1. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps 2 Kings 2 08/23/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles

2. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Introduction
In 2 Kings 2, we have story of the taking up of Elijah which also begins the ministry of Elisha.

3. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
There is a change in prophets, we move from Elijah to Elisha.
There is a change in books, we move from 1 Kings to 2 Kings.
There is a change in kings, we go from Ahab to Ahaziah, his son.

4. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
The Two Prophets Compared.
4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? (1 Cor 3:4)

5. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (1 Cor 3:5)

6. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Cor 3:6-7)

7. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Cor 3:8-9)

8. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Their Miracles Compared.
The Miracles of Elijah.
Declares a long drought (1 Kings 17:1)
Multiplies widow’s flour and oil (1 Kings 17:7-16)
Resurrects widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17-24)

9. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Calls down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:1-40)
Sends a rainstorm (1 Kings 18:41-45)
Outruns a chariot (1 Kings 18:46)

10. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Predicts Ahaziah’s death (2 Kings 1:1-2)
Ahaziah’s men killed by fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:9-17)
Parts the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:1-8)

11. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
The Miracles of Elisha.
Parts the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:13-14)
Makes Jericho spring drinkable (2 Kings 2:19-22)

12. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Sends bears to punish irreverent youths (2 Kings 2:23-25)
Floods ditches to confuse Moabites (2 Kings 3:1-27)

13. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Multiplies widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7)
Shunammite woman bears a son (2 Kings 4:8-17)
Resurrects Shunammite’s son (2 Kings 4:18-37)

14. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Purifies poisoned stew (2 Kings 4:38-44)
Heals Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)

15. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Purifies poisoned stew (2 Kings 4:38-44)
Heals Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)

16. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Gehazi struck with leprosy (2 Kings 5:15-27)
Floats lost axhead (2 Kings 6:1-7)
Gives special sight to the king’s messenger (2 Kings 6:16-17)

17. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Blinds the Aramean army (2 Kings 6:8-23)
His bones resurrect a dead man (2 Kings 13:20-21)

18. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Their Ministries Compared.
Both prophets were similar in their overall purpose:
To resist the cult of Baal
To demonstrate by their miracles and minstry that the only true God is the God of Israel.

19. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Elijah is noted for great public acts.
Elisha is distinguished by the large number of miracles he performed, many of them for individual needs.

20. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Elijah’s ministry emphasized God’s law, judgment, and severity.
Elijah was like John the Baptist.

21. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Both men cast great shadows upon their land.
All of us are casting shadows as we go through this present life.
Our only choice is the kind of influence we have.
We cannot choose to be non-influential.

22. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
Our influence has eternal ramifications.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Gal 6:7-8)

23. Life of Elisha: Following in Elijah’s Footsteps
One of the things we sow is an influence.
Conclusion
Although their ministries were different, both were called of God to serve in the capacity of a prophet.