The Mantle Of Messiah
Deuteronomy 31:6-8MSG
In Old Testament times a mantle, as in the mantle of the prophet. The mantle is a garment, a cloak, and yet more than that!
The mantle represents the calling, the charge, the ministry, and the anointing of God.
Here’s the command by Moses, the charge, or mantle for Joshua to pickup and receive:
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua. He said to him with all Israel watching, “Be strong. Take
courage. You will enter the land with this people, this land that God promised their ancestors that he’d give them. You will make them the proud possessors of it. God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.”
Before Moses ascended Mount Nebo at the finish of his ministry, he laid hands on his disciple, Joshua, and the spirit of God or Moses’ mantle fail upon Joshua.
In fact, in Joshua 1...after Joshua took lead, These same words are repeated three times in just 4 or 5 verses. - “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated.”
If you could chose a mantle, Whose mantle would you pick up or receive? Think long.
The noted British preacher Caesar Milan attended a banquet in London for special dignitaries. A young lady named Charlotte Elliot sang for the gathering. After her singing Mr. Milan had the opportunity to meet her. He said, “As you sung, ‘I couldn’t help to think what you could accomplish for God if you dedicated yourself and your gift fully to Him.”
She was offended by his remark and proceeded to tell him so.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, but I hope you will prayerfully consider what I said." That night she was restless, waking up off and on, troubled by conviction of the Holy Spirit. Finally at 2 AM, she got out of bed on to her knees and dedicated herself to God. That night Charlotte Elliot penned the words of the song, “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God! I come, I come!”
Again, “On her knees she picked up her mantle!”
“The Holy Spirit has come to gift you. To distinguish you. He came to give you your own spiritual mark or signature.” P.H
(Here’s another mantle)
1 Kings 19:19MSG Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field where there were twelve pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak over him.
Think about this, When Elijah ascended to God in a whirlwind at the end of his ministry, Elijah dropped his mantle on the ground. Therefore, Elijah’s disciple, Elisha picked it up, and the spirit of Elijah came upon Elisha!
Do you see a pattern?
Again, I ask, “Do you see the pattern?”
- In each case, the man of God is about to finish his earthly ministry.
- In each case, he ascends to God.
- In each case, the ascension and the completion of the ministry are linked to the passing of the mantle.
Pentecost is the day the church received the Mantle of the Spirit as Elisha received Elijah’s Mantle. As Joshua received Moses’s mantle.
The English author GK Chesterton once stated “That his ultimate goal in life was to take nothing for granted-- not a sunrise, not a flower, not a laugh.”
What kind of cloak has been thrown on you?
So the mantle is symbolic to the call of God. There are different mantles but the same Spirit.
Listen to the apostle Paul as he begins,1 Corinthians 12:1, 4NKJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Think with me, What happened at the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth?
As with Moses, Jesus ascended a mountain, and as with Elijah, Jesus ascended to heaven.
As with both prophets, Jesus’ disciples were present at His departure, Acts 1:11. Jesus said, “Go ye!”
But what’s the mantle? Where is the mantle of the Messiah? Upon whom did it fall? There’s no mention of it.
Do you know why?
The mantle of the Messiah is too big to fall on any one person. It can never fall on one disciple. -It can only fall on all!
Acts 1:8AMP But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
When the mantle of Moses and Elijah fail, the Spirit of God came upon these men!
Again, Joshua, was anointed by Moses.
Elisha, was anointed by Elijah.
A refreshers course, So what happened after Jesus our Messiah ascended to God?
Once more, Acts 2:1-4MSG “When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. 3 It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.”
The Holy Spirit never comes to you empty handed! He brings gifts. Callings.
This mantle came upon these 120 believers, and they would never be the same!
1 Corinthians 12:3-7NIV Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (The spirit of God benefits everyone)!
Hear this, “If you are a believer, you’re Jesus’ gift to the world. Therefore, the Holy Spirit enters to enhance you with heavenly gifts and talents.” PH
So what happened after Messiah ascended to God? The Spirit of God fail on his disciples…
* Just as the Feast of Passover has been fulfilled through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
* The Feast of Pentecost is almost fulfilled, there remains some last day tribulation stuff from Acts 2, moreover, for every believer, the same Holy Spirit that came upon us, will be the same Holy Spirit that will become more intense as this age closes.
Because of Pentecost certainly everything has changed, the apostle Peter preaches the first sermon, the day of Pentecost.
Peter preaches, Acts 2:19-21NKJV (Not fulfilled yet), 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
“As Holy Ghost Pentecostals, I believe we will be a part of these last day perils, and great salvation events!” PH
Think about this, Therefore on the day of Pentecost what was given?
* The Mantle of the Messiah!
And to whom is it given? To His disciples.
Every believer has been given a part of Messiah‘s Mantle.
It’s His mantle where callings in ministry are found. It’s His mantle that has gifted you! Therefore, if we have a part in His mantle, then we also have a part in His anointing.
Isaiah 10:27 It will happen in that day, that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
“The enemy will be removed from off your neck and God’s Spirit will prevail.’ ‘He will anoint you with power from on high.’ ‘God’s fatness will make any other yoke ill fitting!” PH
Listen, For with every calling, God gives His anointing (Holy Spirit) to fulfill it.
Hear me, you will always find your calling as you walk in His spirit. For your calling can only be fulfilled with the mantle of Messiah.
I want to read the apostle Peter’s first message to you. I want you to since the call and anointing-
I felt the Spirit of God say to me, “Howard, If you are to study, and ponder on a sermon, it probably should be the first sermon given after Pentecost.”
Acts 2:22-40TM 22-28 “Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side. I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope. I know you’ll never dump me in Hades; I’ll never even smell the stench of death. You’ve got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around. 29-36 “Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today. But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom, seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’ This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear. For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say, God said to my Master, “Sit at my right hand Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet.” “All Israel, then, know this: There’s no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.” 37 Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?” 38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.” 40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”
4 Takeaways:
Receive Jesus’ fullness.
Receive Holy Spirit’s gifting.
Walk with your mantle.- Jesus earned it for you.
You’re not defeated. You’re more than a conqueror!
Benediction. “Will you take up your mantle in Messiah?’ ‘And by the power and authority of the spirit, step out to fulfill your high calling?”
