Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you.”
—2 Kings 2:9-10  

Reflection

Elisha stayed very close to Elijah. Toward the end of Elijah’s life, when Elijah announced that he was about to depart this world, Elisha cried out, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

Elijah told him, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you.”

What was Elijah saying? Elisha had to stay focused and stay close. If he took his eyes off Elijah and became distracted, the anointing that was upon Elijah would not come upon him when Elijah left.

Elisha took Elijah at his word. He stayed focused. He stayed fixed. When Elijah was taken away, Elisha saw him, and a double portion of Elijah’s anointing came upon him. As a result, he did twice as many miracles as Elijah did.

This is why the Hebrew Bible teaches us to respect our elders. We respect them so that the stability and wisdom developed within them can come upon us. It is true in the natural, and it is true in the supernatural.

Beloved, if you know people who are anointed, guard yourself against the law of familiarity. Familiarity can cause us to become so used to someone who is more anointed and advanced than we are that we begin to take that person for granted. We may even begin to dishonor them.

This happened to Jesus. When He went into His hometown, the people said, We know Your family. Who do You think You are? They became offended with Him. Their familiarity with Jesus bred contempt, and they failed to receive what was standing before them.

Be careful not to take your pastor or spiritual leaders for granted. Do not stop being impacted by their messages. Do not stop taking advantage of the opportunities they give you for growth, whether through classes, service, or ministry. Do not lose the opportunity to receive because you have become familiar.

Elisha received the anointing by respecting, acknowledging, and honoring what was upon Elijah. Then he stayed close and remained focused. Through this posture, the holy power of God that was upon Elijah came upon Elisha in double measure.

The same spiritual law can work in our lives. Many great men and women of God became great because they stayed close to a spiritual mentor, father, or mother. They humbled themselves, honored what God had placed in another, and remained in a position to receive.

Application

• Guard your heart against familiarity and dishonor toward the spiritual leaders God has placed in your life.
• Stay focused, remain teachable, and take advantage of the opportunities you have been given to grow.

Prayer

Father, give me the humility to recognize, respect, and honor what You have placed within others. Guard my heart from familiarity, pride, distraction, and dishonor. Help me stay focused and close to the people You have appointed to strengthen and mature me. Keep me teachable so that I do not miss the wisdom, stability, and spiritual impartation You desire to give. Prepare me to receive and then faithfully pour into others. Amen.