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February 26, 2017
FearfullyMade Week 4
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church
Scripture: 2 Kings 2:11-22 (NKJV)
2 Kings 2:11-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.”
And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”
17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
Elisha Performs Miracles
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
What was the mantle?
The mantle of Elijah was the cloth or cloak or robe that was worn by the prophet, and its symbolism was spiritual authority. The passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha was the significance of prophetic blessing and leadership.
In popular culture, the passing of the mantle is MENTORSHIP.
Men need mentors. We need leaders to look up to. Leaders and mentors teach us about life.
Who are our mentors as men?
1. Fathers and grandfathers
2. Teachers
3. Pastors/elders or spiritual fathers
4. Coaches
5. Celebrities, athletes or inspirational people
Every man is different – and Elisha had to battle the COMPARISON of his mentor.
Instead of submitting to the pressure of comparison, Elisha asked for DOUBLE.
Elisha PURSUED his purpose. He did not run from it. Men run from responsibility when we cannot overcome the stereotypes and pressure.
The stereotypical man portrayed in culture:
1. A Neanderthal (insert Tim Allen grunt)
2. Intelligently inferior
3. Sports, Sex and Food are what’s important
4. Al Bundy
5. The Steroid Monster
6. The Deadbeat Dad
7. The Addict or Abuser
I’m here to say you don’t have to be a stereotype. Pursue the PROTOTYPE.
Elisha became one of the greatest prophets to ever live, but he was not the carbon copy of Elijah, he found his OWN ministry which influenced others.
When Elisha died, he was one miracle short of double the number of miracles – until he died and then God finished the promise.
2 Kings 13:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
You were made for a purpose. Pursue it. Be it. Don’t conform, instead lead. Be a man.
I Am. I Can. I Will.
FearfullyMade
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