2 Kings 2:9-15 – “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.”  10 So 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.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.  

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”  NKJV 

Through the years I have heard various ministers declare that the mantle of some previous giant of the faith had fallen on them.  Maybe it did and maybe it didn’t.  Was it the declaration of God or the desire of the individual to assume that position and rise to that acclaim?  If it was the declaration of God, the Elisha principle should be applied and if it was the latter then it will become exposed for what it is, FLESH. 

I am convinced that Elisha’s heart in desiring a ‘double portion’ of the anointing on Elijah had nothing to do with personal ambition but a desire to serve God and defeat the forces of hell as powerfully as possible.  In his life and ours, in receiving an anointing from God you can count on the reality that that anointing will bring with it difficulties, tests, and trials.  The anointing can take you where you do not want to go and cause you to go against personal preferences and even find you isolated or rejected by many you had formerly depended on or associated with.  God’s anointing should be desired, as in Elisha, more than anything else in the world.  Again, it is NEVER for personal gain or ambition but for service!

Elisha had served Elijah in an apprenticeship and although he had a prophetic call on his life he understood servanthood and service.  Elijah’s decree is most interesting.  He said, “…IF you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”  That brings to light an important factor in God’s anointing, VISION, and FOCUS.  Elijah instructed Elisha that UNLESS he maintained focus and was persistent in his determination and pursuit of the prize it would not come.  Remember the words of our Lord, “Seek ye fist the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”?  Paul declared in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  FOCUS is an absolute requirement and to remain focused there must be VISION and to have vision there must be COMMITMENT.  That singular commitment and desire to have God’s anointing was present in Elisha and he never wavered from it.  Our pursuit must be God not position, recognition, or title.

God will not share His glory with flesh and if you are seeking His anointing for self, even if you received it that anointing would destroy you.  He was willing to lay down his “own mantle” to receive the “Double Portion Mantle of God.”  He exemplified the expression of John the Baptist when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  If we are to have God’s anointing we also must have the Heart of our Lord and as Paul said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.”   

            God bless you as you enjoy His richness and presence this wonderful day!