Passing the torch of Leadership I Kings 19:13-21
Eric A. Snyder, Minister
Farwell Church of Christ
October 14, 2001
Key Ideas: Involvement and Responsibility
When the 1996 Olympics were held in this country the torch started in Washington state. It was passed by relay runners through 46 states over a 15,000-mile trek until it arrived in Atlanta for the Centennial Games.
The torchbearer selection process was the most extensive search in the history, honoring extraordinary people who represent the Olympic ideals. The CEO of the games said
"Carrying the Olympic flame is a distinct honor that is bestowed on very special people who exemplify the ideals and spirit of the Olympic Games."
God is saying that
“Carrying the Eternal flame is a distinct honor that is bestowed on any person who has a desire to carry the spirit of Christ”
Setup: Elijah is coming away from an incredible spiritual victory. This should have been a time when he would have been on an emotional high. Excitement should have been raging. Adrenaline should have been pumping through his blood. But it wasn’t Elijah is experiencing depression.
You remember the story Elijah has challenged the false teachers in his day and he says we are going to see who is the one true God, He ascends the hill thinking that he is the only one left. And God works powerfully through His witness.
But now Elijah is depressed because he fears for his life, he is afraid and so he has escaped.
Now you are probably not afraid of losing your life in serving God But you may be afraid of being asked to serve and failing at it. That’s mostly like what Elijah felt like.
He felt like all the work he had done had little significance. Here is a man who has preached for the better part of his life and he feels that all his effort, all his time, all his energy was wasted and useless.
And I’ll bet he began to wonder if he had wasted his life.
To top things off he has no friends, he had given himself as a prophet to the lord and he was convinced that he was the only one left. He felt lonely, rejected, humiliated, despised and unappreciated.
People sometimes say to me. It must be discouraging to preach and then have no one come forward.
"Sir, when they told my we were having one of those professor types to preach our revival, I was not expecting to get much out of it. But may I say that for a Ph.D., you preach like a man with no education at all."
Someone once said to me after I had finished a sermon “you know in a with a few years and the grace of God you might actually become a good preacher”
What I would like to do this morning is this: Let’s look at this verse as it relates to you.
How do you feel when you try as hard as you can to get family or friends to make a right decision and they insist on doing their own thing?
How do you feel when you share a specific way that Jesus has helped you and can help them, then they pass it of as not viable or relevant?
How do you feel when you have worked on one of the hardest projects you have ever faced, then when it’s all over you discover that there is no Celebration, Congratulations or Cake.
How would you feel if you thought that nobody appreciated all your hard work and effort.
It can shatter your confidence and make you withdraw from society. That’s where Elijah is. He feels alone and worthless, Not qualified for the position of prophecy.
Prophecy is this: Sharing God’s truth
The reality is that everyone should be sharing God’s truth, But some of you are afraid, some of you are depressed, some of you are feeling worthless. Some of you don’t feel qualified. So wherever you are this morning I want to encourage you to step into Elijah’s shoes and look at the world through his eyes.
You are discouraged, in despair and deciding what your next move is.
I Kings 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." 19 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. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" 21 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 attendant.
Prayer:
You may be asking “Why did God speak through a whisper?”
He is creative and he talks to each person differently, Moses it was a burning bush, Joshua it was a cloud, Paul it was a bright light. But getting by all of that
God wanted to show Elijah that every victory is not glorious. Sometimes He works in a quiet conscience. When He speaks He doesn’t always reign down fire. A lot of God’s victories may not even be witnessed at all. Should you look for them: yes. Will you always see them: no.
This should have spoke to Elijah, because for years he had just been plugging away and I’ m sure he wondered if anyone ever noticed. Because to him it looked like nothing had changed.
Just as you may be wondering what has changed as a result of your contribution.
If you are currently involved in a ministry in this church please stand.
Whatever it is, If you change the role of bathroom tissue, if you prepare the communion, if you lead a bible study, if you mow the grass.
People these are the Elijah’s of this church
They are people already in service
Pick out someone who is standing and send them an encouraging note this week
2 things Give them a hand
1. Thank you, This church could not exist without you. May you continue to glorify God with your Gift. And don’t get discouraged, you matter to this church, but more importantly you matter to Jesus
2. If you were not standing up I urge you to do 2 things,
a. Pray for these people specifically
b. Join an area of ministry
One of the hardest things for me to remember is this: I have been called to preach.
That’s it, I do my Job and God does His. God has to remind me over and over That the I may plant a seed or I may water but He is responsible for results.
Southeast has a phrase that they put on their mailings “When God’s people work, they work: when God’s people Pray, God works”
Somehow Elijah has forgotten this He says I have been good, I have a good work ethic, I am an encourager but I see no results.
So he says “did any of this matter? I expected you to use me.”
If you are a deacon here maybe you find yourself underground. Patiently chiding for Christ in a corner of a cave, asking “Did any of my service matter?”
If you’re an elder or non- titled leader perhaps you are searching for the voice of God , wondering “God what happened to my passion?”
If you are a Ministry group leader or Bible class Teacher you might find yourself standing at the edge of comfort saying “God I thought you were going to use me”
And God says to come out of your cave of comfort, walk without wondering, for your service has significance.
I. Return Home
What are you doing here Elijah?
1. You have strayed from where I told you to go.
I didn’t tell you to come here
Go back to where I need you
Why are you here? God is saying; Why did you leave the place I have called you to? Go Home, go back to where you are comfortable. God says the same thing to us throughout our lifetimes.
You may find yourself working in the nursery and hating every minute of it. You just may not have the patience for all the crying and messes that they make. That’s fine you don’t have to serve there if you absolutely can’t stand it. So don’t stay there. No one wants to hand their baby over to someone who is just paying their dues and calls them “ankle biters”. So if you are serving in an area and it’s killing you. If it’s sapping your strength, if it’s eating at your enthusiasm, if it’s robbing you of your joy, don’t do it. But if you don’t do it
1. Quit responsibly don’t just decide not to show up,
Don’t leave other people hanging, help find a replacement.
2. Find another area of service
Don’t quit cold turkey and refuse to serve at all
Find an area that will help you flourish and grow
There is more than one place to serve in the church
A. You need to go where I call you to go
B. Don’t be afraid to tell people “NO”
2. What are you DOING
Shouldn’t you be working
A. You need to stick with your calling
B. Remember who the results belong to
3. You’ve been here long enough
A. Get back to work
B. Vacations over
There are times when we get tired and we go to that cave and we never come back to work. It’s called coasting
II. Recruit Help
Get the Right people in the Right area of service
Hazael King
Jehu King Was a military Commander
Elisha Farmer Was a farmer
The task was judgment and Cleansing
When Elijah met Elisha He threw His cloak over him. That’s symbolic. Some of you seasoned leaders need to find an Elisha.
1. Selection Getting the Right person
2. Mentoring Getting the person Right
3. Support Letting them get it Right
Through this process Elisha began to own legitimate responsibility
He starts being used, He starts doing the work.
We need to ask God for another way, another worker and another word.
If you are an Elijah you need to ask God for another Assignment, Arrangement and Advancement .
III. Respond Hopefully
1. Reply realistically Know your limitations
An invalid was told that she could never escape from her prison of pain and weakness.
"Oh, well," she replied quickly, "there’s a lot of living to be found within your limitations, if you don’t wear yourself out fighting them." Helen Keller who also said, "Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them, but do not let them master you."
Learn what you like
Where your passion is, what temperament you are and what your spiritual gifts are.
Know what you should and shouldn’t do.
A good example is Eric can sing, But Eric can’t sing well therefore Eric shouldn’t sing.
2. Release graciously Leave your old position on good terms
Be helpful to those you are leaving. Become energized about what you are planning to do. Elisha had a party.
3. Rejoin rejuvenated Find an area of service that brings you fulfillment
Bring excitement and determination to your new task
If you can’t do that then reevaluate accepting the Job
If you chose not to serve you are missing an incredible aspect of your relationship with Jesus and your church family.
Jesus said if you want to be great. If you want to experience Christian living to the full benefit. Then serve one another.
I believe the problem is not that you don’t want to serve, it’s that you don’t know where to serve.
I pray you will search for a place of service in the coming weeks that will bring you fulfillment and Joy.
It’s time for the Elijah’s to find some Elisha’s. And it’s time for some Elisha’s to take the torch.
Take on more responsibility
The first order of responsibility for some is a responsibility of accepting Jesus
