'THE CALL OF ELISHA'
1Kings 19:19-21
VERSE 19
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah PASSED BY HIM and CAST HIS MANTLE UPON HIM.
-Elisha was just leading an ordinary life.
-He grew up watching his father plowing the farm and upon maturity it was his time to take over his father’s farm/job/responsibility.
-Being the leader, he was managing from behind to ensure that everything was done in order by all the eleven ahead of him
-But still, it must have been boring for him to do the ordinary… pointing to the fact that he was a man of Destiny. Men of destiny have a certain zeal that can't be quenched until they accomplish their God-Given Desires.
-I believe without a doubt that Elisha must have been relentlessly praying unto God and that's why at the Appointed Time, God sent Elijah to go and Anoint him.
-And on this very day when God had ordained for his anointment; when the prophet PASSED BY him, Elisha's Spirit rejoiced and agreed with The Lord's Spirit for He Had Heard Elisha's Cry.
-Beloved one of Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter how long you have missed your moment; how long you have prayed for:
*Peace in your life, marriage, house
*Healing & Deliverance
* Financial breakthrough & Debt Cancellation
*A partner
*The right business
*The right job
*The right Church Fellowship
*The right opportunity, people, opportunities.
When it's GOD'S TIME:
*To Answer your Prayers
*To Anoint you
*To bless you
*To promote you
*To uplift you
YOU WILL NOT JUST FEEL IT; HEAR IT IN THE SPIRIT, BUT YOU SHALL ALSO SEE IT WITH YOUR EYES, AS THE LORD SENDS HIS SERVANTS & ANGELS AT YOUR POINT OF PAIN & DESPAIR.....AND CAUSE A PARADIGM SHIFT IN YOUR LIFE NOW & FOREVERMORE.
By CASTING HIS MANTLE ON YOU, GOD will deposit HIS FIRE inside your heart and you will instinctively know that IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.
And you shall not miss your;
*Calling
*Blessings
*Breakthrough
*Opportunity
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
VERSE 20
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, let me, I Pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, “Go back again: for what have I done for thee?”
1) GOD'S TIME: Elisha's and Elijah's encounter was a kyros and chronos moment. Elisha had been praying for a long time in his lifetime for his situation to change, but God sent Elijah at His Appointed Time according to our life when Elisha was ready, and every piece of the puzzle was in accordance to God's Plan. Like Elisha left the oxen behind, I also believe that for us to achieve our Destined Purposes there are things that you and I have to leave behind no matter their sentimental value to us.
2) Completely let go of your past:
Elisha said goodbye to his father and mother to follow Elijah. We must make the decision to let go of everything that has been holding us back, through our words and deeds. We must denounce the familiar so as to access God's Blessings which are awaiting us tomorrow/future. We must denounce our problems and come to The LORD Proclaiming His Promises in our Lives according to Jesus Christ (The Bible).
VERSE 21
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and WENT AFTER Elijah and MINISTERED UNTO HIM(assistant/helper)
When the second generation of The Children of Israel were to cross over The Jordan River and possess The Promised Land, they had to be Circumcised again under Joshua. Just as the Israelite's were circumcised, we also have to go through SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION, and though the process is extremely painful & unbearable THE GREAT GRACE OF OUR RISEN MESSIAH SHALL TAKE YOU THROUGH.
For any branch to be productive it has to be pruned, though this is painful, its cutting and painful process is the only assurance of much more produce of fruits.
BELIEVING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR SAVIOR AND THE LORD OVER OUR LIVES, LEAVING OUR PASTS BEHIND, SURRENDERING OUR WORRIES AND FEARS UNTO HIM AS WE FOLLOW HIM IS THE ULTIMATE DEFINITION OF REAL FAITH, CONFIDENCE & TRUST.
We as Christians should also burn down all ungodly bridges, connections, people that will hold us back/remind us of our past or anything that will give us a reason to go back.
LOT'S WIFE LOOKED BACK AT WHAT THEY LEFT BEHIND AND SHE WAS FROZEN INTO A SCULPTURE.
*CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD'S CALLING WINS GOD'S FAVOR, HENCE, BLESSINGS AND BREAKTHROUGHS OVERFLOW OUR LIVES.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO EXPERIENCE HIS BLESSINGS; LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS CALLING AS HE MAKES OUR INSTINCTS ALIVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.