The Journey To The Anointing

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you,

before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 2 Kings 2:9

Elisha, the faithful servant of Elijah, was hungry and thirsty for more of God. He had witnessed for himself the signs and wonders in the life of Elijah. And in his own service for the Lord, Elisha wanted so much to move in that realm of the supernatural-just like his master! But there is always a price for the anointing. Elijah and Elisha were both at Gilgal (2 Kin. 2:1). Gilgal was the first place where the Israelites were circumcised and celebrated their Passover.

As such, Gilgal speaks of the salvation experience. Sensing that God was about to take him up into heaven, Elijah tested Elisha: “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel” (2:2). It was a holy discouragement but Elisha was not to be deterred. He insisted on going to Bethel with his master. Bethel means the “house of God.” It speaks of the church. When a believer gets saved, the next step for him is to get planted in God’s house. Again Elijah tested his disciple: “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho” (2:4).

Jericho was the city where the Israelites fought, speaking to us of spiritual warfare. Many people get converted and join a local church. But they are unwilling to get involved in the frontline ministry of evangelism and intercession. Elisha was not just a “pew-warmer” in the house of God, he wanted to do mighty exploits for the kingdom. So he went to Jericho.

At Jericho, Elijah told Elisha he was going on to the Jordan (2:6). Jordan is the place of signs and wonders for the Israelites. It speaks of the anointing for healing, deliverance and the miraculous. Elisha wanted all that very much. So he tagged along with Elijah to the Jordan.

All this while at Bethel, Jericho and the Jordan, there were many “sons of the prophets” who knew that God was going to take Elijah away (2:3,5,7). But they were neither hungry nor urgent enough to get the transference of Elijah’s anointing. They were contented to be sidelined as spectators of the kingdom.

Finally, Elijah asked Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” That double portion on Elijah’s mantle gave both Elijah and Elisha the power to cross over the Jordan on dry ground (2:8-9,14). When you are willing to move from salvation to God’s house, to spiritual warfare, and to the miraculous, that double portion anointing will also come upon you. And it will help you “crossover” into the world as a powerful witness for Christ!