Elisha: Prophet, Man of God, Disciple, Servant (attendant) NDC Men’s Gathering 11-2-11  Elisha was a man on a mission  He knew that making decisions has a great impact on ones future.  He was not afraid to make decision. Who is Elisha and for what is he most known? Many know Elisha as a Prophet, leader, man of God but did you ever stop to think that Elisha was a great Disciple and Servant? Elijah/Elisha Relationship: One of the first true Teacher/Disciple relationships found in OT. Often said “when the student is ready the teacher will appear” Here the student is ready and the teacher seems ready then isn’t

Elisha’s Calling: Did God call Elisha or did Elijah call him? Did God use Elijah to call Elisha Calling: 1 Kings 19:19-21 19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.

Elijah has just fled from Jezebel—He is holed up in cave and God tells him they are going to meet on the mountain.  Strong wind: No Lord in it  Earthquake: Still no Lord in it  Fire: Still no Lord in it  Gentle Blowing: Elijah knew God was in it! See 1 Kings 19:12-13 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" There is something about the gentle blowing that we need to understand about decision making.  God does not always speak in the most visible and bold way  We need to learn to listen for the movement of God—His stirring in our lives.  He wants to meet us—but we often miss Him because we are focused on something else The most important thing we can do in making decisions is to listen to the still small voice of God. Back to Elisha: Did God call Elisha to be a prophet or did Elijah? Answer: 1Kings 19:15-16 The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; 16and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. God told Elijah to anoint Elisha: God knew that Elisha was ready to become the disciple/servant. God knew Elijah’s time was coming to an end. Elijah knew this also.

Elijah departs from that place and finds Elisha 1Ki 19:19-21 Elisha’s Call and Response—The first of 2 important decisions in his life “19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 20He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.” What is the first important decision Elisha made? He sacrificed and followed Before you can follow you must make a sacrifice. The first decision to follow the Lord’s plan always is made on the sacrifice of going in a different direction—giving something up Elisha has a good thing going—12 pairs of oxen in the plowing team. Most are blessed with one ox—He has 12 pairs. He has a good thing! He is already blessed but something inside of him told him there is more! God’s plan is always a plan for more—at first there is a sacrifice to be made in the decision that may seem like there is a stripping away or lessening of the things we have but there is always more to appear in the plan. God is the God of MORE!

Have you ever encountered a time in your life where God called you to follow him in a new way? Did it require you to downsize or get rid of something in order to follow Him?

What are some other important things to look at in these verses that give us a clue to the character of Elisha? Elisha is sensitive to those around him. “Please let me kiss my father and mother” I believe Elisha also wanted to get the Father’s Blessing—Imp to go away with the blessing of parents.

Elisha is an “All In” type of guy—He knows the importance of making a decision and what it will do to his future. Decisions for Life: Have you ever made a “decision for life”? A decision for life is one that you make once—stick to it and never go back Sometimes these decisions (vows) can be either good or unhealthy What are some examples of both? Elisha made a healthy decision—a decision for life! How? He took the oxen, sacrificed them, burnt the tackle and gave the meat to the people to eat. What was Elisha doing? What was he saying? Basically: “I’m All IN” Are you “All IN”? Second Important Decision Elisha Made 2 Kings 2:1-25 NASB (Entire Chapter) Three times Elijah tells Elisha to stay and not to follow Three times Elisha says "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." Bethel, Jericho, “and they went on” (To Jordan) Bethel: “House of God” Jericho: Where Israel returned from Egypt (city of palms) Symbolizes Fruitfulness Jordan: Place where John the Baptist Baptized Jesus—Holy Spirit falls Elisha receives a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah here—Anointing to walk in the calling of God on his life. Why are these three places so important?  Many will try to get you to depart from the house of God  Many will try to see you never become fruitful in God’s calling  Many will try to see that you never receive what is truly needed—Holy Spirit

Elisha won’t have it: "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." Do you see what the second most important decision Elisha made was? Answer: He stuck with it! He carried it out! He followed through

Men we are designed to be people of follow through. Follow through will be the biggest battle you ever wage—Enemy wants to you stop, give in and stop following through with God With Jesus: Tempted 3 Times like Elisha was to stop and not go through to the end Are you being tempted to not follow through?

Importance of Decision: has the power to shape your future and the future of those around you. Bible: Let your “yes be yes and your no be no”. “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” These are two of the greatest examples of following through to completion Bible: “don’t you know that the good work started in you will be completed” Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. But there will be trials along the way! Like Elisha encountered right off the starting blocks Elisha picks up the mantle of Elijah (literally) parts the waters and returns to people who say he is anointed but don’t believe him that Elijah is gone. There will be people that don’t believe you are making or made the right decisions to follow God wholeheartedly. Elisha encounters two boys mocking him—Elisha curses them and two she bears come out and maul them “go up you bald head” A sign of disrespect—“Go Up” was like saying you’re not like Elijah, if you are then prove it by going up like him. You’re just a baldhead! Baldness was sign of weakness—associated with sickness like leprosy. Both of these accounts have prophetic utterances of Jesus in NT Jesus being mocked—Save yourself if you are the son of God Jesus had no form of appearance that would wow people Elisha did not care: He exercised the double portion of the spirit upon them. First display of the double portion he received by making 2 important decisions.

Elisha would not have received the double portion if he did not make two of the most important decisions in his life To sacrifice and Follow and to Continue On

What are some important decisions in your life? Is God calling you to make some sacrifices or changes so you can follow Him? Is there any area where you desire to continue on but can’t find the strength? Perhaps you need a Holy Spirit anointing like Elisha and Jesus received at Jordan

What are some things that keep us from making these two types of decisions? Fear: Not stepping out in making an important decision is a decision in itself Many people are so afraid of making the wrong decision they don’t make any decision. This is a decision! We don’t want to wait too long to make decisions. It is wise to think first, pray first before making them but dragging our feet can cause lost opportunity.

Some who say: “I have not heard the Lord say that” or “I will only do it if the Lord says to do it” may be acting out of fear instead of clearly hearing.

Be REAL with yourself. Do you have fear? Are your fearful of the making a decision? Do you feel paralyzed in making a decision that may change your future? Can you trust that God may be wanting a change in your future? Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. If we don’t make life decisions to follow God’s plan we will never walk in the rest of the plan outlined in Jeremiah 29:11 the way the Lord would have it.