Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s SPIRIT not his STUFF.

2 Kings 2:9 (ESV

⁹When they had crossed, Elijah
said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”

In the great prototype ministry example that we have in the Scriptures between Elijah and Elisha we notice something very important that is oftentimes missed. I have read this passage literally hundreds oreven thousands of times but recently when reading it something jumped out at me very powerfully. As Elijah comes close to the conclusion of his ministry on the earth he asks his spiritual son and associate a question that is asked of someone who’s been faithful to you, “ask what I shall do for you before I’m taken from you.” Elisha’s response is so often quoted and yet the meanings often missed. Elisha’s response was that he wanted a double portion of the “spirit” that was on his father Elijah. Many in leadership and ministry have interpreted this as having a “ministry”, platform, organization, in other words stuff that is twice as big, twice as successful etc. But that is not what Elisha asked for, he asked for a double portion of the “spirit” that was on his spiritual father. Elisha did
not ask for the stuff he asked for the spirit!

Over the years many of us in leadership have pondered the question why is it that we have very few modern examples of natural or spiritual sons who were able to take to the next level the ministry that was handed down to them by a great leader. We have to realize the spirit that was on the leaders to be able to take the territory, build the church, reach the masses and build influence for the kingdom of God. Without the same spirit the “sons” cannot build upon the “fathers” platform let alone be able to sustain it.

Too many young “sons” say they want the spirit that is upon their “father” but really what they are wanting is the stuff. You cannot have stuff without the spirit because you will lose the stuff that your father strived to gain in the kingdom. We see that when Moses was doing ministry solo rather than raising up those that shared the burden, the Lord spoke to him and said that He would take of the “spirit” that was upon him and put it upon them (Num. 11:17). What did it mean for them to have Moses’ spirit? Yes of course is meant the anointing that was on him but also the way he thought, the way cared and loved the people, his values, his priorities and his heart. To want somebody’s anointing and stuff without these other values simply makes us “gold diggers.” I think it is possible that we can start seeing a generation that is able to inherit and double what was given to them because they have the “spirit” of the father and not just his “stuff.”