As the saying goes: It is easier to find a thousand soldiers than a general. Why did Elisha stand out from the multitude of prophets' disciples, inheriting and surpassing the great prophet Elijah? Seemingly ordinary, what extraordinary qualities did he possess? Let the teacher reveal to you the mindset of obtaining God's power!

Thinking Points:

What qualities does a person need to possess in order to receive God's power?

Do you aspire to become a prophet like Elisha?

In what areas do you think you can continuously emulate Elisha?

Elisha Received Rigorous Training in the School of the Prophets

Elisha received rigorous training in the school of the prophets, which enabled him to understand how to rationally act as a prophet. Therefore, mature Christians must understand and yearn to obtain this ability of blessing and cursing. To obtain this ability, one must undergo extraordinary training. Every Christian, if he/she wants to become a valiant soldier of Jesus Christ, must possess the ability of Elisha. Do not underestimate yourself; yearn to obtain it. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Elisha possessed the power of a prophet. He knew clearly that the day Elijah would be taken up was near. At the same time, Elisha feared that the great power on Elijah would disappear with his ascension. With a heart yearning to obtain such power, Elisha closely followed his master, Elijah.

Such a mindset is unprecedented. Without knowing the specific meaning of being taken up, Elisha still followed his master Elijah closely with faith. In contrast, many of his companions, also disciples of Elijah, were indifferent, even watching with a curious mindset. If these companions also had such a mindset, then the land would have produced many prophets as mighty as Elisha. Elisha, with a determined faith, passed three tests from his master Elijah. He received a golden word, as Elijah 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 (2 Kings 2:10). Before this, Elisha cried out with a yearning heart: Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me (cf. 2 Kings 2:9). This is the first point: to have a trained faith.

Let a Double Portion of Your Spirit Be Upon Me

We must have this mindset of Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. Jesus' desire is that we, His disciples, apostles, and believers, can do greater things than He did, not smaller things. Elisha had this precious mindset. When our hearts are filled with false humility, we will lose the great power of God. Therefore, as Christians, we must always have the mindset of If we are going to do it, we must be outstanding Christians. Elisha's mindset has two layers: first, resolutely do not give up; second, do greater things. The last shall be first, and the last shall be the greatest.

We Must Have the Subjective Initiative to Imitate

We must have the subjective initiative to imitate. The way to imitate is very simple: how others do it, we do it accordingly, without entering into speculation from the beginning. Many of our church's small group leaders and heads of families have made good attempts at imitation in prayer, inheriting some of my methods.

Elisha's behavior is a very good example. He saw his master Elijah strike the water with his mantle, causing the water to separate. In his heart, he had the mindset of Let me try it. When Elijah left and ascended, facing the worn-out mantle left by his master, he valued not the cleanliness of the mantle, but the inheritance. Therefore, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Elisha did greater things than his master. When I established the church, I chose to imitate Pastor Chou of Taipei Bread of Life Church to build a glorious church. Pastor Chou chose to spend ten years concentrating on building a traditional church into a glorious, miraculous church. We chose to emulate! Standing on the shoulders of giants, we started from scratch to build a holy and glorious church. We had to do greater than our master. Over the years, the church has been filled with valiant soldiers. A sister who had recently joined the church, not yet baptized, boldly drove out demons and engaged in spiritual warfare with our teachings and was victorious.

We Must Have the Determination to Practice

We must have the determination to practice. After his master ascended to heaven, Elisha practiced himself in two things. First, he blessed the spring of water in that land, so that the land could be nourished. Second, he cursed the forty-two rude children, and the children were killed. We must know that practicing blessing and cursing are equally important. Jesus, relying on cursing the fig tree, taught his disciples. The key to the entire Christian faith is blessing and cursing. The earliest mention in the Bible is that those who bless Abraham shall be blessed, and those who curse him shall be cursed. As valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, we must always have a mindset of practice.

In summary, to obtain the ability of blessing and cursing, follow four points. First, train the understanding of reason. Second, have the mindset to do greater things. Third, imitate predecessors. Fourth, practice yourself.

Scripture

2Ki 2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2Ki 2:2 And 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.
2Ki 2:3 And 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.
2Ki 2:4 And 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.
2Ki 2:5 And 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.
2Ki 2:6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; 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.
2Ki 2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
2Ki 2:8 And 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.
2Ki 2:9 And 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.
2Ki 2:10 And 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.
2Ki 2:11 And 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.
2Ki 2:12 And 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.
2Ki 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
2Ki 2:14 And 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.
2Ki 2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2Ki 2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
2Ki 2:17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
2Ki 2:18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
2Ki 2:19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
2Ki 2:20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
2Ki 2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
2Ki 2:22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
2Ki 2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
2Ki 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
2Ki 2:25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.