Show Up

Psalm 24:3–6 NKJV

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah

I want to talk to you about the power of showing up.

Have you ever missed out on some experience because you didn’t go?

Recently there was a powerful move of God at Asbury University in Wilmore Kentucky. There were three weeks of meetings which essentially didn’t end. 15,000 people poured into the small college town daily to connect with God. And then the meetings stopped. There were people who wanted to encounter God like they had heard about but they did not go. They missed their window.

Have you ever had a time where due to someone being a no show they missed out on an opportunity or a blessing?

We need to show up to receive what God has appointed for us. So many times people miss the presence of God and His blessings on their lives because they expect Him to come to us on their terms.

Let’s show up in faith. When we choose that we will be in position to experience more of God’s blessing and anointing on our lives.

Don’t Be a No Show

The life of faith is a relational one. There is an interactive nature of relationships. I don’t believe that God is after a simple, transactional relationship with Him.

Eugene Peterson called discipleship to Jesus “a long obedience in the same direction.” In other words, it is a long-term journey with God.

This is why there is something wrong with just sitting around and waiting for God to do something when it is convenient. We have a responsibility to the relationship. Our commitment to God is a commitment to our relationship with Him. It’s not passive but participatory.

Unfortunately, so many people are a no show in their relationship with God. Or, they start following Him but then stop. Then they feel bad and start again.

Consider how hot, then cold, on and then off-again, affects your relationship and blessing with God. And consider how it affects your growth and increase in faith.

Illustration: naturally speaking we see this in our community regularly. People start a job (relationship) and then find a new one after a short period of time. Then, another one pops up and they do it again.

What impact does that have on your relationships? What affect does that have on your rhythm and growth? How does that affect things long term?

To walk in the blessing and purpose of God we have to keep pressing in and moving forward. We have to avoid the trap of stopping and going as well as the trap of doing nothing.

Showing up in faith is more like pushing a flywheel.

Illustration: Flywheel - think of a giant metal disc mounted horizontally on an axle. 30 feet in diameter, 2 feet think, weighing about 5,000 pounds. Your job is to get that wheel rotating around the axle as fast and long as possible. You have to push hard just to get it to inch forward. But you keep pushing. After a few hours it moves one turn. You keep pushing, and it moves a little faster. With more effort, it moves around another turn. You keep pushing and it keeps moving. 3…4…5…6…it begins to build up speed....7…8…you keep pushing…9…10…it builds momentum…11…12…it gets faster each turn…20…30…50…100. And then at some point—breakthrough. The momentum starts kicking in on your favor and keeps it flying forward. It’s weight now working for you.

It’s not one big push but the constant effort. It is not the start but the perseverance.

This is how we show up and pursue God in faith.

That this kind of perseverance is expected is implicit in Jesus’ invitation to “come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21).

If we don’t show up, we won’t go up!

Showing Up

We see this principle illustrated in the transition of prophetic anointing and the mantle of God between Elijah and Elisha.

This part of their story begins in

2 Kings 2:1 NKJV

And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

This story starts like ours. Gilgal means “liberty” or “rolling away.” In Christ, we are free. Our sins have been rolled away and He invites us to come and follow Him (Luke 9:23).

Here are three ways we can show up and follow God towards His blessing on our lives.

Go to God’s House

2 Kings 2:2–3 NKJV

2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Bethel means, “house of God.” Elijah had to go to the house of God and if Elisha was going to enter into the double portion, he had to go there too.

And if we want to enter into what God has for us, we will need to do the same.

We need to go to the place where God is. We know that the assembly of the saints is where Jesus promised to be.

Matthew 18:20 NKJV

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Illustration: Early in my walk with God I discovered the power of His presence in the midst of His people. Whether it was in church services, or small groups I encountered Him. Praying in the corn fields for revival. Having gatherings at my home where we would pray and worship and prophesy. Street evangelism with others. God has designed me to need the Body. And through the Body, I meet God in a powerful way.

We have to show up in the house of God. We need to gather with the saints. In our homes, in the church, wherever. There is an impartation waiting for us as we do so.

Go to the Place of Prayer

2 Kings 2:4–5 NKJV

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. 5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Jericho means, “a fragrant place.” This points to prayer and worship (Revelation 8:3-4).

Psalm 141:2 M:BCL

Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.

Prayer and worship bring us into the presence of God. In the place of prayer He shares His secrets with His friends who fear Him (Exodus 33:11, Psalm 25:14).

In the place of prayer the fragrance of God begins to rest upon us. We become carriers of the fragrance of Christ to the world around us (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). It is a type of evidence of His presence in our lives.

Illustration: When I was in boot camp, Pr. Nanette sent me a letter with her perfume on it. It reminded me of her. It kept my mind on her in the face of the difficulty and rigors of training and becoming a Marine.

The fragrant place is the place of prayer. It is the reminder of our relationship with God and it enables us to face the obstacles to our faith and purpose.

The place of prayer and worship is a place of God’s presence in our lives. We have to show up in that place if we want to receive power and walk in our purpose.

Go Towards the Anointing

2 Kings 2:6–7 NKJV

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

Jordan means, “flowing down.” This is a beautiful picture of the anointing and blessing.

Psalm 133:1–3 NKJV

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

We need to move towards the anointing of God. We need to show up to receive that anointing.

Illustration: There have been crucial moments in my relationship with God and growth in my calling that would likely not have happened if I didn’t show up to a prayer meeting or a special meeting. I’ve experienced God’s power to heal, and deliver, and set me free from things because I went where God was. Prophetic words I would have missed if I did not go.

There is an anointing that God places on others for us. If I didn’t go there, and receive ministry, I would have missed something God had for me. I had to show up to those places to receive through the gifts Christ had given to the church (cf. Ephesians 4:11).

We should pursue spiritual gifts and the anointing of the Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:1). This comes through the laying on of hands and through the ministry gifts of Jesus (Romans 1:11, 2 Timothy 1:6).

Stay Until..

2 Kings 2:8–14 NKJV

8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 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.

In order for Elisha to receive the blessing and prophetic promise he had to be there to see Elijah taken up. He had to show up. He couldn’t miss that moment.

Like Elisha we have to show up and stay until the promise has been fulfilled.

Like Jacob we need to hold on to the prophetic promise of God and contend for His blessing—“I won’t let You go until you bless me” (Genesis 32.26).

Like Paul we need to P.U.S.H.—pray until something happens (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:8).

Illustration: Wrestling, struggling with all your strength to hold the opponent down. Refusing to let go until the hand came down, the whistle blew, the match was over, and victory was assured.

Don’t be a “no show” when it comes to the things of God. Press in. Keep pursuing all that God has for you. Until...

Conclusion

Each step of the way, Elisha had a chance to stop going forward. But he chose to keep showing up wherever Elijah was. In the house of God, in the fragrant place of prayer and worship, where the anointing was flowing.

He chose to stay until he received the promise. He chose to keep going until he received the blessing.

If we follow that path

going to God’s house

going to the place of prayer

going towards the anointing

staying until

Instead of missing opportunities for blessing, we will experience more of God’s supernatural grace.

If we choose to follow the example of Elisha we will walk in all that God has for us.

If we show up, we won’t miss out.