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.
2) BETHEL
In the Hebrew, it means “the house of God”
This is where Jacob had his vision of the angelic ladder, encountering the supernatural.
Genesis 28:17-19--And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. V 19 and he called the name of that place Bethel.
This is where he got a name change. No longer the deceiver.
Prayer had made a change in his life.
Every anointed minister, ministry and church must be rooted in prayer.
Principles concerning revival are the same as principles concerning rain: The amount of rain that descends depends upon the amount of condensation that has ascended.
Job 36:27--For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
The amount of Holy Ghost “rain” depends entirely on the amount of prayer which ascends!
No prayer; no power.
Little prayer; little power.
More prayer; more power.
Much prayer; much power.
Are you experiencing a drought? Check your prayer life!
I am so sorry but I cannot stay here. I don’t care how much I have to pray, I cannot stay here. God has called me and made me a promise there is something greater ahead for me. I refuse to stay here.
I need the house of God. I am strengthened when I assemble with the believers. I cannot neglect church. I need to hear what God is saying to His people. I refuse to stay out here. Zion is calling me.
3) JERICHO
In the Hebrew, it means “a place of fragrance”
Jericho is the battleground of spiritual understanding, the place where fragrant anointing is poured on a life.
There is no copy or imitation for true anointing!
It only comes through broken-ness!
In John 12:3, Mary takes a pound of ointment of spikenard and anoints Jesus’ feet. It cost approximately one year’s wages.
When folks stand and you see the anointing on their lives you do not know the cost of the oil in their alabaster box. You don’t know what they had to go through to get to where they are.
The reason fragrance filled the room was because something precious had been crushed!
Dying to ourselves is necessary because dead men can’t be offended or tempted.
I am committed to this thing, I am committed to the house of God, I am committed to pay the price for His anointing on my life. I refuse to stay where I am.
Isaiah 61:1–The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
I need the anointing. I refuse to stay here! God wants to use me so I will be available for Him. I refuse to stay doing nothing. I am committed to get involved like never before. I want to help declare the Kingdom of God and be used by Him. I refuse to stay here. I got a Word from God. I got a promise from God. You can’t talk me out of my blessing!
4) JORDAN
Translated from the Hebrew “Yarden” which means “descender” death.
Jordan is where the mantle descends from Heaven on a life and the fire falls upon a church.
The mantle falls when we no longer look to humanity for help, but to God (Elijah gone). We know our help is God alone.
This is where we have come to the end of ourselves. All our desire is unto Him. We don’t need to make a name for ourselves we only want to talk about Him and let all glory go to Him.
John 3:30--He must increase, but I must decrease.
We must go to Jordan through Gilgal (commitment), Bethel (prayer) and Jericho (brokenness).
Colossians 1:27--To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
God is faithful! His purpose in our lives will be accomplished. Dreams from God never die!
