https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/5wb40ao97h5400x\/20220804-Study_TonyC-MantleofElijah.m4a?raw=1<\/a><\/audio>\n2Ki 2:11-25\u00a0 “So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake”<\/h3>\n[Study Aired August 4, 2022]<\/h5>\n
2Ki 2:11<\/b>\u00a0 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, <\/b>there appeared<\/i><\/b> a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:12<\/b>\u00a0 And Elisha saw <\/b>it,<\/i><\/b> 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.\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:13<\/b>\u00a0 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:14<\/b>\u00a0 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where <\/b>is<\/i><\/b> the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:15<\/b>\u00a0 And when the sons of the prophets which <\/b>were<\/i><\/b> 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.<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:16<\/b>\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:17<\/b>\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:18<\/b>\u00a0 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:19<\/b>\u00a0 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city <\/b>is<\/i><\/b> pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water <\/b>is<\/i><\/b> naught, and the ground barren.\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:20<\/b>\u00a0 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought <\/b>it<\/i><\/b> to him.<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:21<\/b>\u00a0 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 <\/b>land.<\/i><\/b>
\n2Ki 2:22<\/b>\u00a0 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:23<\/b>\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:24<\/b>\u00a0 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.<\/b>
\n2Ki 2:25<\/b>\u00a0 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.<\/b><\/p>\n
Each joint of Christ’s body is contributing in love to the labor He has called us unto, of seeing every part of His bride come into the unity of the faith “and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph 4:13<\/span>). He leads us into paths of righteousness for His name’s sake that restore us (<\/span>1Co 15:58<\/span>, <\/span>1Ti 6:6-8<\/span>, <\/span>Psa 23:1-4<\/span>), and we are being persuaded through that relationship of obedience to His word “for his name’s sake” (<\/span>Rom 8:38<\/span>), that it is Christ who is doing that labor within us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure which is to give us the kingdom, a kingdom within, now (<\/span>Luk 17:21<\/span>). This is understood by knowing God and His son (<\/span>Joh 17:3<\/span>) in a relationship that we’ve been promised that none can separate us from if we are His (<\/span>Php 2:13<\/span>, <\/span>Luk 12:32<\/span>, <\/span>Joh 17:12<\/span>), and these truths are really at the heart of what Elijah and Elisha’s journeys will mean to God’s elect who are being led by the spirit of God today (<\/span>Rom 8:14-16<\/span>).<\/p>\n1Co 15:58<\/span>\u00a0 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, <\/span>always abounding in the work of the Lord <\/span>[<\/span>Php 2:12<\/span>], forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord [<\/span>Php 2:13<\/span>].<\/span><\/p>\n1Ti 6:6<\/span>\u00a0 But <\/span>godliness with contentment is great gain<\/span>.
\n1Ti 6:7<\/span>\u00a0 For we brought nothing into <\/span>this<\/span><\/i> world, <\/span>and it is<\/span><\/i> certain we can carry nothing out [<\/span>1Co 15:50<\/span>].\u00a0<\/span>
\n1Ti 6:8<\/span>\u00a0 And having <\/span>food and raiment<\/span> let us be therewith content [<\/span>the food and the raiment symbolize what we labor for with a hunger and thirst God gives us for His righteousness (<\/span><\/i>Mat 5:6<\/span>), a desire that God abundantly satiates as we seek the kingdom of God first and see all our needs met in Him<\/span><\/i> (<\/span>Mat 6:33-34<\/span>)].<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nLast week\u2019s study pointed to the transition of power that would be given to Elisha after Elijah went away, and it is a typical story written for the elect’s sake (1Co 10:11<\/span>, <\/span>1Pe 1:12<\/span>) of how the holy spirit would be sent to the church who were <\/span>tarrying in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost<\/span>. They were told to wait on the Lord and the Lord, who does not change (<\/span>Mal 3:6<\/span>), will always be faithful to send the comforter to us as we learn to wait on Him, possessing our souls patiently (<\/span>Luk 21:19<\/span>) in Jerusalem above where we have been raised (<\/span>Luk 24:49<\/span>, <\/span>Joh 16:7<\/span>, <\/span>Psa 27:14<\/span>, <\/span>Eph 2:6<\/span>, <\/span>Eph 3:10<\/span>).<\/p>\nEph 2:6<\/span>\u00a0 And hath raised <\/span>us<\/span><\/i> up together, and made <\/span>us<\/span><\/i> sit together <\/span>in heavenly<\/b> places<\/span><\/i> in Christ Jesus: [“<\/span>but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem<\/span>“]<\/span><\/p>\nEph 3:10<\/span>\u00a0 To the intent that now unto <\/span>the principalities and powers <\/span>in heavenly<\/b> places<\/span><\/i> might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God<\/span>, [“<\/span>but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem<\/span>” (<\/span>Heb 10:25)<\/span>]<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis section of the book of Kings typifies for us how we can work out our own salvation with fear and trembling as a result of having His life within us (Php 2:12<\/span>, <\/span>Col 1:27<\/span>, <\/span>Rom 8:9<\/span>). With that life of Christ within us we can “grow in grace, and <\/span>in<\/span><\/i> the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (<\/span>2Pe 3:18<\/span>) and learn to rightly divide God’s word through a lifelong process of “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” within us that is needful if we are going to be able to try the spirits outside ourselves (<\/span>2Co 10:5<\/span>, <\/span>1Jn 4:1<\/span>). These heavenly endeavors spoken of in 2Corinthians 10:5 describe our spiritual wrestling match in this life, which is not against flesh and blood and is carried out in weak and contemptible earthen vessels that must die daily, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (<\/span>Eph 6:12<\/span>, <\/span>Rom 8:13<\/span>).<\/p>\nIt is in Christ’s body, the church (Col 1:24<\/span>, <\/span>Eph 5:30<\/span>), where we learn of ‘<\/span>the principalities and powers <\/span>in heaven<\/b>‘ that we can rule over <\/span>through Christ<\/span> who is far higher than all those principalities and powers (<\/span>Eph 1:21<\/span>, <\/span>Eph 2:6<\/span>,<\/span> Eph 3:10<\/span>, <\/span>Rom 8:37<\/span>).<\/p>\nEph 1:21<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Far above all<\/span> principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEph 2:6<\/span>\u00a0 And hath raised <\/span>us<\/span><\/i> up together, and made <\/span>us<\/span><\/i> sit together <\/span>in <\/span>heavenly<\/b> places<\/span><\/i> in Christ Jesus<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEph 3:10<\/span>\u00a0 To the intent that now unto <\/span>the principalities and powers in <\/span>heavenly<\/b> places<\/span><\/i> might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nRom 8:37<\/span>\u00a0 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors <\/span>through him that loved us<\/span>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAt this stage in Elisha’s journey, he is being separated from Elijah where great miracles are manifesting outwardly, as they did for Paul on the road to Damascus and the early church on Pentecost. When we no longer know Christ after the flesh, typified by Elisha not seeing Elijah after he departed in a whirlwind, then we begin to believe that Christ is abiding within us, and with that belief we can now do the work of God, works that will be typified by the actions of Elisha that we will be looking at in this study (Joh 6:28-29<\/span>).<\/p>\nJoh 6:28<\/span>\u00a0 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 6:29<\/span>\u00a0 Jesus answered and said unto them, <\/span>This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n2Ki 2:11<\/b>\u00a0 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, <\/b>there appeared<\/i><\/b> a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.<\/b><\/p>\n
The first thing we notice is that when we know Christ after the flesh and then don’t know Him in that regard, it takes great spiritual forces to separate us from that immature initial way of knowing Christ, and this separation is typified by this moment when Elijah and Elisha are still walking together both in their flesh and then “a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven<\/b>“. The chariot represents Christ who is the vessel of honor God gave to the church so He can increase and mature within us as a result of having our senses exercised to discern both good and evil (<\/span>Heb 5:14<\/span>). The discerning does not come about except there is power from God being given to help us through the process of having our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Christ is that power in our heavens who makes this possible along with His word and His life within us, represented by “<\/span>a chariot of fire, and horses of fire<\/b>” that give us the ability to part way with our corrupt flesh, forsaking ungodliness and worldly lust (<\/span>Tit 2:12<\/span>).<\/p>\nHeb 5:14<\/span>\u00a0 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, <\/span>even<\/span><\/i> those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTit 2:12<\/span>\u00a0 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nChrist is the one represented by Elijah who has the preeminence in all things (Col 1:18<\/span>) as Elijah, in type and shadow, was the first one to go on to perfection, which was typified by this separation from Elisha. The “<\/span>chariot of fire, and horses of fire<\/b>” represent the power of God’s word that separates us from our fleshly thinking via the judgment of God that is progressively explained in the four horses spoken of in the book of revelation (<\/span>Rev 6:1<\/span>). These <\/span>“horses of fire”<\/b> are a precursor to the horses talked about in Zechariah 6:1-5 and then later in Revelation 6:1 and reveal a progression of judgment that matures the body of Christ.<\/span><\/p>\nCol 1:18<\/span>\u00a0 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all <\/span>things<\/span><\/i> he might have the preeminence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nZec 6:1<\/span>\u00a0 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains <\/span>were<\/span><\/i> mountains of brass.\u00a0<\/span>
\nZec 6:2<\/span>\u00a0 In the first <\/span>chariot <\/span>were<\/span><\/i> red horses<\/span>; and in the second <\/span>chariot black horses<\/span>;\u00a0<\/span>
\nZec 6:3<\/span>\u00a0 And in the third <\/span>chariot white horses<\/span>; and in the fourth <\/span>chariot grisled and bay horses<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>
\nZec 6:4<\/span>\u00a0 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What <\/span>are<\/span><\/i> these, my lord?\u00a0<\/span>
\nZec 6:5<\/span>\u00a0 And the angel answered and said unto me, <\/span>These <\/span>are<\/span><\/i> the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n