Expectation, Potential, The Mantle (1)

EXPECTATION, POTENTIAL, THE MANTLE!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Part #1)

God is looking for opportunities to reveal Himself to mankind. Seems we want to yield to opposition and limit the HAND OF GOD… we are weak, BUT GOD IS STRONG! God’s eyes are running to and fro looking for opportunities to REVEAL HIS LOVE AND POWER. God is not reluctant to help His people.

Looking for a perfect heart.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (MSG) GOD is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble—one round of war after another."

OPPORTUNITY: a good chance, amount of time something can be done, a good chance to advance, break

POTENTIAL: Existing in possibility, capable of development, a chance something will develop, the ability that someone has that can be developed, capable.

ANTICIPATION: Visualization, expectation, Looking forward, A FEELING OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, the act of preparing for something,

Blessed is he who expects nothing, he shall receive exactly what he was expecting.

I had a friend named Rebecca Arnett that would often state: NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE, THAN THE WORDS: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE…

COME WITH ME AND LET US WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE TO A TERRIBLE TIME IN HISTORY TO SEE THE MANTLE OF OPPORTUNITY.

THE OLD PREACHER’S NAME WAS ELIJAH. THE WAS A DARK EVIL TIME IN THE GOVERNMENTAL RULE OF ISRAEL. THE KING’S NAME WAS AHAB. AHAB’S WIFE WAS VERY EVIL, HER NAME WAS JEZEBEL.

God spoke to the MAN OF GOD, He need support to help him in the ministry.

Elijah also need to train be his SUCCESSOR. No man can be a success until he has a successor to pick up the torch and reach forward beyond his days.

THE PRESSURES OF MINISTRY WERE CRUSHING THE OLD PREACHER. ELIJAH SAID: I AM THE ONLY ONE SERVING GOD…

1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

ELIJAH WAS TIRED AND HE WAS BATTLE SORE. The spiritual condition of the nation was backslidden and sin abounded everywhere. GOD NEED ELIJAH NEEDED A HELPER AND A TRUSTED FRIEND.

POTENTIAL BURN OUT? GOD SEES HOW TIRED AND ALONE THE PREACHER FELT, TODAY THERE WILL BE A CHANGE. IN ONE DAY THE ELDER ELIJAH GOT UP, SAID HIS PRAYERS AND ATE BREAKFAST. THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEW DAY.

Elijah had been walking alone in ministry and the load was very heavy. At times ELIJAH FELT THE PRESSURE and he felt he was walking alone. IT IS TIME TO GET UP, ARISE. God was leading the old preacher in a new direction. GOD HAD A PLAN.

God knew the ANSWER… Elijah look over there --- WHERE? Over there, see that young, strong man? See he is plowing! That is hard work! THERE IS A YOUNG MAN WITH POTENTIAL!!! The old preacher immediate RECOGNIZE GOD IS IN THIS TIME? THIS PLACE? THIS MAN? Elisha! Elisha, TIME TO ARISE!

1 Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

THIS POTENTIAL IS FACING GREAT DANGER… EXCUSES… THERE IS MORE TO ELIJAH’S MANTLE THAN A PIECE OF FANCY MATERIAL…

1 Kings 19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BURN THE BRIDGES BEHIND US… WE MUST MAKE THE DECISION TO FOLLOW THE PLAN OF GOD. Elisha will spend many years following and serving Elijah.

GOD NEVER REQUIRES ALL FROM EVERYONE, BUT THERE ARE TIMES GOD’S MAN MUST TRUST GOD ENOUGH TO LEAVE FAMILY, HOME AND HOPES AND TO TRUST THE MAN OF GOD, AND THE GOD OF THE MAN. ELIJAH NOW HAS TO RELY ON GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT TO CONVICT AND CONVINCE THE YOUNG MAN THAT GOD HAS A PLAN THAT WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE SACRIFICE.

1 Kings 19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.