Being A Faithful Servant

I hope you are excited to be in Church today to worship and hear the word of God. I don't know if it is the weather or something else but I have to say that once in a while, I get the impression that this is more of a routine than real worship that lacks enthusiasm. It reminds me of a certain Anglican Priest who was frustrated by his congregation’s indifference to his sermons and their lack of passion towards God. So, one Sunday, he decided to do something about it. He called the Altar Guild volunteer aside and ordered that prune juice be used instead of wine for communion. “Why prune juice?” she asked. Well, said the Priest, “If my sermons don’t move them, at least the prune juice will!”

Today’s OT reading tells us that except for Elisha, all of the prophets who Elijah actually taught were MIA when he ascended into heaven. They were not ordinary folk but the religious ones. It is like many Christians of today who do a lot of good work but fall short of seriously preparing for the return of Jesus. And so, this morning as we are about to enter a new season of preparation which we call lent, our focus will be on Elisha and how you and I can better prepare to meet our master.

And so my first point is: Like Elisha when God calls you, be willing to follow without conditions.

Going back a little to I kings 19, we read that Elisha was plowing a field when he was called to follow Elijah. Unlike many of us he made no excuses except one request which was to kiss his mother and father goodbye.

Story goes like this:

v19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. v20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” v21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

As you can see Elisha actually threw a party when Elijah called him to be his servant. He went big and served everyone steak! Isn’t that amazing. Elisha wasn’t given a title or position and in fact nothing is said about Elisha for the 7 or 8 years that he served Elijah. The thing that I find most fascinating about Elisha’s ministry is that he served without the need to be recognized.

I wonder if there is someone here this morning who is ready to throw in the towel. You have been wondering whether it has really been worth it because you are seldom recognized for your service. Friend, I say this lovingly – but instead of looking for praises from people, count it a blessing and be thankful that God has chosen you to serve and follow him. Sometimes the things you do will go unnoticed by men but not by God. We must be willing to serve with passion and the best of our abilities knowing that God is a rewarder of the faithful.

In verse 2 Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. But Elisha said unto him, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.

Notice, Elijah gave Elisha a way “out” but Elisha essentially says, I know my God is alive and so are you which makes me never have to think of quitting. A lot of good folk have tied up the hands of God making it impossible for him to pour out his blessings upon them because of their lukewarm faith. They have one foot in the world and another in the Kingdom of God and can’t make up their mind which side to be. This takes us to my next point which is :

Like Elisha don’t allow peer pressure to rob you of your blessing.

Friends, your walk with the Lord is not going to be easy. In fact, I can guarantee that you will have opposition along the way. You may not be popular with your friends or even some in the Church because you have taken your walk with the Lord too seriously. Don’t be surprised at what I just said – it is true. That is what happened to Elisha. See what it says in verse 3: “And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Don’t you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold your peace”