2 Ki 2:13-14 ¶ He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
Judges 15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
Elisha and Samson were two very different kind of men, but they had at least two things in common.
1. They were both used by God mightily
2. They both had something they needed within reach but they had to pick it up.
It doesn’t matter how much glory, how much power, how much peace or joy or how much prosperity surrounds you or is within reach) it doesn’t help you unless you pick it up.
That jawbone became a weapon of mass destruction against Samson’s enemies, but he had to pick it up.
A young prophet lost a borrowed axe head, it flew off into the water ( Elisha threw a stick into the water where it fell and the axe head swam to the surface of the water) within reach, but the young prophet had to put out his hand and pick it up.
I didn’t come to this pulpit today to whine and whimper and complain about how bad the economy is, or to criticize our government or pass judgment on our present administration.
There’s a lot of bad stuff happening in the world, but I choose not to focus on the bad.
You say: Man of God you can’t just bury your head in the sand like an Ostrich.
I’m not burying my head in the sand, I’m burying my head in the word.
I’m lifting up my eyes to the hills where my help comes from.
I came to this place tonight to prophesy: I came to tell you that the Devil is not in charge, I don’t care what it looks like, or feels like or sounds like.
God is still in control.
I came to cast out the spirit of fear and dread.
I came to break the spirit of hopelessness and despair.
We are not going under
It doesn’t matter what happens to gas prices or health care, or social security, or retirement plans or anything else, God is still in charge.
The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.
The church is just like the ark in the old testament: The flood waters rose till they covered the highest mountains, but the ark just rode on top of the waters, in other words (in the worst of times the ark was lifted to it’s highest place).
This is the finest hour for the church: We were chosen by God to live right now in this present season, and if God in all of his wisdom saw fit to allow us to live in this season, it is because he believes us.
Tell your neighbor: God believes in you.
God put Ezekiel in the midst of a valley full of Dry bones (because God knew that Ezekiel possessed the power to transform that situation).
One lone prophet with the word of the Lord in his mouth transformed that valley of dry bones into a mighty army.
You may be the only Christian in your family, you may be the only Christian on your job, or in your class or your whole school.
You may be the only Christian on your block or in your neighborhood.
But what you need to do is quit pouting and start prophesying.
If you are the only believer there it’s because God has confidence in you.
For too long Gods people have shuffled around with their heads down, and their backs stooped over, stepping on their bottom lip crying about how bad it is.
I didn’t say things weren’t bad, I didn’t say I like what’s happening in our government, or that I am not aware of the tragedies that have shaken our world.
*What I am saying is: Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.
*I know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
*What I’m saying is: God is for me, and if God be for me then who can be against me.
The world is shaking ( Earthquakes) (Tsunami’s) (Tornado’s) (Financial storms are shaking the national economy).
But we are in the world and not of the world.
We have an unshakable Kingdom, built upon an unshakable foundation, ruled by an unshakable King.
Jesus Said: Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:18
Ps 46:4 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble, therefore will not we fear; though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the depths of the sea.=(landslides)
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled =(Tsunami’s)
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof =(Volcano’s)
Even while all these bad things are happening David says (There is a river that is making Glad the city of God (Meaning God is still pouring out his Spirit and his Power)
This is our time to shine:
Isa. 60:1 ( Arise and shine for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen on thee.
For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
In other words: God said it’s going to get real dark in the world, but I’m going to put my spotlight on you.
And he said: When I put my spotlight on you and they see the glory of the Lord on you, then the gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Listen church: This is no time to tone it down, this is no time to damper our praise, this is no time to worry about being politically correct or socially acceptable.
This is no time to hide in a cave or back peddle on our faith.
This is the time to Arise and Shine
This is the time to stand up and stand out
This is the time to speak the word of God with boldness, authority and power.
This is the time we declare ourselves:
*Moses demanded in the book of Exodus: Who is on the Lords side, declare yourself, make your choice clear.
*Elijah demanded the same thing: Choose one side or the other, either serve God or serve Baal but quit limping back and forth between the two.
*Jesus also demanded the same thing: He said, He that is not for me is against me, and if you are not gathering with me, then you are scattering abroad.
Let me say it another way: We are either part of the solution or part of the problem, there is no in between.
If you are on Gods side you are a part of the solution.
Tell your neighbor: You can make a difference.
Like Esther you and I have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this.
Like Esther: It’s our time now, (look at somebody and tell them, It’s your time now).
You’ve been on the back side of the wilderness for a long time, you’ve been in a covered place, you even felt like your were in a cave, you felt like you were at the back of the line.
But God was working on you, God was building character and integrity in you, God was teaching you how to live by faith.
God was building his word into your life.
You’ve been asking God: When is it going to be my time, when do I get to step up to the plate?
When do I get to do what I’ve been training for?
Hear the word of the Lord: It’s your turn.
The spotlight is on you.
Elisha the spotlight is on you (Fifty sons of the Prophets are standing by watching you to see) if you’re ready, do you have the goods?
Do you have the Power?
Can you divide the Jordan river?
Can you raise the dead?
Can you cast out devils, heal the sick?
Can you prophesy fire and rain from heaven?
The spotlight is on you: The mantle has fallen at your feet are you man enough, Are you women enough to pick it up?
Are you Holy Ghost filled enough?
Are you Faith filled enough?
Are you bold enough?
Are you courageous enough to pick up that mantle and walk it out and work it out, or are you just a Wanna Be?
A Wanna Be is someone who wants the title, the position, the recognition, the power, the miracles signs and wonders, but they will not pay the price.
The mantle of Elijah was more than just a piece of Cloth he wrapped around his shoulders.
It symbolized everything the man was.
It represented his sacrifice, his commitment, his faith, his love for God, his consecration and his power.
When Elisha picked up that mantle it meant: I’m stepping up.
I’ll pay the price.
I’ll live the life.
It meant (from this day forward, I am who this mantle says I am)
I hear the Holy Ghost saying tonight
Pick it Up
It’s fallen within reach, now you’ve got to pick it up.
You can look at it, dream about it, preach about it, shout about it, sing songs about it, write books about it, but nothing will happen till you pick it up.
With the jawbone of an ass Samson slew 1,000 men, but he had to pick it up.
When you pick up this mantle: You are saying to God
I’m committed
I’m the real deal
I’m anointed, I am chosen by God, I’m anointed, and I’m appointed.
When you pick up this mantle you are saying: I’m in the game, I’m not a spectator on the sidelines.
I choose Gods side
I choose truth
I choose Holiness
I choose faithfulness and obedience
Mordecai told Esther: Who knoweth but that you are come into the kingdom for such a time as this.
But the Words that cut like a knife were these.
If thou altogether hold thy peace at this time then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed.
In other words: Esther if you don’t pick up this mantle, Somebody else will but you and you your generation, your family will suffer for it.
God said to tell you: The mantle has fallen within reach, and if you don’t pick it up, if you’re not willing to pay the price, somebody else will.
Somebody else will walk in the anointing you could have had.
somebody else will heal the sick and cast out devils and work signs and wonders.
Somebody else will possess the presence and the glory and the power of God.
But you will deprive your generation of your ministry and your family, and your loved ones, and people that live around you of the anointing and the power that God reserved for you.
And someone that should have been healed will die sick, and someone that should have been delivered and set free will live in bondage and slavery.
And someone that should have known the joy of salvation will be eternally lost.
Tell your neighbor: Please pick it up
God said for me to prophesy and tell you: Somebody is leaving different than you came.
Even as Elisha went to another level when he picked up that mantle some of you tonight, are going to another level.
Another level in your praise
Another level in your faith
Another level in your consecration
Another level in your anointing
Your going to preach with more power
Sing with more power, testify with more power, prophesy with more power.
God said that tonight is a night of Mantles: Mantles are being released in the spirit. There are gifts, and callings and anointings that are being released tonight.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of a missionary tonight.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of an Apostle tonight.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of a Pastor tonight.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of a Teacher.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of a Praise and Worship leader.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of a Youth leader.
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of a financial gatekeeper and your ministry is going to be to finance the Kingdom ( you can’t go, but you will finance those that do).
Somebody is going to pick up the mantle of an Evangelist Tonight.
God is ordaining ministries right here: The greatest ordination there is, is for the spirit of God (the anointing of God to come upon your life)
God said that for somebody: Tonight is gong to be a deciding factory in the rest of your life.
God said he is anointing ministries tonight.
We’re anointing everyone here tonight: To know your ministry and to receive the anointing for that ministry and to walk it out in the power of the Holy Ghost.
God said just as Elisha went to another level when he received that mantle, some of you tonight are going to another level and things that you have been struggling with for years and couldn’t seem to get the victory over are going to be under your feet once and for all.
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