From revmah@usa.net Thu Feb 14 14:36:53 2002 From: revmah@usa.net (M. Adrienne Hawthorne) Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 06:36:53 -0800 Subject: [Rochester's Upcoming Events] [Selah: Pause and Think about That!] 2/14/2002 Message-ID: Take Up Your Mantle - Part Two

Elijah needed to get it together to mentor the schools of the prophets, and it was God's plan to have him name his co-laborer and successor: Elisha.

1Ki 19:19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.

1Ki 19:20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"

1Ki 19:20 Elisha stopped plowing and ran after him. "Let me kiss my parents good-by, then I'll go with you," he said. "You can go," Elijah said. "But remember what I've done for you."

1Ki 19:21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

Let's look at Elisha, and how he took up his mantle.

What made God choose Elisha?

First, we can surmise that Elisha came from a wealthy family. He was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. Even though he was the master of the house he did not think it about himself to work with those who work for him. He was not one sitting on the porch asking for some hot toddies. He did not lead from his position, he lead through his function. The fact that he was willing to plow along side the others reflected that he was a man of character.

Second we may surmise that he must have been a man who loved God. While he plowed he may have sang a song:

I love you Lord and I lift my voice,
To worship you oh my soul rejoice.
Take joy my king in what you hear,
Let it be a sweet, sweet, sound in your ear.

Lord I really love you,
I place no one above you, your all I need I'm satisfied . . .

Third, we can surmise he must have been a man of prayer, . .

Elisha understood the spiritual and moral climate of the culture and government. He knew, that his nation needed God like never before, and as he plowed, he prayed!

Isa 21:6 This is what the Lord says to me: Post a watchman. Have him report whatever he sees.

Isa 21:8 The watchman called, "Sir, I stand on the watchtower every day. Every night, I stand guard at my post.

Eze 3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me.

Eze 33:6 "'But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't blow his horn to warn the people and the enemy comes and kills someone, that watchman must die because of his sin. I will hold him responsible for their deaths.'

Eze 33:7 "Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me.

Finally, he must have been a man of purpose and determination. He counted the cost, because he knew there was something greater. He gave up his natural inheritance for a greater, spiritual inheritance.

Elisha understood that pedigree failed to determine destiny.The Apostle Paul agreed:

Phil 3:10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible, I may attain the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. 12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press . . . . .

Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

It's not about what I have, but what I shall posses, I press!

It's not about where I've been but where I am going, I press!

It's not about who I was, but who I am to become, I press!

It's not about my past, but about His promise, I press!

Elisha was chosen and selected by God to raise up a generation of prophetic people hiding in the rocks.


Men and women of God now is the time, declares the Lord that you forget the past and press to posses!

Selah,
Ap. M. Adrienne Hawthorne

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Posted by M. Adrienne Hawthorne to Selah: Pause and Think about That! at 2/14/2002

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