19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant. NKJV
Passing the mantle.......Elijah was told what to do. The elderly prophet was told to go by way of the Wilderness of Damascus. He was told that when he arrived to anoint Hazael as king over Syria. He was to anoint Jehu as king over Israel. And he was to anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah, as a prophet in Elijah's place. God was directing Elijah to those who had not worshiped the world. They had not kissed Baal.
When passing the mantle, like leaving one position to take another, you are always looking for one that is qualified. Praise the Lord for His goodness, and His Holy Spirit that can direct us to those whose hearts are for the Lord God and for His glory! Amen.
Elijah certainly was directed to seek out Elisha and see him anointed. It also states that Elisha followed Elijah. That means he did what Elijah did, and spoke as Elijah spoke. Elisha was going to live like Elijah lived in the wilderness and know those caves.
Many miracles were seen in the life of Elijah. He showed a character of godliness and a stand which was the example of being zealous for the Lord!
Elijah's life exemplified a life led by the Spirit of God. Truly the Lord knows those who are His!
2 Timothy 2:19....................19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." NIV
In the listing of Jehu, Hazael, and Elisha, we know these three would be instrumental in seeing destruction of idolaters at this time in history.
When Elijah finds Elisha, we see him ploughing a field in the Jordan valley.
Yes, certainly hidden from view of the world. It was so much like David in the field with the sheep. It was the coming of a leader that could be found, not in public view but in the solitary place. In this, the prophet takes his mantel and throws it to Elisha as he passed by. This was indicating the call to the prophetic office.
Yes, Elisha was found, not in the public places, but in the remote, out of sight of the general public. He was found ploughing a field. What mercy, dignity or humility did he express to others? He had to have a love for people, and for his family to be helping out in the fields.
I think on the farms back home, where the farmer always had his sons and daughters to help plow a field, bale hay, and clean up the fields for new plantings. A farmer will use all those related to him to get the job done.
We are told that Elisha took the oxen that were working the field, and sacrificed them. He boiled the flesh and gave a wave of good- to all that were in the area. This probably included family, acquaintances, and friends. He took his leave from a life he knew, to find a new life!
Change had come to Elisha!
Can you imagine any excitement and the questions? I can!
What glorious power of God could Elisha have experienced that day? Can you imagine that connection that probably moved between the two men that day! Think of Elijah, the Tishbite. He was a man with no family and he liked being in caves. Seriously! Elijah truly left all to follow God and now Elisha was doing it willingly and probably most cheerfully as he worked the sacrifice and waved good-bye to all. Yes, "look Pop, I am sacrificing your best oxen and I am going with the Tishbite"!
How many of us would have "questioned" the Tisbite? How many of us would have said, "ELIJAH, your timing is off!"
How many of us would have "questioned" the Tisbite? How many of us would have said, "ELIJAH, your timing is off!"
In the "moment" of a tossed mantle to a young man ploughing a field, a life was forever changed.
Was Elisha caught off guard? Was he aware this mantle was coming to him?
Even in the case of Joseph and the coat of many colors, do we remind ourselves that as it happened to Joseph, we too, can experience an anointing that would be seen by many. For I am certain, people took note that the prophet had gone out the way to the Wilderness of Damascus. The Holy Spirit had touched the heart of Elisha. Submission came quickly to Elisha. ( Some commentaries mention that Elisha was probably raised in the school of the prophets.) One thing is certain, Elisha said yes and he followed Elijah.
Elisha was going to spend time with a true prophet. He was going to know all he needed to know. What great advantage to spend some time under the direction of someone who loves God and is led by God! What an awesome adventure to know in the matter of minutes, you could know and experience a relationship with a powerful God.
If anything a person could teach a youth or those under thirty years of age, it could and should be the wisdom of God. What is the cost of serving? Ask someone who does it regularly and not just on weekends. What is the cost of receiving God's wisdom and finding life for a journey we did not plan for or expected. Was Elisha expecting this new "change", this new way of life?
When Elisha was passed the mantle, it was something seen. It was a mantle that was something that represented a passing from one generation to the next. It was a life of "miracles". Elisha was one chosen by God Himself and Elijah saw to it that the mantle had been passed.
Do we have a mantle to pass on to the next generation? Yes!
We have those called to prayer, to worship, to giving the Word, to giving salvation messages in the work place, or down at the coffee shop. Even those who exhort others, have a mantle to pass on to another generation. We each have something we can pass to another, especially one that which is passed from a grand-parent to a grand-child, from a Father to a daughter, from a great-grandmother to a great niece or nephew. Or like in the case of Lester Sumrall to Rod Parsley. As a young man, Rod Parsley followed the teachings given by Sumrall. Today, we see a lifetime of a man who followed closely and learned the wisdom of God. Lester Sumrall once said, "champions trust God while others ask for answers. They step forward while everyone else prays for volunteers."
It is trusting God and moving forward when He says move.
Each of us are a prophet over our family and community. We can speak life to our family, over our family or we can speak death. Each of us must at some point think on our family lineage. We must take notice of the certain gifts and abilities others in our family may hold. In the life of Elijah, we saw a man willing to pray and to live alone. He gave his all to God! He spent hours in the presence of God. He was one who could lead, communicate and prepare the people. HOW could he do that? He spent time in prayer, that communication device by using our words or praying in Tongues. When instructing the people of " a rain" coming, how many probably thought about how dry and how dead everything was in that region? Yet, the instruction came, " go up, eat and drink!
1 Kings 18:41-46.......................41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' " 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. NKJV
But let's take a quick look back at Elijah in the previous chapters and specifically 1 Kings 18. Elijah took on the whole government of Queen Jezebel. Ahab had heard from Elijah and had the prophets, all 450 false prophets assembled on Mount Carmel against Elijah.(ever wonder how many of them, were at one time, followers of God before becoming one who follows the world and self?) It was to be a showdown, you might say. Elijah even gave those 450 prophets the advantage of going first, to build an altar and worship Baal. Well, you know how that went, right? I kings 18: 25-29. "If the Lord is God follow Him, if Baal is God follow him! (verse 21)
No one responded when the false prophets cried out, and no one responded when they cut themselves with the blades. So Elijah builds his altar and prepares the meat, but he also has water put on the altar newly built AND PRAYS!( verses 36-37 of 1 Kings 18) Then fire falls from heaven. Yes, that sacrifice was received by God. Those false prophets were going to be executed. Elijah came against a government who seek to satisfy self. I am certain the word got out quickly by those looking on.
GOD JUST NEEDED A MAN TO SAY YES AND DO IT!
Elijah gave instructions. King Ahab followed that instructions and Elijah continued to pray. Would you not have followed those instructions seeing fire fall from heaven? The mantle brought responsibility. It was for those close by and for those far away.
A shift is here. It is in motion right now! That major shift in anointings is in prayer, in healing, in salvation messages that will move to those of the youth. They will be seen in major ways that will speak volumes to the lost. Youth will speak with the boldness as of a lion.
I have already seen it in our grand-daughter. When the Holy Spirit moves on one, and the room seems so silent, and one, as a child starts to speak..........one who really knows the Lord's voice will be looking for the pen and paper. I have such a "WORD" given me in October of last year. I keep it on my laptop. When God speaks, we must heed and receive to be active in seeing His plan fulfilled in our lives. I may not look like what I am suppose to be doing. But like Elisha, I am ploughing that ground, and am keeping my self clean before God ! I am looking into His Word....I am..... looking into humility, being merciful to others, and one of dignity. It is a work in progress.
Mark 7:14-17..........14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
Mark 7:20-23............ 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man." NKJV
We are to be watchful....."yes. but I am pastoring a church," even more so......we must be watchful of that which can defile one. Out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries, murders, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, thefts, foolishness,...etc...........!
1 John 2:15-17.............15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV
We each have a responsibility to leave a legacy to the youth who are our future. We are to be those who leave a legacy of prayer, a legacy of the Word of God, a legacy of following Jesus, and being positioned to hear Him. We should be those with the wisdom of God to speak and encourage our youth into becoming what God planned.
For the one who is positioned in God, who looks for truth and led by it, is the one who looks out for the good for others and does not think so highly of himself. God is Spirit and those who communicate with HIM will do it in spirit and truth.
Do we have a mantle to pass on to the next generation? Yes!
We have those called to prayer, to worship, to giving the Word, to giving salvation messages in the work place, or down at the coffee shop. Even those who exhort others, have a mantle to pass on to another generation. We each have something we can pass to another, especially one that which is passed from a grand-parent to a grand-child, from a Father to a daughter, from a great-grandmother to a great niece or nephew. Or like in the case of Lester Sumrall to Rod Parsley. As a young man, Rod Parsley followed the teachings given by Sumrall. Today, we see a lifetime of a man who followed closely and learned the wisdom of God. Lester Sumrall once said, "champions trust God while others ask for answers. They step forward while everyone else prays for volunteers."
It is trusting God and moving forward when He says move.
Each of us are a prophet over our family and community. We can speak life to our family, over our family or we can speak death. Each of us must at some point think on our family lineage. We must take notice of the certain gifts and abilities others in our family may hold. In the life of Elijah, we saw a man willing to pray and to live alone. He gave his all to God! He spent hours in the presence of God. He was one who could lead, communicate and prepare the people. HOW could he do that? He spent time in prayer, that communication device by using our words or praying in Tongues. When instructing the people of " a rain" coming, how many probably thought about how dry and how dead everything was in that region? Yet, the instruction came, " go up, eat and drink!
1 Kings 18:41-46.......................41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' " 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. NKJV
But let's take a quick look back at Elijah in the previous chapters and specifically 1 Kings 18. Elijah took on the whole government of Queen Jezebel. Ahab had heard from Elijah and had the prophets, all 450 false prophets assembled on Mount Carmel against Elijah.(ever wonder how many of them, were at one time, followers of God before becoming one who follows the world and self?) It was to be a showdown, you might say. Elijah even gave those 450 prophets the advantage of going first, to build an altar and worship Baal. Well, you know how that went, right? I kings 18: 25-29. "If the Lord is God follow Him, if Baal is God follow him! (verse 21)
No one responded when the false prophets cried out, and no one responded when they cut themselves with the blades. So Elijah builds his altar and prepares the meat, but he also has water put on the altar newly built AND PRAYS!( verses 36-37 of 1 Kings 18) Then fire falls from heaven. Yes, that sacrifice was received by God. Those false prophets were going to be executed. Elijah came against a government who seek to satisfy self. I am certain the word got out quickly by those looking on.
GOD JUST NEEDED A MAN TO SAY YES AND DO IT!
Elijah gave instructions. King Ahab followed that instructions and Elijah continued to pray. Would you not have followed those instructions seeing fire fall from heaven? The mantle brought responsibility. It was for those close by and for those far away.
A shift is here. It is in motion right now! That major shift in anointings is in prayer, in healing, in salvation messages that will move to those of the youth. They will be seen in major ways that will speak volumes to the lost. Youth will speak with the boldness as of a lion.
I have already seen it in our grand-daughter. When the Holy Spirit moves on one, and the room seems so silent, and one, as a child starts to speak..........one who really knows the Lord's voice will be looking for the pen and paper. I have such a "WORD" given me in October of last year. I keep it on my laptop. When God speaks, we must heed and receive to be active in seeing His plan fulfilled in our lives. I may not look like what I am suppose to be doing. But like Elisha, I am ploughing that ground, and am keeping my self clean before God ! I am looking into His Word....I am..... looking into humility, being merciful to others, and one of dignity. It is a work in progress.
Mark 7:14-17..........14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
Mark 7:20-23............ 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man." NKJV
We are to be watchful....."yes. but I am pastoring a church," even more so......we must be watchful of that which can defile one. Out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries, murders, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, thefts, foolishness,...etc...........!
1 John 2:15-17.............15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV
For the one who is positioned in God, who looks for truth and led by it, is the one who looks out for the good for others and does not think so highly of himself. God is Spirit and those who communicate with HIM will do it in spirit and truth.
John 4:22-24.............. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NKJV
We are to be acquainted with the spiritual things of God.
In seeking to stay in the "spirit" we hear the Father's voice. We hear and obey instructions. Staying in His Word and praying, lights our way into the place we are to abide always. In hearing, we see with spiritual eyes those destined to lead the "next generation". We, as the older generation, should be those who give out the wisdom of God. We should be those who always lead anyone back to Jesus and the goodness of God. Our leading is to be that of a tree growing and producing fruit after it's kind. WE are Not be jealous or envious of the youth or those who get that mantle to move forward and claim more for the kingdom of God. Ours is to see that many come to Jesus through love and mercy. As we contact the Author and the Finisher of our faith, we are those who put that Word of God into motion. That Word will not return void. We find that even after Elisha was dead and buried, that very mantle of "miracles" was still occurring. Read below!
2 Kings 13:20-21...........20 Elisha died and was buried.
Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. NIV
Even when Elisha had passed. His bones still had the life of God in them to cause a man to live and stand on his feet! Even in death, he was still in motion for God!
Are we passing a mantle that others can experience in their own lives?
Are we giving others the wisdom we have acquired to teach the young how to move forward in God?
We cannot do this if we are stuck in stuff!
Yes, God knows those who are His! He knows those who thirst........
Psalm 63:1-4 says, "O God, You
are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for
You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You
in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."
In our spiritual growth, we are measured much like we read in Ezekiel 47. Can we leave the stagnant behind? Those spiritual waters are pretty deep!
In verse 3....to the ankles..........wow, that is a start. I think of it as the beginning of our walk with God the Holy Spirit.
In verse 4...from waist to the knees....another wow! There is movement. Yes, it is a moving water to my knees. Am I ready for this Lord? Looks like I am growing in the Word of God and in prayer.
In verse 5.........IT IS A RIVER! I CANNOT CROSS BY WALKING! Those waters are deep and powerful. Do we give over to that movement?
Are we willing to commit to grow in the Lord. Where are we in that level of water.........?
Are we willing to be taught, be given wisdom for life, and the power to see the miraculous? I am!
God knows those who are truly His!
Father, we pray to be those who continually hold the thoughts and purposes of our God for we have the mind of Christ. May we be those who live with the leading of the Holy Spirit. We desire to mature and grow in You daily, submitting all our dreams and desires to YOU. We pray to be those who flourish and bear fruit in old age. Make YOUR name glorious through us Lord, and we will continue to have the walk of faith.
Father, we pray to be those who continually hold the thoughts and purposes of our God for we have the mind of Christ. May we be those who live with the leading of the Holy Spirit. We desire to mature and grow in You daily, submitting all our dreams and desires to YOU. We pray to be those who flourish and bear fruit in old age. Make YOUR name glorious through us Lord, and we will continue to have the walk of faith.
Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. According to Romans 15:13...we pray the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by power of the Holy Spirit. We pray to be those who are taught by the Spirit of the living God, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. We say that we are (2 Cor. 9:15) the spiritual man who makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment.
Help us Father to be resilient and ready to change ........our focus is to be kept on YOU!
In Psalm 33:10, we are told.....10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. Father, train us in diligent listening, hearing YOUR plans and purposes and then helps us to walk in radical obedience and desperate dependence upon YOUR leading just like Elisha did! Amen.
Help us Father to be resilient and ready to change ........our focus is to be kept on YOU!
In Psalm 33:10, we are told.....10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. Father, train us in diligent listening, hearing YOUR plans and purposes and then helps us to walk in radical obedience and desperate dependence upon YOUR leading just like Elisha did! Amen.
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
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