BEYOND SPIRIT-INFILLING TO ASCENSION
November 7, 2010

Mike Blume




Joshua 6:24-27 KJV  And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.  (25)  And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.  (26)  And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.  (27)  So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

1 Kings 16:33-17:1 KJV  And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.  (34)  In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.  (17:1)  And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.





When Israel first entered Canaan and the promised land, they conquered Jericho.
  • This speaks of entrance into the KINGDOM.
  • Canaan the promised land represents the place of maturity that only those who conquered their flesh and went beyond simply leaving the world of sin.
  • Back at the start, Joshua cursed anyone who would rebuild Jericho.
  • It was as though he knew the work God did for Israel might BE UNDONE by the attempts of ungodly influences.
  • When God brought Israel INTO THE LAND, Jericho was torn down.
  • Rebuilding that city would be an affront against God, and would indicate deterioration of the things God established at the start,
  • 400-450 years later, a series of kings had come and gone, and Israel split seeing wicked kings take the northern land.  In Elijah’s day things worsened until a king ruled doing more wickedness than any beforehand.

It was THEN that Elijah crossed the same Jordan river Israel first crossed under Joshua, and came into a land of Israel that was perverted and corrupted, with the likes of wicked King Ahab and his evil queen who ran the land named Jezebel.

ELIJAH WOULD RESTORE THINGS!

Joshua made this curse:

"Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it."
  • Israel came under the power of the most wicked king yet:

“Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him”

Under King Ahab, a man named HIEL did the very thing Joshua cursed, and it was due to Ahab LETTING IT HAPPEN, which is why it was said this occurred in Ahab’s reign.

1 Kings 16:34  In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. “

It is immediately after this that we read of ELIJAH’S ENTRANCE ON THE SCENE.

(17:1)  And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

The miraculous had stopped.
  • Evil took over.
  • It seemed the will of God was stifled, and someone had to come on the scene.

What the curse meant was that in rebuilding Jericho, the start would see his first son, ABIRAM, die, and the finish would see his youngest son, SEGUB, die.

Notice that Joshua ONLY CURSED THAT MAN.

Elijah comes on and ministers precisely the same time JESUS DID – 3.5 years.

When Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind and fire, Elisha received his mantle and continued on.

On his way to depart from the world, Elijah came from GILGAL and passed through Bethel and Jericho. 
  • There were sons of the prophets at these three locations.
  • These were students of the prophets in colleges, so to speak, where they were learning.
  • Elijah stopped by to see them since he was the predominant prophets in Israel at that time.

2Ki 2:1-5 KJV  And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.  (2)  And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.  (3)  And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.  (4)  And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.  (5)  And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

Along the way, the sons of the prophets knew enough about hearing from God that they received revelation that Elijah was going to leave!
  • They run to tell Elisha and he revealed he also received this revelation as well.
  • Note that Elijah had not said anything to anyone about this.

These sons of the prophets represent people of God who are seeking and serving God.
  • These followers knew ONLY SO MUCH.
  • But we will find they were lacking.
  • And while Elijah passes through and tells Elisha to remain at each location, it’s as if we see a story that ELISHA WANTED MORE AND TO GO FURTHER THAN THE PLACE THESE OTHERS HAD COME IN THEIR WALKS.
  • They heard about Elijah’s departure, but so did Elisha. 
  • They did not experience something he did not have as well.
  • And not only that, but he was going to go further.

Jordan is six miles away from Jericho.
  • Elijah continues onward.

 2Ki 2:6 KJV  And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
  •  But there is no school at Jordan.
 2Ki 2:7 KJV  And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

I find it interesting that 50 is the number of students and PENTECOST means 50th.
  • The FIFTY sons of the prophets venture away from Jericho following Elijah and Elisha.
  • But they ONLY GO SO FAR.
  • They VIEW AFAR OFF.
  • The Pentecostal and Charismatic movements have come further than many, many movements.
  • They experienced SPIRIT INFILLING and BAPTISM, BUT ELISHA GOES FURTHER.
  • There is a level beyond Spirit filling God wants us to go.
  • While the 50 stood afar off to watch, THESE TWO – Elijah and Elisha – STOOD BY JORDAN.
  • DEMARCATION POINT.

2Ki 2:8 KJV  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.

450 years ago this same thing occurred.
  • Israel entered Canaan this way.
  • The 50 students saw this.
  • Here, Elijah is now in the wilderness where he first came from when he began his ministry as a prophet 3.5 years before.
  • Someone is going to take over his place.
 2Ki 2:9-14 KJV  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.  (10)  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.  

While 50 disciples were watching afar off, Elisha is CLOSER THAN ALL OF THEM.
  • He asks for the VERY SAME BLESSING THAT THE FIRSTBORN SON deserved, as though he stressed the thought that HE IS GOING FURTHER.
  • Of all the SONS of the prophets, Elisha was claiming FIRSTBORN SONSHIP!
  • He was claiming to be closer to Elijah than the rest.
  • Elijah seemed to indicate that the request is hard to be fulfilled because it requires something so few experience.
  • HE HAS TO SEE ELIJAH ASCEND.

(11)  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  (12)  And Elisha saw it, 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.  (13)  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;  (14)  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Since Elijah came on the scene and ministered 3.5 years like Jesus, we can see Jesus is represented here.
  • And it is significant that THE ASCENSION of Elijah is emphasized for a DOUBLE PORTION.
  • Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind with a fiery tempest or storm in the form of a chariot and horses.
  • AND ELISHA SEES IT!

2Ki 2:15 KJV  And when the sons of the prophets which were 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.

For Elijah to tell Elisha he had to SEE HIM ASCEND to get the double portion, and yet the sons of the prophets saw the spirit of Elijah resting on Elisha, we realize the SONS OF THE PROPHETS DID NOT SEE ENOUGH.
  • They were too far off to see Elijah ascend.
  • But they knew enough about the SPIRIT TO KNOW IT CAME UPON ELISHA!
  • We have to go beyond seeing enough to see Spirit filling. 
  • Jesus went up to the RIGHT HAND THRONE.
  • THAT ASCENSION is something we must SEE.
  • UNDERSTAND.

Ephesians 1:18-20  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  (19)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  (20)  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

If we UNDERSTAND HIS ASCENSION, we will understand THE POWER THAT RAISED HIM UP IS TOWARDS US!
  • It is the SAME POWER UPON US.
  • DOUBLE PORTION means YOU AND HIM TOGETHER.
  • Jesus also said we will do MORE than HIM because HE ascends.

John 14:12  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.

The sons of the prophets lacked so much.

2Ki 2:16 KJV  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.

The same FIFTY want to recover Elijah’s body, MISUNDERSTANDING HIS ASCENSION since they WERE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE IT.

Somehow to MEMORIALIZE HIS BODY.
  • Go to a mountain-top experience of SOME GLORY FEELING, or to the VALLEY as in some MORBID SELF AFFLICTION to get the power.
  • THE POWER IS IN REVELATION OF HIS ASCENSION TO THE THRONE!
  • KNOWING he ascended to GIVE US POWER!

Now, if there was one thing Jesus had a problem getting across to the disciples, it was his crucifixion and resurrection.

John 16:12 KJV  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
 
Luke 18:31-34 KJV  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.  (32)  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:  (33)  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.  (34)  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Luke 9:44-45 KJV  Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.  (45)  But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Mar 9:9-10 KJV  And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.  (10)  And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

It took them THREE DAYS to figure out Elijah was really gone.

2Ki 2:17-18 KJV  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.  (18)  And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Since THREE DAYS is the time from Jesus, death to his resurrection, it represents what you have to learn in order to truly understand HE HAS ASCENDED.

Then Elisha GOES TO JERICHO!

 2Ki 2:19-22 KJV  And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.  (20)  And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.  (21)  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 land.  (22)  So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Sons of the prophets were there.
  • This town was CURSED due to being rebuilt.
  • But the curse was UPON the rebuilder – HIEL.
  • And it was fulfilled.

But people suffered a curse that should be gone, just like believers do not enjoy the dominion Jesus came to give.
  • There are sons of the prophets there who are not overcoming the situation.
  • It took a MAN WHO SAW THE ASCENSION to solve the problem and remove the curse.
  • It takes more than a Pentecostal Charismatic experience to get the supernatural back in effect again.
  • And removing the curse means DOMINION!
  • People can get saved and yet still not experience total removal of the curse in DOMINION!

Only when you truly get a revelation of HIS ASCENSION, can you overcome because HIS ASCENSION put Him on the throne, and HIS POWER was THEN poured out for us who CAN SEE IT.
  • When you UNDERSTAND THE POWER THAT CAUSED His ascension is INTENDED FOR US, you have faith for things other people cannot believe God for.
  • It makes full sense that His power is for us because YOU UNDERSTAND UNION WITH HIM BY HIS DEATH means UNION IN HIS burial, resurrection, ascension and SEATING!
  • AND HIS SEATING MEANS THRONE POWER ON US!
  • THEN HE WENT TO BETHEL.

In our text HIEL was called a BETHELITE.
  • AND SONS OF THE PROPHETS WERE THERE AS WELL.

 2Ki 2:23-25 KJV  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.  (24)  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.  (25)  And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

Things got run down 450 years after Joshua took Israel in.
  • Bethel was the place where JEROBOAM built two golden calves.
  • In defiance of EXODUS and God’s work, he told Israel the same thing Aaron told Israel when the first golden calf was made at Mt Sinai!
  • THESE BE THE GODS WHICH TOOK YOU OUT OF EGYPT.

These 42 children were likely not children by age, but CHILDREN OF BELIAL.
  • And when sons of the prophets could not return Bethel to God by their influence, A MAN WHO SAW THE ASCENSION DID!
  • Cursing those people brought fear of God back to the city.

2 Kings 4:38-41  And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.  (39)  And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.  (40)  So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.  (41)  But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.

GILGAL was the place where Elijah and Elisha first left on their trip to Jordan.
  • Sons of the prophets are here AND A FAMINE IS PRESENT!
  • God’s blessing is gone and a curse is there on the land.
  • One man gets an herb he mistakes for something else, and poisons the pottage.
  • DEATH is present.
  • And Elisha HEALS IT!
  • He conquers famine!

He removes curses.

Then Elisha repeats something JESUS DID!

2Ki 4:42  And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
2Ki 4:43  And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
2Ki 4:44  So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

Talk about the power of Jesus resting on us in double portion!
  • The firstfruits offering to Elisha of 120 loaves would in no natural way feed 120 disciples.
  • BUT ELISHA SPEAKS AND THE BREAD AND CORN MULTIPLY!
  • JUST LIKE IN JESUS’ DAY!

Elijah conquered the JEZEBEL AND AHAB spirit and saw the supernatural flowing again.

ELISHA carried it on!




SERMONS