Elijah to Elisha pt.1
Glory from one generation to Another.
According to Google Mantle means:
1. a loose sleeveless cloak or shawl
2. an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to another.
1 Kings 20:19-20 NLT
The Call Of Elisha
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”
The Lord is saying that it’s time for his children to go from Elisha to Elijah but first, we must be Elijah’s. We’ll talk about this more in part two, for now, let’s focus on understanding Prophet Elisha.
1 Kings Chapter 17 through 2 Kings Chapter 13
Prophet Elijah had favor and so did his mantle. Not only did the mantle carry favor but it carried the anointing and authority that attracted the favor of God, the backing of heaven. This favor is something that was earned through intimacy in being in the secret place of God and through trust, which came from obedience. Elijah was always in the presence of God. Elijah was a real friend of God, so God responded by showing himself to be a real friend of Elijah. Meaning that whoever the mantle would be passed on to next needed to have that personal relationship with God already established in their own lives so that it would not be too much to handle. So, when the time came for Elisha to walk in his purpose and carry the mantle that God had prepared for him through the prophet Elijah, he did not hesitate because he was already equipped to carry it. When the person who receives the mantle has been through the necessary building and tearing with the Lord, the training; and carrying the mantle will be easy for them and they can focus on walking into the greater purpose God has for them; Making the mantle greater than when they first received it. The next generation will always multiply the greatness of the previous generation. However, that is only if the previous generation carried and passed on the mantle well and if the next generation accepted the necessary training to receive it and carry it well.
Before we proceed, I need to make a disclaimer. The mantle was not based on what Elijah had for Elisha but on what God had for Elisha. There is too much false doctrine that has resulted in the partaking of witchcraft concerning mantles. Moses and Abraham had mantles too, every person who lived for God in the scriptures had mantles, they had the grace and anointing that was needed for them to complete what God called them to do and God is the one who gave it to them, just as He did for both Elijah and Elisha. So please don’t be fooled and allow people to deceive you by twisting scripture to fit their doctrine. Check-in with the Holy Spirit and test the spirit they operate by.
Elisha had favor, peace of mind, and peace guarding his heart. When trouble came he was not moved by it because he had faith in God and that’s where his peace came from. He ruled the environment by allowing his soul to rest in the Ruler of heaven and giving the Lord His glory by the way he lived. He made sure that he was never disconnected from God nor a glory stealer, meaning he did not steal God’s glory. When you place your faith in God and allow your heart to rest in trusting in God, you don’t need a King or Queen’s position to rule the earth. Kings were coming to Elisha so that things could be shifted on earth. No, let's understand this. Those who supposedly had greater authority than Elisha were coming to him, not because he was humanly stronger than them but because he carried weight in the Spirit, he carried the glory of God with him.
May it be the same for the body of Christ in this day and age in Jesus' name.
You’ve probably looked over your life and thought to yourself that there was no one in your family to pass a good mantle upon you but more so generational curses. That there was no one in your life, no teacher, no older family member, no friend to truly pass on a mantle to you. Or no one was able to pass on a mantle that is good so you could walk with the greater version of that mantle and shake the earth by fulfilling God’s purpose with it. However, remember what Jesus told us in John 14:11-14 “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.” MSG
John 14: 12-13 NLT
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
We have the mantle of Jesus passed on to us as believers in Christ. No matter what your parents, community, or school did or did not do, Jesus has already given us a mantle that is so great that the earth could not give nor maintain it, but had to come from heaven; it's the fathers will and the purpose of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 6 and John 14)
At some point in our Christian walk, if we choose to continue giving the Lord our full yes we will be Elishas, and if we choose to carry on the mantle, we will eventually become Elijahs''. Passing on the mantle to the next generation.
The story of Prophet Elijah and Prophet Elisha shows the power of doing the will of God, not only for our own lives but for the next generation who are called to do the same. This goes to show how the Church is always called to build up the next generation. Apostles prepare apostles, prophets prepare prophets, pastors prepare pastors, evangelists prepare evangelists, and teachers prepare teachers. Overall we are called to build the next generation no matter what our callings are, this is part of the path of life. Those who are older, those who are good at certain things, and those who specialize in certain things are gifted with these talents because we are supposed to help those who are next. The church is built on an apostolic foundation, meaning the sent ones, are sent to build God’s church by the power of Christ Jesus.
Talking about it in the context of the church: I believe that is why there seems to be a lack of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers. Everybody in the body of Christ is called to one of these positions. How do we know? Because in Ephesians 4:11, these are the gifts that Christ Jesus gave the church to equip God’s people, so that means EEERRRRBODY (“everyone” for the beautiful people who don't understand slang terminology) in the body of Christ because we are God’s people. We sometimes hear people say there are no more of these positions left besides pastors. But I will say this, there's not a lack of any of these people, there is just an abundant amount of people who are not walking out their calling. Some of them have been misled by trusted leaders when they did try to seek guidance on their calling and purpose. Some are manipulated into doing something else or not doing anything at all. Truth be told it’s not that they don't know their calling, they may just feel unqualified. Even if someone doesn't tell you, God will. Look at Moses for example. Doubt, hesitation, fear, worrying about people’s opinions, fear of going against destructive church culture, yet God qualified him to be His prophet.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the complete standard of Christ.
But it does not stop there. God’s church is also his kingdom. It is not his will for us to just stay in the 4 corners of the church but for us to bring his kingdom throughout the world. Some of us are being called into the medical profession, music ministry, politicians, businesses, fashion, and beauty industries, to build schools and so much more. We are called to influence the world with our Kingdom culture and not be influenced by them. There is a distinct difference between the luxury of Jesus and the fake gold that Satan gives. The unfortunate thing is that because legalism has trapped the church, many of these spaces have been neglected with getting the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, missing out on God’s love; or the people who are showing up in the name of Christ, are acting just like them still withholding the true power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is meant to transform them. BUT GLORY BE TO GOD. He has already begun raising a remnant, an army of people who do not fold but stand firm for the name of Jesus. An army that will bring deliverance to awards shows and office spaces.
Revival starts in the heart of the church.
This also goes for women helping young women on how to carry themselves as the woman God created them to be and men teaching younger men how to carry themselves as the men God created them to be, according to Titus 2:1-8. The design, character, essence, and of males and females never change. It’s more than a gender, it’s an office that is compatible with every age and generation because it was made in God’s image. Remember that God never changes. So this means that no matter what the year it is, what age it is, or what is the current culture in a nation, a man is still a man and a woman a woman.
So what does the story of Elijah and Elisha tell us?
We’re not done yet. Join us for part 2.
God bless 💕
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