DWELLING IN DOTHAN 2
(week 51/09)
OLUBI JOHNSON
In our article last week, we saw that ‘dwelling in Dothan’ symbolically means living spiritually in a place where one is drawing from both the wells of mercy and the well of grace.
This is also symbolic of Elisha’s operating of the ‘double portion’ (2 Kg. 2.9).
By drawing on both wells of grace and mercy, we will be operating this ‘double portion’ of the Spirit without measure under the covering of a leadership that has grown into the perfection and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4.13).
The ‘water’ from the well of grace will enable us to operate with the character of Christ that can be summarized in the love of God (1 Cor. 13.4-8).
The ‘water’ from the well of mercy will enable us to operate with the power of Christ like the 12 Apostles (Lk. 9.1-2) and the 70 disciples (Lk. 10.1-17) at different degrees of glory depending on the degree of reverence we have to the leadership in the perfection and fullness of Christ under whose covering we are operating. This why the Lord Jesus said:
Mark 9:38-39 ESV: John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” (39) But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.
Now, how do we draw on the wells of grace and mercy, or, how do we dwell (not just visit) in Dothan?
We draw on the well of grace by praying to ‘wash feet’ at least once every six hours (Dt. 6.7, 2 Sam. 6.13) to cover for every hour to consistently receive the wisdom and power to walk in love.
We draw on the well of mercy by frequently acknowledging the Holy Spirit in our thinking for mercy unto eternal life (Jude 1.21) and praying frequently in tongues (1 Cor. 14.18). As we do this, our frequent speaking tongues triggers the vocal, revelation and power gifts of the Holy Spirit (in that order) frequently and consistently causing us to manifest the power of God on frequent and consistent basis.
Furthermore, this mercy we receive by frequently acknowledging (Pr. 3.5-6) the Holy Spirit for it in our thinking and frequently praying tongues causes to be faithful to perfect our obedience to the will of God in times of weakness and pressure like Jesus did at Gethsemane:
Luke 22:40-45 ESV: And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (41) And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, (42) saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (43) And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. (44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (45) And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
Romans 9:16 KJVR: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
1 Corinthians 7:25 MKJV: But concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. Yet I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.
2 Corinthians 4:1 MKJV: Therefore since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint.
It is vital to note that these things will work efficiently and consistently only when we are under the covering of a leadership that is operating in the perfection and fullness of Christ whose manifestation we are all eagerly expecting (Rom. 8.19) any time now in this 3rd day.
To operate under the covering of this leadership you need to:
1. Have an attitude of reverence towards them by a revelation (like Elisha ‘saw’ Elijah taken up and so partook of the double portion (2 Kg.2.9-13)) of their set (1 Cor. 12.28) position in the body of Christ. Remember it was a lack of revelation and reverence of who the Lord Jesus was, that caused their unbelief at Nazareth and consequently He could do no great work there (Mk. 6.1-6). Contrastly, it was the revelation of who the Lord Jesus was and the consequent reverence that caused Peter (Mt. 16.16-19), Andrew, Phillip, Nathaniel (Jn. 1.41-51) and the other apostles and disciples to be able to operate a borrowed anointing of the power of God under the covering of the Lord Jesus, so causing them to do great works of healing and deliverance.
2. To obey the instructions (Pr. 4.1, 13; 15.33) of praying as a daily habit to perfect love of God by the blood (Heb. 13.20-21), the Word (1 Jn. 2.5) and the Spirit (1 Jn.4.12-13) using 1 Cor. 13.4-8 as a basis. In addition to this, you should be praying with all kinds of prayer in Spirit (Eph. 6.18, 1 Tim. 2.1) at least one hour each day (start small with about 15mins and gradually increase (God’s sovereign mercy will cover you as you grow gradually) it up to one hour) to be conformed to the image of Jesus and enforce the Kingdom of God: righteousness, peace and joy (Rom. 14.17) in your life.
Luke 9:23 ESV: And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Hebrews 5:7 MKJV: For Jesus, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared,
So, by drawing on the wells of mercy and grace, in this way, we can begin to position ourselves spiritually to ‘dwell in Dothan’ in the imminent manifestation of the sons of God!