out of Jesus’ ministry in your life?
Applying Ministry to My Daily Life
What do you learn about ministry from today’s Scripture that applies to your life right now?
Elijah and Ministry!
In this amazing account of Elijah being taken up into heaven at the end of a long and fruitful ministry, we find that the source of all ministry is—the Spirit. Elisha had drawn close to Elijah, and was to be Elijah’s rightful successor. Imagine the burden that Elisha could have taken upon himself knowing that he was the successor to a man who had repeatedly shown Israel the power of God through one amazing miracle after another! When Elijah asked Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken away?” Elisha didn’t hesitate for an instant. The NLT doesn’t really get across the full impact of Elisha’s request. Elisha wasn’t just asking to have the “position” of “rightful successor to Elijah.” Elisha wanted a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha knew that the source of Elijah’s power for ministry was the Holy Spirit. He knew that without the Spirit of God in his life, the title, “Elijah’s rightful successor,” would mean nothing. The story concludes with Elisha performing the same miracle that Elijah had in parting the Jordan River. In our lives we have the same Spirit—the Holy Spirit to empower us for ministry. No task is to hard for God—and God lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we may serve God in boldness. We may minister to others from a position of God’s power. While our attitude is always to be humble as servants of Jesus, there is nothing humble about our abilities as we rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to fuel our ministry. May we have the same zeal to serve God as Elijah and Elisha, because we already have the Spirit!
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