Man on a Mission (02.26.17 Notes)

Image: Google search Robert Hurst on Wordpress

“Man on a Mission” 
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

A Virtuous Decision (02.19.17 Notes)

“A Virtuous Decision”

February 19, 2017

#FearfullyMade Week 3

Pastor Kris Freeman

Revolution Church

Scripture: Ruth 3:6-18 (NKJV)

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”

10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”

Who was Ruth?

-       Ruth was a Moabite living during a famine. Her husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law died and she decided to go to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law Naomi. Her mother-in-law was Hebrew.

-       Ruth met Boaz working in the grain fields and with Noami’s help, eventually married him.

-       She was called “a woman of noble character” but Boaz, her future husband, also acted with integrity in his preparation to follow custom and take her as his wife. He was willing to offer Ruth to a closer relative who by tradition and custom had the greater rights.

-       She had a son named Obed, who was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, the future king and therefore she is the ancestor of Joseph and mentioned in Matthew 1 in the genealogy of Jesus.

-       Ruth was born around 1100 B.C.

Ruth is an example of how ONE SINGLE DECISION can influence the lives of many people.

While Esther is known for her BRAVERY, Ruth will come to be known for her character and HUMILITY. Both are critically important to the world!

Her name is the seventh most popular female name in America of all-time. Over one and a half million people are named Ruth (Bible Gateway source).

Who were famous women whose influence changed the world:

-       Mary Magdalene – Redeemed and forgiven, a follower of Jesus

-       Joan of Arc – Patron saint of France, the French revolution

-       Elizabeth I – The Queen who oversaw the Protestant conversion of Britain

-       Jane Austen – Author of Pride and Prejudice when women weren’t accepted as legitimate authors

-       Harriet Beecher Stowe – Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, fought slavery

-       Susan B. Anthony – Women’s right to vote, fair treatment of workers

-       Marie Curie – First female Nobel Prize, developer of X-ray machine

-       Helen Keller – deaf and blind, overcame disability to influence many

-       Eleanor Roosevelt – Wife of president, head of U.N. human rights

-       Katharine Hepburn – Four Oscars and 12 nominations

-       Mother Teresa – Albanian nun, Nobel Prize, cared for thousands

-       Rosa Parks – Refused to give up her seat on the bus in Alabama

-       Audrey Hepburn – Dignified and elegant actress, UNICEF humanitarian

-       Malala Yousafzai – Pakistani girl who resisted and survived Taliban

In the fight for equality, we must remember that biological equality is a MIRAGE.

But equality of our character, integrity and opportunity is ESSENTIAL.

What the story of Ruth teaches us:

1. 1.     Graciousness is an ATTRACTION worth more than the eyes can behold.
2. 2.     Racial hatred and bigotry can be overcome with right RELATIONSHIPS.
3. 3.     There is no social division too strong for those with a PURE HEART.

There is much profit in HUMAN CHARACTER, but we can all do our part to make sure our character is rooted in a right relationship with God.

What I will do with this message?

1. 1.     I will see the women in my life as influential and important.
2. 2.     I will stand up for the rights of women not only in my country but around the world.
3. 3.     I will act with dignity, honor and respect in how I represent myself as a witness of Jesus Christ and my relationship with God.

I am a virtuous person, and my decisions will reflect it.

#FearfullyMade