I Refuse To Stay Here

I Refuse To Stay Here

Elijah was greatly used of the Lord in his generation, but his day came when it was time to pass the baton to a new generation.

We learn about a young man named Elisha.

He was hungry for all God could give him.

He wanted the Lord and His power in his life and he was willing to pay the price to get it.

The mantle of ministry in these days rests upon you and me. If we are going to be as effective as we should be for the glory of God, then we need the power of God.

It is testing time for the body of Christ.

2 Kings 2:1-7 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

ELI-JAH: “my God is Jehovah” / ELI-SHA: “my God is salvation” / the “double portion” prophet

What set these prophets apart was the MANTLE they wore.

Most men wore some kind of loose fitting outer garment, but prophets wore a certain mantle that identified them.

It is time we the people of God have marks that identify us as HIS!

The mantle is an outer covering which protects the anointing within. This mantle is our godly character and lifestyle, and it shows externally.

Romans 13:14--But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,

Elisha was called to the prophetic ministry when Elijah threw his mantle over him as he was plowing.

For Elisha to actually inherit the mantle, he had to set his heart to follow Elijah.

His commitment had to be tested. Words are easy to say but will we commit to walk it out in shoe leather?

1) GILGAL

From a root which means “the beginning point of commitment”

The name Gilgal comes from the Hebrew verb (galal), meaning to roll some object on, upon, away (even whirl or dazzle). In a figurative sense it is used in ideas like to roll oneself onto the Lord, meaning to put one's trust in Him or to commit oneself to Him.

Joshus 5:9--This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

First mentioned in Joshua 5:1-9, where Joshua could not lead the people into the Promised Land until the young men were sealed with circumcision, the sign of commitment to God.

One of the things that are missing from church today is commitment.

We don’t want to be committed to anything.

Folks live for convenience not commitment!

We cannot live off someone else’s commitment; we must take on the sign of separation for ourselves!

Elisha was willing to leave behind his plow, oxen and family to follow the call of God.

We must leave behind our own ambitions, dreams, and desires to see God’s plan unfold in our lives and ministry.

Jeremiah 29:11–NKJV--For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Something is calling me I can’t stay here. There is more and I want more, I need more. If you don’t want to go please don’t hinder me. I am determined to see this thing through.

My life is not my own, to you I belong, I give myself, I give myself to you.