9TH JULY, 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;
THE POWER IS IN YOU ALREADY;
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 (2 Kings 2:9).
Many people have wrongly interpreted our opening verse to mean that Elisha requested for a double amount of the anointing that was on Elijah. They even count the number of miracles between the two of them, and conclude that Elisha indeed had a double amount because he wrought twice as many miracles as Elijah did. That’s not how it works with God. You don’t count the number of miracles to determine the power of the Spirit that’s present.
Even if we were to consider their miracles, Elijah wrought one that we could say outclassed all the ones from Elisha: the fact that he (Elijah) was raptured as an act of faith (2 Kings 2:11-12). Remember that the Bible says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death…” (Hebrews 11:5). This therefore means that Elijah required faith to accomplish a similar feat. Elisha, on the other hand, fell sick and died sick, though the glory was still in his bones.
What Elisha requested for was the right of the firstborn, which was signified by the double portion (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). He wanted to assume the position of leadership amongst the other prophets in Israel, who at that time were under the tutelage of Prophet Elijah. And because of his spiritual perception, he got it and became the senior prophet over them (2 Kings 2:1-25). Remember, there’s a difference between a double amount and a double portion of that amount.
As a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit without measure. He’s anointed you with His power; so you don’t need a second or third anointing. You’re already replete with God; you’re full of Him, with all His power. What’s important for you is to know how to activate that power in you and make it effective.
Paul said to Timothy, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). It’s your responsibility to stir up the anointing that’s in you for it to produce results, and you do this by being continuously filled with the Spirit; speaking in tongues, and meditating on the Word.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the gift of your Spirit whom I’ve received in His fullness. He’s fully functional and operational in and through me, effecting your will and purpose here on earth. I stir up His power in me today to alter circumstances, bring about positive changes and produce lasting and abiding results, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:34; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18-20
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 20:1-16 & Job 19-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Galatians 2:3-12 & Isaiah 29