God's All-Stars - Week Nine: Elisha
God’s All-Stars
I love football season! Each week players give All-Star performances on the field. Join me as I reveal guys in the Bible that would make God's All-Star team:
Week Nine All-Star: Elisha
Vital Statistics: (see 1 Kings 19 – 2 Kings 13)
Former farmer turned pro (2 Kings 19). Recruited by and Back-up to Hall of Famer: Elijah (2 Kings 19). Assumed the starting position when Elijah retired, went on to his own Hall of Fame career – recording twice as many miraculous victories than his mentor (see 2 Kings 2:9).
Physical Description:
Un ‘bear’ ably bald (See 2 Kings 2:23-25)
Nicknames:
Elisha son of Shaphat. Baldy, Chrome-Dome, Egg Head & other names not recommended for children to call their bald-headed pastor…
Strengths:
Humility, Commitment, Determination, Courage, Faith, Obedience, Prayer Life
Weaknesses:
Perhaps a bit of a temper (See 2 Kings 2:23-25)
Famous Quotes:
“Let me inherit a double-portion of your spirit.” to his mentor before God took Elijah to heaven, 2 Kings 2:9
“Don’t be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” to his servant who saw an army surrounding the city to take Elisha hostage, 2 Kings 6:16
Greatest All-Star Performances: With God’s help, Elisha performed the following miracles
• Healed a contaminated city water supply (2 Kings 2:19-22).
• Called forth water ‘out of nowhere’ to fill a valley (2 Kings 3)
• Filled dozens of empty jars with oil to pay a widow’s debts (2 Kings 4:1-7)
• Opened a barren woman’s womb and later raised her only son from the dead (2 Kings 4:8-37)
• Saved the lives of several people who ate poison stew (2 Kings 4:38-41)
• Fed 100 men with 20 loaves of bread – and there were leftovers! (2 Kings 4:42-44)
• Prescribed the cure that healed an army general of leprosy (2 Kings 5)
• Made an axe head float! (2 Kings 6:1-7)
• Struck an entire army blind! (2 Kings 6:8-23)
• Raised a man to life when the dead man’s body touched Elisha’s corpse! (2 Kings 13:20-21)
Summary
It’s not easy to wait your turn in the back-up role, but Elisha left everything he owned for the opportunity to learn under the tutelage of legendary Hall of Famer, Elijah. And at Elijah’s final game, Elisha was granted this request from his mentor, “Please let me inherit a double-share of your spirit and become your successor.” Wearing the ‘jersey’ (cloak) of his hero, Elisha went on to break every one of his mentor’s records, carving out his own Hall of Fame career.
All-Star Impact
•When Elijah recruited him, Elisha left everything and answered God’s call. What things, if any, are holding you back from following God completely, giving Him everything you have?
•Elisha served patiently and loyally in the back-up role to Elijah until his time came. Is there something in your life you want so bad that you’re having trouble waiting on and trusting God for? Be patient…your time will come.
•Even after Elisha was dead and buried, his godly legacy lived on. A dead man was thrown into his grave and when the dead man’s body touched Elisha’s corpse, the dead man came back to life! What kind of godly legacy would you leave behind if you died right now? There’s still time to work on it!
God wants to make a spiritual all-star out of YOU! “You were…created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:24 (GWT)
