2 Kings 2 | Wanting MORE

"I don't know how much of God you have, but I know this: you have all you want," Adrian Rogers once said. One of the ways of God is to give the greatest measure of blessing and power to those who are hungry. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

Technically, if you are a believer who has the Spirit residing in them, you have all of Christ. He lives in you! But Christ can be in you, and yet you are not allowing Him to fill and flow through you to others. Like an engine in a car, you may have power under the hood but never choose to turn the key.

How much of His Spirit's life and power do you want to flow through you to others?

TWO POWERFUL PROPHETS

Elijah was the great prophet of Israel, but his time was over. His young disciple, Elisha, followed him relentlessly. As Elijah was ready to be taken home, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to rest on him.

Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." (2 Kings 2:8-10)

Elisha wanted more. There seems to be no selfish motivation but a genuine desire to be better equipped for service, better able to serve God's people. And, the confirming thing is, God answered that desire and poured out great power on His prophet.

He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over. (2 Kings 2:13-14)

When our motivations are right, there is never a danger when we want MORE of God for the purpose of glorifying Him and helping others. It should be our prayerful pursuit today.

Each of the disciples was as close to Jesus as he chose to be, for the Son of God had no favorites. With him, there is no caprice of favoritism. Their relationship with Him was the result of their own choice, conscious or unconscious. It is a sobering thought that we too are as close to Christ as we really choose to be.

It would seem that admission to the inner circle of deepening intimacy with God is the outcome of deep desire. Only those who count such intimacy a prize worth sacrificing anything else for are likely to attain it. If other intimacies are more desirable to us, we will not gain entry to that circle.

The place on Jesus' breast is still vacant and open to any who are willing to pay the price of deepening intimacy. We are now, and we will be in the future only as intimate with God as we really choose to be. (J. Oswald Sanders, "Enjoying Intimacy with God")

Father, help me to hunger for You. Show me the worthlessness of other gods and the value of pursuing nothing but You. May I know the full depth of intimacy with You so You may flow through me to touch the lives of others for Your glory?