The Mantle Of Messiah

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.”