Ministry's Twisted Journey? Don't Miss It!

DO NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TOTAL VICTORY...

SETTLING FOR LESS THAN THE BEST

By Wade martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I. HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THE WILL FOREVER CHANGE YOU...

THE JOURNEY WILL BE TWISTED, BUT YOU WILL TRAVEL FROM AN

UNKNOWN FARM BOY TO ONE OF THE GREATEST PROPHETS OF GOD

EVEB KNOWN IN HISTORY...

A. OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT ALWAYS KNOWN AS OPPORTUNITIES...

OFTEN WHAT WE CALL ADVERSITY IS REALLY A HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY...

B. THE OLD PREACHER IS TIRED...

HIS EMOTIONS HAVE BEEN PLAYING GAMES WITH HIM...

C. Elijah has had great victories, but the pressure and stress has been so very great.

Elijah's message was UNPOPULAR and because of this ELIJAH HAD MANY ENEMIES...

D. Elijah was SHELL-SHOCKED and BATTERED on every side.

1 Kings 19:14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because

the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy

prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

E. ELIJAH CRIED IN DEPRESSION... I AM THE ONLY ONE...

SO GOD HAS TO CORRECT HIM

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.

II. OPPORTUNITY MAY TAKE THE FORM OF FOLLOW THE LEADER...

FIND THE MANTLE... SPEND YOURSELF TO REALIZE WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNTY

IS HIDDEN HERE...

A. WHILE ELIJHA WAS TIRED AND NEARING THE END OF HIS MINISTRY...

GOD KNEW WHAT ELIJAH NEEDED... A GREAT OPPORTUNITY ARISES...

B. FIND A STUDENT. THIS MENTOR CAN HELP YOU, AND LEARN AND FOLLOW GOD.

NO MAN CAN EVER BE A SUCCESS WITHOUT A SUCCESSOR.

C. Today a young man wakes up... He eats breakfast... He prepares for his

menial daily chores... BUT HE WILL NEVER EVER BE THE SAME...

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.

D. THE YOUNG MAN HAS NO IDEA OF HIS JOURNEY AHEAD...

ELISHA HAD TO BURN THE BRIDGES BEHIND HIM...

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.

E. ELISHA: THE MAN THAT SEIZES THE OPPORTUNITY...

Elisha was the UNDERSTUDY of a great man of God, ELIJAH...

Elisha was plowing in a field when an old man came around and INVITED him to a

NEW OPPORTUNITY....

Elisha agreed to follow the OLD MAN .... ELIJAH then mentored the YOUNG FARMER....

to be one of the greatest PROPHETS to ever serve God and his nation.

III. THE OPPORTUNITY MAY AT TIMES APPEAR TO BE AIMLESS... DON'T QUIT...

AS WITH ANY OPPORTUNITY ... THIS TOTAL VICTORY CAN NEVER MATURE

IF YOU QUIT... YOU WILL FACE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO QUIT AS

YOU WILL FACE TO SUCCEED...

A. So many years pass... ELIJAH LEADS, ELISHA FOLLOWS...

B. Often Elisha says: I DO NOT LIKE THIS... I can do it better...

This does not make sense to me...

C. AFTER YEARS OF FOLLOWING ELISHA SENSE A "PARADIGM SHIFT" IS NEAR.

A NEW OPPORTUNITY BITHS BY FAITHFULNESS TO YOUR OLD OPPORTUNITY.

1. GILGAL

THIS TWISTED JOURNEY COMES TO GILGAL...

CIRCLE, AROUND AND AROUND, ROLLING STONE... NOT ESTABLISHED...

UNFAITHFUL, LITTLE PROGRESS...

2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a

whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

a. HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO QUIT IF YOU WANT TO:

2 Kings 2:2 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.

b. I HAVE COME TO FAR... I CAN'T QUIT...

2. BETHEL

Elijah says: I have to GO TO BETHEL... YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO...

THERE IS A FEELING OF EXPECTANCY AND ANOINTING GROWING...

BETHEL MEANS HOUSE OF PRAYER, DEVOTION, STUDY, FAITH TO CHURCH...

2 Kings 2:3 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.

a. ELISHA you have been faithful, you can quit now...

Elisha says: I HAVE BURNED ALL THE BRIDGES...

I HAVE NO DESIRE TO QUIT NOW...