Today we continue our new series entitled, “The Benefits of Prayer and Fasting,” under the banner of the overall series for the year: “Expectation.” For the past few messages we have been looking at the experience Elijah had while he was on a fast. It started because he was burned-out. The good news is that he was restored as he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. During the fast, the Lord spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. During the event the Lord told him who to anoint kings over Aram and Israel, and He told him about Elisha. Elijah was instructed by God to prepare Elisha as his successor. So Elijah had to take the things that God poured into him over the years, and pour those things into Elisha. Elisha would be Elijah’s legacy.
We have been looking at 1 Kings 19. For this morning’s passage I will fast-forward to the end of Elijah’s assignment in the earth. This is found in 2 Kings 2. The Bible says:
It was near the time for the Lord to take Elijah by a whirlwind up into heaven. Elijah and Elisha started to leave Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, because the Lord told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “I promise, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two men went down to Bethel. The group of prophets at Bethel came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” Elisha said, “Yes, I know. Don’t talk about it.” Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, because the Lord told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha said, “I promise, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you!” So the two men went to Jericho. The group of prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” Elisha answered, “Yes, I know. Don’t talk about it.” Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, because the Lord told me to go to the Jordan River.” Elisha answered, “I promise, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you!” So the two men went on.
There were 50 men from the group of prophets who followed them. Elijah and Elisha stopped at the Jordan River. The 50 men stood far away from Elijah and Elisha. Elijah took off his coat, folded it, and hit the water with it. The water separated to the right and to the left. Then Elijah and Elisha crossed the river on dry ground. After they crossed the river, Elijah said to Elisha, “What do you want me to do for you before God takes me away from you?” Elisha said, “I ask you for a double portion of the anointing that is on your life to rest upon me.” Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will happen. But if you don’t see me when I am taken from you, it will not happen.” Elijah and Elisha were walking and talking together. Suddenly, some horses and a chariot came and separated Elijah from Elisha. The horses and the chariot were like fire. Then Elijah was carried up into heaven in a whirlwind.
Elisha saw it, and shouted, “My father! My father! The chariot of Israel and his horses!” Elisha never saw Elijah again. Elisha grabbed his own clothes and tore them in two to show his sadness. Elijah’s coat had fallen to the ground, so Elisha picked it up. He went back and stood at the edge of the Jordan River. He hit the water and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Just as Elisha hit the water, the water separated to the right and to the left! Then Elisha crossed the river.
(2 Kings 2:1-14)
So what does this mean to you today? I could teach on that passage for weeks. But I will simply give you a few golden nuggets as we head into the weekend.
- Elijah got to the point where he was so frustrated that he wanted to die. He went on a 40-day fast, the Lord restored him, and he actually wound up NEVER dying. Instead of dying, the Lord took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, on a chariot of fire. Had Elijah killed himself while he was depressed he would have never experienced God’s best. Thankfully, he was restored. His restoration came during a fast. Never underestimate the power of fasting.
- During Elijah’s fast the Lord told him who his successor was going to be. So when Elijah met Elisha, he already knew it was a God-ordained connection. However, Elijah did not say a word Elisha about God’s instructions. He knew the young man was going to have to make the decision to align with God’s will on his own. Elisha did. Elijah spent the last years of his life on this planet with Elisha. Elisha was with him day and night. In the end, Elisha received a double-portion of the anointing that was on Elijah. Elisha started where Elijah ended. Elijah’s ceiling was Elisha’s floor. This is how it should be in a relationship between spiritual parent and spiritual child. And this all started while Elijah was on a fast, enjoying God’s presence, hearing His voice. Never underestimate the impact a fast can have on your life.
- The story of Elijah is an amazing one. Next week I will talk about how Elijah reappears in the New Testament, on the Mount of Transfiguration. He never died. He was taken up to heaven alive. And none of this would have happened had he given up while he was tried and frustrated. He wanted to throw in the towel. He wanted to die. He wanted God to take his life. But thankfully, he was restored during a fast. Here’s my point. We all get tired. We all get frustrated from time to time. There are times when even the best of us want to quit. But these are times when we should take our cues from Elijah. Elijah rested and he fasted. Rest will restore your physical man. A fast will help restore your spirit man. Both are necessary! Because your journey with God is a marathon, not a sprint.
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I am in this thing for the long haul. I will never give up. Never cave in. Never quit! But in order to do so, I know I will need to be restored along the way. So I make time to rest and fast. Resting helps restore my physical man. Fasting helps restore my inner man. Both are necessary. So I schedule both and I follow through with my schedule. Living this way I know I will arrive at Your overall expected end for my life! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
