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Was the prophet Elisha greater than the prophet Elijah because he had double portion of the anointing? You might want to read to the very letter this open discourse.

To inform this discourse, we shall be looking at two salient questions, the first being, was Elisha greater than Elijah? And the second being, how can we access the double portion Elisha's order of the Anointing?

Let us carefully consider the first question and scripturally analyze it.
Was Elisha greater than Elijah knowing he had twice the anointing of Elijah? Scripturally the answer to this question without a doubt is no. You see the Bible is a progressive revelation, and as such, you don't get the full import of certain truths 'till you come into the full blaze of enlightenment. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18).
If one would read the entire book of second kings alone, one would conclude that Elisha wrought more miracles than Elijah, which is true. However, that is a poor mirror to reflect the reality of sound scriptural principles.

You see, in the book of second kings the second chapter, Elisha asked Elijah that he may receive a double portion of his spirit.

2 Kings 2:9
[9]And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.


Unarguably, the servant is not greater than the master. Neither can a man give what he does not have. Elisha was able to receive twice the spirit or the anointing that was upon Elijah because Elijah had more than twice the anointing in him. Logically, it's impossible for me to give a man N2 million if I'm in want of N1 million. That doesn't make any sense.
The fact that Elisha received a double portion of the anointing doesn't make him any greater than Elijah. Rather, it goes to show that Elisha was a benefactor of the benevolence of Elijah.

Let me explain that reality by the scriptures. In the book of Numbers the eleventh chapter, the LORD took some of the spirit who was upon Moses and put him upon the seventy elders and they prophesied. This example is like taking seventy times the spirit that was upon Moses and distributing him among the elders, yet none of them was greater, let alone come close to the greatness of Moses.

Elisha was greater than Elijah in acts, that is in miracles, yet not in spirit: because, like Moses, out of the abundant portion of Elijah's spirit only a double portion was given to Elisha.

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus corroborated that truth when he declared, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). The Lord Jesus just got through saying, the believing ones shall do greater works than He. Now greater works in acts doesn't translate to any one of us believers being greater than the Lord Jesus, because, really, no one is greater. It's out of the fullness of His own Spirit that we have received the ability to do greater works. So evidently, the Lord is greater than all. Evidently also, Elijah is greater than Elisha.

Now how can we access the double portion Elisha's order of the Anointing?
There are three steps that led to Elisha receiving a double portion of Elijah's anointing.

1. Elisha stepped into the office of the prophet
2. Elisha was baptized unto Elijah in Jordan River
3. Elisha received the power from on high when he took Elijah's mantle that feel from him


The Bible teaches that those things which happened to the people of the Old Testament are types and shadows of the things to come. The three steps above we shall explore in the light of the New Testament.

Corinthians 10:11
[11]Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.


Elisha's double portion of the anointing is a type and shadow of the reality of baptism in water and the reception of the Holy Ghost.

You see, Elisha didn't just receive a double portion of the anointing because he was a servant to Elijah, no. There are precedents to him receiving twice the spirit of the prophet Elijah.

We shall look at these precedents, in the light of the New Testament, which galvanized Elisha to receiving a double portion of the spirit of Elijah.

First, Elisha was anointed to be in the office of the prophet

1[b] Kings 19:16,19
[16]And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
[19]So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.[/b]

Elijah's mantle upon Elisha ushering him into the office of the prophet is likened to a sinner confessing Jesus as Lord and stepping into the righteousness of Christ, a new creature (2 Corinthians 5: 17, 21).

Second, Elisha was baptized unto Elijah in Jordan River

2 Kings 2:8
[8]And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.


1 Corinthians 10:1-2
[1]Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2]And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;


Notice the same way Moses parted the Red sea and the Children of Israel all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto him, so did Elijah parted the Jordan River and they two went over on dry ground; and Elisha was baptized unto him.

Elisha's baptism unto Elijah, so to speak, is like the born again Christian being baptized unto Christ by immersion in water. At this point, the born again Christian receive the first portion of the anointing, salvation. (John 20:22; 1 John 2:20,27).

Third, Elisha took hold on Elijah's mantle

2 Kings 2:13
[13]He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

Notice that text says, "... The mantle of Elijah that fell..." The word "fell" is significant because this is symbolic of the Holy Ghost falling down on the Apostles from on high. In the book of Joel, the prophet Joel prophesied that in the last days the Lord shall pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. And in Acts of the Apostles when Peter went down to the house of Cornelius, scripture says, while he yet spake, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

So in the light of scripture, anyone can receive Elisha's double portion order of the anointing by following three sound scriptural steps

1. By becoming a new creature: accepting Jesus as Lord and saviour
2. By baptism unto Christ: immersion in water
3. Being baptized in the Holy Ghost



Jesus is Lord

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2Kgs.2.10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-otherwise not."

Jer.32.27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too difficult for me?

gohf:
2Kgs.2.10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-otherwise not."

Jer.32.27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too difficult for me?

You're right brother, and those scriptural principles are right too

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