YOU ASK A HARD THING! THE MANTLE!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (2 Part lesson)
Mantle: a covering, a loose piece of clothing without sleeves, worn over clothes, cloak, the earth’s covering…
Never forget 2 times 0= 0.
At least 6 times in the Bible the refers to the DOUBLE PORTION… WHY WOULD WE ACCEPT ANY LESS THAN THE BEST GOD HAS FOR US?
Isaiah 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
INVESTING WISELY? CAST AWAY?
DIAMONDS ARE FOUNDED IN THE MANTLE, THE EARTH’S MANTLE…PERHAPS WE CAN FIND GOD’S VALUE IN THE MANTLE.
I once read a story of wealthy man. He loved his wife, but she had passed away. He decided he would sell everything and invest in DIAMONDS. So he sold the farms and land he had accumulated through the years.
He had a fortune invested in farm equipment, he sold everything. He went to the bank and withdrew many hundreds of thousands of dollars. He studied the DIAMOND GRADES and how the grades affected a diamond’s value. THE 4 C’s: CARAT WEIGHT, CUT, COLOR and CLARITY. He learned every diamond is unique. He studied several years in preparation to buy many fancy diamonds.
The old farmer studied HOW ARE DIAMONDS FORMED? Diamonds are CARBON, from the same thing that coal is made. THE CARBON IS EXPOSED TO GREAT HEAT, GREAT PRESSURE, OVER A GREAT TIME. THE GEOLOGIST BELIEVE THAT DIAMONDS WERE DEPOSITED AND FORMED IN “THE MANTLE OF THE EARTH, THEN VIOLENT DEEP VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS FORCED THE BEAUTIFUL DIAMONDS BENEATH THE GROUND…
He found good diamonds are found in 35 countries. They are found in India, Russia, Siberia, Brazil, China, Canada, and the USA. BUT THE WORLD’S MOST PERFECT DIAMONDS ARE FOUND IN SOUTH AFRICA. So now the man packed all his things and money and booked a ship for SOUTH AFRICA. The captain of the ship locked all his money in a safe. When the man got to Africa he withdrew all the money and hired to strong men to be his body guards. The man traveled days buying diamonds as an investment. He only purchased only the best diamonds. One day the old man FOUND THE DIAMOND OF EVERY MAN’S DREAM. It was huge. The 4 C’s were all there, it was one of the best diamonds ever recorded. The Carat weight was great, the color, the cut and the clarity was beyond superb. He was so proud of that brilliant diamond, the FIND OF A LIFE TIME!
So the farmer said good bye to his personal body guards and purchased his return ticket to the USA. He locked all his smaller diamonds in the ships safe. BUT HE KEPT THE HUGE SHINY DIAMOND IN A PURPLE CRUSHED VELVET BAG in his vest pocket.
So day after day the farmer would rub that rare diamond and admire its rare beauty. When the sun light would shine the prism color was amazing. He started throwing the diamond in the air and thank God how blessed he was to own this HUGE DIAMOND. Day after day the man could be seen throwing the diamond in the air and exposing its beauty. One day he threw the DIAMOND high to see the color and clarity. The wind blew hard and tossed the ship. The hopes and dreams of the old farmer was forever dashed as his priceless diamond went overboard. The man ran over to the rail and watch the BIG DIAMOND SLOW SANK. Finally the DIAMOND WAS OUT OF SIGHT. The farmer demand the captain of the ship to stop the ship. The captain started the ship and found the water was several hundred feet deep. There was NO HOPE! None!
The farmer invested his all in TEMPORAL things, tears could never bring back … CAST AWAY?
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
DO WE VALUE ETERNAL THINGS? IN WHAT ARE WE INVESTING? (TIME, TALENT, ENERGY)
THE OLD PREACHER LAYS HIS MANTLE OVER HIS SHOULDERS ONE DAY AND HISTORY WILL CHANGE… THE PREACHER WAS TIRED, HE WAS BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT. ELIJAH HAD SEVERAL BATTLES WITH DEEP DARK DEPRESSION AND EXCESSIVE MISERY… TO ADD TO THIS BATTLE, ELIJAH WAS GETTING OLD AND HE FELT LIKE HE WAS THE ONLY ONE SERVING GOD…
OLD PREACHER, ELIJAH IS GOING TO FIND GOD IN A PARADIM SHIFT. TODAY ELIJAH GETS DRESSED AND PUTS ON HIS SANDALS… AND HIS MANTLE, HIS MINISTRY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME… ELIJAH WILL SHARE HIS MANTLE. ELISHA IS GOING TO LEARN TO LOVE THE MANTLE OF GOD. (See previous lesson on potential)
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.
Elijah is walking and seems he SAW THE LIGHT. Elijah often saw young men out in the field working, but TODAY WAS A PARADIGM SHIFT… the pattern is different. Elijah takes his MANTLE off his shoulder and INVEST HIS TIME, TALENT AND ENERGY in a YOUNG MAN, named ELISHA.
Elisha would never be the same again. There was an opportunity TO REACH BEYOND HIS POTENTIAL and do more than he ever dream. Yet with this opportunity was a chance to DELAY and LINGER …
1 Kings 19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
ELISAH BURNED THE BRIDGE, HE SLEW THE OXEN AND GAVE IT AWAY. Elijah’s MANTLE WILL FIND A NEW HOME ON THE SHOULDERS OF A SOLD OUT SERVANT.
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.
A PREVIOUS STUDY REVEALS THE JOURNEY TO THE DOUBLE PORTION.
QUICK REVIEW… A progress uphill battle.
1. Gilgal: rolling stone, not mature, not established, not fixed, wishy-washy.
2. Bethel: House of God, prayer, Bible study, roots, fruits, devotion, commitment.
3. Jericho: Praise, sweet fragrance, worship, devotion, the presence of God, glory.
4. Jordon: death to self, unselfish, giving, stand on promise, totally sold out.
At each step of this upward journey Elijah gave Elisha the opportunity to quit. Elisha knew the mantle was about God’s anointing and he refused to quit or turn around.
WHY SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST? ELISHA IS COMING TO THE POINT WHERE HE STEPS BEYOND HIS POTENTIAL INTO THE REALM OF DIVINE POSSIBLITIES… Elisha found THE MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.
2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
ELISHA had followed ELIJAH for many miles. Much of their journey was a hard trip. An uphill climb. But Elisha had learned from his mentor. GOD CAN! Now there is no doubt. THERE IS MORE. I refuse to accept the NORM… GOD HAS MORE FOR ME… Elisha had been faithful, he was not being selfish. Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah’s ministry and blessings.
DOUBLE PORTION is mentioned several times in the Bible. The double portion referred to as A DOUBLE BLESSING. God honors our request when we have been faithful. Elijah did 14 miracles Elisha did 28. Wow, thank you Father!
HANNAH LIVED IN A DYSFUNTIONAL HOME. HER HUSBAND OTHER WIFE WAS MEAN TO HER AND MOCKED HER. ELKANAH WOULD GIVE HER A DOUBLE PORTION…
Samuel’s mother HANNAH was promised a DOUBLE PORTION… NOT ONLY THAT HANNAH HAS 3 MORE SONS AND 2 MORE DAUGHTERS. BLESSED DOUBLE… God rewards Hannah.
1 Samuel 1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
THE DOUBLE PORTION COST! THE TRAIL IS NEVER EASY… ASK JOB.
Job had a double portion… he lost everything but God was faithful…
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Elijah had a miracle crossing the Jordan, IT WAS WITNESSED THAT ELISHA CROSSED THE JORDAN THE SAME WAY…
2 Kings 2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
THE BLESSING OF THE DOUBLE PORTION IS VISIBLE…
2 Kings 2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
WE MUST EXERCISE THE BLESSING OF THE DOUBLE PORTION!
2 Kings 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
YOU ASK A HARD THING, BUT YOUR FAITH WORKS.
2 Kings 2:14 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.
CONCLUSION: THE DOUBLE PORTION WILL COST US EXTRA EFFORT AND FAITHFULNESS. Will we settle for less than our spiritual best? Will we seek the best for Eternity? Will we trade for cheap trinkets? God has a plan for you, it may be a hard thing. Dream beyond our ability? Will we just stay in the rut of the sameness? You know there is more! Will you reach higher?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
It is no accident you read this… GOD HAS MORE FOR YOU! DIG THE WELL DEEP!
