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Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

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Page 1: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)
Page 2: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

Series Verse

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a

friend.Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

Page 3: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

Elijah and Elisha

2 Kings 2

Page 4: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

The “Big Ask”

Isn’t “Ask” a Verb? When did “Ask” become

a noun?

Page 5: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

Elijah and Elisha

2 Kings 2

Page 6: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

First Point

The Big Ask acknowledges that we

have a big God.

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2 Kings 21When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.

Page 8: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

2 Kings 22 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.

Page 9: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

2 Kings 23 The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

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2 Kings 24 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho.

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2 Kings 25 Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

Page 12: Hard Conversations: The Big Ask (Elijah and Elisha)

2 Kings 26 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.

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2 Kings 27 Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River.

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2 Kings 28 Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!

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2 Kings 29 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

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2 Kings 210 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

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An Aerial View Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours.

Deut. 11:24

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Elijah and Elisha’s Final Journey Together3 The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

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Elijah and Elisha’s Final Journey Together

8 Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!

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2 Kings 29 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

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1 Kings 19:16

And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.

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2 Kings 29 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

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2 Kings 210 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

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Second Point

The Big Ask paves the way for the Big Answer.

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2 Kings 211 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.

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2 Kings 212 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

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2 Kings 213 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.

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2 Kings 214 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

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Is this how you picture

Elijah’s departure?

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11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them…

Fiery chariot appears

and separates Elijah and

Elisha.

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11band Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.

Elijah carried by a whirlwind,

not a chariot.

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12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!”

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Why does Elisha tear

his clothes in distress?

12b And as they disappeared from sight,

Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

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2 Kings 213 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.

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2 Kings 214 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

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Third Point

The Big Answer to the Big Ask stretches the faith of

others around us.

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2 Kings 215 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

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2 Kings 216 “Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.”

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2 Kings 217 But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.

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2 Kings 218 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.

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Big and Small

When our minds are not set on something big, they will

be consumed by small things.

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