‘re-think’ No. 16

THE DOUBLE  PORTION

We have been taught that when one receives the baptism in the Spirit, we receive a double portion of the Spirit and it is for making one more effective in witnessing. True, that will make one more vibrant in the Lord, but this ‘double portion’ refers to inheritance and is the enabling  provision which is needed for a specific task in the plan of God. It is given to overcomers for a precise purpose. Everyone will receive of God’s inheritance but not  everyone will receive this double portion for this is the equipment for the purpose of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. As we continue we shall see that this blessing and anointing is not to be used for personal gain by those who  receive it, but rather for others.  

INTRODUCTION — THE RIGHT OF THE FIRST-BORN

One’s family background has no effect upon God’s decisions. God calls out His chosen ones from any background, educated or not, in the ministry or not, God is in control.  DEUTERONOMY 21 introduces us to this subject. (15) If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the  beloved and the hated; and if the FIRST-BORN son be hers that was hated: (16) Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make  the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated, which is indeed the first-born: (17) But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born, by giving him a double  portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the first-born is his.  The right of being a part of the ‘first-born company’ of saints is entirely God’s choice . . . usually against all human natural reasoning!  The above scripture brings out the principle that the genuine FIRST-BORN is acknowledged by receiving a DOUBLE   PORTION  of the inheritance. The background of Israel’s culture that goes along with this is like this: when the father dies, his FIRST-BORN son receives 2/3 of Father’s inheritance . It is his supply so that he can fulfil his obligation/calling —  which for the first-born son, is to give to the rest of the family the same care which father would have given them had he stayed around. NONE of his ‘double-portion’ of the inheritance is for himself.    The other members of the family would inherit the 1/3 between them and they could do as they please with their portion . . . remember they did not have to use their part of their inheritance for basic living. The first-born son is expected to have matured to the place where he can handle this responsibility. The people of bible times would have understood the whole concept of this aspect of the inheritance.  There are many examples of this ‘double portion’ throughout scripture. Let us examine some of them.

II  Kings 2  ELIJAH (the elder) and  ELISHA (the younger)

This much loved passage has been shared many times and it always encourages one to keep on going on!    (9) And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.    (10) And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. The big ‘if’ challenges the faith of Elisha. . . your’s too?  (11) And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (12) 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. (13) He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; (14) 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. (15) And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. Elijah was not Elisha’s father in the natural realm of things. Elijah represented God to the people. Elisha represents the truly “hungry for more of God” group of believers. There was a unique desire in Elisha for the same abilities/anointing that Elijah had. There were other believers around . . . ‘the sons of the prophets’ that were not interested in ‘going the extra mile’ with Elisha. It shows two groups of Christians who say they are hungry for more of God. Some represented by Elisha will sacrifice for their vision and expectation  while the others will not walk their talk!  Notice, as this a is a spiritual picture, that Elisha referred to Elijah as “My Father”. He also used the  expression twice, which is the old way for great emphasis (Compare New Testament’s “Verily, Verily”’s). Have we caught the vision and significance of the ASCENSION of Jesus Christ ? Are we fully persuaded that we ARE seated with Him in the heavenlies? There was a ‘mantle’ (cloak) which speaks of the anointing that Elijah had from God. Elijah was called upon by God to do 8 miracles.  Elisha really needed the ‘double portion’,  for he went on to do 16 miracles — double that of Elijah.  Jesus said in John 14:12,  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  Jesus, being one with His Father, is now Father unto us and He has promised that we shall receive an anointing that will enable us to do greater things than He did.  It will include being greater in number . . . double ? or more ? To do what Jesus did and more, it is absolutely essential that we have the same mature nature, authority and resources having no fears whatsoever that would restrict one’s obedience to God. Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,  Abba, Father..  ‘Abba’ was the word Christians used in prayer for ‘father’. It came from the Chaldean and the Greeks incorporated it into their language. So here we have the equivalent of Elisha’s “Father, Father” cry. Such Romans tells us is the ‘spirit of adoption’. The adoption ceremony was for the ‘FIRST-BORN’ son of the family. Christ Jesus was the first-born of a new tribe of perfect God-men.                         

Matthew  25:  1-12        The FIVE WISE VIRGINS                                                                                                                                                                            Notice as you read that there were TEN virgins associated with the Kingdom of heaven . . . not just the five wise ones!       (1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Note that the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is likened to TEN virgins. . .  not just the five ‘wise’!  (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. OIL in their lamps PLUS a refill in their vessel  = DOUBLE PORTION OF OIL. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Those wise virgins that had the double portion of oil ENTERED in with the Bridegroom and became a part of the bridegroom party. The others had to wait to see Him in the morning.  In passing let us challenge you . .. the ‘oil’ cannot refer only to the Holy Spirit! Why not? One can never BUY the Spirit as Acts 8 shows. What can be bought is the TRUTH which is the Spirit-anointed word. Buy the truth and sell it not says Revelation.  John 3: 3 + 5 shows some ENTERING when they had two portions/aspects . . . being born of WATER and the SPIRIT.  The 10-Virgin parable is followed by the parable about the Talents.                                         Matthew 25: 13-30. The servants who had been given 5 talents and 2 talents both received a DOUBLE PORTION reward while the remaining servant did not.

JOB — ONE OF GOD'S FIRST OVERCOMERS

From the first chapter of Job we see a list of his family and possessions. The last chapter lists the same headings but you will notice that everything is doubled from the beginning. He received a double portion because of his faithfulness. It also showed that his first children were alive in God and NOT counted as dead! As with Elisha, Job needed to press into God even though the road was ‘tough’ and he overcame because he believed what God had said rather than that of his contemporaries. Thus he was kept to experience the double portion blessing in his life.

MOSES’  TABERNACLE  PATTERN

Exodus 26:9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.   The ‘tent’ part of the Tabernacle speaks of those who would press on in their  journey towards the Throne (Mercy Seat) . . . and move into the Sanctuary where one moves ‘in the Spirit’.  At the entrance called ‘The Door’, the second (hidden) covering of the ‘tent’ was folded back DOUBLE signifying that there was a double portion promise available for those that press in.

THE  HIGH  PRIEST’s  BREASTPLATE

Exodus 28:16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. After being folded DOUBLE, the material formed a square and the twelve stones representing the whole family of God (Israel) was sewn onto it.  Inside this DOUBLED over material was placed the ‘Urim and the Thummim’ which gave the High Priest  an ability to hear from God.  This pictures for us the Melchisedec priesthood into which we are called today who will also move with a double portion of the Spirit: this calling and provision is close to the hear of our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

JOEL’s  prophecy

In Joel  2:23 where the former AND the latter rains come in the first month which gives us hope and an expectation. The ‘seed’ rains and the ‘harvest’ rains together. . . a DOUBLE portion of rain that will cause marvellous growth in God’s people. The seventh month contained the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a double portion for Zion.  Follow this reference with  Isaiah 61: 6+7 where we are told that the priests of the Lord possess the DOUBLE. (6) But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.  (7) For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. There is a ‘battle’ involved whereby one has to overcome any shame that is thrown your way! Many are condemned because they find that they just don’t fit into the system anymore!

Zechariah 9:12     PRISONERS  OF  HOPE 

Zech 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; What is out hope?  The answer is being changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ and to move and have our being in Him. As we allow the Holy Spirit to perform that process in us, we will be fully prepared. We get captivated by such a hope and truly we are PRISONERS OF THAT HOPE.  This is a picture of being, as Paul was, a   prisoner of Jesus Christ (Philemon 1,9 . . . Ephesians 3:1  etc.) . . . and remember a prisoner is apprehended, secluded and can no longer choose what he does!

Ezekiel 47:13-14

(13) Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. (14) And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance. Here the DOUBLE PORTION that Joseph received was linked with INHERITANCE.       One needs to progress past the baptism of the Spirit pictured for us as the ‘door’ and enter into the Sanctuary or ‘Holy Place’  of the Tabernacle picture, then there is waiting for you a calling to be a part of the ‘adopted firstfruits’ company of overcomers who will receive the double portion of the anointing . . . it flows out of a Holiest-of-all relationship with the Father. However this relationship of Father to Son and son to Father comes from the unveiling progressive growth and development in one’s yielded life. We are being changed, are we not? §
 

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