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Bishop B. Manjoro Dunamis
Are you faced with a difficult huddle in your home, finances, health, at work or in any key area of life and wondering what else to do about it? I have written this article with you in mind. Your situation is about to change. 2016 is a good year for you, a different year of a double portion. As we saw in past articles that God can do all things and even reverse the irreversible. We also need to understand that spiritual equipment is not cheap, you have to go through a place of sacrifice, where in order to make it in life you would need to sacrifice; time, resources and whatever is needed. Today I will show you how like Elisha you also need to pass through different places before the double portion; Bethel the place of calling of God and Jericho a place of spiritual warfare.

“And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you; but if not it shall not be so…” 2 Kings 2:9-10. This is Elijah and Elisha. Elijah is about to go and Elisha waits for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. But before receiving the double portion they have already passed through Gilgal where Elijah asks Elisha to remain behind and he refused. The lesson is that do not give up in life or quickly say it’s over. No friend. It’s never over until it’s over. Press on; push on, that marriage is about to get well, the project is about to take shape, the stray child is about to come home, the miracle is now at your door step, the acceptance letter is almost in your mailbox. Hold on and just don’t give up. O hallelujah. The double portion is not for quitters, No, no, no. It’s for fighters and those who keep going. When things get tough, the tough get going.

Then they came to Bethel and still Elisha refused to remain behind. Bethel is the place Jacob personally met God and made a covenant with him. To get a double portion, you need to pass through Bethel; you need to call on a God you know, heard and seen in your life. At Bethel you call upon God. It’s a personal relationship with God, the Bethel experience.

Back then in the 1970’s I remember going for a baptism service with one elderly man near Msasa Jaggers. When we got there, before we began to baptise people, huge drops of rain started to fall and all people ran for shelter. The elderly man said, “Nooo, don’t run stop.” I watched him closely. What was he saying? I wondered. I saw him look up to heaven and began to talk to God. It was simple; “Jesu, handiti tataurirana mangwanani kuti tiri kunobhabhatidza vanhu? Heya wafunga kubhabhatidza wega neyemudenga? (Jesus, didn’t we agree in the morning that we were going to baptize people today? So you have decided to do it with rain?)”. Right before my eyes and many others, we saw the rain stopping and clouds dispersing. The rain had stopped at the prayer of the man. O hallelujah, I like it, I like it.

And as though that wasn’t enough, the old man prayed again, “Ah kubva chiomesa ka vana vawatotesa,’ (dry up the people who are wet).” And the sun came out drying people, before we proceeded with baptizing people. Hallelujah! That was a Bethel experience. I saw a clear demonstration of the power and Kingdom of God. Friends, church is not just a denomination but demonstration of power.

Challenged by the Bethel experience I witnessed that day, I made up my mind to believe God, all my life. Sure enough one day at Dowson Farm, just outside Harare, conducting a huge youth conference of over 1500 young people, huge drops of rain began to fall, disrupting the meeting. It was a trying moment. What was I to do then with all those thousands of young people in the camp? God is a good God and He is able my friend. It was time to act and demonstrate the unmatchable power of the most High God.

With a total committal trust in God I told my boys, “Take out my suitcase and put all my suits outside!” That was faith, radical faith! The young men tried to argue and reason, but I told them, “Bring it all out, and if they get wet because of this rain, let it be told that I pitched a tent to preach to his people, and God brought down rain.” It was a bold move. I believed God and sure enough right before our eyes, we saw the rains dispersing and raining all round the farm except the place we were gathered with the youths. O, glory to God! He is able. You need a God that you know, a God who acts and answers prayer. God is powerful. What are you struggling with and crying about right now? You have been told, ‘you will see it!’ (uchazviona) and you are now tortured and crippled with fear? God can turn it around. You will not die but live to declare the goodness of the Lord.

Finally they came to Jericho (the place of warfare) and the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Know you that the Lord will take away your master from your head today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.” 2 Kings 2:5. It was at Jericho that Joshua faced a great warfare in the form of huge walls of the city. He did not fear but believed, God. With a shout, the walls tumbled down. O glory to God. At Jericho, it is the place where you are faced with great warfare. It can come in various forms. Actually when you get spiritual equipment from God or a ‘tool’ you will need to fight. The enemy will not just sit and see your family unite and prosper; see your business flourish, your ministry grow and your life succeed. No, no, no. If you desire a double portion, be geared for warfare.

Friend, no-matter what you are going through right now, I have a good word for you; God is able. He can do it for you. The story can change; for we later see the same Elisha who had passed through all manner of warfare, sacrifice and encountering God, walk through dry ground on the Jordan river as he was about to get his double portion. Have they placed huddles, blockades, and snares in your way? Fear not, you will walk through. Hallelujah. Do not be afraid of witches, charms or the work of the enemy, God can divinely protect you. He is able. For with God all things are possible, Mark 10:27.