“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?” (1 Kings 19:19-20 NKJV).
In our last session, we see that God commanded Elijah, to anoint his replacement. All he had to do was throw that power saturated mantle upon Elisha, for him to drop everything, and follow Elijah. What else did Elisha do, to prove his commitment to the Ministry?
“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.” (1 Kings 19:21 NKJV).
Elisha killed the oxen he was plowing the field with, used the equipment for the fire, and shared the meat with the people. That is a total commitment, not to return to a former life. Ministry was all he would do now, for the rest of his life. He only had one request, to be able to kiss his family goodbye. There is not recorded passage, where Elisha every returned home. This reminds us of Jesus’ own words:
“So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30) who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30 NKJV).
We see with this story that every great leader, will train their replacement. Leadership is not about power, or being indispensable. True leadership is willing to delegate. Future leaders are willing to become servants, in a learning capacity. Great leaders, must first be great followers. Elisha was willing to learn all he could from the man of God, and he was rewarded with the “mantle” being passed on to him. We see that Elisha got a DOUBLE PORTION of Elijah’s anointing, and in fact did twice as many miracles, as Elijah did.
Are we willing to serve in a servant capacity, and be disciples of men and women of God? I have see so many young, inexperienced Christians, try and jump into Ministry too soon. Not taking the time to be ministered to. The Bible gives a word of caution.
“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4) one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5) (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6) not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7) Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV).
Let us also learn from the life of Elisha. Be willing to fully commit to Ministry, and glean for the experience of mature Christians. When you do, God will bless and expand your Ministry, when you build a firm foundation. You will need to do that, as you will be tested.
We wrap up this series today. Thanks your for your support. Please read, share, FOLLOW, and tell a friend. CHRIS
Covenant Chronicles with Chris Lovett 