PRAY THE PRICE? A TWISTED JOURNEY? ACCEPTING THE MANTLE.
HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT? RESTORATION… MAKING A DIFFERENCE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
YOU NEVER KNOW THE IMPACT OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT ONE DAY CAN FOREVER CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
THE JOURNEY CAN BE AS IMPORTANT AS THE DESTINATION. WE SELDOM RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF A GOOD EXAMPLE TO TEACH AND STRETCH US TO THE NEXT LEVEL. One of the most powerful preachers of all time was named ELIJAH. Divine timing leads us not TO ACCIDENTAL MEETINGS. BY CHANCE? ELIJAH MEETS ELISHA as he worked in his father’s field. One event can change a family history.
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.
STAY HERE? YOU CAN STAY HERE IF YOU WANT TO… I KNOW THERE IS MORE. WILL WE SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST? HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?
2 KINGS CHAPTER 2 TELLS OF THE JOURNEY OF THE OLD MAN OF GOD TO TEACH THE YOUNG MAN OF GOD ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE JOURNEY OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.
*1. GILGAL: THE FIRST PHASE OF THE JOURNEY IS GILGAL. Gilgal means ROLLING STONE. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Not established, not faithful. Easy, no effort.
We may not realize the significance of the progressiveness of the journey.
YOU CAN QUIT IF YOU WANT TO…WE HAVE COME THIS FAR I REFUSE TO QUIT. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU. Elisha says: I HAVE COME THIS FAR, I WILL NEVER EVER LEAVE YOU!
2 Kings 2:2 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.
*2. BETHEL: I REFUSE TO QUIT: WHAT’S NEXT? BETHEL. Bethel is known as the HOUSE OF GOD or the sanctuary, personal devotion. Jacob’s dream of the ladder to heaven. ALTAR, PRAYER, DEVOTION. God reveals himself at Bethel.
*3. JERICHO: I REFUSE TO QUIT. Jericho means praise, sweet fragrance, renewal of soul and spirit. Trusting God completely.
*4. JORDAN: ELISHA YOU CAN QUIT HERE IF YOU WANT TO? The black eagle, power, might. Faith, intense. Jordan is where Jacob wrestled with the angel. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan. Jordan means to flow, to totally surrender, death of self, to yield, to submit.
WILL WE PRAY THE PRICE? HOW DO I FIND THE BLESSINGS OF GOD? THE DOUBLE PORTION OF GOD… ELIJAH KNEW HE COULD NEVER BE A SUCCESS WITHOUT A SUCCESSOR. ONE MAN MADE A DIFFERENCE. THE ONE MAN’S DIFFERENCE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OTHER MEN
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.
OTHERS CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
2 Kings 2:15And 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.
ARE WE LIVING BENEATH OUR PRIVILEGE? IT IS A SAD LESSON NOT EVERYONE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
WE HAVE A STANDING INVITATION: COME AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Life has many challenges. Seems there are so many trapped in their doom and gloom. Can I make a difference and help bring about change? I believe that each person living can make an impact to bring about change. Maybe not to the masses but maybe you could impact one person.
CONCLUSION: SO MANY ARE LIVING BENEATH THEIR PRIVILEGE AND THEIR GOD GIVEN ABILITY.
THE STARFISH PRINCIPLE
There was an old man that walked down the beach each day. As a young man he would take his vacation at certain times of the year and camp out along the beach. He soon noticed that there was an occurrence that amazed him. Certain seasons the man noticed a reoccurring event after his vacation in this spot. As a young man it seemed the surf would rise and then the tide would go out. He noticed that STARFISH would ride the surf in land and as the tide went out there would be STARFISH STRANDED ON THE LAND. The sun would come up and leave the starfish trapped and they would die. He noticed daily the beach would be littered with dead starfish. The young man would rise early and walk the beach. He would bend over to pick up the starfish and throw it back into the ocean. The young man would take his vacation at the time when the starfish would come inland. He would walk for several miles picking up the doomed starfish and throw them back in the ocean. The starfish would swim back to the safe waters.
Now the young man was old. So the old man bought some beach front property where he would retire. He loved to watch the ocean and the tides as they rolled in. Every day was different. The old man would get up before day light and walk along the beach. One by one the old man would pick up a starfish and return them to the ocean.
A young family rented a cabin near his. The young man noticed each morning someone walking along the beach. In the shadows of the dawning of the morning the man watched the person walk the beach, bend down and throw something into the ocean. One night the young man said to his wife I am going to walk down to the man and ask him: WHAT ARE YOU DOING EVERY MORNING? It was a beautiful morning and the young man caught up with the old man. He said: OLD MAN I HAVE WATCHED YOU SEVERAL MORNINGS. YOU WALK ALONG THE BEACH, YOU BEND DOWN THEN YOU THROW SOMETHING. TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
The old man stooped down and picked up a stranded starfish and threw the starfish back into the water. The old man said I vacationed here many years and I saw the dead starfish on the beach when the sun came up. So I decided I would throw them back in the water. I made the choice to buy this cabin and live here until I die. Each morning during the season I walk the beach and pick up starfish and throw them to safety.
The young man told the old man you are WASTING YOUR TIME. Do you know how many miles of beach there are? Thousands of starfish die a year. OLD MAN, WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MAKING? The old man stooped down and picked up a starfish and threw it back into the water. The young man followed him along the beach, watching the old man pick up the starfish one by one. The young man listened to the old man’s heart. The old man replied: I MAY NOT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, AS HE THREW A STARFISH INTO THE WATER BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THIS ONE I AM THROWING BACK TODAY.
The young man said: THANK YOU, SIR. As they walked along together the young man began walking alongside the old man. To the old man’s amazement the young man bent down and picked up a starfish and threw it back into the ocean. THE YOUNG MAN SAID: I TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS HE THREW THE STARFISH BACK TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I would love to hear from you.
