Bible Talks: 2 Kings 2:15-18.

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As soon as the sons of the prophets living in Jericho saw Elisha, they bowed before him saying, “The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.” Elisha’s great desire had been that a double portion of the spirit of Elijah might rest upon him, and now his desire was granted. It was not by effort, or thinking whether others could see it or not. No, it was because he had seen Elijah go up. And so how can we manifest the life of Christ here in this judged scene? The answer is 2 Corinthians 3:1818But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18): “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” If we are occupied with the Man in the glory, the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, others will see His Spirit resting upon us and His life manifested in us. To try to live “the victorious life” always leads to self-occupation, and we either become proud because we think we are living it, or discouraged because we are not. Occupation with Christ will keep us humble, because we are so unlike Him, but happy because of His unchanging love. In this way the life of Christ will then be manifested in us without effort! May it be more so with us as with the disciples of old, of whom it could be said that others “took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.” Let us notice a little about these fifty “strong men” — the sons of the prophets living in Jericho—who had watched Elijah and Elisha go through the Jordan together. They did not believe that Elijah had really gone up into heaven. I believe they would figure to us the many “strong men” of Christendom today. Some of them are true believers, but they are laboring for the improvement of this world. They would use Christianity as a means to do this, for they have not seen the end of man’s trial at the cross. They think of Him as “the gardener” to improve this world — but the Lord had to tell Mary that she was now to know Him in a new way as the ascended One. (John 20:1517.) “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.” 2 Cor. 5:1616Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (2 Corinthians 5:16). These fifty strong men of the sons of the prophets came to Elisha and asked him if they could go and hunt for Elijah. Elisha told them not to go, for he knew they would not find him — he had seen him go up. However when they insisted, he told them to go, but afterward, when they came back without finding him, he said, “Did I not say unto you, Go not?”
It is the same today; there are many who do not see true Christian position. They do not see that the Christian is not of this world, that he is waiting for Christ to come and take him up where He is already gone. So they are wasting their efforts to improve this world. Such efforts are going to end in disappointment, like the men searching for Elijah, but too often these “strong men” will not listen to the Word in this matter. They want to do something, but any work that is not according to the Word will be loss at the judgment seat of Christ. “If a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Tim. 2:55And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy 2:5). May the Lord exercise us to spend our energies in a way that is according to His Word and for His glory. Sometimes the energy of those not walking in the truth, like the fifty strong men, puts us to shame, but let us labor on diligently while the Lord leaves us here.
ML 10/28/1956