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. 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.

2 Ki 2:9-10

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-14

Ordinary Christianity is easy and rife with ordinary demands but it will only ever be able to answer ordinary questions!.

Israel through many seasons had the ‘sons of the prophet’. As esteemed as they were, the nation/land/families/widows and even they themselves were often left stranded; because they didn’t have the ‘hard thing’ that was required to answer the ‘hard question’ that life periodically used to keep men constrained ‘in hard places’.

As we discussed in ‘Breaking the Stalemate’, this world is an interplay of forces. Things have a natural tendency to persist in familiar oppressive patterns until it is countered by the application of requisite force!

Requisite Force cannot be picked on the streets so cheaply neither can you pay Peter for it, for it is of God. Though readily accessible to all, yet it can only be “trapped” by those willing to pay the price and walk according to the set principles like Elisha, for God is no respecter of persons.

4 Stages to Asking For the Hard Thing

1. Embracing the Yoke | Diligent Seeking & Service

  • God wants you to get there! He even helps you by sovereignly appointing you to an Elijah to follow after. It is in the earthen vessel of Elijah that the ‘hard thing’ required to answer the ‘hard question’ is warehoused! Like the woman with the issue of blood, you must queue behind him and touch him NOT just throng him otherwise you will never be able to draw out the virtue God has warehoused for you there.
  • This divine arrangement is almost always a close-quarters walk! Avoid the error of appointing to yourself an Elijah from afar (based on your biases) who cannot hold you accountable & scrutinize you.
    Onesimus kept running away an ordinary man because he had no answer to the hard question in his bondage to Philemon! But after a season of close discipleship with Paul he returned overflowing. ref: philemon

2. Resisting Distractions | Defining Boundaries & Relationships

  • It is what you ‘know’ of God by revelation from His word that can help you hold your peace and silence the many voices seeking to distract you. 2 Ki 2:5
  • Just as God appoints you an Elijah, you will also be joined with various ‘sons of the prophet’ along the way. They will be a mixed-crew (not multitude). Amongst them you will have the loyal John’s, the unstable Peter’s, the doubting Thomas, and Judas the betrayer each with his own role to play. The bulk of your distractions will come from within these.
  • Learn to spiritually discern & define each relationship and serve them within the set boundaries of love. To one you are a brother; to another a friend; to another an acquaintance; to another an enemy; to another a mentor. A big sister to some and a little sister to others. Play your role – but keep your eye on Christ as you follow!

3. Crossing the Jordan | The Overcomers Principle

  • There is a Jordan to cross! The transaction for the hard thing cannot be entered into on this side of the river, but until we ‘go over to the other side’. In another sense it is going through Death-Burial-Resurrection. Until you come to the understanding of what is at stake, you will not be able to sustain the focus required to cross the Jordan! 2 Ki 2:5
  • The ‘hard thing’ belongs to those who dare-in-God to go for the fullness of all that is available to them in Christ. Common to them is that they do not love their lives unto death! Rev 12:1
  • Just as in 1 Samuel 13:6-7 only those hebrews who dared to cross the Jordan landed in the place of usefulness [Gad + Gilead] where they became fit to answer the hard question. All those who remained with Saul on this side remained ‘trembling‘. Likewise amongst all the sons of the prophet in Jericho who did not cross the Jordan, none was found who could answer the challenge of Jericho 2 Ki 2:19 Until Elisha returned, the entire land AND the sons of the prophet languished!
  • Many church goers are still stranded on this side because they will not risk everything to know Christ but chose to be ‘ordinary churchgoers’ that remain with Saul trembling (refusing to put on strength). There are also those who haven’t crossed because are ‘hanging back in mediocrity’ with the wrong crowd!

4. Pressing into the Revelation | After this i looked!

  • On the 3rd day John came to the tomb ‘but went not in’. Peter went into the tomb and saw the linen clothes and handkerchief. Both were satisfied and didn’t press further. Mary Magdalene persisted enough to see the two angel and interact with them. Even then she was not satisfied, she pressed on until Christ was revealed to her.
  • Elijah’s condition to Elisha [‘if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so‘] was appropriate because in the Kingdom you can only lay hold on what you can behold!
  • You can sharpen your spiritual sight when you (a) turn from observing ‘lying vanities’ Jonah 2:8 (b) give your full attention to Christ Rev 1:12 (c) step up your consecration Matt 18:9
  • Ultimately, Whatever stage you are now is as far as you desire to get in God!

Worth Pondering

  • Have you realised that there is a Hard Thing to ask God for? Or are you still myopically asking for milk after 20 years of being in church?
  • What still remains unanswered in your generation/lineage which your Christianity will answer to????
  • Have you begun to transact for the next generation or your still satisfied camping with Saul?

Disciple, Let us ponder on these things. Selah.