Pastor Alex started with a topic that is difficult for all of us, but he gives us an example of someone who nailed it! Obedient, Surrender When was the last time you can remember following with your whole heart in obedient surrender? I pray that it was God you were following, like his prophet Elisha did in 1 Kings. Elijah was told by God to go and call him to follow in his ministry. Picture the scene, Elisha is out plowing the fields with 12 other teams of oxen. Elijah shows up and throws his cloak towards him. Elisha knew this was a call to follow him. (I might not have known but it was clear to Elisha.) He told Elijah let me say his goodbyes and then he would follow him. He then proceeds kill the oxen and makes a fire to roast their flesh with the wood of his plow. He gives the food to the other workers and leaves to follow Elijah becoming his assistant. There was no going back for Elisha he was “all in!” He completely abandons his former life and leaves to follow God when God called through Elijah. That is obedient surrender to God’s call!
The mantle or cloak passed to Elisha lead him into service of God in so many ways. He followed and learned from Elijah until it was time for him to be a prophet on his own. He was wise and discerning towards his mentor as he asked Elijah for a double portion, that extra blessing portion given to the first born. Elijah knew this was not his to give but God’s so he told him in 2 Kings 2:9-10 “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” God granted his request as seen in verses 11-12 “And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.” Quite a grand exit for his prophet, and Elisha saw it all!
So what did Elisha do with his double portion from Elijah through God? Scripture attributes 7 miracles to Elijah and 14 to Elisha- that is double! I love the miracles as they range from the common helping a poor widow to provide for her debt and future with oil, finding a lost axe, fixing a deadly stew to healing the Shulamite’s son and curing Naaman’s leprosy. My favorite is in 2 Kings 6 when the king of Syria was seeking war against Israel. When Israel seemed to always know what they were doing, the king asked who was betraying them and a servant replied in 2 Kings 6:12 “ And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So the king ordered his troops to find Elisha, who was in Dothan, and seize him. When the kings troops arrived they surrounded the house where Elisha and his servant were. The servant went out and saw all the troops and was very afraid and told Elisha. I love Elisha reply and God’s solution to this siege in 6:17-19 “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.” Chariots of fire with angels to keep the enemy away from his servant Elisha and Elisha’s response to request blindness not death.
By taking up Elijah’s cloak, Elisha has an amazing life filled with miracles of service and protection. He left his legacy of faithfulness for us to read and study about as we reflect on our own lives.
What kind of a legacy will you leave?
Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Think about the things this week that are heavenly treasures and ask yourself how am I storing them and what are they? Look to the life of Elisha for ideas as his actions were remembered eternally- kindness and provision for others, obedience, service, rescues, healing both physically and emotionally, prayer and knowing God’s word. We are not called to do all these things but to live in the power of the Holy Spirit relying upon Jesus as He leads us!
Linda
Linda
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Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass
LINDA'S BLOG
Linda is a member of Crossroads church and regularly blogs about her faith.
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