I hope you are excited to be in Church today to worship and hear the word of God. I don't know if it is the weather or something else but I have to say that once in a while, I get the impression that this is more of a routine than real worship that lacks enthusiasm. It reminds me of a certain Anglican Priest who was frustrated by his congregation’s indifference to his sermons and their lack of passion towards God. So, one Sunday, he decided to do something about it. He called the Altar Guild volunteer aside and ordered that prune juice be used instead of wine for communion. “Why prune juice?” she asked. Well, said the Priest, “If my sermons don’t move them, at least the prune juice will!”
Today’s OT reading tells us that except for Elisha, all of the prophets who Elijah actually taught were MIA when he ascended into heaven. They were not ordinary folk but the religious ones. It is like many Christians of today who do a lot of good work but fall short of seriously preparing for the return of Jesus. And so, this morning as we are about to enter a new season of preparation which we call lent, our focus will be on Elisha and how you and I can better prepare to meet our master.
And so my first point is: Like Elisha when God calls you, be willing to follow without conditions.
Going back a little to I kings 19, we read that Elisha was plowing a field when he was called to follow Elijah. Unlike many of us he made no excuses except one request which was to kiss his mother and father goodbye.
Story goes like this:
v19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. v20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” v21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
As you can see Elisha actually threw a party when Elijah called him to be his servant. He went big and served everyone steak! Isn’t that amazing. Elisha wasn’t given a title or position and in fact nothing is said about Elisha for the 7 or 8 years that he served Elijah. The thing that I find most fascinating about Elisha’s ministry is that he served without the need to be recognized.
I wonder if there is someone here this morning who is ready to throw in the towel. You have been wondering whether it has really been worth it because you are seldom recognized for your service. Friend, I say this lovingly – but instead of looking for praises from people, count it a blessing and be thankful that God has chosen you to serve and follow him. Sometimes the things you do will go unnoticed by men but not by God. We must be willing to serve with passion and the best of our abilities knowing that God is a rewarder of the faithful.
In verse 2 Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. But Elisha said unto him, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
Notice, Elijah gave Elisha a way “out” but Elisha essentially says, I know my God is alive and so are you which makes me never have to think of quitting. A lot of good folk have tied up the hands of God making it impossible for him to pour out his blessings upon them because of their lukewarm faith. They have one foot in the world and another in the Kingdom of God and can’t make up their mind which side to be. This takes us to my next point which is :
Like Elisha don’t allow peer pressure to rob you of your blessing.
Friends, your walk with the Lord is not going to be easy. In fact, I can guarantee that you will have opposition along the way. You may not be popular with your friends or even some in the Church because you have taken your walk with the Lord too seriously. Don’t be surprised at what I just said – it is true. That is what happened to Elisha. See what it says in verse 3: “And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Don’t you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold your peace”
Notice it was not the secular folk but sons of the Prophets who were suggesting that Elisha was wasting his time with Elijah. In other words, those church folk were trying to bring Elisha down to their level of commitment. Perhaps you hear people telling you, “Why are you on vestry; why be on the altar guild, read scriptures, be a communion steward or even play the organ. There is no need to be part of the bible study group either.
Friends, let me say something - Satan is very satisfied if we come to Church, sing a few hymns, pay our dues and forget about the Lord till the next time we are here. In other words, Satan loves part time Christians. The less you do in the service of the Lord, the more he will have people pat you on the back and say – you are doing just fine. You have to be careful not to allow people to hold you back or keep you from your blessing.
There is a story in the bible about a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. Huge crowds surrounded Jesus that prevented her from getting close but she did not allow herself to be distracted. She knew who to touch in order to receive her miracle. Likewise you might be at the very doors of your miracle. Never allow the nay sayers to steal your miracle.
And lastly, Like Elisha the journey is not over until you cross the Jordan
As you know, the children of Israel who came out of the Exodus could not enter the Promised Land until they crossed the Jordan. That was the last lap of their journey. Likewise, Elisha’s blessing only came when he crossed the Jordan – not when he served all those 8 or 9 years! In verse 8 & 9 we read "Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the waters of Jordan with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”
Friends, there is a spiritual Jordan that you and I must be willing to cross before we can see the fruit of our faith. Elisha had a sense of destiny which kept him faithful to his work. He saw the big picture. He got it. He knew that God was calling him to do something that was far beyond what he could imagine. Elisha never wasted his time trying to keep up with the Jones’s. He wasn’t concerned with the earthly possessions of Elijah. Unlike most of us, he wasn’t concerned with houses, wealth or good food and clothes. What Elisha wanted was the power of God that rested upon Elijah to be his when Elijah was taken away. This should be your goal and mine. How can I inherit spiritual riches? Earthly blessings are only for a season but divine blessings last forever. The passage goes on to say that “Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River.”
As you can see a good many people never finish the race. Sometimes only a short distance separates them from victory. It may be just a few years, a few days or even a few minutes away from their breakthrough but along the way they get caught up in something else. They fail to prepare, get distracted and lose sight of their destiny. I wonder if I am speaking to someone this morning who might be physically present but miles away in their commitment to God. The love of the world takes lots of people away from the Love of God. 1st John 2: 15-17 says “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, because this world is fading away; But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
Perhaps you are saying, that sounds great but you do not know what I am up against. It is true I don’t - but let me say this. Like every one of us, you will always see both sorrows and joys, failures and successes, good and bad but I say this respectfully - only you can change your situation. There must come a time when you wake up one day and say “I am done with this old life. It is like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes which I need to strip off and throw in the trash can. I am now dressed in a new wardrobe. I am now well equipped and clothed for truth and righteousness in love. My past may not have been great but I have a brand new future with Jesus Christ.
Friends, God does not compel anyone to follow him. It is solely our choice. But when we choose him he comes alongside of us for the journey that is often rough and tough. He may not remove every obstacle or temptation but he will give us his grace and power to handle them all. We have to keep ploughing until we too reach the spiritual shores of Jordan. He good shepherd has already gone before us and is waiting on the other side to welcome us into his everlasting kingdom. Some of you may already be at the shores which is great. Others might need to slaughter their cattle and burn their ploughs and begin that journey. It is one that you will never regret. Through it you will inherit eternal life! Amen.
