Beloved, have you heard the story of the calling of Elisha?
Before Elijah was taken into heaven, God commanded him to anoint Elisha. In a cave on Mt. Horeb, God directed Elijah to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha as a prophet in his place.
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
I Kings 19:15-16
Elisha was chosen and called by God … not by Elijah. Elijah found Elisha plowing in his father’s fields. He was not one of the prophets in the schools of prophets, the son of a prophet, or a prominent leader over the people. But God saw Elisha out in the field, plowing, and knew that he was the man who would serve and faithfully obey.
Elijah walked over to Elisha, took his mantle and threw it over him.
The mantle … a rough, hairy garment … had come to be recognized as the garb of a prophet. It was a sign of the prophet’s vocation. To cast his mantle upon Elisha was a significant way of designating him to the prophetic office. It meant his adoption as the spiritual son and successor of Elijah as a prophet of God over Israel.
Throwing his mantle upon Elisha represented God’s divine call upon Elisha’s life to fulfill a specific purpose … as a prophet of God. Remember, with God’s calling comes God’s ANOINTING and the DIVINE CAPABILITY to fulfill God’s purposes.
In response to God’s calling upon his life, Elisha immediately responded. He did not hesitate. He was willing to LEAVE EVERYTHING … his family … his wealth … lay down his personal life … EVERYTHING … to fulfill the calling of God upon his life.
Elisha ran after Elijah to tell him that he was ready and willing to follow. He only wanted to take time to say goodbye to his mother and father. He killed the yoke of oxen with which he was plowing, boiled their flesh and had a farewell feast with his friends.
Elisha left EVERYTHING, humbled himself and became Elijah’s servant. Though he had been called by God to be a prophet, he did not enter into the office of the prophet until he was ANOINTED by God.
Elisha walked humbly before God. Although God called him to be Elijah’s successor as God’s prophet, he recognized the anointing upon Elijah’s life, and was willing to become his servant. Instead of exalting himself into the position of prophet, Elisha ministered to Elijah. He did not put his own needs first. He was a faithful servant, ministering to Elijah’s needs.
Elisha went through a period of training as a SERVANT unto Elijah, and ministered unto him until he was taken up into heaven. During this time, Elisha learned obedience and submission unto God, which prepared him to walk in God’s anointing. He was described as being the one who “poured water on the hands of Elijah” (II Kings 3:11).
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Say this faith declaration out loud:
Like the great prophet Elisha before me, when God summons me, I will serve with all my heart! I will drop everything and give my all to Him, because He has given me so much more to me & for me!
Scripture Readings:
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
I Kings 19:15-16
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
II Kings 3:11
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