Kingdom Nuggets No. 12
This Kingdom Nugget can also be read in conjunction with the trilogy of KN.9, 10 & 11.
(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 firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
(17) But HE SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE THE SON of the hated for the firstborn, BY GIVING HIM A DOUBLE PORTION OF ALL THAT HE HATH: for he is the beginning of his strength; THE RIGHT OF THE FIRSTBORN IS HIS.
The above scripture brings out the principle that the genuine FIRST-BORN is acknowledged by receiving a DOUBLE PORTION of the inheritance. The Background that goes along with this is . . . when the father dies, his FIRST-BORN son receives 2/3 of the inheritance . It is his supply so that he can fulfil his obligation — which is that the first-born son will give to the rest of the family what father would have given had he stayed around.
NONE of his double-portion of the inheritance is for himself. The other sons would share the 1/3 and they could do as they please with their portion. The first-born son is expected to have matured to the place where he can handle the responsibility.
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)
(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 horse-men 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 (see next page: they moved in the spirit of adoption - Rom. 8:15) 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 went on to do 16 miracles . . . the ‘double portion’ was truly evident.
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 now one with His Father, is 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 can only be greater in number . . . double ? or more ?
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 also.
(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.
(5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
(6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
(7) Then ALL those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
(8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
(9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and BUY FOR YOURSELVES.
It cost those virgins something to have the extra portion of oil.
(1)0 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.
(1)1 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, LORD, LORD, open to us.
(1)2 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Those that had the double portion ENTERED in with the Bridegroom. The others had to wait to see
Him. 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 lost out.
Job 1:2 And there were born unto him SEVEN SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS.
(3) His substance also was SEVEN THOUSAND SHEEP, AND THREE THOUSAND CAMELS, AND FIVE HUNDRED YOKE OF OXEN, AND FIVE HUNDRED SHE ASSES, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
Notice what Job had . . .
Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had FOURTEEN THOUSAND SHEEP, AND SIX THOUSAND CAMELS, AND A THOUSAND YOKE OF OXEN, AND A THOUSAND SHE ASSES.
(13) HE HAD ALSO SEVEN SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS.
At the end of the book . . . everything has DOUBLED . . . 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’.
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.
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 into it. In side this DOUBLED over material was placed the ‘Urim and the Thummim’ which gave the High Priest an ability to hear from God. He pictures for us the priesthood into
which we are called (Melchisedec) who will also move with a double portion of the Spirit . . . which is close
to the heart 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. The
‘seed’ rains and the ‘harvest’ rains together. . . a DOUBLE portion of rain. This would be the first month of
the ‘Civil’ year which was the same as the seventh month of the religious year. 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!
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 ? Answer = that of being changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ as we allow the Holy Spirit to perform that process in us. We get captivated by such a hope and truly we are PRIS-ONERS OF THAT HOPE. This is a picture of being, as Paul was, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
(Philemon 1,9 . . . Ephesians 3:1 etc.).
(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. Through the ‘down-payment’ of Ephesians 1:14 . . . the earnest of the Spirit (mantle) carries with it the promise (hope) of receiving the double portion. At the Feast of Pentecost there were TWO wave loaves waved before the Lord and they were made from TWO - one tenth measures of meal (It could have said one fifth measure !!!). . . and those that receive become the FIRSTFRUITS unto the Lord (refer Lev.23:16-17).
Once one has progressed past the baptism of the Spirit and entered into the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle picture then there is waiting for you a calling to be a part of the adopted first-fruits company of overcomers who will have the double portion of the anointing. . . it flows out of a relationship that one has with the Father. §
ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
What did Elisha have to ‘overcome’ in order to receive his double portion?
What do we need in our testimony to be able to declare that we are a part of the Body of the High Priest, Christ-Jesus?