Part 3-2 The Double Portion of the Spirit and the Way of the Cross

Bible Reading:

2 Kings 2:1-22

And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So 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.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more.

And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

Now when the sons of the prophets who were fromJericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.” But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have [c]healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

The Lord Grants the Double Portion of the Spirit to Equip Vessels for this Age

Tonight we will speak about the double portion of the Spirit and the way of the cross. The double portion of the Spirit that Elisha received is a foreshadowing of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament age—being filled with the Spirit. The phrase “double portion of the Spirit” (or “two-fold Spirit”) refers to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It is not merely a small measure, but the Spirit richly and abundantly poured out upon us (Titus 3:6), enabling us to receive Him in fullness. This evening, using Elisha’s receiving of the double portion as our backdrop, we will consider how to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and how we should continue to move forward after receiving Him.

The passage we just read from the first half of 2 Kings chapter 2 is sometimes used to describe the four stages of spiritual life. Because it mentions four stations—Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan—some interpret these as symbolic of four phases in a Christian’s experience, showing how one gradually grows and reaches spiritual fullness. But tonight, our message focuses on the double portion of the Spirit. First, we should know that the Lord gives us the double portion of the Spirit so that we may become vessels equipped to meet the needs of this age. Throughout the entire Bible, we see that in every era God raises up a group of people to meet the needs of that particular time. Sometimes they were judges, sometimes prophets, and at other times kings—each appointed to address the unique needs of their generation.

1. Elisha as a Type of the Overcoming Church

During the era of the kings, God raised up Elisha to succeed Elijah and to meet the needs of that generation. Elijah typifies the ascended Christ, while Elisha represents the Church—Christ’s testimony on earth—or, more specifically, the overcomers who inherit Christ’s ministry on earth to meet the needs of the age. Just as Elisha continued Elijah’s work and addressed the needs of his time, so also, after Christ ascended, He raised up an overcoming Church to walk with God, to bring in the kingdom of God, and to bear witness to Christ, meeting the needs of every generation.

2. The Sons of the Prophets Could Not Meet the Need of the Age

In the time of the kings, Elisha was certainly not the only one who feared the Lord. There were many sons of the prophets as well. When Elisha was walking with Elijah, the sons of the prophets came out at Bethel. They were well‑versed in Scripture, and their spiritual condition was not bad. They were seekers, genuinely interested in spiritual ministry, which is why they devoted themselves to becoming disciples of the prophets. When they met Elisha, they immediately said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master from you?” This shows that they not only possessed considerable biblical knowledge, but also had a keen spiritual sensitivity. When Elijah and Elisha arrived at Jericho, the sons of the prophets there came out and said the same thing regarding the Lord taking Elijah. And at the final station, the Jordan, yet another group of sons of the prophets came out and repeated the same message. All of this indicates that they were familiar with Scripture and spiritually perceptive — people who feared the Lord, pursued spiritual growth, and were willing to devote their lives to serving Him. Yet the Bible tells us that these sons of the prophets were not the ones who met the need of their generation.

3. Elisha Received the Double Portion of the Spirit to Meet the Need of His Time

Although Elisha’s knowledge of Scripture was not necessarily greater than that of the sons of the prophets, and his natural abilities or learning were not necessarily superior to theirs, the fact remains that among all those prophetic disciples, the Lord did not use them to meet the need of that generation. Only Elisha was raised up by the Lord to address the need of his time. What made the difference?Where lay the distinction? It was this: Elisha received the double portion of the Spirit, whereas the sof the prophets did not. Because they did not receive the double portion, they were unable to meet the need of the age. But Elisha—having received the double portion—was able to inherit Elijah’s ministry and meet the need of his generation. From this we see that the coming of the double portion of the Spirit is for the purpose of raising up vessels who can meet the need of the age.

In the same way today, the Lord pours out His Spirit richly upon us so that He may raise us up as vessels who can meet the needs of this present time. If, after receiving the double portion of the Spirit, we become proud, self‑exalting, self‑satisfied, or complacent, that would be the height of foolishness. Rather, we must recognize that receiving the double portion is for the sake of God’s commission. Especially in these last days, when the return of the Lord Jesus is near, we must not neglect the need of God’s work. His outpouring of the double portion of the Spirit is His call—His summons—for a group of Elishas to rise up as instruments in His hand. Perhaps among us there are many “sons of the prophets,” yet God is not satisfied with that. He desires to call us, to raise us up as Elishas, for only those who carry the double portion of the Spirit can meet the need of this generation.

4. The Double Portion of the Spirit Strengthens Our Accurate Relationship With the Holy Spirit

What, then, is the connection between God giving us the double portion of the Spirit and our ability to meet the need of the age? The most fundamental work of the double portion of the Spirit is to strengthen an accurate relationship between us and the Lord. In every case, God requires that each Christian establish a definite, precise, and God‑pleasing relationship with the Lord Jesus. To fullfill this, Elijah waited until Elisha’s relationship with him was fully aligned and accurate before the double portion of the Spirit was given. This signifies that the double portion of the Spirit is meant to confirm and strengthen our accurate relationship with the Lord.

Today, if we desire to receive the double portion of the Spirit, the Lord has a deeper and lasting intention for us. He must first adjust us so that our relationship with the Lord becomes accurate and fully in accordance with His heart. Now, by looking at the key points in how Elijah led Elisha into an accurate relationship with him, we will see how the Lord likewise leads us into an accurate relationship with Himself.

• Called by the Lord

The first point is this: we must clearly know that we have been called by the Lord. In 1 Kings 19:19–21, when Elijah came to find Elisha, Elisha was plowing with the twelfth pair of oxen. Elijah cast his mantle upon Elisha—this signifies being called by the Lord, receiving the seal of the Holy Spirit, and being counted righteous by God. This was the first relationship established between Elisha and Elijah, and it is likewise the first relationship between us and the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, we must be clear: Do we truly know our identity as those called by the Lord? Hebrews 3 tells us that we are “holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling.” Therefore, we are a heavenly people (Phil. 3:20), called to live daily as heavenly men and women, walking a heavenly path, setting our minds on things above (Col. 3:2). On earth we are but strangers and pilgrims (Heb. 11:13). This is the position of our calling, and it corresponds to the relationship between Elisha and Elijah. We must adjust ourselves to this relationship; only then does the coming of the double portion of the Spirit have true meaning. Before the double portion of the Spirit comes upon us, the Lord must train us to have an accurate relationship with Him. Thus, a clear experience of being called by the Lord is the starting point.

• Following the Lord Wholeheartedly

The second point is to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. When Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal, Elijah said to Elisha, “The Lord has sent me to Bethel; stay here.” But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” Whether at Bethel or Jericho, Elisha responded to Elijah in exactly the same way: “I will not leave you.” Three times in a row he declared, “I will not leave you.” Step after step, stage after stage, Elisha’s attitude toward Elijah never changed: “I will not leave you.” This is what it means to follow the Lord with an undivided heart.

Beloved brothers and sisters, we too must take Christ as our goal and our everything, following Him single‑mindedly. Unfortunately, many Christians begin with great zeal and lofty aspirations to follow the Lord Jesus, but after a few years they gradually grow cold, discouraged, or even stop following altogether. I have often seen many young brothers and sisters dedicate themselves to the Lord during summer conferences, expressing their desire to follow Jesus for their whole lives. Yet within three to five years, they disappear from view. They followed the Lord only for a portion of the journey. I am not saying they will never return to follow Him again, but their path is not like Elisha’s—who followed at every stage, through every stretch of the road, until the very end.

When all the adult Israelites who came out of Egypt fell in the wilderness, only Caleb and Joshua entered Canaan. The difference lay entirely in the fact that Caleb and Joshua had a different spirit and followed the Lord wholeheartedly (Numbers 14:24). This is the very measure Elijah continually trained Elisha to reach, and it is also the Lord’s leading for us today.

• Being Governed by the Vision of the Ascended Christ

As Elisha continued following Elijah forward, they crossed the Jordan River. In the typology of the spiritual journey, this is a major milestone, signifying the cross. But our focus here is on the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, so we must look further ahead. Eventually Elijah said to Elisha, “Before I am taken from you, tell me what you would have me do for you.” Elisha answered, “Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” Elijah replied, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be yours.” From that moment on, Elisha fixed his eyes solely on Elijah. He no longer looked at any other person, matter, object, or circumstance. In other words, his gaze became single—set entirely upon the Lord Jesus.

• Seeing the Ascended Elijah

From a geographical perspective, Jericho is a place of beautiful mountains and flowing waters, a land of pleasant scenery. Had Elisha lingered over the earthly beauty before him, Elijah would have ascended to heaven — and Elisha would have missed it. This shows that Elisha paid a price to follow Elijah. In biblical terms, he regarded the world as refuse in order to gain Christ. As a result, when Elijah was taken up, Elisha saw it. While they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it, he cried out, “My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” In the end, he truly saw the ascended Elijah. In spiritual meaning, this is to see the ascended Christ. In other words, the Lord Jesus leads us with the ultimate purpose that we may behold the ascended Christ—that we may be governed by the vision of the ascended Christ. Sooner or later, the Lord will bring us to this point. He will adjust our relationship with Him until we reach this state: being controlled by the vision of the ascended Christ. Only then is our relationship with Him accurate. When the vision of the ascended Christ governs us, the course of our entire life becomes settled.

Dear brothers and sisters, when Elisha saw the ascended Elijah, Elijah then let his mantle fall upon him. The mantle signifies the double portion of the Spirit. In other words, when Christ ascended, He poured out the Spirit in fullness upon the church. After receiving the double portion of the Spirit, Elisha did not disobey the heavenly vision. His entire life was lived under the government of that vision. Empowered by the double portion of the Spirit, he remained faithful to the commission, fulfilled his ministry, and completed his course. If the Lord has mercy on us, He will surely lead us along this same path. He will open the eyes of our inner being to behold the ascended Christ, to be governed by His heavenly vision, to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, to fulfill our ministry, and to meet the need of this age.

• Tearing His Own Garment

When Elisha saw Elijah being taken up into heaven, he tore his own clothes into two pieces. Garments symbolize human righteousness, human conduct, and everything that comes from man’s natural life. Elisha tore them apart. Before the vision of Christ, a person must fall down; the self must be completely torn away. One sees that he is nothing, that he deserves death. This is the result of seeing the vision of the ascended Christ.

When Isaiah saw the Lord seated on the high and exalted throne, he cried, “Woe is me! I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:1–5). It was not someone else who was undone—it was Isaiah himself. “For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Before the vision of the ascended Christ, a person must fall down, loathe himself, and judge himself. Such a person cannot stand up again. Paul experienced the same. On the road to Damascus, when he saw the ascended Christ, he fell to the ground and for three days and nights neither ate nor drank. The apostle John was no exception. On the island of Patmos, when he saw the Son of Man walking among the lampstands, he fell at His feet as though dead. This is the condition of one who has seen the vision and is governed by the ascended Christ.

• Receiving the Fullness of the Holy Spirit

When a Christian is brought by the Lord into a vision, from that day on he becomes a person of prayer. For he realizes that apart from the Lord he can do nothing. He sees that whatever comes out from himself is corruption; all he can do is tear his garments in two and repent in dust and ashes. Therefore, he can only pray—letting the Lord work, asking the Lord to carry out His work.

Brothers and sisters, anyone who is governed by a vision is inevitably a praying person, and also one who falls prostrate before the Lord. At this moment Elisha rose up and picked up the mantle that had fallen from Elijah. This signifies that from that moment on, he received the double portion of the Spirit—the fullness of the Holy Spirit—and from then he began to fulfill his ministry. This is also how the Lord leads us into a proper relationship with Him: under the governing vision of the ascended Christ, we receive the outpouring and fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Elisha Received the Double Portion of the Spirit and Walked the Way of the Cross

After Elisha received the double portion of the Spirit, the central characteristic of his entire life’s journey was to walk the way of the cross. Once he received the double portion, he stepped onto a path that was more difficult, more rugged, and one that led him into a deeper experience of the cross. From the Scriptures we see that from the very day Elisha received the double portion of the Spirit, every miracle he performed was a foreshadowing of the cross. In other words, he experienced the cross again and again, continually walking the way of the cross.

1. Healing the Waters of Jericho

Now let us look at the first miracle Elisha performed—the healing of the waters of Jericho. The Scripture we read tells us that the waters of Jericho were bad, and the land miscarried its fruit. They may have planted many kinds of fruit trees, vegetables, grains, and various crops—there was plenty of produce. But because the water was harmful, all these crops would drop before they ripened. For example, grapes would begin to form, but before they reached full maturity, they would fall off. Or pomegranates would grow larger and begin to ripen, yet just before maturity they would drop. Even grains—rice, millet, barley, and wheat—would fall before they were ripe. This signifies a kind of spiritual weakness.

Not only that—people themselves were dying prematurely. This points to a condition of spiritual death. But when Elisha arrived, he took a new bowl, put salt in it, and went to the source of the water. There he cast the salt into the spring, and the waters were healed. From that time on, people no longer died young, and the land no longer miscarried its fruit. The grains and fruit trees flourished and produced abundant fruit. Death was turned into life. Hallelujah! This is death and resurrection—this is the work of Elisha, the experience of the cross.

Dear brothers and sisters, the central experience of the cross is the experience of death and resurrection. The way of the cross is to enter into death and then come forth in resurrection. To experience death and resurrection day by day—that is to walk the way of the cross. After Elisha received the double portion of the Spirit, he spent his entire life walking this path of the cross. Although he had already experienced the cross when he crossed the Jordan—just as we begin to experience the cross from the moment we are saved—yet after receiving the double portion of the Spirit, we still have to walk a more difficult road, entering into a deeper experience of the cross, continually experiencing death and resurrection. This is the only path the Lord measures out for us after we receive the outpouring and fullness of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus Himself said that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. Death and resurrection always bring forth abundant fruit of life. Jericho, which typifies the flesh, was full of weakness and death. But after it was healed by Elisha, it became a place of abundant life. This foreshadows the experience of the cross—it is the way of the cross that Elisha walked.

2. Water Filling the Valley

Next, let us look at the story of the three kings joining forces to attack the king of Moab. Because the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel, the king of Israel united with the king of Judah and the king of Edom to wage war against Moab. But when the armies of the three kings were halfway on their journey, both the soldiers and the livestock they brought had no water to drink. They were already on the brink of death. Once again, Elisha appeared. According to the command of the Lord, he told the three kings to dig ditches throughout the valley. A valley is the lowest place—it symbolizes humility and lowliness. Thus, the valley represents the beginning of the cross. But they still had to dig ditches everywhere—meaning to be emptied out even further, pointing to a deeper experience of the cross. As a result, the valley was filled with water. Everyone drank their fill. This was a passage from death into life, from distress into joy—another manifestation of death and resurrection. This was yet another experience of the cross in Elisha’s ministry.

3. The Vessels Filled With Oil

Let us continue with the story of the widow whose single jar of oil filled many empty vessels. There was a wife of one of the sons of the prophets whose husband had died, and the creditor came to take her two sons as slaves. When Elisha arrived, he told her to borrow empty vessels and then pour the oil from her one jar into all the empty vessels. Every vessel was filled. She was then able to sell the oil to pay off her debt, and the remainder was enough for her to live on. Preparing empty vessels symbolizes the emptying work of the cross. The vessels being filled with oil signifies the fullness of the Holy Spirit and of life. This too is another expression of death and resurrection. In this way Elisha experienced the cross and continued to walk the way of the cross.

4. The Shunammite Woman’s Son Raised From the Dead

Next, we come to the miracle in which the Shunammite woman’s son was raised from the dead. Originally, the Shunammite woman had no child and was barren. When Elisha came, he caused her to conceive and bear a son—this itself was an experience of death and resurrection. Not long afterward, the Shunammite woman’s son unexpectedly died. Elisha came, stretched himself upon the child, and brought him back to life. This reveals even more clearly the experience of the cross—death and resurrection. Thus, through one miracle after another, Elisha demonstrated how he continually walked on the way of the cross.

5. Flour Neutralizing the Poisonous Gourds

Next, we come to the account of the sons of the prophets at Gilgal who cooked a stew using wild gourds, only to discover that the stew contained deadly poison. When Elisha arrived, he took some flour and sprinkled it into the pot. Then he told them to serve it to the people, and the stew became harmless. This is life swallowing up death—bringing life out of death. It is yet another experience of the cross, of death and resurrection.

6. Twenty Loaves Feeding a Hundred Men

Next, we come to the account of a man from Baal-shalishah who brought twenty loaves of bread made from the firstfruits of barley. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they may eat.” But his servant replied, “How can this small amount set before a hundred men?” Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat; there will even be some left over.” And indeed, the hundred men ate and were satisfied, and there was still some remaining. What should have been insufficient—an embarrassing and difficult situation—became abundant and glorious when Elisha stepped in. This too is the experience of the cross: from shame into glory, from limitation into abundance. It is the work of the cross.

7. Naaman Healed

Next, we come to the story of Naaman the leper being healed. Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. After he contracted leprosy, a young Israelite girl directed him to seek healing from Elisha. Elisha told him to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. At first he refused, but later he obeyed. He went down into the Jordan and came up again—seven times in a row. In the end, his whole body was cleansed. The Jordan River symbolizes the death of the cross. His going down and coming up speaks of the experience of death and resurrection. Through this symbolic miracle, Elisha once again showed that he continually walked on the way of the cross.

8. Other Miracles

What we have covered so far is already sufficient to show that after Elisha received the double portion of the Spirit, he continually walked the way of the cross. The other miracles—such as causing the iron axe head that had sunk into the water to float, bringing shame upon the Aramean army that attacked Dothan, enabling King Joash of Israel to shoot the Lord’s arrow of victory, and even the dead being revived when they touched Elisha’s bones—all describe experiences of death and resurrection.

In summary, after Elisha received the double portion of the Spirit, every miracle in his life was a foreshadowing of death and resurrection, revealing that his entire life was a journey on the way of the cross. Therefore, we may conclude: after receiving the double portion of the Spirit, one must walk the way of the cross. Likewise today, when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us and fills us, it is to lead us into the experience of death and resurrection—to walk this very path of the cross.

Christ Experienced the Cross Through the Eternal Spirit

Furthermore, in all the miracles Elisha performed, not one of them was difficult or beyond his strength. Everything he did appeared effortless. This also implies that after receiving the double portion of the Holy Spirit, we experience the cross naturally and walk the way of the cross willingly.

Once, a servant of the Lord asked a group of sisters, “Do you want patience?” Everyone answered, “Yes.” The servant of the Lord continued, “Romans 5:3 says, ‘Tribulation produces patience.’” Then she asked, “Do you want tribulation to come to you?” No one dared to answer. This shows that relying on ourselves, it is truly difficult to bear the cross. Dear brothers and sisters, can you or I bear the cross by our own strength? None of us can. When the real cross comes, we all tend to shrink back. But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we willingly and gladly take up the cross and walk the way of the cross.

This truth is even more evident in the Lord Jesus Himself. Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God…” Here we see that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was able to offer Himself without blemish and experience the cross through the eternal Spirit. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that He offered Himself to God. The Spirit filled Him and led Him on the way of the cross.

The Holy Spirit Poured Out at Pentecost Led the Disciples to Accept the Cross

We can also see this truth from the experience of the disciples. Before Pentecost, the disciples argued among themselves about who was the greatest. For example, the mother of the sons of Zebedee came with her two sons and asked that in the Lord’s kingdom one might sit at His right hand and the other at His left (Matthew 20:20–21). Even as the disciples walked with the Lord, they argued about who was the greatest (Mark 9:34). And even at the Lord’s final meal with them, they were still disputing who among them was the greatest (Luke 22). But when the Lord Jesus was crucified, the disciples all scattered. They feared persecution and suffering; not one of them was willing to face the cross. Yet on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and they were filled with the Spirit, Peter stood up with the eleven and bore witness. Not only did they stop competing for position, but the eleven apostles were of one accord, allowing Peter to speak on their behalf as the mouthpiece, united in testifying to the resurrection of Jesus. On the other hand, they became bold and fearless under persecution from the authorities. Even after being imprisoned and released, they continued preaching Jesus. And when they were flogged, they rejoiced in their hearts (Acts 5:41). This is what it means to bear the cross willingly through the power of the “double portion of the Spirit.”

Stephen, being filled with the Holy Spirit, when he was about to be martyred, knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). This too is the power of the “double portion of the Spirit”—willingly accepting the cross, denying oneself, and walking the way of the cross.

Before Pentecost, Peter had vowed to follow the Lord faithfully even unto death. But when Jesus was arrested and put on trial, Peter denied Him with oaths before a servant girl—he fled from the cross. Yet after the Holy Spirit was poured out upon him at Pentecost, he willingly suffered shame, beatings and imprisonment—accepted the cross for the Lord. Therefore, when he was old and wrote his epistle, he said, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:14). The “Spirit of glory” resting upon them refers to the outpoured Spirit—the “double portion”—not merely the indwelling Spirit. He meant: because you have received the outpouring and fullness of the Spirit, you are able to endure reproach for Christ’s name and accept the cross. Thus, being filled with the Holy Spirit leads us to willingly walk the way of the cross.

Romans 8 begins by saying that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free. Later it says, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13). This also shows that the Holy Spirit leads us into the experience of the cross. When the Spirit works, moves, enlightens, and burns within us, He brings the work of the cross—putting to death the deeds of the body.

The Cross Brings Us Into the Fullness of the Holy Spirit

God’s Word shows us, on the one hand, that the double portion of the Spirit leads us to experience the cross. But on the other hand, it also tells us that the cross leads us to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The cross brings us daily to the place of death, to the position of “nothingness.” It empties us out. It causes our flesh to be cut away day by day, and our self to decrease day by day. As this happens, our spiritual capacity gradually expands. The measure of the Spirit dwelling in us increases, and the stature of Christ within us grows more and more. Therefore, if a Christian receives the outpouring of the Holy Spirit but refuses to walk the way of the cross, it is because there is still a great amount of flesh within. As a result, the measure of the Spirit’s fullness in that person remains extremely small. For this reason, after being filled with the Spirit, we must all the more allow the cross to empty out the flesh so that the Holy Spirit may fill us more abundantly.

No wonder the apostle John says in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” And immediately afterward he adds, “For God gives the Spirit without measure” (John 3:34).

The Way to Receive the Double Portion of the Spirit

Lastly, to help brothers and sisters who have not yet received the outpouring and fullness of the Holy Spirit, tonight we want to draw from the picture of Elisha receiving Elijah’s mantle—which symbolizes the double portion of the Spirit—and present one more pathway to receiving this double portion. May the Lord open our eyes so that every one of us may receive the outpouring and fullness of the Holy Spirit. When did Elisha receive the mantle? It was when his eyes saw Elijah ascending into heaven. That is the secret. When our hearts turn toward the ascended Lord Jesus, when we lift our praise toward the throne, the Holy Spirit is poured out and fills us. The Holy Spirit is not something we beg for—He has already been given. What remains is simply to receive.

How then do we receive? We receive by faith. And how do we exercise faith? By praising. Praise is the highest expression of faith; it is victorious faith. So when we praise the ascended Lord, the Holy Spirit is immediately poured out and fills us. The moment we begin to praise, the throne of the Lord seems to be right in our midst, and from that throne flows the living water of the Spirit, streaming down upon us. This is an indispensable experience in revival. May the Lord keep us walking on the path of revival.

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