Elisha — “When the Mantle Falls”
Notes
Transcript
Primary Text: 2 Kings 2:1–15
INTRODUCTION — THE NEXT MAN
INTRODUCTION — THE NEXT MAN
Last time in our series, The Prophets, we walked alongside one of the greatest prophets who ever lived.
His name was Elijah.
Elijah the prophet stood before kings.
Elijah confronted wickedness.
Elijah stared Ahab in the face and told him that the problem in Israel wasn't the
—economy.
—the weather.
—politics.
Nor was it wasn't the neighboring nations.
Sin was the problem!
Elijah stood on Mount Carmel before the prophets of Baal and cried:
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
And when Elijah prayed—
FIRE FELL FROM HEAVEN!
But eventually even the ministry of Elijah had to come to an end.
Because no matter how powerful the preacher…
No matter how anointed the prophet…
No matter how faithful the servant…
Every generation eventually has to hand the mantle… to another.
Moses had Joshua.
David had Solomon.
Paul had Timothy.
Elijah had— ELISHA.
And today I want to introduce you to the man who picked up the mantle.
But before we get into 2 Kings 2, we need to go back to the first time Elijah met Elisha.
19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.
Notice something.
Elisha wasn't sitting around waiting for something spiritual to happen.
He was working.
His hands were on the plow
There was dirt under his fingernails.
There was sweat on his face.
He had responsibilities.
He had a life.
He had plans.
And right in the middle of an ordinary day— God interrupted him.
Church, isn't that how God often works?
Moses was tending sheep.
David was tending sheep.
Peter was fishing.
Matthew was collecting taxes.
Elisha was plowing a field.
And God said:
“That's the man I want.”
Never assume that because you're doing something ordinary, God isn't preparing you for something extraordinary.
Right now, You may be raising children.
Working in a factory.
Driving a truck.
Teaching a class.
Running a business.
Working construction.
Sitting behind a desk.
You might think:
"I'm just living my life."
But somewhere between the ordinary and the routine—
GOD MAY DROP A MANTLE ON YOU.
The Bible says Elijah walked past Elisha and:
19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.
Imagine that scene.
Elisha is plowing.
Suddenly this famous prophet walks past him.
And without a long explanation…
Without filling out an application
Without attending a committee meeting…
Elijah takes his mantle— and throws it over Elisha.
Elisha knew what it meant. — You have been called.
And I love what Elisha does next.
21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Do you see what he did?
He killed the oxen.
Then went on to burn the plow to cook them.
Now that's commitment!
Elisha was going all in.
It wasn’t like he was thinking, — “I'll try ministry for a few months."
or thinking like, —"If this prophet thing doesn't work out, I'll come back."
Nope!
He Burned his exit strategy by destroying the equipment that could take him back to his former life.
There's something powerful about a person who finally says:
“I'm done looking back.”
Some Christians spend their entire lives following Jesus while keeping one hand on the old plow.
They want Jesus— but they want an escape route.
They want the kingdom—but they keep Egypt in the rearview mirror.
They will accept God's will—as long as God's will agrees with theirs.
Elisha said:
“If God has called me forward, I'm not planning my trip backward.”
Some of us need to burn a plow.
Not literally!— But spiritually.
But there are things in our lives we keep around because we secretly think:
"If following God gets too difficult, I can always go back."
But Jesus said:
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Now let’s jump forward.
Elisha has followed Elijah.
He has learned from him.
Served him.
Watched him.
Walked with him.
And then we arrive together at 2 Kings chapter 2.
Something is about to happen.
1 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.
Somehow, everybody seemed to have known Elijah is leaving.
The sons of the prophets knew.
Elisha knew— & — Elijah knew.
And then Elijah says to Elisha:
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.
But Elisha answers— They travel farther still.
and then again Elijah says: Stay here.
and again Elisha says: — “I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE.”
Then they go to Jericho— Again: — Stay here.
Again: “I will not leave you.”
There is something we should admire about Elisha here.
The man wouldn't quit.
Because, we live in a culture today that quits at everything and quickly too, don’t we?.
if your marriage gets difficult— quit.
Church gets too uncomfortable—quit.
The job gets frustrating— quit.
Someone hurts your feelings— quit.
Prayer doesn't get answered immediately— Then quit.
But Elisha had something inside him that said:
“I HAVE COME TOO FAR TO STOP NOW.”
Church, sometimes the difference between somebody who sees God move and somebody who doesn't—
is not talent.
It isn't intelligence.
And its not education.
Sometimes it's simply boils down this simple fact:
ONE PERSON QUITS— AND THE OTHER KEEPS WALKING.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Maybe somebody came here to church tired today.
You're tired of praying.
—Tired of waiting.
—Tired of fighting.
—Tired of believing.
And you've wondered whether it's worth continuing.
Listen to Elisha:
“AS THE LORD LIVETH…I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE.”
—Keep walking.
—Keep praying.
—Keep serving.
—Keep believing.
Because you’ll never know how close you are to the Jordan.
Digress
Finally Elijah asks Elisha an extraordinary question.
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.”
Think about that.
What would you ask for?
—Money?
—Position?
—Influence?
—Comfort?
—Recognition?
Elisha answers:
“Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
Now we have to understand what Elisha meant.
He wasn't necessarily saying:
“I want to be twice as powerful as you.”
Don’t let this fool you.
The language of the double portion reaches back to the inheritance of the firstborn son.
17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
You see, the firstborn received a double portion of the father's inheritance.
So Elisha is essentially saying:
“I want to be recognized as your spiritual heir.”
In other words:
“Elijah, I don't just want to remember what God did through you.”
“I want to carry it forward.”
And church—WE NEED THAT HEART AGAIN.
Right here, right now!
WE CANNOT LIVE ON YESTERDAY'S FIRE
There is a danger in every generation of Christians.
Because we begin talking about what God used to do.
Don’t we?
“I remember when this church was so full, there was standing room only, ETC”
Well, I Remember when churches prayed?
I Remember when people filled the altar?
—Remember when revivals lasted for weeks?
—Remember when people couldn't wait to get to church?
—Remember when Christians witnessed to their neighbors?
—Remember when families prayed together?
—Remember when people trembled under the preaching of God's Word?
Those testimonies are wonderful.
We should remember them.
We should honor them.
But listen carefully:
Yesterday's testimony cannot substitute for today's obedience.
The days of Billy Grahm are gone, they are history,
Today is a new day, and a new culture
You know, Elisha could have spent the rest of his life telling stories about Elijah.
—-”You should've seen Mount Carmel
—”You should've seen those prophets of Baal!"
—“You should've heard Elijah pray!"
—”You should've seen the fire fall!"
But you see, Elisha wasn't satisfied with just hearing about Elijah's God.
HE WANTED TO KNOW ELIJAH'S GOD FOR HIMSELF.
He wanted to experience Him.
Our children don't just need stories about what God did in our generation.
What they desperately need to see God move in theirs.
Our grandchildren don't need photographs of yesterday's revival.
They need to experience revival for themselves.
And somewhere out there has to come another generation that will say:
—“GOD, GIVE US THE MANTLE!”
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.
Can you imagine?
Elijah and Elisha are walking and talking.
Suddenly heaven interrupts earth.
—A chariot of fire.
—Horses of fire.
And Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind into heaven
As Elisha watches his mentor disappear.
—The man who called him.
—The man he followed.
—The man he served.
Gone.
And Elisha cries:
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.
There is grief in those words.
Now listen to me carefully.
—Because spiritual giants still die.
—Pastors leave.
—Parents die.
—Mentors pass away.
—Generations change.
And sometimes we stand looking upward wondering:
“Well What do we do now?”
But then Elisha looked down.
And something was lying on the ground.
THE MANTLE.
You see, Elijah is gone.
But the mantle remains.
Don't miss that.
The man left.— The mission didn't go anywhere.
Moses died.— But God's work continued.
Joshua died. — But God's work continued.
David died. — The apostles died.
—Paul died.
—Peter died.
—John died.
Generations of preachers have died.
Missionaries have died.
Sunday school teachers have died.
Faithful mothers and fathers have gone home to glory.
But two thousand years later—
THE GOSPEL IS STILL BEING PREACHED!
Why?
Because the church never belonged to the preacher.
The mission never belonged to the missionary.
The power never belonged to Elijah.
IT BELONGS TO GOD!
Jesus said:
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Listen,
—The church isn't built on personalities.
—It isn't built on celebrities.
—It isn't built on pastors.
—It isn't built on denominations.
IT IS BUILT UPON CHRIST!
And, Although God buries His workers— HIS WORK GOES ON.
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.
Notice:
The mantle fell.
But Elisha still had to—PICK IT UP.
—God had called him.
—God had prepared him.
—Elijah had trained him.
—The mantle was available.
But Elisha still had a decision to make.
Will I pick it up?
And that's the question for every generation.
—Our fathers carried it.
—Our grandmothers carried it.
—Missionaries carried it.
—Preachers carried it.
—Men and women before us sacrificed to build churches.
—They gave money they couldn't afford to give.
—They prayed when nobody was watching.
—They taught children.
—They preached the gospel.
—They crossed oceans.
—They endured persecution.
—They carried the mantle.
But eventually— the mantle falls at the feet of the next generation.
And again the question becomes:
WHO WILL PICK IT UP?
—Who will teach our children?
—Who will preach the gospel?
—Who will go to the mission field?
—Who will pray?
—Who will stand against sin?
—Who will love the broken?
—Who will tell the lost about Jesus?
—Who will stand when standing isn't popular?
WHO WILL PICK UP THE MANTLE?
Elisha picked up Elijah's mantle and returned to the Jordan.
But there's a problem.— The river is still there.
Isn't that interesting? —He has the mantle now everything should be easy for him now right?—
Agh, but he still has an obstacle before him. — The River
You see, following God doesn't mean all the rivers in your life disappear.
—The diagnosis may still be there.
—The bills may still be there.
—The broken relationship may still be there.
—The temptation may still be there.
—The impossible situation may still be there.
Elisha walked back carrying the mantle—and the Jordan was waiting for him.
But now Elisha does something.
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.
And then he cries one of the greatest questions in the Bible:
“WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?”
Oh, church!
That's the question!
Not: — Where is Elijah?
Because Elijah is already gone.
It’s Not: — Where is yesterday?— Yesterday is already gone.
Or:
Where are the good old days?
They're gone.
The question should always be:
“WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?”
And I came here today to tell somebody that —HE'S STILL HERE!
The God who answered Elijah by fire— IS STILL GOD!
The God who divided the Red Sea—IS STILL GOD!
The God who shut the lions' mouths—IS STILL GOD!
The God who brought down the walls of Jericho—IS STILL GOD!
The God who delivered Daniel—IS STILL GOD!
The God who raised Lazarus—IS STILL GOD!
The God who opened blind eyes—IS STILL GOD!
The God who saved three thousand people at Pentecost—IS STILL GOD!
And the God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead—
IS STILL GOD TODAY!
So, Elisha decided to take the new aquired Mantle for a the proverbial spin.
He rolls it up strikes the water, like Elijah did before him.
And the Bible says:
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..”
Do you see what God was showing him?
Elijah's gone—BUT GOD Isnt.
The prophet changed—BUT GOD DIDN'T.
The generation changed—BUT GOD DIDN'T.
The voice changed—BUT GOD DIDN'T.
And that's a word for the church in 2026.
—Culture has changed.
—America has changed.
—Technology has changed.
—Families have changed.
—Morality has changed.
—Even the way people communicate has changed.
The way people think has changed. — BUT GOD HAS NOT CHANGED!
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
We don't need a new gospel for a new generation.
We need the same gospel preached to a new generation!
—Jesus still saves!
—The blood still cleanses!
—The Bible is still true!
—Hell is still real!
—Heaven is still real!
—Sin still destroys!
—Grace still redeems!
—The tomb is still empty!
And—
JESUS IS STILL LORD!
There's one more detail we cannot miss.
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.
They were watching.
The next generation was watching to see: — Is this real?
Don’t be mistaken or asleep at the wheel,
That's happening today as well.
Our children are watching us.
Our grandchildren are watching us.
Young Christians are watching us.
The lost world is watching us.
They're asking: — “Is their Christianity real?”
They don't need us to tell them God is powerful. —They need to see us trust Him.
They don't need us to tell them prayer works.— They need to hear us pray.
They don't need us to tell them the Bible matters. —They need to see us live it.
They don't need us to talk about revival. — They need to see fire in our lives.
IN CONCLUSION — PICK UP THE MANTLE
Elijah is gone.
The chariot has disappeared.
The whirlwind has stopped.
The sky is quiet again.
And standing beside the Jordan is one man—holding a mantle.
Behind him is the generation that came before.
Before him is the generation yet to come.
And in front of him—is that river
Church, that's where we stand.
There are people who came before us.
—Some prayed for us.
—Some taught us.
—Some preached to us.
—Some sacrificed for us.
—Some are already in glory.
They carried the mantle as far as they could.
Now that mantle lies at our feet.
And God is asking:—“Will you pick it up?”
Maybe you're saying: —
“I'm not Elijah.—Neither was Elisha. —“
I don't have his gifts." —You don't need them.
—“I don't have his personality." — You don't need it.
"I don't have his experience. — That's alright.
Because its not about —“Where is another Elijah?”
“WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?”
And the answer is—
HE IS RIGHT HERE!
—-The same God.
—The same power.
—The same Word.
—The same gospel.
—The same Christ.
—The same empty tomb.
—The same Great Commission.
—The mantle has fallen.
Now PICK IT UP!
INVITATION
But before you can carry the mantle— you must know Elijah's God.
You can inherit a church tradition and never inherit faith.
You can inherit your parents' Bible and never inherit their relationship with Christ.
You can grow up hearing the gospel and still never surrender your life to Jesus.
God doesn't have grandchildren.
Every generation must personally come to Christ.
And maybe today the greatest question isn't:
“Will you pick up the mantle?”
Maybe you ask yourself: — “Do I even know the God who gave it?”
Jesus Christ died for your sins.
He was buried.
And on the third day— HE ROSE AGAIN!
And today He calls you.
—Not to religion.
—Not to church membership.
—Not to become a little more moral.
He calls you to Himself.
Repent.
Believe.
Come to Christ.
And Christian—
maybe you've been standing beside the Jordan long enough.
Maybe you've spent enough time talking about what God did yesterday.
Maybe it's time to stop staring toward heaven waiting for Elijah to come back.
Because The mantle is at your feet.
Your family needs you.
Your church needs you.
Your community needs you.
A lost world needs the gospel.
And God is still God.
So pick up the mantle.
Walk to the river.
And with faith in the living God— STRIKE THAT WATER.
So, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?”
Church—HE'S STILL HERE.
