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Pray

When Sophia Furtado approached her delivery location, she expected to simply deliver a pizza. Instead, she delivered a second chance at life. That’s because Furtado’s customer, Caryn Sullivan, was sprawled on the driveway in front of her home, showing extensive bleeding from a head wound.

That’s when Furtado bolted into action, running into the house and screaming for help. The commotion quickly awoke Caryn’s husband Robert, who immediately came downstairs to call 911 and help assist. Furtado said, “It happened so fast. I was freaking out because I didn’t know how much longer she had.”

Having been previously trained as an EMT, Furtado calmly relayed the important details to the 911 dispatcher, and instructed Robert to retrieve gauze and a towel to stop the bleeding, and a blanket to keep Sullivan warm. She also stabilized Sullivan’s neck to prevent a potential spinal injury.

Law enforcement personnel who responded to the scene lauded Furtado’s quick thinking and action. Police officer Jillian Jodoin said, “What Sophia did that night is not something anyone would justdo… We have seen people walk away, run away, drive away, pull out their phone, or simply watch. Sophia sprang into action, alerted Robert, activated the emergency response system, rendered aid, and helped officers streamline information gathering. She saved a life.”

We hear this story this morning and the simple facts are, a pizza delivery driver was out doing her normal job… When a completely new, and far more important mission met her in the face. And as the law enforcement personnel pointed out, not everyone in her shoes would respond that way. Not everyone would help, not everyone would respond with heroic efforts, and spring into action…. But not Sophia… She utilized her training and preparation for the mission ahead.

We transition then to ourselves. And you’re probably wondering what a pizza delivery driver with an EMS background… and youhave in common this morning, and the answer is this. Readiness, preparation, or perhaps the lack thereof.

For some of us this morning, we’re prepared. If God told us to move to Africa tomorrow, we would be ready. For others, we might be a little more apprehensive. We might be inclined to tell God, “hold on, lets pump the brakes a little here…”

Some of us have like Joshua, we’re ready to charge on at all costs… others of us, we’re a little more like Jonah. Whether we question the mission, or simply don’t like it… the answer to God, sometimes, is a no.

The question for you then is this: Are YouReady? Maybe You’re here this morning, and faith isn’t the issue, but there’s a certain sin in your life. You’ve heard me say before that most of us, are probably just 1 thing away from God truly using you… What is that obstacle in the room this morning? Friend, are we ready?

If you have you’re bibles, turn with me to the book of 1 Kings 19

1. Ready in heart 2. Ready in sacrifice 3. Ready in service ( If God visited today would you be ready)

Beginning with point 1. Ready in heart

1 Kings 19:15-21 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

The Call of Elisha 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

We stop and consider the scripture, and you may recall the first several verses from 2 weeks ago. Which most of our time this morning will be centered around verses 19-21 but I want to remind us of where we were 2 weeks back. To give us some context.

But you’ll recall that Elijah has recently experienced a great victory on Mt. Carmel. A contest of sorts was put together, in which 450 prophets of baal called on their god all morning, to bring fire on the bull, but you’ll recall there was no answer. Then Elijah Calls on the Lord, the Lord comes to Elijahs answer. The bull, the wood, the altar, even the water in the trenches is licked up.

We then went from here, from the mountaintop, to very much the valley. We saw that after God came through, and wiped out the bull. That Elijah would have the prophets of baal killed… Then, God would send rain on the land, and there’s this moment of great victory.

After this takes place, Jezebel gets word of what Elijahs done. And sends a messenger to say (in so many words) “Elijah, you’re as good as dead.” The next thing we know, Elijah is fleeing for his life. He travels for 40 days to Mt. Horeb (or Mt. Sinai).

Where the Lord would meet with him. And God asks What Elijah Is doing there. 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Then we’re told: 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by…Elijah Listens, he stands on the mountain. Next, we see a powerful wind, a great earthquake, and a fire… which the Lord is in none of those… instead, we see that God speak to Elijah in a gentle whisper.

we get to verse 13 we’re told: 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

And how does the Lord respond?

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, I want us to stop for a moment… I don’t want us to get too far ahead… but here’s the point. God wasn’t done with Elijah. Don’t get me wrong, his time of service was soon coming to an end…but God wasn’t done. Elijah had work still unfinished. Elijah had business to tend to.

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

And how does Elijah respond to God’s command? 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.

You see Elijah listens. Elijah is faithful to God. He carries out God’s will. By the way… Elisha is faithful also. Elisha, too, as we’ll see, is committed to the mission ahead. Despite his family’s wealth, he has the right heart. We see the Right Heart. They’re committed to the mission.

I’m reminded of the George Lucas' 2012 film Red Tails. This movie provides a dramatized version of the true events behind a group of World War II soldiers called the Tuskegee Airmen. Formally, they belonged to a 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The nickname "Red Tails" was coined after the group painted the tails of their aircraft red.

The Tuskegee Airmen became famous for two reasons. First, they were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. But the Red Tails hold a special significance in American history, not just racially, but militarily. In the European air war, U.S. bombers were getting shot down at increasingly alarming rates. The problem arose when the enemy attacked. Fighter pilots, protecting the bombers, would leave the bomber to engage enemy aircraft. Though this seemed like the obvious response, it meant leaving the bombers vulnerable to attack. Each lost bomber carried a crew of 10 or 11 Americans.

The Tuskegee Airmen were brought in and given a different strategy: Never leave the bombers. Never. Regardless of what was happening around them. When the enemy attacked, stay the course, and defend your charge. The result of their steadfast devotion? Only 25 of the hundreds of bombers they protected during the war were lost. Their stellar reputation became legend: If you flew a bomber, you wanted the Red Tails with you. On the movie screen, the Tuskegee Airmen gather around each other on an airstrip in a foreign land and shout their motto: "The last plane, the last bullet, the last man, the last minute, we fight!"

The Tuskegee Airmen are celebrated, not just because they were excellent pilots, but because they never wavered from their duty; they never left their charge. No matter what happened, they stayed faithful to their calling.

Friends, God has amazing things ahead for us… Individually, and as a church… But there comes the need to be ready. There comes the need to prepare our hearts.

I’m reminded of the well-known scripture of Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (We Know this… Goes on to say) 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Friends, are we ready? Is our heart right? God wants to go amazing things through you, through your family, through this church… how are we doing in here (heart?)

2. Ready in sacrifice

As we go back to the scripture we’re told: 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

As we look at the scripture, I want us to notice a few things. First, we notice that Elisha is plowing the land along with 11 other pairs of oxen. so, 12 yoke of oxen in total. And for his family to own at least 12 yoke of oxen, speaks to the fact that they’re probably pretty well off.

And Elisha’s the foreman of this operation is there with the other workers according to some scholars I came across, although it can’t be certain, he’s likely somewhere in his late teens or perhaps his 20s.

But here’s the key, Elisha, would be called to leave his old way of life behind, and come and follow after Elijah. Elijah throws his cloak around Elisha, symbolism It shows that Elisha would be replacing Elijah as God’s prophet… And for the next several years, Elisha would go on to be mentored and trained, and serve under the leadership of Elijah.

But here’s the key, here’s what I want us to notice for the next few moments. After Elijah calls Elisha to replace him, after the cloak is thrown on him… How does Elisha respond?Well first, 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

So Elisha, goes and tells his family good bye.Bye mom, bye dad. But what do we see next? verse 21

Notice, he doesn’t take the 24 oxen and the plowing equipment and give it to his family members to hold on to… Just in case down the road he changes his mind… He doesn’t even sellthe oxen and the equipment to help him and Elijah in their expenses over the next few years… What does he do?

He throws a massive, good ole BBQ. Which we don’t know the sides (if any were served) but I’d like to think maybe there was some baked beans, mac and cheese, maybe some corn bread… who knows… We’re getting off topic here. But listen He leaves his old way of life behind, so that he can walk into the future that God has for him.

There’s a crucial moment, a distinct moment… of deciding to burn what is in the past, and move on towards what’s ahead.

You see I’m reminded of Abraham this morning. Formerly Abram. You guys know the song, Father Abraham, had many sons… Right, Abraham, “the father of many nations.” Would be called to leave his homeland at the ripe young age of 75. To leave his father, who lived in Ur, who worshiped idols. There’s this call to leave what’s comfortable to embrace what’s ahead.

We see in Genesis 12:1-4 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

Abram is obedient, Abram answers the call. But listen, before he went into his new life… he had to leave his old life behind.

I’m reminded of a story I came across this past week that explains:

When their wedding venue fell through at the last minute, Krista and Jeremy Bourasa decided to hold the ceremony at the groom's fire station in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, knowing it was possible an alarm could disrupt things.

They made it through their ceremony without a hitch, (no pun intended)… but while taking photos before the reception, an urgent call came in for mutual aid to knock out a fire engulfing a house in a nearby town. Krista told her new husband to go ahead and fight the fire. "I've got the rest of my life with him," she told Minneapolis TV station KARE-11. "They needed him for that moment."

Three hours later, Jeremy returned to the reception, and the bride and groom had their first dance. "That just kind of put the icing on the cake that I know she's the one for the rest of my life," he said.

The continuation of the article explains… This wedding couple serves as a great reminder of the purpose of every local church. We are busy with church services, celebrations, and Bible studies, but we should be willing to be interrupted to carry out our mission to serve the world.

Friends when we look at Elisha, there is a distinct moment between leaving his old life… and embracing what’s ahead. The same with Abraham, Noah, Moses, the disciples… I mean we could go on and on.

What about you? are you willing to sacrifice what you’re holding onto so God can do a new work? Are you willing to open your hand so God can pour out a new anointing, , his favor? His design?

Matthew 16:24-25 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Friends would we embrace all that God has for us. For our family and for this church. maybe that’s serving in new ways, maybe that’s giving to the point that it hurts… will we answer the call today? Will we sacrifice what God is asking us to Sacrifice?

3. Ready in service

For the sake of time, we won’t spend a ton of time on this last point… but here’s what I want us to see.

When Elisha leaves his old way of life behind, the comfort of his home, his financial security… what does he do? What does he do with his time? This new life?

Verse 21 tells us: Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

The word their servant. Is the Hebrew word: šāraṯ meaning to serve, or minister to. And here’s the point… Elisha would spend the next several years being the attendant of Elijah. We learn from 2 kings 3 that Elisha would pour water on the hands of Elijah. He would likely help with average everyday tasks. Likely things like making sure food, running errands, whatever was needed. Not only was his heart right… he was willing to serve sacrificial.

You see Elisha sits under Elijah’s leadership, he learns, he observes, and when the time is ready… in Gods perfect time. He steps into his new role.

Listen, I believe in the coming years, God is going to do a great work at KAC, God is going to use us as a lighthouse for this community, God is going to redeem new believers, people who aren’t even in this room this morning. God is going to do a wonderful work. God is going to raise up the next generation, here in our church. With those who will serve in New Ways. Whether it’s as elders, or through the worship team, or in different ministries…

Gods is going to do amazing things… church are we ready?

If we’re currently serving in the role of Elijah, are we praying for the Elisha, who is next in line?

If we’re younger, or maybe not currently serving… IF we’re Elisha… Are we prepared, are we ready?Are we willing to answer the call, are we allowing God to work on our hearts, are we willing to carry our cross and follow him?

Call the worship team up at this time.

And maybe you’re here this morning, and this message is speaking to you… you’re the next generation…You’re here this morning and you feel a calling on your life. Here’s what I want to say, who’s out there that feels that God is doing a new work in them?