Jesus and Elisha

 

Dear Readers

When studying the Bible always keep these scriptures in the forefront of your mind:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (AMP)

Now these things happened to them (Old Testament Israel) as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our (New Testament Church) instruction [to admonish and equip us (New Testament Church)], upon whom the ends of the ages have come (the end times).

(Underlined brackets are the Author’s insertion)

Jesus and Elisha

So now, My Dear Readers, before I delve into the spiritual correlations and connection between Jesus and Elisha in 2 Kings 4, let’s first take a very brief look at who Elisha was.

Elisha was the son of a man called Shaphat who was a wealthy landowner from Abel Meholah, a town close to the River Jordan in the Jordan Valley. We know Shaphat was a wealthy man because when Elijah found Elisha, he was one of twelve ploughmen ploughing a field. Twelve yoke of oxen is 24 oxen altogether which was a sign of a man’s significant wealth in those days!

Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation" became a faithful and committed disciple of Elijah and was the man God chose to succeed Elijah in the role of the prophet in Israel. His name is the first indication of his close corelation with Jesus. His name indicates very strongly that he came from a Godly family.

In the below two verses the Lord specifically instructs the prophet Elijah to anoint three people, Hazael to be king of Syria, Nimshi to be king of Israel and Elisha to succeed him (Elijah) as prophet!

1 Kings 19:15-16 (NKJV)

15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Elisha was called to follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19-21, and he spent several years as Elijah’s protégé until Elijah was taken into heaven in a chariot of fire. Elisha then started his ministry, which lasted roughly 60 years during the reigns of the kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash.

1 Kings 19:19-21 (NKJV)

19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Elisha responded immediately to the calling of God and left his family and his inheritance to follow Elijah. Following Jesus always carries a cost, but the end reward is far greater than the loss – everlasting life!

Dear Readers, God has called each one of us to follow Him and Him alone! Are you prepared to give up everything to follow Him, after all He gave up everything to reconcile you with God and receive everlasting life!

Another important fact about Elisha is that he carried a double portion of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that Elijah had, this fact was also recognised by the sons of the prophets of Jericho. We read about this in the below verses.

2 Kings 2:9-15 (NKJV)

9 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.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

Now, from this Biblical background to who this man Elisha was, we can draw the following factual spiritual truths:

1. He was called by God.

2. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfil his calling as a prophet.

3. He left all his family and material things to follow God’s calling.

4. He submitted to Elijah to be his servant.

5. He was mentored by Elijah – a Holy Spirit filled man of God.

6. He was himself filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit. He received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing!

7. He took up the mantle of his calling and recognised that he was called by God.

Now keeping these facts in mind let’s examine 2 Kings 4 to see how Elisha was fully aligned with and in relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Elisha’s Miracles – 2 Kings 4 (ESV)

2 Kings 4:1-7 - Elisha and the Widow's Oil.
1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

John 2:1-11 (ESV) – Jesus turns water into wine.
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7 we are told of Elisha’s first miracle after assuming the mantle of prophet from Elijah.

When I look at what took place here, I am struck by the similarities there are in it to the first miracle that Jesus performed at the wedding feast in Cana in John 2:1-11. Turning water into wine.

Let’s have a look at these similarities.

Elisha 2 Kings 4:1-7	Jesus John 2:1-11
·         He responded to a need. ·         Multiplied oil to fill many jars. ·         His first miracle after being anointed. ·         The widow’s and her family’s needs were fully met by selling the oil.	·         He responded to a need. ·         Turned water into wine to fill many jars. ·         His first miracle of after being anointed. ·         The needs of the family and their wedding guests were fully met.

The table above shows the similarities between the two miracles but what it also shows is the common factor that empowered both Elisha and Jesus to perform their miracles - The Holy Spirit.

Elisha was filled with the Holy Spirit when he received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing – 2 Kings 2:9-15 above.

Jesus (as a man) received the full anointing of the Holy Spirit directly after his water baptism by John the Baptist and not only this he received God’s full blessing and endorsement as His only son.

Luke 3:21-22 (ESV)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

God will make a way when there seems to be no way! These are words from a well-known song we used to sing but they ring true throughout the ages – His Holy Spirit is the Waymaker, the Miracle worker and the author of the Signs and Wonders that men do in Christ Jesus! God will meet all our needs and will use us to help others and to build each other up and edify each other in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Kings 4:8-17 - Elisha and the Shunammite Woman.
8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”

11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.

In the above verses we read of how Elisha prophetically declares to the Shunamite woman that she will give birth to a son even though her husband is old. This prophecy came true, and she miraculously conceived and gave birth to a son the following year. This was her reward from God for the hospitality, love and care shown to Elisha and his servant Gehazi whenever they passed her way.

The prophetic word spoken by Elisha in the power of the Holy Spirit came true just as it did for Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21:1-2) and Hannah and Elkanah who were in similar situations, read the full story of Hannah and Elkanah in 1 Samuel 1.

Genesis 21:1-2 (ESV)

The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

1 Samuel 1:2b (ESV)

And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

1 Samuel 1:10-11 (ESV)

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:20 (ESV)

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.

From Hannah and Elkanah plus the Holy Spirit, we have the birth of the last and arguably the greatest of Israel’s judges who was also a great prophet - Samuel!

2 Kings 4: 18-37 - Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son from the dead.
18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 26 Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.” 27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 29 He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Elisha 2 Kings 4:18-37	Jesus
·         Elisha raises the Shunamite woman’s son from the dead.	·         Jesus raises the dead son of a widow – Luke 7:11-16. ·         Jesus raises Jairus’ (a synagogue ruler) daughter from the dead – Luke 8:40-42 and 49-56. ·         Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead – John 11:38-44. Please read the whole of Chapter 11.

Now, Dear Readers, let’s examine the dynamics that were at work in the miracles described in the table above, all of which involved raising the dead.

Let’s take Elisha first:

• The Shunamite woman’s son had died after complaining of a headache.

• The woman knew who could help her – she had faith in the man of God to perform a miracle. This was the same man who had prophesied that would give birth to a son even though her husband was in his old age. She laid her son on the man of God’s bed.

• She remained proactive and went to fetch Elisha (the man of God) who was at Mount Carmel.

• When she was asked if her son was well, even though he had died, she had the faith to continue to believe that God would provide a miracle.

• Elisha sent his servant ahead of him when he decides to return to the woman’s house and tells Gehazi to lay his staff on the child’s face.

• When Elisha arrives at the woman’s house, he enters the child’s room alone and prays to God – the power of prayer when asking God’s guidance!

• He then lies on top of the boy and the boy’s body becomes warm.

• Elisha gets off the boy and walks around the house praying some more.

• He then goes back to the boy and lies on him a second time.

• The boy sneezes seven times and comes fully awake.

 Now let’s look at the three miracles of Jesus shown in the table above.

In the case of the widow’s only son – Luke 7:11-16.

• ·   Jesus is driven by deep compassion for the widow to raise him from the dead.

In the case of Jairus’s daughter - Luke 8:40-42 and 49-56:

•     Jairus had the faith to seek out Jesus – verses 41-42.

•     After Jesus had heard the news that Jairus’ daughter was dead, His response to Jairus was, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” – verse 50.

•     At the touch and verbal command of Jesus the girl’s spirit returned and she came alive! – verses 51-55.

In the case of Lazurus – John 11:38-44:

• Lazurus was a much loved man by his sisters and many other Jews. When Jesus saw the pain and sorrow of those who were weeping and mourning, He was deeply moved.

John 11:33 (AMP)

When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled,

• In verse 40, Jesus reminds Martha that he had already told to just believe and she would see the glory of God.

John 11:40 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

 

• ·    In verses 41-42 Jesus audibly gives thanks to God so that those who were around Him would hear Him and believe that God had sent Him!

Luke 11:41-42 (ESV)

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

•  At the voice and command of Jesus death is rebuked and Lazarus is restored to life and to his loved ones! – verses 43-44.

Luke 11:43-44 (ESV)

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

 

In all these miracles both Jesus and Elisha were driven and motivated by love for others. These miracles were performed in the power of the Holy Spirit using the gifts of the Spirit and in this same manner we, the Church today, can do the same things when stirred by Christ’s love for others that lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul urges us to follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)

Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

 

Paul also urges us to do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (AMP)

Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew – Death is removed from the Pot.

³⁸ And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” ³⁹ One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. ⁴⁰ And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. ⁴¹ He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.

• When I look at verses 38-41 above, I see a number of spiritual “happenings” taking place that speak across a period of 800 years to the ministry of Jesus the Messiah in Israel.

• The sons of the prophets were sitting before Elisha which suggests to me that he was probably teaching and mentoring them in the same way that Jesus taught and mentored His disciples.

• Elisha instructs his servant to get a pot ready to make a stew to feed the sons of the prophets and one of them went out into the fields to collect wild herbs for the stew. Elisha was concerned for the welfare of his followers just as Jesus is with us – He is not only interested in feeding us physically but spiritually as well!

• But when the stew was cooked, they were unable to eat it as they tasted poison in the stew, “there is death in the pot.” This says to me that there was some demonic interference taking place in this situation! He was trying to get rid of a group of God’s young prophets!
•  Then Elisha told them to put flour in the pot and when they did this the poison was rendered harmless. Elisha, led by the Holy Spirit, instructed flour to be put in the pot.

To me this speaks of Jesus who is the bread of life and flour being the main ingredient of bread. Jesus changes us from being dead in the world to alive in the Spirit – man being restored and reconciled to God through the blood of Christ! The poison in the pot from the devil is rendered null and void by Jesus the bread of life!

1 John 1:7-10 (ESV)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

John 6:33-35 (ESV)

33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

The Miraculous Feeding of the 100 Men.

⁴² A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” ⁴³ But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” ⁴⁴ So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

 

In verses 42-44 above we have the same miracle taking place for Elisha under the guidance of and obedience to the Holy Spirit as we have in the New Testament with Jesus in Matthew 14:17-21 and Matthew 15:32-38. The Holy Spirit’s multiplying of food to feed many more than the physical provision should have provided for and having leftovers as well!

 

Matthew 14:17-21 (ESV)

17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 15:32-38 (ESV)

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

 When God provides, He often gives us even more than we are expecting or have asked for. He gives to us in abundance in accordance with His riches and glory!

Philippians 4:19-20 (ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The same Holy Spirit that was in Jesus and Elisha lives and works in you!

Now, my Dear Readers, in the lives of Elisha and Jesus our Saviour, we see in both of them, in the miracles that I have described in this article, the Holy Spirit working in them and through them to touch others.

In Romans 11:8 the apostle Paul tells us that the same Spirit who resurrected Jesus, lives and works in us and through us. We are able to do the things that Jesus did and even greater things! This is scriptural fact!

John 14:12 (ESV)

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

When Jesus went to be with the Father at His ascension, he asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to live in us and to guide us in all truth with the proviso that we love Him and keep His commands!

John 14:15-17 (ESV)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Now Elisha was filled with the same Holy Spirit. The Old Testament prophets, judges, certain Kings like David and other Old Testament leaders all carried God’s anointing to complete their God given calling and God given tasks. This anointing was the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

1 Chronicles 16:22 (ESV)

saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,

do my prophets no harm!”

Psalm 18:50 (ESV)

Great salvation he brings to his king,

and shows steadfast love to his anointed,

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules

Exodus 31:1-6 (ESV)

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

Judges 3:9-10 (ESV)

9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

There are many other verses in both the Old and New Testament that speak of the anointing of God and God putting His Spirit on certain individuals, I encourage you to search them out and study them for yourselves.

Today we are freely given the Holy Spirit from the Father through Jesus and we can continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:52 (ESV)

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesian 5:18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

The Bible exhorts and encourages us to be imitators of Christ and to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Come on, Church, let’s do this!

Live life in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh!

Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV)

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to put you first in everything I do. Help me to read and study your Word daily and help me to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the reverent fear of God that I may glorify Jesus. Help me Lord to remain humble before you and put the needs of others before my own. Lord help me not neglect my relationship with you in order to fulfil my own wants and needs in my own strength and worldly ways. Help me Lord to be an imitator of Christ and to be a doer of the Word and not just a reader. Help me to do great things in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring glory to you and to touch the world with Jesus!
Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!