Elisha - Mentoring - July 31, 2005 - 1 Kings 19:15-21
Do you know anyone who likes to carry the past around with them? You know that you are always going to hear the same old stories from them of the hurt and pain that they experienced that has “crippled” them emotionally. Maureen was like that - she could not let go of the way her mother died, and it crippled her emotionally. It constantly resurfaced in a conversation of any length. Tonight, I’d like us to think about what it is that keeps us from embracing the call that God has given us. Let’s realize that sometimes the greatest obstacles we face are not those of the body, but of the mind and of the spirit. Helen Keller was once asked, “What could be worse than being blind?” To which she replied, “being able to see but having no vision.”
About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway? Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become with God’s help, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries.
How is your vision today of what God can do through you?
In 1829 President Andrew Jackson received the following letter:
To President Jackson:
The canal system of this country is being threatened by the spread of a new form of transportation known as “railroads.” The federal government must preserve the canal for the following reasons: If the canal boats are supplanted by railroads, serious unemployment will result. Captains, cooks, drivers, hostlers, repairmen and lock tenders will be left without means of livelihood, not to mention the numerous farmers now employed in growing hay for horses. Boat builders would suffer. Towline, whip, and harness makers would be left destitute. Canal boats are absolutely essential to the defense of the United States. In the event of the expected trouble with England, the Erie Canal would be the only means by which we could ever move the supplies so vital to modern war. As you may well know, Mr. President, the “railroad carriages” are pulled at the enormous speed of fifteen miles per hour by “engines” which endanger the life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock and frightening women and children. The Almighty never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed.
Signed - Martin Van Buren, Governor of New York
Do we embrace vision for the future or do we run from it? Have you ever allowed your imagination to picture what could happen in and through your life if you would commit to following God’s will completely? Most of us have had times when we’ve sensed dreams within us. But many who have had dreams for the future have seen their dreams fade or even die. Some have experienced the pain of a dream that never happened. That pain may have crushed all hope for the future.
We have been going through the OT together, and we looked last week at Elijah - at a point of despair - his dreams were shattered - he was ready to give up - he was ready to die. But God met with Elijah. God gave him hope. God showed his power to Elijah. And God spoke to Elijah in the gentle whisper of hope. God gives Elijah a fresh encounter of the presence of God, reminding Elijah of his ability to guide and provide. God gives Elijah a fresh sense of direction, a support network, and a renewed call. And as we read on through the book of 1 Kings, we see Elijah going back to his ministry with the anointed power of the Holy Spirit upon him.
We saw that when Elijah was running in despair, God asks him “what are you doing here?” because God had already given Elijah a ministry to do. As God renews and reenergizes Elijah for future ministry, God sends Elijah back to the very ministry that Elijah knew he had been called to do.
Sometimes in our lives, we need to be reminded of what the vision is, what the ministry is, what is it that we have been called to do. And that’s what we want to talk about this morning. Elijah needed to be reminded through the fire, wind, and earthquake that God’s voice does not always express itself through the sensational. There are many Christians who look for the exceptional. They live for experience. If someone gets all fired up and yells, it must be a good sermon. If someone says they have a word from God, then it must be true. There are many who spiritually want the sensational. But God’s voice was not in the fire, earthquake or wind. God came in the gentle whisper. And often God’s will is not in the exceptional but in the ordinary, in the everyday, in the tedious, in the monotonous, in faithful obedience in the everyday things of our life.
This morning, what is it that we have been called to do? Allow me to refresh your memory of the last thing Jesus said to his disciples. Matthew records it for us in Matthew 28.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We have been called to reproduce. To take our lives and reproduce our faith in the lives of others. We witness and seek to lead others to Christ. We take the new believers and we train them to be obedient in all things. And then we send them out to win others. It’s called the Great Commission. And we so often think of it in lofty religious terms. But this is our individual calling as a Christian. This is what we are to be about. We are called to be fully-devoted followers of Christ who commit our lives to reaching others. Now some of us may find that easier to do than others. Just like a rabbit or guppy may produce more offspring than a grizzly bear. But we are all called to be faithful in seeking to reproduce spiritually.
Now, we’ll get to 1 Kings in just a minute or two, but when you think of where you are today, who is it that played a key role in your conversion or your spiritual growth? For myself, I think quickly of a couple. I think of my mother, a godly woman who prayed faithfully for all us children and lived out her faith before us daily. I think of Ruth Keller, my next door neighbor, widowed, but who had a Good News Club every week for the boys and girls in the neighborhood. I think of my Youth Pastor in high school, Dwight Hapeman, who taught me how to share the gospel, and who instilled in me a passion for personal relationship with Christ.
The truth is, that very likely you are where you are today because God has used someone or several someones to come alongside you in your life. When God reenergizes Elijah in 1 Kings 19 he tells him that he is to go and appoint his successor. 1 Kings 19:16 - Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. God tells Elijah that even though his ministry is winding down, God will carry the work on in the ministry of Elisha. There are several lessons for us to learn about reproducing our faith and mentoring others in the example of Elijah and Elisha. Turn with me to 1 Kings 19:15-21. READ TEXT.
What is it that we learn from this example. First of all, we get some basic attitudes that we need to start with.
1. God’s work is far bigger than any of us - Elijah has been the BMOC - Big Man on Carmel - calling fire down from heaven. But now he is running for his life. He complains that he is the only one standing for God. But God lets him in on a secret. God tells him something he should have known. God always has a righteous remnant. God has 7000 left who haven’t worshiped Baal.
If you think you are the only Christian at your place of work - you’re probably wrong. Maybe no one else shares a public witness, but never think God’s work rests only on your shoulders. Elijah could have thought that he would go back and restart his ministry, but God tells him that his ministry is ending. GOd gives him time to get his successors in place.
God doesn’t need you! Don’t think you are doing God any big favors. Well, I put $100 in the offering today - God sure is lucky I’m here at church! What a joke! WE are the ones blessed to be able to be used by God. He definitely doesn’t need us. And whenever our head is filled with pride, we are of no use to God.
1. God’s work is far bigger than any of us
2. Discipleship takes Obedience - Sometimes we think that mentoring and discipleship will take place if we just study our Bibles more and pray harder. Maybe if we give more and have more committee meetings something will happen. But it NEVER will! The only way lives will be changed is if WE decide that we will be OBEDIENT to God and GO when he calls us! Verse 19 tells us “So Elijah went” - The discipleship didn’t take place until Elijah went.
And just a quick sidelight - what is discipleship? It is the act of training a disciple - someone who will be like the teacher. Our calling is to come alongside others and model our faith for them, encouraging them to be just like us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. Far too often we want to tell others what to do: Do as I say, not as I do. But our calling is to model by our life a pattern for others to follow.
Elijah knew Elisha was to be his successor, but that would never take place until Elijah was obedient and went where God was sending him.
???Where is God sending you? Who is he calling you to speak to? Often we are fearful, we are scared to speak. We find excuses not to witness. But we will never fulfill God’s call on our lives until we are willing to be obedient and speak out in those open doors of opportunity that God provides.
1. God’s work is far bigger than any of us
2. Discipleship takes Obedience
3. Discipleship takes Intentionality - verse 19 - So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat.
If we are going to take seriously the call of God to us to reproduce our lives, then we need to be intentional about doing this. It is very easy to say, God I’d love to to witness SOMETIME - I’d love to mentor someone SOMEDAY. But what plans do we have to actually DO something about it? Elijah goes, obediently, and he intentionally looks for and finds Elisha, the man that God had prepared for him to mentor.
Who is it that God has prepared for you to reach? Have you ever thought about it? Have you ever prayed, “God, who do you want me to reach?” If not, do that today. There is a diagram, --it’s not biblical, and it’s not inspired-- but it is a visual aid. A pyramid with Three circles, two circles, one circle. In each circle, write a name.
*Who are three people in your life right now that you are seeking to witness to and see come to Christ?
If you can’t think of three names, make it a matter of prayer. Pray for God to give you a burden for three. Once again, there’s nothing spiritual about three. Pray for 300 or 3000. But pray for three.
*TWO - Who are two brothers or sisters in Christ that you can come alongside and encourage. Who are two peers that you could help sharpen their skills and encourage and enable them in the ministry God is calling them to.
*One - Who is one Christian that you would like God to give you the opportunity to have come alongside you and learn of you. Who would you like to invest your life into? If you don’t have a name, make it a matter of prayer. Ask God to give you a Timothy, a son or daughter in the faith that you could mentor and train. But 3. Discipleship takes Intentionality
Those are some basic attitudes we need to have. Next, let’s look at a few keys to identifying disciples.
4. Look at Potential, Not Appearances - vs 19 - So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair.
On the surface, there was nothing that would have made Elijah think that Elisha would make a good prophet. He was a farmer. He was working the fields. Next week were going to look at the book of Amos - another farmer who God called to serve him. If you get the chance this week, read through the book of Amos in your Bible reading this week.
Elijah could have said, God, are you sure this is the man? On the other hand, Elijah had 12 yoke of oxen. To have 24 oxen, Elisha must have come from a wealthy family. Sometimes we shy away from the wealthy. Sometimes if a figure is visible or notable, we shy away from them. I hope someone shares the gospel this week with George Hoddy, and with Tom Cook, and with Greg Geutshow, and with Governor Granholm. And don’t misunderstand me, -- I’m not saying any of them aren’t Christians - I don’t know, I haven’t had the opportunity to find out. But we can’t let a person’s wealth or social status draw us to them or keep us from them. God uses people from all social classes - and God desire to reach those of all social classes.
Never let yourself shrink back from sharing a personal testimony because of a person’s status.
5. Make a Personal Encounter - verse 19 goes on - Elijah went up to him.
It is the personal touch that makes all the difference. The old saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Many times we try the secret service Christian approach. We hide tracts everywhere someone can find them. I’ve seen them in lunchroom tables, elevators tucked behind the buttons, in toilet stalls! I know sometimes you might want something to read while you’re working on things, but why put a tract if you won’t speak out? Tracts are great, and I’m all for them - but they are to be used to speak when you can’t -- not as an excuse not to speak.
Who did you witness to at work today - well, I put out 50 tracts through the factory. But who did YOU speak to?
Elijah goes to Elisha and makes the personal encounter. Think back to those three circles - three individuals that you want God to use you to be a witness to - will you commit to personally make an encounter with them to share the gospel? Will you say, “God, if you will give me the open door, I will speak out for you”?
Think back to that one circle on top - the disciple circle - Will you invite someone to learn from you? You might say “I don’t know much myself - I need to be taught” - and that’s a fair statement. But we can always teach what we already know. Often we grow the most by teaching others. Who gets the most out of a SS lesson? The teacher - almost always. They’re the one who has spent time in the text all week and God has used that text in their life in special ways.
Who will you invite to come alongside you and to learn from you?
Elijah made a personal encounter with Elisha.
Notice what he does -
*He invites him - he throws his cloak over him and walks away. We know Elijah walked on, because Elisha has to come “running after” Elijah. Elijah lets Elisha know that he is offering a call to follow him. Elijah gives Elisha the opportunity to accept or reject the invitation.
If we are to reproduce ourselves in the lives of others, we must be willing to invite others to trust Christ. We must be willing to be involved in the lives of others. We must be willing to invite others to learn and study with us.
*Expect excuses - Elisha’s first response was, “Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” Different commentaries think this means different things. Whatever Elisha is saying, it appears that he wanted some time.
Always expect others to respond to the gospel, but don’t get discouraged if they give excuses. Always expect others to want to walk with you and learn from you, but don’t get discouraged if they give excuses.
*Continue the invitation - Elijah responds, “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” Elijah could have used manipulation - he could have forced, whined, belittled - but he didn’t. he knew if this truly was of God it would come about. When others don’t respond, don’t give up, but continue to invite them to be like you.
We’ve looked at some basic attitudes we need to have and a few keys to identifying disciples. Next. let’s look at sealing the call:
6. Commitment - Look at verse 21 - So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the ploughing equipment.
When Elisha follows Elijah, he takes a great step of commitment. He destroys the things of his former way of life. Never be afraid to call others to commit to getting rid of the things that should not be in their lives. Many Christians have a form of “Easy Believe”-ism where you just try to get a person to pray a prayer and say “you’re saved now”. But if a person truly wants to follow Christ, they will be committed to getting rid of the things of their former way of life. Don’t be afraid to ask them to separate if they are living with someone and are not married - or if they are sexually active, ask them to commit to celibacy until marriage. If alcohol or drugs are a problem, ask them to commit to stopping. Don’t just say “well, at least they got saved” - give them a call to commitment and trust God that they will commit.
7. Celebration - He burned the ploughing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate.
When Elisha chooses to follow, he celebrates. When someone chooses to be a disciple, it is a cause to celebrate. let others know.
8. Commence - Get started! Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
Don’t be afraid to get started. If you haven’t been witnessing, start this week. Pray each day for God to give you an opportunity to talk to someone about your hope of eternal life. If you haven’t been discipling anyone, pray for God to give you that one person to come alongside. And get started. You could start praying together, checking up on each other for accountability, reading your bible together at lunch, whatever - but start.
Let’s realize that the Christian faith is only ever ONE generation away from extinction. What will YOU do to follow God’s command to reproduce your faith in the life of others?
*Will you ask God to help you identify three others to witness to
*Will you ask God for two Christians to encourage
*Will you ask God for one Christian to mentor
*And if you need to be mentored, will you ask God to lead you to a spiritual mature Christian who can impact your life spiritually?
We come up with a lot of excuses. We let our fears paralyze us. At the end of WWII, the Japanese government was faced with a massive problem. Even though the peace documents had been signed, there were thousands of Japanese soldiers in the mountains and the jungles of the South Pacific islands who would not come out of hiding, surrender their arms, and return to a life of peace. They had been so thoroughly brainwashed by their officers with stories of what the Americans would do to them if they gave themselves up that they fully believed surrender would mean either torture or instant death.
Finally, the Japanese Emperor made a speech explaining the situation and pleading with his men to come home. The speech was broadcast by radio and also recorded, and was repeatedly boomed toward the mountain caves and the jungles by loudspeaker. In essence he said to them, “Come out, the war is over. Peace has been established. You will not be harmed, but welcomed and protected.” Since it was the voice of the Emperor himself, almost all of the troops accepted his assurance and came out of hiding. There were a few stragglers, of course, but within months all but a few had surrendered.
After some years, it was assumed that all the living had been accounted for. However, it was not until March of 1974 that the last soldier finally came out of hiding, 29 years after the war was over! The two countries had been on friendly terms for years, but this man wasted 29 years of his life in hiding! When they asked the man, now in his sixties, why he had waited, he said it had taken him that long to get over his fears.
Imagine being trapped for 29 years! Being trapped not by an invading army, not by enemy threats, but by your own fear! Twenty-nine years in hiding will rob you of a lot of life and many dreams. many times it is our fear that keeps us from being faithful in being a witness as God has called us to be.
When we were on our honeymoon, we decided we wanted to go scuba diving. We paid the money, and before we went diving in the afternoon, we had a training time in the morning. Now, to train, we were in 3 feet of water. The instructor taught us how to take out our regulator and put it back in again. He taught us how to clear our mask. But Ronda had some problems. She was afraid she was going to drown. The instructor kept saying, “Maam, you’re not going to drown. We’re in 3 feet of water.” Ronda kept standing up. He’d say, “maam, you have to stay under the water!”
After our training session, Ronda was crying. She didn’t want to go scuba diving. I said, “honey, we don’t have to go.” She said, “Oh yes we do -- we already paid the money.” So that afternoon we went to the boat and rode out to the dive site. One couple went in first with their instructor. Ronda was still very upset. We got to the edge of the boat. She looked down and saw something. “What’s that,” she asked. “Fish” I told her. She hadn’t realized you would be able to see under water. Now out in Pennsylvania the ocean is filthy, and you can only see a few inches under water. But, down in the Virgin Islands the water is crystal clear. You can see hundreds of yards under water just like looking out the window. When Ronda realized that, she was fine and we had a wonderful time. When we face our fears, we often find there is beauty and wonder waiting for us. We just have to get past the hurdle of our fears.
To move out of your comfort zones, you must face your fears. I challenge you today, not to let Satan play upon your fears of what someone might say or what name they might call you. We have the greatest message ever - the hope of eternal life. And we need to be willing to share it with others.
Let’s pray.
