Theme: The Gifts of the Spirit in the ministries of Elijah and Elisha.
Goal: To see how the Gifts of the Spirit operated in Old Testament ministry and how they require our cooperation.
Introduction: Gifts in the Old Testament
The ministries of Elijah and Elisha were characterized by the operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
- Word of Wisdom — enabled Elijah to speak with authority and decree things (1 Kings 17:1)
- Word of Knowledge — enabled Elisha to know the plans of the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:9)
- Gift of Faith — enabled Elijah to pour water on the altar before fire (1 Kings 18:33)
- Working of Miracles — brought supernatural provision in famine (1 Kings 17:13-14)
- Gifts of Healings — provided healing for Naaman (2 Kings 5:14)
- Prophecy — was normal among the sons of the prophets (2 Kings 4:38)
- Discerning of Spirits — enabled Elisha's servant to see the angelic hosts (2 Kings 6:17)
All New Testament gifts except tongues and interpretation of tongues are evident in the Old Testament. The gift of tongues is unique because it represents the Holy Spirit in control of the believer's worship out of a new heart—this is New Testament Christianity.
Introductory Story: The Welsh and Azusa Revivals
The Welsh Revival (1904) did not happen among the big preachers at Keswick—it was led by Evan Roberts, a young preacher with no great reputation. The Azusa Street revival (1906) began in a run-down building led by a one-eyed Black pastor also with no reputation.
God bypassed the influential preachers with their large followings. We must never put our confidence in our own resources and abilities—we must learn to be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Lesson Outline
- Ministry of Elijah
- Ministry of Elisha
- Gifts do not happen automatically
1. The Ministry of Elijah
Elijah's ministry was a demonstration of Holy Spirit-anointed ministry in the Old Testament.
a) Who Was Elijah?
- Elijah was not born with special privileges (James 5:17-18)
- His family is not mentioned
- He was a Tishbite who dwelt in Gilead on the east side of Jordan (1 Kings 17:1)
b) Elijah's Character
Elijah was anointed, but he was also:
- Prayerful — "The Lord before whom I stand" (1 Kings 17:1)
- Righteous before God
- Fearless before men
The anointing equipped Elijah for ministry, but he had to be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit.
c) The Gifts Empowered Elijah
- Speak with authority — Decreed it would not rain (1 Kings 17:1)
- Supernatural provision — Ravens and widow woman during famine (1 Kings 17:2-16)
- Raise the dead — The widow's son (1 Kings 17:17-24)
- Bring fire from heaven — On Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18)
2. The Ministry of Elisha
Elisha was anointed because he had an unstoppable determination to move in the power of the Holy Spirit.
a) Elisha's Character and the Gifts
The Gifts of the Spirit operate by desire. If we have no desire for the Gifts, we will never move in them. Elisha had to be determined to receive Elijah's anointing.
Total surrender (1 Kings 19:19-21):
- He destroyed his natural means of provision (no going back)
- He killed the yoke of oxen and burned the yoke (made a feast for the people)
- He gave himself to follow Elijah
Unstoppable (2 Kings 2):
- Elijah tested him—"Tarry here at Bethel, at Jericho"—but Elisha would not stop
- He crossed the Jordan. The anointing could only be received by unstoppable determination
- He asked for a double portion of Elijah's anointing
- He had to be there at a specific time—determination is essential
b) The Gifts in Elisha's Ministry
- Word of Knowledge/Wisdom — "The Lord has hidden this from me" (2 Kings 4:27)
- Word of Knowledge — Knew the plans of the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:8-10)
- Discerning of Spirits — Prayed for servant's eyes to be opened to see angelic hosts (2 Kings 6:17)
- Working of Miracles — Smote the Syrian army with blindness (2 Kings 6:18)
All the gifts operated in the Old Testament apart from tongues and interpretation—these are unique to the New Testament.
3. Gifts Do Not Happen Automatically
The Gifts of the Spirit operate as people move with the Holy Spirit. For the Gifts to operate, something always had to be done.
a) Elijah
- Had to go to Brook Cherith—ravens came
- Widow woman had to use the last of her oil
- Stretched himself upon the dead child
b) Elisha
- Put salt in the spring to heal Jericho's waters (2 Kings 2:21)
- Told the kings to dig ditches (2 Kings 3:16)
- Widow poured oil into empty vessels
- Shunammite woman acted on the promise (2 Kings 4:17)
- Laid on the young man's body (2 Kings 4:34-35)
- Put meal in the pot to remove poison (2 Kings 4:41)
- Fed 100 men with 20 loaves by giving out the food (2 Kings 4:43-44)
- Naaman washed 7 times in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:14)
- Put a stick in water—axe head floated (2 Kings 6:6-7)
c) Elisha's Bones
A man was raised to life when his body touched Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21). The miracle happened because of the ministry of the Holy Spirit bearing testimony to the word of the Lord—the Holy Spirit is sovereign and acts as He wills.
Summary
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are seen in the ministries of Elijah and Elisha:
- Elijah's ministry was a demonstration of Holy Spirit-anointed ministry in the Old Testament
- Elisha was anointed because he had an unstoppable determination to move in the power of the Holy Spirit
- The Gifts do not happen automatically—they operate as people move with the Holy Spirit
Reflection Questions
- What steps of obedience might God be asking of you before He releases His gifts?
- How determined are you to move in the power of the Holy Spirit?
- What can we learn from Elisha's "unstoppable determination"?