14 Mar Elijah | Part 5 “Truth in the Age of Lies”

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“The Call of Elisha –Points to Jesus, the God Who Exceeds Expectations”

Key Verse: 1 Kings 19

John 14:6-7 (NKJV)

Truth is found in a PERSON and that PERSON is JESUS.

There are so many concepts today of what truth is.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  As believers we know who the source is, we know who to go to when talking about Truth.

Q. What are some widely accepted truths in the world today that as believers we know are false and why does the world believe them?

The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is all about JESUS.

Luke 24: 25-27 (ESV); Luke 24:44 (ESV):

As New Testament believers we should read the Old Testament with JESUS in mind.

 The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

Q. What are some examples of how the OT is the NT concealed (In other words, what are some foreshadowings of Jesus that are found in the OT – like Passover etc.)?

Mark 9: 4-7 (ESV)

Moses, the LAW GIVER, represented the Law. Elijah, the LAW RESTORER, represented the Prophets. God elevated Jesus above the law and prophets.

Elijah came to restore the law.  Moses was the law giver.

We don’t worship the restorer or the law giver but Jesus who is above the law and the law giver.

Jesus is the PERFECT THEOLOGY.

Isaiah 42: 4 (ESV)

Jesus will not fail nor be discouraged.

Q. When are some times you thought Jesus failed you and why?

Moses FAILED, Elijah was DISCOURAGED, but Jesus EXCEEDED EXPECTATION.

When we operate under Moses’ ministry we will FAIL, when we operate under Elijah’s ministry we will be DISCOURAGED, when we come to God through Jesus, we are well pleasing before GOD.

Jesus FULFILLED the Law.

The SPIRIT of Jesus is different from the SPIRIT of Elijah.

Luke 9:52-56 (NKJV)

Elijah was SELF-RIGHTEOUS and tried to JUSTIFY himself before God based on WORKS; God WOUND DOWN his ministry and shifted to Elisha.

Jesus has a different Spirit than Elijah.  Jesus came to fulfill the law.  Because of Elijah’s self-righteousness, Jesus shifted his ministry to Elisha.

Q. How has your own self-righteousness caused you to be brought down (what works have you tried to justify yourself with)?

1 Kings 19:14-16 (NKJV)

Elisha’s name means “GOD SAVES”; Jesus’s name means “YAHWEH SAVES”.

God moved from the law to grace.

Jesus is our GREATER Elisha.

Just as God moved from Elijah to Elisha, God also moved from the LAW to JESUS.

Similarities between Elisha and Jesus:

Both ministries started at the RIVER JORDAN

Both healed LEPERS (GENTILE/JEWISH)

Both fed large numbers with a small QUANTITY OF FOOD

Both were betrayed for love of MONEY

Their deaths bring NEW LIFE

Both left their COMFORT ZONES

They both exceeded their PREDECESSORS

Jesus EXCEEDED the EXPECTATIONS of those who looked to Him.

Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood – Jesus HEALED her and made her WHOLE. (Ref Mark 5)

Jesus and the woman caught in adultery – Jesus saved her from PHYSICAL DEATH, and He gave her the gift of NO CONDEMNATION. (Ref John 8)

Jesus and little children – Jesus placed His HANDS on them and took THEM UP in His hands.  (Ref Mark 10)

Jesus and Peter’s Temple tax: Jesus paid His TAX and Peter’s AS WELL. (Ref Matthew 17)

Jesus and Peter’s boat: Peter gave Jesus his boat (career/business). Jesus EXPLODED his business overnight. (Ref Luke 5)

Q. How has Jesus exceeded your expectations recently?

 When you EXPOSE yourself to Jesus believing, He will exceed your expectations.

Hebrews 13: 8 (NIV)

God was POINTING to Jesus in the story of Elijah and Elisha.

Just as Elisha’s ministry EXCEEDED that of Elijah, so also Jesus’s ministry exceeded the Law and the Prophets.

What the LAW could not do for us, Jesus DID. Jesus fulfilled the Law and came to fulfill prophesy.

Romans 5:1(NLT)

Now we come to God through Jesus ALONE. Through Jesus we gain entrance and acceptance before the Father, not by works or self-righteousness (Like Elijah).