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)