As we consider these two lonely figures at the end of their journey, silhouetted on the waters of the Jordan, ready to cross over, we are reminded of the beginning of their journey. It began as it was to end: with the principle of the cross, the power and wisdom of God.
Their journey, long and arduous, had been punctuated by brief stays at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho. Every stopover was teeming with people, including the sons of the prophets (they represent those in the Church who refuse the process that will lead to a destiny of double portion). In each city, the elder prophet urged his young protégé to remain behind. But Elisha would have none of it. All along the way we hear him saying, "As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave you."
By the time they reach the Jordan, Elijah and Elisha stand shoulder to shoulder together at the banks of the river, ready to cross over to the other side, while fifty sons of the prophets stand afar off (a close study of the narrative reveals that they were at every place but this one). At Gilgal, they were there. At Bethel, they were there. At Jericho, they were there. But when it came to Jordan, they departed. Jordan separates the men from the boys.
There is a shore you will reach on the journey to the double portion. At this shore, you will face the same decision as the sons of the prophets who refused to go on. I call it the point of no return, or the dying point. It is easy to hear about breakthrough, prosperity, miracles, and the blessing, but when we talk about crossing over Jordan, only two men appear.
Like Elisha, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with our heavenly Elijah, willing to cross over the Jordan with Him to the place of the double portion. We must refuse to politely observe, or merely spectate in this end-time revival, which will be highlighted by the soon coming demonstration of the double portion anointing.
I can't emphasize this enough: To possess the double portion requires crossing over the Jordan (a metaphor for dying to self). If Elisha had followed his instincts of self preservation or his lust to run with the herd and follow the crowd, he would never have reached the dying point beyond Jordan--the holy terra firma where double portion mantles descend.
Elisha didn't get to the double portion by confessing it, desiring it, or envisioning it. It wasn't enough to speak of those things that are not as though they were. He got the double portion by doggedly following the footsteps of Elijah over the river of death. Elisha would never have reached the place of the double portion had he not submitted to crossing the Jordan.
I see the sons of the prophets, standing afar off repeating what they thought of as a confession of faith in hopes of receiving their double portion--I'm sure some of them were even willing to fast and pray. They might even have been sending large seed offerings in the mail to the prophet's ministry or rushing off to the latest outbreak of revival. All of that is well and good, but the essential key is conspicuously absent.
Without the cross--and its constant application in our lives--the Church of Jesus Christ will never enter into that realm of power, influence and authority we call the double portion anointing. It's time to celebrate the believer's cross. It's time to realize the cross in a personal way; to know it isn't there to keep us from something, but to carry us to something. Without the cross, we will never enter our promised land. Without a genuine application of the cross, we won't fulfill our destiny assignment and possess the blood-bought birthright that is ours.
Salvation is a free gift of God, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost is part and parcel of salvation's grace, but there's a price to pay for the mantle of the double portion. Bearing the double portion demands qualification, and that qualification is the cross. This level is reserved for disciples only. Are you a disciple of Christ?
The imprint of the cross will always be found on a true disciple of Christ. A disciple doesn't treat the Word of God like a smorgasbord. He doesn't show partiality when it comes to scripture. He doesn't give one segment or theme of the Word preferential treatment over another. He heeds the word of the cross as well as the word of blessing. He doesn't highlight what is in his best interest and reject what isn't. If the voice of the Lord goes against the grain of his selfish interest, he always chooses the high road.
Crucified saints doing crucified ministry are among the greatest needs of the hour. The cross bearers of the body of Christ hold the keys to global revival and world evangelism. True, a carnal Church can proclaim the message of Christ, but only a crucified Church is able to demonstrate and incarnate the message of the gospel to the world. God is looking for a people who emulate the spirit of Elisha. The qualifier is the cross . . . who will bear it in our day?
At best, Pentecost today experiences what I call a 'Toys-'R'-Us' anointing. We fall down and get up only to do it again, service after service after service, and nobody is changed. It's more like a Christian aerobics class than a life changing experience with almighty God. Let's call it what it is: Carnality. But, worse than this, the immature Christian will attempt to pick up an anointing without first picking up his cross. Paul said, "I die daily…" are we any better than he? This is why there are so many false miracles, religious shams and scams, discrediting the genuine bona-fide article today.
Make no mistake about it--we enjoy our fleshly indulgences and carnal appetites at the expense of forfeiting the supernatural power of God in our generation. This is why we are called to sift every thought, attitude and emotion through the cross. To be void of the cross in your life is to be void of the power of God (Phil 3:18-9, II Tim 3:5).
Scripture says, "The preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness, but to us who are saved, it is the power of God" (I Cor 1:18). Simply put, a cross-less Christianity is a powerless Christianity. Powerless and void in matters of the kingdom; stripped of redemption, unable to infiltrate culture or advance Christ's kingdom in the Earth. And the harvest? The harvest is laid to waste--left abandoned on their lost shores.
It was no accident that the great apostle Paul wrote two thirds of the New Testament, performed miracles, established scores of NT Churches and literally took cities for Christ in his day. The secret of his success was found in his testimony: "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…" (Gal 2:20).
The Lord spoke to me, and said, "Stop waiting for My anointing to go on sale." It will never go on sale. It doesn't come cheap. It doesn't stay cheap. There are no bargain basements in the kingdom of God. There are no 'buy one get one free' deals to be had in the world of the Spirit. You will purchase the double portion at the cost of your carnal nature.
Esther loved Israel enough to vow, "If I perish, I perish." (Esth 4:16). She personified the love of the cross by those words. We are in desperate need of crucified crusaders like Esther!
Jesus says, "…not my will, but thy will be done," (Luke 22:42) and the Kingdom advances. Can we steady the cup and cry the same? John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease," (John 3:30) and the Kingdom takes a quantum leap forward. Four priests shouldering the ark refuse to hesitate at the command of Joshua, and the moment they step into the raging tides of Jordan, the Kingdom is taken to a new level, as a nation crosses over into the land of milk and honey. And finally, Elisha accompanies his mentor across the river of death, wins the double portion and the Kingdom moves on. These crucified crusaders embodied the lifestyle of the cross.
It is my profound belief that we will not see a soul saving revival in our day unless we are willing to take up the cross. We will not be given the right to reap the harvest until we cry, "Not our will but your will be done!" The Holy Ghost wants to pry you loose from every involvement of the flesh that impedes your progress in the Spirit. We must tear loose from anything that tears us loose from God's agenda, purpose and power in our day.
The tearing of Elisha's cloak represents the rending of the flesh. You will only be qualified to pick up the double portion anointing after your flesh is rent. We read in the book of II Kings:
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (II Kings 2:12-4)
Hidden within these scriptures is a fantastic shadow of what happens at Jordan. Elisha did two things: He tore off his old clothes, signifying the release of the old man and the past. Then he picked up the mantle that had fallen and knew that his double portion had come. The power of God was with Him as he smote the waters and they parted. When the new is on the way, say goodbye to the past. Give up the old so God can perform the new in your life. Only those who follow on to know their God, willing to shed their mantle of flesh (typified by the crossing of Jordan and the tearing of Elisha's cloak), will receive the double portion anointing.
When the double portion anointing is poured out upon this crucified remnant of Christ lovers, then the sons of the prophets who refused to be changed by a baptism into Jordan will recognize the anointing they have missed (Isa 61:4-9). They will humbly bow at the feet of the One who gives this fresh anointing freely from Heaven and desperately cry out for their portion. He will declare unto them, "If any man is in pursuit of My life, power, and ministry and truly desires to live in My sphere of influence, let him deny himself, embrace the cross, and follow me."
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