Spiritual Warfare - 19

Receiving the Baton

Elisha wholeheartedly prepared to take up the challenge as Elijah’s mantle fell on him.

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.
1 Kings 19:19-21 (NKJV)

As soon as the mantle fell on Elisha, he recognized God’s call. Then he personally made a firm decision to destroy the old yoke to take up the new. He immediately responded to his higher calling.

Has the mantle fallen on you? What is your response?

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

Elisha endured through the period of training, by serving, learning and following Elijah. Elijah’s mantle, which started him off on his spiritual journey, became very precious to him. It kept him going as he focused on it and pressed toward the goal.

How about you?

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

1 And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
2 Kings 2:1-2 (NKJV)

Elisha was determined to get hold of the mantle. 

9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
2 Kings 2:9-10 (NKJV)

The mantle of anointing should increase as it goes down the line, if there is an attitude of humility and perseverance.

When I was a little girl, I used to watch my mother play the organ. She learnt by herself to play, reading music. I have had much interest in music, and with perseverance gained basic skills in playing the keyboard over many years. When our son was about 8 years old, I taught him a few basic chords on the keyboard. He progressed very fast, and to our amazement, demonstrated confident ability to play music within a few months! The Lord impressed upon my heart that this was an answer to my prayer when I nursed him as an infant. I prayed that his fingers should always be used for God’s glory!

The first piece of music that The Lord enabled Preshan to compose with the help of his teacher was named ‘The Return of the Zephyr’. Zephyr means ‘A gentle breeze’. This helped me to realize and understand that this is the work of the Holy Spirit, returning to each generation in greater measure for His glory.

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
2 Kings 2:11-13 (NKJV)

Elisha was spiritually minded and received a double portion of anointing from his master. Gehazi was carnally minded and received a curse.

Ministries entrusted to certain servants of God are quite often passed down to their own children, continuing with their family name.

21 “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”

Isaiah 59:21 (NKJV)

Yet it is necessary for us to realize that this is not like an earthly family business, where the motive would be, a name and profit for the family. When necessary, God intervenes to break that trend. Saul’s intent was to pass the crown to his son Jonathan, but God’s plan was different. God looks at the heart. He chooses for His kingdom work. All profit is for His kingdom. All glory goes to Him. The name of JESUS alone is to be exalted.

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)

God’s kingdom values and criteria are very different to the earthly systems.

22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
Psalm 118:22-23 (NKJV)

Let us place our entire confidence in the Living God as we face the battle through our life on earth, knowing that His kingdom is eternally victorious!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Hebrews 12:28-19 (NKJV)

Spiritual Warfare - 18

Passing on the Baton

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NKJV)

Imagine a baton relay. A servant of God has run and is almost finishing his course on Earth. The next in line has been observing him carefully. He desires to carry such anointing and more. He also learns from the shortfalls of his predecessor so that he can do it better. He humbly serves and learns from his master or (natural or spiritual) father. He must be careful not to focus on the father's weaknesses which would make it difficult for him to honor the father, but to lift up his eyes to focus on the spiritual calling and anointing GOD had placed on the father. The son should intercede for the father.

 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?" So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah."
2 Kings 3:11

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." So he said, You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
2 Kings 2:9-10

We see similarities in the passing on of baton of Elijah to Elisha, with John to JESUS.

So they answered him, "A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
2 Kings 1:8

And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:4

 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Matthew 11:13-14

JESUS, being GOD in the flesh, humbled Himself to be baptized by John, to receive the mantle from the Father in Heaven!

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:13-17

Although John was the forerunner, he humbled himself and exalted CHRIST. 

Humility and honor is very important 

 John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."
John 1:26-27

There has to be closeness for the baton to be passed from one to the other. As the first runner slows down, ready to pass down the baton, the second runner starts running slowly, reaching for the baton. There has to be a coordinated slowing down and speeding up, respectively, for a smooth transition. There has to be a “letting go” from the one and a “getting hold of” from the other. When the one has finished, the second in line takes over to run his course. It calls for discipline of self and focus on the baton that is the kingdom work, in both.

If I am kingdom-minded, I will pass on the baton to my descendants knowing that the battle has to be won even after my time on earth. This comes in obedience to God’s command, “Be Fruitful and multiply.” My aim is not just to live a life of victory, making a name for myself, but to see an army of God marching in victory. This was not so with Absalom.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument. 
2 Samuel 18:18 (NKJV)

Because Saul was selfish, he was envious of David. He put selfish interest before the kingdom interest. Even though David was more profitable for the kingdom, Saul was trying to kill him.

⁷ So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."
⁸ Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"
⁹ So Saul eyed David from that day forward.
1 Samuel 18:7-9 (NKJV) 

Elijah was willing to pass on a double portion of his anointing to Elisha. 
The LORD JESUS desired that His disciples to greater things than He did.
What is my desire? 
What is my reaction when those of the next generation serve the LORD better, bring more profit to the Kingdom and more glory to the LORD?

¹² "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
John 14:12 (NKJV) 

It is GOD Who puts in the succession plan for His Kingdom work. It is important that I accept and submit to His choice.

¹ Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
² And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see,
³ and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down,
⁴ that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!"
1 Samuel 3:1-4 (NKJV) 




Our fore fathers, in the Old Testament, pronounced a blessing or a curse on each of their children before their death. This was inspired of The Lord and it came to pass. The leaders of God’s people gave clear instruction and encouragement to their successors as led by God. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples, set an example for them to follow, and blessed and commissioned them before He went up to the Father.

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV)

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:21-22 (NKJV)

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:50-51 (NKJV)

Let us diligently check our hearts to ensure that the baton of our ministry and mantle is passed on effectively to our natural and spiritual descendants through example, instruction and blessing. That is God’s plan for His kingdom. A Godly wife and mother who is an intercessor, facilitates the passing on of the baton from father to son. She would stand in the gap and intercede for the father’s heart to turn to the son and the son’s heart to turn to the father. An ungodly and carnally minded woman would hinder this process.

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
Malachi 4:5-6 (NKJV)