Last week, as I sat in church waiting for the Bible Study to begin, the Spirit of God led me to 2 Kings 2. This is the story of the Prophet Elijah’s ascent into heaven by a whirlwind. It also shows the determination of his spiritual armour-bearer Elisha to follow him all the way to the ascension point. Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s prophetic anointing, and he received his request. I tried to read through this familiar story in the minutes before we commenced. Then I heard this question: “Are you ready for the double portion mantle?”
The Necessity of Waiting on God
You see, we pray so hard to Jesus for many things, good things, things that are good for the Kingdom and for us. We believe that if we pray long enough, fast long enough, get enough laying-on of hands, beg Him enough, then, we will get these requests. After all, didn’t the Bible say that we’re supposed to ask and we will receive? So why isn’t it working? Christ gives three possible answers to our requests. It can be either:
(1) “No” (meaning it’s not in the His will/plan for us);
(2) “Yes” (meaning, “Hooray!” and that we can go ahead with His guidance);
or the befuddling (3) “Wait” (meaning that the request will be fulfilled at a later date).
We all like the immediacy of the “Yes” and “No” responses from Jesus, because then we know where we stand. However it’s the “Wait” response that gets us! The waiting, the uncertainty, the time that we will need to spend in the wait. We also have to contend with the loneliness, the exhaustion, the doubting and the worry that stalk us while we are in the wait. However I want to encourage those of us that are in the wait: Don’t give up hope. Faithful is He that has promised us the fulfilment of our requests. God will establish His word concerning us.1
As I sat down to write this article, I asked Jesus to show me the approach to take. He instructed me to take us through the steps of Elisha’s progression to receiving and walking in his prophetic anointing. Let’s begin:
1. It is Yours and It Always Will Be
The thing that you are waiting on Jesus for (marriage, ministry, career, etc.) was destined to be yours and no one can take it from you – unless you choose to give it up. In 1 Kings 19:15-17, God gave Elijah some succession instructions, and in those instructions, Elisha, the son of Shapat was to be the next prophet after Elijah. Therefore the prophetic anointing, the prophetic mantle, was destined to be Elisha’s. We have a saying in Jamaica: “What a fi yuh cyan be un-fi-yuh” meaning what is yours, will always be yours. Beloved, be encouraged that as long as you walk obediently with Christ, then all of those “Wait” items, will transform to “Yes” ones in due season.
2. Be Willing to Start and Go Through Your Preparation Process
It is always the case that our “Wait” responses require us to go through a season of preparation. In 1 Kings 19:19-21, Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha, as Elisha ploughed the field. After taking leave of his parents, Elisha thrust himself fully into Elijah’s service by ministering to, or assisting Elijah. What if Elisha decided to ignore that call from God? Would he have become prophet in Elijah’s stead? It’s highly unlikely, because he wouldn’t have been equipped to be the voice of God to His people.
Your season of waiting is not passive, it is not meant to be spent being bitter and angry about waiting, it is not meant to be spent pining away in boredom, it is not meant to be spent daydreaming about when you “get there”. Your waiting period is a season of actions that you need to take, people you need to serve, and experiences that you need to have, in order to prepare you to walk fully into your next phase of life. Why is God having you wait? It’s because He needs to prepare you very well so that you will be able to fully function in those roles under His anointing and in His wisdom and guidance. Don’t shun the waiting process and don’t try to cut it short. The wait is destined to prepare you for your next level.
3. Know That Your Preparation Also Involves Circumcision
2 Kings 2 opens with Elijah and Elisha leaving Gilgal. What is the significance of Gilgal? Let’s go back to Joshua 5 where Gilgal is also mentioned. Gilgal was the place of the mass circumcision of the new generation of Israelite men – those who were born outside of Egyptian captivity in the wilderness. Circumcision – the removal of the foreskin- represented the covenant that God made with Abraham to make him the father of many nations and kings, and that Abraham’s descendants would possess the land of Canaan forever, and that He, Jehovah, would be their God. 2 The new Israelites had just crossed through the Jordan River under Joshua’s command. However before they could even think to defeat Jericho, they had to renew their Abrahamic covenant with God in order to be victorious in possessing the Promised Land.
Circumcision is Necessary
So how does this apply to those of us in the wait? Get ready for the cutting! Ouch! Nobody likes to get cut! Not even a paper-cut! However if you’re going to walk into your divinely appointed next level, you will have to go through the circumcision of your heart and your life. Get ready to hear and feel the Spirit of God convicting you to put aside sinful thought patterns, behaviours and habits. How should you respond? Cut them off!3 Get ready to see certain relationships in your life disappearing. How should you respond? Let them go! God may even ask you to change your career – just do it! Follow Jesus wholeheartedly in all things: Cut them off!
This pruning process will be painful, it will be difficult, but it is a necessary part of your preparation process. You can’t go into your next phase, your divine purpose, hauling sinful baggage to weigh you down. You need to be able to run freely and fully into what God has destined for you!4 You will not be able to possess your divine inheritance unless you cut off all of these carnal elements from your being and your life.
4. You Will Need to Spend Time with God for Divine Revelations
The Prophet Elijah and his apprentice Elisha next went to Bethel. Elisha had refused to remain at Gilgal and insisted on accompanying Elijah to Bethel. Again, what is the significance of Bethel? Bethel is the house of God, the gate of heaven, the presence of God. 5 It was at Bethel that the sons of the prophets began to confirm what Elisha knew-he was about to lose his master. However while Elisha might have been sad about this, he also knew that the time was drawing near for him to receive his prophetic mantle.
While you’re in the wait, you must always desire to go further and go deeper in God’s presence. As you are obedient in cutting off elements of your carnal nature, your spiritual ears and eyes will become more opened to hear Jesus’ wisdom and instructions and to see what He’s showing you. You cannot go blindly into your next level. Get free of all impediments to your spiritual senses so that you can identify and destroy the enemies’ positions, and so that you can discern and execute God’s plans in the earth as per His instructions. You must be able to receive and comprehend divine revelations in order to receive your double portion mantle and to walk in your divine purpose.
5. You Will Have a Jericho Experience
After Bethel, Elijah and Elisha journeyed to Jericho. Jericho was the site of a formidable pagan city that stood on the Israelites’ path to enter the Promised Land. However God led Joshua and the Israelites in obliterating the city and they rendered it a desolate, barren and accursed place.6 Jericho was still barren in Elisha’s time. Why Jericho? Why a desolate and barren place in this preparation season?
You may think that since you are waiting, that these old battlefields that you overcame should never rise again. Beloved, be prepared to revisit old battle grounds as the enemy of our souls seeks to overcome and derail you from your divine purpose. The devil will not stand idly by and let you walk in to possess your divine mantle. Many persons in the season of preparation have caved in at the site of old problems re-emerging. However I urge you to be steadfast and resolute in Christ. Stand firmly in the knowledge and assurance of your salvation and your victory in Jesus. You will prevail! You will overcome! Your name is “Victory”!7
6. Do Not Fear Jordan, God Will Make a Way!
As you emerge victorious from the battles of Jericho, you will encounter Jordan. Jordan is an impassable situation that requires the express move of God for you to break through and go forward. It will be a situation that when it is being resolved and even afterwards, you will know that it could only be the hand of God at work. Fifty sons of the prophets were astounded and remained in the area to watch, as Elijah and Elisha went onwards.8 I decree and I declare that your faith will grow in greater force to stand and see the move of God at your Jordan! You will not remain in limbo at its banks; you will go forth in Jesus’ name! I decree and I declare that the anointing of God which broke Jordan in two for Elijah and Elisha to walk through on dry land will arise for you now! You will go forth, through and into your divine anointing and purpose in Jesus’ name!
7. Be Alert! Be Ready to Receive Your Double Portion Mantle
Elisha had gone through the entire preparation process. He had crossed over Jordan. He was at the cusp of the fulfillment of his request for the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elijah told Elisha that if he saw when God caught him away to heaven, his request would be granted. Eyes open now! No blinking! Don’t stumble! Don’t fall away! You must be so in tune with the Spirit of God that you are in divine alignment; that you remain in divine position to take possession of your double portion mantle! Hallelujah!
You must accept and make full use of this double portion anointing that you have requested for! No, it is not merely a piece of cloth; no, it is not a simple ministry that no one recognises! Never you mind, grab hold of that simple looking mantle and get to work with it! I decree and I declare that God will move in you and through you under that double portion of His anointing in Jesus’ name!
8. Jordan River Will Never Faze You Again
When you are wearing your double portion mantle and walking in your divine purpose, no Jordan will ever withstand you. As Elisha used his new mantle to divide Jordan once more and walk through on dry land, I decree that the anointing of God upon your life will make you immune to the impossible in Jesus’ name!
9. You Will be Re-birthed in Their Eyes and Exercise Divine Authority
The same sons of the prophets who were telling Elisha that his master would leave him (and presumably leave him purposeless) were now recognizing the double portion anointing on him. The same persons who were likely talking about him, were now bowing before him in reverence to the anointing of God that resided on him. The prophet that had no honour before, was now being awarded maximum honour. Elisha went back to Jericho and under that double portion anointing, he broke the curse upon that area! He returned to Bethel, and his persistent mockers were destroyed. Elisha went all the way back to mount Carmel, the place of his predecessor’s victory over the opposition9 and then he returned to his home in Samaria.
I decree and I declare that the eyes that beheld you in your season of preparation will now see the glory of Jesus Christ upon your life! I decree that their eyes will witness your re-birth. They will now say that Jehovah Elohim is with you and working through you! I decree and I declare that mouths that persist in mockery of you, you will destroy in accordance with Isaiah 54:17! I decree and I declare that your words will carry the divine weight and authority of Jesus Christ in accordance with Matthew 18:18!
10. Persevere! You Must be Persistent!
Elisha was focused and persistent, so you must be persistent in your pursuit of Jesus Christ and His will for your life! You must earnestly desire the will of Christ above all else. As Elisha didn’t give up at any of his preparatory stages, I decree and I declare that you will also be steadfast and persevere through the wait in Jesus’ name!
I love you all. I encourage you to go through the preparation process as you are in your waiting season. It is up to you to cooperate with Jesus Christ at all stages. That way, you will receive and use your double portion mantle for the good of His Kingdom and to His glory.
Blessings, peace and wisdom upon you,
Sophia.
- Please be encouraged by 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 27:14.
- Please see Genesis 17:1-14.
- Please see Matthew 5.
- Please read Hebrews 12 and Philippians 3:13-14.
- Please see Genesis 28:10-22 for the account of Jacob’s night encounter with God and God’s renewal of the Abrahamic covenant with him.
- Please read the account of Jericho’s destruction and curse in Joshua 6.
- Please be encouraged by: 1 Peter 4:12-13; James 4:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 5:1; Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 6:12-18.
- 2 Kings 2:6-7.
- You can read the account of God answering by fire on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:17-46.