The outpouring of the Holy Spirit through Afterglow Services has sparked an incredible transformation within the church. Doors have opened for ministry in previously unimagined places: the church has brought hope and the Gospel to prisons and local community spaces like the mall, as God has provided numerous opportunities to minister. As a result, Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville has experienced a steady increase in growth, witnessed regular baptisms, and begun a school of discipleship, which provides members with foundational teachings on following Christ closely. This growth in numbers and faith is evident as individuals eagerly step into service roles within the church, with men’s ministry seeing enthusiastic participation—27 men signed up for the men’s advance.

In his heart, Pastor Allen Victor desires to see even more believers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Despite the tremendous growth, he perceives that some individuals remain hesitant, holding back from fully embracing what the Spirit has to offer. Through encouragement, he seeks to stir a deeper hunger in people for the Spirit’s presence, hoping that as their spiritual appetite increases, more will experience this life-transforming baptism.

Reflecting on the biblical foundations of a Spirit-filled life, Pastor Allen highlights the lives of two prophets, Elijah and Elisha, whose ministries exemplified profound devotion and miraculous empowerment. Elijah’s ministry showcased powerful, awe-inspiring acts, each demonstrating God’s authority and urging the people of Israel to turn from idolatry and return to the Lord. Elijah predicted a drought that lasted three and a half years as a judgment on Israel’s spiritual decline (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). He provided for a widow and her son by miraculously multiplying their oil and flour (1 Kings 17:8-16), raised the widow’s son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24), and called down fire on Mount Carmel in a dramatic showdown with the prophets of Baal, proving that God alone is sovereign (1 Kings 18:20-39). Elijah’s story also included moments where he prayed for rain to end the drought (1 Kings 18:41-45), was empowered to outrun King Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:46), and invoked God’s protection by calling down fire on soldiers who came to capture him (2 Kings 1:9-12). Before his ascension into heaven, he parted the Jordan River, an act of faith and divine intervention (2 Kings 2:8).

Elijah’s disciple, Elisha, desired a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit, a symbolic request that represented his commitment to carry on Elijah’s prophetic ministry with great faith. Elisha, fully committed, witnessed Elijah’s ascension and received the blessing of that double portion (2 Kings 2:9-10). Elisha’s ministry was marked by a continuation and expansion of miraculous signs: he parted the Jordan River with Elijah’s cloak (2 Kings 2:13-14), purified the water at Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22), and even raised a Shunammite woman’s son from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37). Through Elisha, God provided for a widow in debt by multiplying her oil (2 Kings 4:1-7), healed Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14), made an ax head float (2 Kings 6:1-7), and led an Aramean army in blindness as a divine protection (2 Kings 6:8-23). Elisha’s influence even extended beyond his death when a dead man was restored to life upon touching Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21). These prophets illustrate how God empowers those who pursue Him wholeheartedly and step into the calling He has placed on their lives.

In 2 Kings 2:1-15, we see the intense commitment Elisha had to following Elijah. He refused to be left behind and followed his mentor everywhere, demonstrating a hunger for God’s power that led to him receiving Elijah’s blessing and spiritual legacy. In the same way, followers of Jesus are called to pursue Him wholeheartedly. Pastor Allen pointed out that while Jesus had twelve close disciples, others followed at a distance, not fully committed to going where the Spirit might lead. Elisha’s steadfast faith and determination exemplified the kind of devotion that God honors, and he did not let the sons of the prophets or anyone else discourage him from following Elijah closely (2 Kings 2:3,5). Like Elisha, believers are encouraged to remain committed, ask God for a greater measure of His Spirit, and seek a double portion of His presence and guidance in their lives.

Pastor Allen encouraged the congregation to reflect on whether they, too, desired a double portion of the Spirit, and he reminded them of Jesus’ promise that the Father is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). By asking, seeking, and knocking, believers can encounter God in fresh and transformative ways, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them and work through them for God’s purposes. The commitment Elisha demonstrated is a model for all believers, a reminder to not hold back but to embrace the Spirit’s presence with a readiness to serve, grow, and witness God’s miracles in their lives.

This transformative teaching is part of the vibrant life of Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, where Pastor Allen Victor and the congregation strive to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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