Responding to God's call - 1 Kings 19:19-21

1 Kings 19:19–21 CSB

19 Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?” 21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.

Last week we reflected on God calling Elijah back to mission. Now it’s Elijah calling Elisha on to mission.

My bookshelves at home are lined with stories of people who responded to the call to follow Jesus.

Authors

Missionaries

Scientists

Academics

Pastors

Politicians

Businesss people

Here’s a big idea that they all faced. Following God requires faith and action!

They learn the same lessons as Elisha and Elisha learned.

1. God’s choice for God’s work should be eagerly embraced

Elijah comes to Elisha because God says he must anoint Elisha in his place (1 Kings 19:16).

3 things I want to highlight here.

1.1. God’s work is bigger than you or me

That means, none of us are indispensible. God’s work continues beyond your or my life time. That must surely inform how we do church. We don’t hold ministry or position too tightly. We ought to be ready to give ministry away to the called, gifted and qualified. Until that time, we serve faithfully!

1.2. God’s choice ultimately leads to His glory

There’s no human reason given why Elisha should be the one – BUT God! Not because he was anything special. That’s how God works!

When God chose Israel it wasn’t because they were something special.

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 CSB

7 “The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors, he brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God simply loved them and chose them.  He was simply wanting to get glory.

When God chose the disciples it was because God loved them and chose them – He wanted to get His glory.

When God chose David, it wasn't because he was on anyone’s list for greatness but God loved him and chose him for His glory.

When God chose you and me it was because God loved you and chose you.

God wants to show that the work is from Him and not from you. We work in His strength so He gets the glory.

1.3. God empowers us for what He calls us to

God is in the business of changing hearts. You don’t have to feel that you are “the person” for God to use you.

God looks at the heart and not at the outward appearance.

1 Samuel 16:7 CSB

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

Man looks at the outward appearance. Elisha wasn’t at Bible college, or among the school of prophets but he was working in the fields.

Don’t limit what God can do in you!

2. God’s purpose should be our purpose

When God chose Elijah, it was for the same reason He chose Elisha, to fulfil a purpose. God’s purpose. He was to be anointed as a prophet in his place.

2.1. Gives clarity of his purpose

2.1.1. Common purpose

This was what was common to everyone that Elijah engaged with. He was calling people back to the worship of God!

2.1.2. Particular purpose

A prophet in your place (v16). It didn’t matter what Elijah thought, this is God’s assignment for Elisha.

2.2. Gives clarity in OUR purpose

2.2.1. Common purpose

You are made to be a worshipper first. SIn distored our worship - it made worship about you! That’s the struggle of the flesh. Through the saving work of Jesus on the cross, you were saved for this. The process of sactification is God restoring us to the place of true unadulterated worship.

Matthew 22:36–37 CSB

36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Westminster confession of faith reminds us: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

That’s always going to be a priority. That’s meant to the drive in everything we do in all areas of our lives.

2.2.2. Particular purpose

It is unique to you because it is how God has put you together . Your unique gifts and abilities, your unique experiences. God is working in you for His glory and purpose. This past week marked the 29th year of being a pastor (basic starting salary was R2800). A month back was 6 years as a church planter coach. That’s my unique call. It hasn’t been easy. In response to the leading of God it has meant Jenni and I walking away from our human income source 3 times, and trusting Jesus.

It’s what makes us (City Hill Church) unique! This is how God has put US together. This isn’t by chance that City Hill is made up like it is - with you! It’s God’s design for His purpose.

We have everything we need to to do what God has designed for us.

Serving next generation

Evangelism

Living out your faith in the work space.

3. God’s call must be embraced with faith

In order to understand the challenge for us, we need to understand the man God calls.

3.1. About the man

The name Elisha means God is salvation!

3.1.1. A family man

What is interesting to see here is that he is called the son of Shaphat (1 Kings 19:16). Family was always important - it spoke of one’s heritage and gave credibility. In Elisha’s case, it wasn't the credibility of a king or a prophet, it was the credibility of an honest hard working farmer.

3.1.2. A community man - friends

There are 11 people in front of him pulling oxen. He’s not alone in this field. He’s a team player.

3.1.3. A wealthy man - finances

It was more than likely that he was a wealthy man because of his family business.

God worries less about a man’s pedigree than we do. God sees a man and a woman and what he can make of that person.

Think of John Bunyan, a tinker, who wrotes one of the worlds best known books, “Pilgrims progress” while in jail because he preached the Gospel without the approval of the state.

3.2. Counting the cost in faith

For Elisha, what would it look like to follow Elijah?

He would leave family

He would leave his friends

He would leave his finances

Right there, facing him are the three greatest challenges for all of us – the biggest idols that we face. The three biggest areas of arguments that we have with God.

But he has the call – what will he do? What will his actions say about his heart as a worshipper - a heart surrendered to God?

The temptation will always be to worship our idols.

The response of faith manifests in decisive, and many times costly, action.

We want to make the excuses. Jesus spoke about that with people wanting to wait until their parents were dead or something else had happened.

When Elijah calls him, he says he wants to go back and bury his father. Elijah’s response is telling because it is as if he was saying, “Whatever!” “You decide! I have done what God told me to do.”

His response is then a public demonstration that He is a worshipper of God! Just like baptism for us. It was a declaration, I will trust Jesus!

It’s important that we recognise the object of our faith.

You believe and it shows in what you do. It is simply about believing God and making the fact that we believe God visible.

4. God’s path

We are sometimes aware of the call, God’s purpose, but we resist the path.

Look at Elisha’s example. He follows Elijah and serves him. He knows that the path of dsicipleship, learning to be a faithful follower of Jesus, will mean learning and serving.

In our modern day, with our abundance of information, we think we can fast track preparation. Character matters and that is formed in the appllication of truth.

Now, the point is not that God has called all of you to resign your job like Elisha and burn everything, or even to give away all your money. The point is that there’s nothing off-limits to God. No area in which you say, “No, God I won’t obey you there. No, God, you can’t have that.”

Today, have you been resisting God’s work and leading in your life?