Mantles In The Wilderness

He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the banks of the 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 2:13-4)

Many gathered at the banks of the Jordan that day, but only Elisha seized the mantle of the double portion. He alone had followed Elijah back through the parted waters to the wilderness side of Jordan. Standing upon the same real estate the Hebrew nation wandered for 40 long years, Elijah asked, "What shall I do for thee?" Without hesitation, Elisha answered, "A double portion of your spirit be upon me!" His willingness to cross over Jordan and follow Elijah into the howling wilderness qualified him for the long desired mantle of power. It was there that Elisha uncovered a powerful principle for us: Mantles fall in the wilderness.

It seems like a contradiction in terms, an oxymoron: A glorious mantle in a howling wilderness? How can we justify this? Surely the double portion is acquired in the promised land! Perhaps it is atop Mt. Zion, at the peak of our spiritual experience. Is it not in the lofty places? Then it must be with Jacob, who wrestled with God in an all-night prayer meeting.

Elisha didn't find it in any of those places, that isn't where we will find it. The spirit of God is adjusting our perspective. Your greatest mantles are unlikely to be picked up in great congregational gatherings among multitudes of rejoicing Christians, but rather, alone in your wilderness with your heavenly Elijah, as you bow in brokenness of spirit before Him.

How could something so despised yield such blessing? The wilderness experience is an inevitable part of every believer's journey to the double portion anointing. It is not the consequence of a life gone irretrievably wrong or the neglect of a God who has forgotten us. There is purpose for your pain and meaning in your wilderness—so don't despise it. God has designed it to qualify you for the double portion. Be confident that you're coming out of your wilderness with greater power than when you entered it. You may have entered your wilderness in captivity, but you're coming out a free child of God. When you exit your trial you will be more than just a survivor, you will be transformed to an overcomer, clothed in new power from on high.

Jesus' baptism illustrates this truth. As John baptized Jesus in the muddy waters of the Jordan, a dove descended upon him and the Father spoke from heaven saying, "Thou art my beloved son, in thee am I well pleased." (Luke 3:22) No sooner was Jesus filled with the Holy Ghost at the Jordan than He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil (Luke 4:1).

This noteworthy truth bears repeating: Jesus comes out of the Jordan filled with the Spirit, but He does not experience the power of the Spirit until He emerges successfully from His wilderness. When did His infilling become His empowering? Only after He passed the test in the wilderness. We read, "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit unto Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about." (Luke 4:14)

If the Lord transformed His infilling at the Jordan into supernatural empowerment in the wilderness, we would be foolish to think we could escape that process in our own lives. But this process is not uniquely reserved for Jesus. It serves as a divine model for every true child of God who thirsts for the double portion anointing. You may be a spirit-filled believer, but you will not become a spirit-empowered overcomer until you successfully pass through your wilderness experience. Clearly, there are mantles of power found in the wilderness that cannot be found anywhere else.

We would love to bypass trials and tests on our journey toward spiritual maturity and empowerment, but there are no shortcuts. Jesus never promised us that. What He did say was that the promise is to the overcomer (Rev 3:21, 21:7). And in order to be overcomers, we have to face the obstacles. Our victories will not be without struggles. Life just isn't that way; its paths aren't smooth. There are ups and downs and bumps in the road. We must handle the wilderness of adversity faithfully, because the level of our faithfulness will determine the level of our anointing.

There can be no anointing oil without the crushing of the olive. There can be no wine of joy without the pressing of the grape. And gold cannot be purified without the fire. Most importantly, there cannot be supernatural power manifest in your life without wilderness journeys. You say you're anointed? Let me see some wilderness sand emptied from your sandals!

Much of the underlying frustration and discontentment in the Body of Christ can be traced back to false expectations and deferred hopes. We stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the process that all recipients of divine destiny must go through: that series of crucibles directed toward fulfilling God's plan, often painful, but nevertheless necessary. We embrace the promise, but despise the process and as a result we rarely see those things we desperately desire materialize in our lives.

Many of us would pay any price for the anointing, but it's not for sale. God doesn't hang a price tag on the prophet's mantle of power. He doesn't say, "Fast 21 days, pray three hours a day, and, oh, by the way¾be especially nice to your mother-in-law." There is no price to pay: instead, there is a God-prescribed process we must go through and God only requires our willing submission to it.

God never tells us the price in advance. For example, if I want to buy a car, the salesman tells me the price in advance. If I go to a restaurant, I read the menu and it tells me the price of each meal in advance. But God never told any of the Old Testament patriarchs the price of miracle power in advance. We only understand as we take the first step and His enabling grace empowers us through to the end. (Rom 8:13).

Ah, but Church, the price is well worth it! As the inspired pen of Paul writes, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom 8:18) The process we endure is working for us an eternal weight of glory. Scripture is filled with heroes of faith who paid the price, went through the process, and found what they sought most where they least expected it!

Samson, a young man of courage, faced a death defying encounter with a wild lion and there found refreshment. (Judges 14:5-9) As the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, he ripped the lion in half bare handed. Inside its carcass was honey. Wrapped up and contained within the very thing that was designed to destroy him, Samson found the sustenance he needed to go on.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's decree and he became so angry that he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter. It was so hot that it killed the men who threw the three Hebrew boys into it. But the flames didn't destroy them—on the contrary, only their bonds were burned. But most significantly of all, the trial brought the fourth man into manifestation¾Christ Himself! Were it not for their willingness to hazard the trial, He would have remained obscured and unseen. (Dan 3:1-30)

Joseph endured and found opportunity in the midst of crisis. His coat of favor provoked jealousy among his brothers. They conspired to kill him, but God wouldn't allow it. Instead, He used their jealousy and hatred as a vehicle to position Joseph in Pharaoh's court. Joseph's ascent was a series of divine opportunities stashed away and obscured in crises. Had he never endured the trials, he would never have been positioned to minister divine provision in the midst of a global famine. (Genesis 37, 39 – 47)

These patriarchs endured the trial. God's ultimate wisdom was at work in their process. There was reason for their pain; there is reason for yours. Though many times it is a crucible of rejection, failure, and suffering, it is also the place where the greatest spiritual impartations abide. This is why the Lord says in the book of Jeremiah, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer 29:11) There is a determined outcome for your life and the wilderness makes you ready, so don't despise it, embrace it!

And They Two Went On

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. II Kings 2:6 (emphasis added)

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."

Christ Jesus is standing at the shore of the Jordan, beckoning all who will come to the river of death to shed the old nature and become part of that new day.

Letter to Readers

Dear Subscribers, URCWC Congregants, and Online Readers:

I hope this letter finds all of you well, in good health and faithfully serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As I take a short pause in my blogs, I want to thank each one of you for your support in continuously reading week after week. These blogs give me the opportunity to speak to you from my heart. My intention is to enlighten, impart and to encourage you to go on in your quest of a relationship with our Creator.

In this season of sharing on “The Double Portion Anointing,” I have enjoyed writing to all of you. However, I have also been equally blessed to receive so many of the comments, questions and feedback that you have sent me in return. Each reply I’ve read is teeming with the intense hunger that a passionate Christian possesses in wanting to know more. It gives me fresh vim and vigor to continue to speak out of the depth of revelation God has been speaking to me through the story of Elijah and Elisha over these past few weeks.

In addition to formatting, editing and ultimately writing these blogs to all of you, I am also preparing books that will soon be available to the public as well, including “The Double Portion Anointing” in its entirety. With this workload, as in any other arena, many hands make light work. I am fortunate to have an incredible editorial team whose members work hand in hand with me to help with this literary process. Richard VanBenthuysen has helped me compile and organize many messages, notebooks, files, etc. for well over 20 years. He is impeccable in theological details and knows how to correctly piece together passages of Scripture to accurately convey ‘what the Spirit is saying.’ Heather Dono has worked with me and our church in an editorial capacity for over 15 years. She has the capability to creatively enhance, without fabrication, specific revelations from the Word of God with beautifully descriptive word pictures. I am also thrilled to have both David Gordon and Carolyn VanBenthuysen recently join the team to work with me as I speak to you each week and on several projects to follow in the near future.

So please bear with us. I am aware that the blogs have been slightly delayed. It is due to my desire to give only a product of excellence as God continues to speak what He would have me to say. As I close, I pray for God’s continued grace, mercy and favor upon your lives. Let us all diligently continue on to patiently run the race set before us!

Sincerely,

Bishop Anthony D’Onofrio