2 Kings 2:9 NIV
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.”
INSIGHT
–The idea of a double portion in the Bible is one of a double blessing. Elisha requests of Elijah one last thing, a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. When Elisha first made his request, Elijah answered, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so” (2 Kings 2:10). After Elisha watched Elijah taken up to heaven, he picked up Elijah’s cloak. Returning to the Jordan River, he called out to the Lord and struck the water with the cloak. The water opened up, and Elisha walked across on dry ground. This act affirmed the transition of the prophetic office from Elijah to Elisha as well as the fulfillment of Elisha’s request. Scripture records exactly twice as many miracles through Elisha (28 miracles) as took place through Elijah (14 miracles). Let us ask God for a double portion in the calling, giftings, ministries, purposes that He called us to do.
PRAYER
Almighty Heavenly Father, we approach Your throne of mercy and grace today with humble adoration and exaltation unto You for there is none like You. We repent for the times we have not pleased You and have sinned against You that You may forgive us and wash us with Your precious blood. May You grant us a double portion of the things we desire most in our hearts according to Your divine purposes. Like You blessed Elisha with a double portion, may You anoint us afresh Holy Spirit and deposit a double portion in our spirits. We desire to do more and move to the next level in our lives, purposes, work, ministries, families, leadership and nation dear Jesus. May You make us extremely fruitful dear Jesus, help us to multiply a hundred fold in the name of Jesus Christ. May You hand be upon us to guide us this week and open every closed door for the glory and honor of Your name. Amen
Further reading: Proverbs 19:21, Psalm 33:11
Ezekiel 47:13 NKJV
“Thus says the Lord God: “These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.”
INSIGHT
–Joseph the son of Jacob through Rachel was his father’s favorite. He was among the twelve tribes of Israel and a strong leader in Egypt. Joseph was able to withstand various turbulent circumstances including attempted murder by his brothers, sexual assault by Portiphas wife and jail term. Joseph trusted in God even and his dreams confirmed God’s purposes for him. Joseph obtained favor from the Lord and received a double portion of the promised inheritance. His two sons Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted by Jacob (Genesis 48:5), and since Levi received no inheritance, they made up two portions that were available. Let us pray that our Good God may continually grant us the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Let us also always remember that through the grace of God, we have obtained an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, how Holy and wonderful are You and Your mighty deeds. We stand in awe of Your glorious acts and of who You are. You are clothed in majesty and strength. No one can be compared to You oh Lord. Father, we humbly repent all our sins and ask You to cleanse us by Your precious blood Lord Jesus and purify us. May You fill us afresh by Your precious Holy Spirit and clothe us with Your uncommon favor. We pray that You shall take away every shame in our lives and give us a double portion of our inheritance. We thank You for You are a Faithful God and the Good Father to us. We bless Your Holy Name and trust in You. Abba Father You are full of grace and have called us to Your eternal glory in Christ, Who has all power for ever and ever. Amen
Further reading: 1 Peter 5:10-11, 1 Peter 1:4
1 Samuel 1:4-5 NIV
“Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.”
INSIGHT
-Elkanah was a diligent man and went up three times a year as it was the requirement for every Israelite male to offer sacrifices at Shiloh. Hannah’s husband offered a double portion because of his love for her since she could not have children. Due to Elkanah’s great love for her then the Lord closed her womb. Elkanah gave an extra portion of meat for her as if she already had children or to draw God’s attention to his wife Hannah. When Job lost his children and resources, he was later restored double what he had before when he prayed for his friends (Job 42:10). Our God is gracious and kind. He is able to give us what we require including children, and restore us double for the time lost, opportunities, resources etc.
PRAYER
Yahweh Sabaoth our God and King, Creator of all the universe and Ruler of the armies in heaven. You created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in them. Lord Your power is infinite and power extends to all the universe and all generations. Lord we thank You for Your love for us. Lord we repent for the sins we have done and all our iniquities. May You forgive us and wash us with the blood of Jesus. We pray that You shall meet us in all our needs according to Your mercies and riches in glory. May You release a double portion to us for the sake of Your love towards us. May You restore unto us all the years we have lost and all that the locust and cankerworms have eaten from us, in Jesus Name. May You hear the prayers of those who are waiting on You for marriages and answer them dear loving Father. May You grant all those married couples that are seeking You like Hannah the precious gift of children, and fill up their quivers. We trust in You Jesus and we know that You are able. We pray all this in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Further reading: Genesis 30:22-24, Psalms 127:3-5
Isaiah 61:7 NIV
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”
INSIGHT
-God is able to restore and turn our mourning into dancing, every situation into rejoicing. God is able to turn any adverse situation around, every form of drought in our lives, and give us His joy and peace that surpasses all human understanding. When Samaria was faced with drought and calamity and the economic situation was very dire to a point where women were boiling their children for food (2 Kings 6:28-29). God used His servant Elisha to transform the economy and bring hope to the people. We are encouraged God is able to change every shameful or discomforting situation give us a double portion of our inheritance. He is able to make us rejoice now and forevermore.
PRAYER
Lord You heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. May heal all those who are weak and suffering among us dear Lord Jesus. May You deliver us from shame, pain and discomfort dear Mighty Father. We cast all our burdens and cares unto You Jesus for You care for us. We ask for Your help and mercy today for You are our God, our Shepherd and Shield, our loving Master, our King and our Lord. Nothing is too hard for You Lord Jesus. You are not a man that You should lie or a son of man that You should repent, but whatever You promise You deliver Almighty Father. May You turn our mourning to dancing in our lives, families, and nation, and remove our sackcloth and clothed us with joy. We thank You Lord for we know that You will do according to Your will. We pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.
Further reading: 2 Kings 7:3-20, Psalm 147:3
Matthew 25:19-30 NKJV
“After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
INSIGHT
–The parable of the talents discloses the value of multiplication. The master gave one servant five talents and he was able to obtain five more, the other one got two talents and he got two more, and were admitted into the kingdom of heaven. The last one got one talent but he dug it in the ground therefore he did not multiply it and he was condemned to eternal punishment. The Lord has given each one of us diverse talents according to our abilities. He imparts us with the grace to multiply our talents and abilities and expects us to be good stewards in the little and much that He entrusts us with.
SUMMARY
The concept of the double portion is first mentioned in the Law of Moses. The first born son received a double share of the inheritance. A firstborn son was entitled to receive twice the inheritance of that of a father’s other sons, in addition to the right of succession (Deuteronomy 21:17, 2 Kings 2:9, Zechariah 9:12). Hannah could not have children, her husband tried to assuage her grief with an extra blessing. “But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her” (1 Samuel 1:5). When the end of Elijah’s time on earth, he offered his assistant Elisha a gift: “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?” Elisha answered, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me” (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha’s request was to be considered the successor of Elijah and to be “doubly blessed” with power in the prophetic office. Throughout 2 Kings, the many miracles Elisha performed confirm that he had indeed been granted a double portion. When Job prayed for his friends, God restored ti him twice as much as he originally had before his time of testing: “And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).
PRAYER
Almighty Father we approach Your throne of mercy today with confidence knowing that You are a faithful and able God. Nothing is too hard or impossible for You. Dear Lord we pray that You shall sanctify us by Your precious blood Lord Jesus and let no sin hinder our prayers from reaching You. Oh Lord may You visit us with a double portion in Jesus name and release Your abounding grace and blessings upon us. May You empower us to multiply and always be fruitful in the calling and giftings that You have entrusted us. May You bless us and keep us dear Lord Jesus. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You show Your countenance unto us and give us peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen.
Further reading: Colossians 1:15