The Legacy of Spiritual Fatherhood
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin Overfield
Date: 16 Jun 2002
The Legacy of Spiritual Fatherhood
"And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the
chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." (II Kings 2:12a)
(See II Kings 2:1-18 for context)
The third time in the Word of God in which we see God
miraculously parting water, is also the place in which
we find one named Elisha following his mentor and
spiritual father to a remarkable crossing of the line of
worlds. Upon this momentous occasion, knowing that
Elijah must soon depart from this world into the next,
Elisha makes an earnest request, "I pray thee, let a
double portion of thy spirit be upon me." (II Kings 2:9)
Elijah told him that he was asking a hard thing, but that,
if he were to actually see Elijah depart, he would
receive his request. By and by, as they walked Elisha
did indeed see Elijah go up in the whirlwind with the
chariot and horses of fire. The Bible seems to
purposely point it out: "And Elisha saw it". As it is with
God's conditional promises, Elisha fulfilled the condition
and God most assuredly kept His.
When Elisha then says, "My father, my father, the
chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." He is
expressing how important and influential Elijah had
been, not only to Elisha personally, but also to all the
multitudes of Israel. Today we would say, "Lord, it
seems to me that we really need this great saint of God
to stay here. He has been so helpful to so many of us.
We just cannot see how we can make it without him!"
Though several great truths may readily be found in this
Bible episode, I believe the following truths concerning
the principles and perpetuation of spiritual fatherhood
are appropriate to note on this Father's Day:
1. The Impact of Influence
The influence we exert upon others is so very
important. It is beyond our comprehension to know just
exactly how much our influence may shape someone's
life. Also, it is likewise impossible to know how far-
reaching that influence will be as it indirectly touches
the lives of others.
I believe this is one of the reasons for a final judgment
of all after all is done upon Earth. The full effects of
interaction and multi-level nature of mankind's influence
upon one another will need to be weighed in the
balances of God's justice as a part of the determination
of final punishment and final reward.
In the context of fathering, probably and generally the
powerful influence of one's earthly father is second only
to that of one's mother. Exceptions exist, but how great
is the responsibility of fatherly influence! For some we
might say, "But this child does not even know who his
father is!" I say, but is not the absence of the father a
great influence by default in the ruining of young lives?
There are a great number of statistics that support this.
For those who have no father, whether by death or
delinquent behavior, let us do what we can to provide
good fatherly influence.
2. The Reality of Infilling
Elisha's spiritual father, Elijah, was remarkably used of
God. The Spirit of God came upon him and enabled him
to accomplish great things for God. Elisha, after
spending time becoming close to Elijah, decided that he
needed the same kind of relationship with God to
enable him to accomplish God's will for him. Thus he
sought a double portion of Elijah's spirit.
Elijah, Elisha, and everyone whose life Elijah touched
knew that Elijah was for real and that he had a real
experience with God. When Elisha actually saw Elijah
depart, his part was to take up Elijah's mantle and
believe God for the double portion promised by Elijah's
prophetic words.
Upon approaching the Jordan River, Elisha struck the
water with Elijah's mantle and said, "Where is the Lord
God of Elijah?" He had faith, but he needed the
supernatural witness of God that the work was done
and for real. God parted the water just as He did for
Elijah. The sons of the prophets saw the miracle and
exclaimed, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest upon Elisha."
in answer to Elisha's question. "Where is the Lord God
of Elijah?", I say He was right there upon Elisha!
It is real! We must have a real experience of salvation
and sanctification with God. In the New Testament we
have the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost that
cleanses the heart of all sin and empowers us to do the
whole will of God.
3. The Necessity of Inheritance
When Elijah said that Elisha had asked a hard thing,
this speaks to me of the fact that there is a
tendency for the next generation to have less of the
power and glory of God than the previous one had. In
the majority of families and churches this is apparent,
but it does not have to be this way. It is harder to have
just as much or even more of the old-time religion than
it is to have less.
(At least this is true in the sense of striving, or effort on
our part. It is much easier to just "take it easy" and
coast spiritually, but that is the sure way to backsliding
and compromise. In another sense, it is actually harder
to live for the Devil for "the way of transgressors is
hard." Proverbs 13:15)
Furthermore, it is an absolute necessity that the next
generation catch the vision and obtain the same glory,
purity, and power -- if not in a greater measure -- as the
former generation had. I am not speaking of "passing
on the business" from father to son, but rather of
passing on the reality of a right relationship with God
and of fruitful holy living.
Whether a father, mother, son or daughter, let us all
endeavor to contribute to the true spirituality of our own
lives, our families, our churches, our towns and our
country.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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