Disciple

Intro:

1 Kings 19:15-18

Elijah struggles after a great victory

It is important to note that this follows closely after Elijah has had a great victory over the prophets of Baal. Now he is on the run.

After a great victory the enemy has sent word that they will have Elijah killed and suddenly he is over come with fear.

He runs for his life, even asking God to take his life. But instead God sends an angel to give him bread and water to send him on a journey.

He then is sent on a journey that takes him 40 days and forty nights to complete.

He is then sent up Mt. Sinai where he sees Wind, earthquake, fire, and a gentle whisper where God spoke

God tells Elijah to go and anoint:

Hazael

Jehu

Elisha

It is worth noting that Elijah does not go to Hazael first, but rather Elisha. The first shall be last, the last shall be first.

This morning I want to show you in this passage what it means to be a disciple through one of the best biblical examples that we have. I man named Elisha.

Prayer

Be Faithful with what God has put in your hands now to prepare for what He wants to place in your hands next

1 Kings 19:19 / Galatians 6:9

Galatians 6:9 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Elisha is not idle, although from a wealthy family who seemingly has plenty, he is not at home watching his servants.

He has his hands fully at work with what he has.

I want to make this point clear, that when you are waiting for what God’s anointing, it is vital that you be working with the tools He has already given.

Elisha had his hand to the plow. Many of us are sitting around waiting for God to anoint us or call us. He who is faithful with little can be trusted with much.

So many times we would rather sit and be lazy rather than serve with what God has already placed in our hands.

As disciples it is important to remain faithful even when we do not know the next step. If you do not know what comes next, be faithful where you are at and wait upon the Lord

In Galatians, the apostle Paul tells us not to grow weary doing good, but that in due time we will reap a harvest.

Keep being faithful serving and trusting God, and He will exalt you, He will promote you, He will open the doors for you, He will reveal the desires of your heart to you!

David, Joseph had to wait years before they ever saw the fruit of doing good and remaining faithful… do not think that for you it will happen overnight.

Trust the process. It is a sport saying but is true biblically also. God does everything through this discipleship process.

When God calls, what is your response?

1 Kings 19:20-21 / Luke 9:61-62 / Luke 5:27-29

This is an important question. When you hear the voice of God how do you respond? Do you hesitate to follow or do you sell out fully.

When God calls, do you step out or do you step back?

1 Kings 19:20–21 “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 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.”

Elisha asks to go say goodbye to his mother and father. Elijah has a response that is two-fold.

“Go back” and “What have I done to you?”

Luke 9:61–62 “Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

What is the difference between these 2 passages?

It is the posture of the heart. In Luke Jesus is addressing individuals looking to delay the call. Jesus called them and they immediately come up with an excuse, no matter how valid it may seem.

We must weigh the cost and make a choice. Will I answer the call or not?

Elijah says, “Go back” and “What have I done to you?”

He tells Elisha to go back, but to also remember what has transpired. I used to think that this statement was one of offense or questioning why Elisha would want to go back

But really it is Elijah reminding Elisha of the call of God. Of the robe that has been placed around his shoulders, the mantle that is to be passed.

Remember what I have done to you, weigh the cost.

It would not have been easy to leave a wealthy family in order to go and side with a prophet who had a bounty on his head.

God calls us out of comfort into uncertainty that we would learn to trust in Him rather than ourselves

Elisha does something that most of us would never. He takes his two oxen, slaughters them and burns all of his plowing equipment.

He insures that he is unable to return back to what was familiar and comfortable. He burned the bridge to his past, said by to his parents, not in hesitation or as an excuse, but in honor and knowing that he was leaving to follow God’s call.

It is sometimes necessary to burn the bridge to your past life to ensure your never look back to what was, but walk in what is with Jesus

Receiving the call of God is worth celebrating!

We see Elisha host a feast with his family and servants. Matthew does the same thing after Jesus calls him in Luke 5:27-29

It is an honor to be called into the service of God. To serve a purpose that goes beyond ourselves and has an eternal effect.

If God has called you, you have reason to celebrate!

The GREATEST Leader is the BEST Follower

1 Kings 19:21

1 Kings 19:21 “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.”

Elisha does not leave as a prophet, or as an equal. He immediately assumes the role of servant.

Notice where he comes from, a place where he likely had plenty of servants, but even then he was out in the field plowing with them.

Never become to important to serve others. If serving is beneath you, leadership is beyond you.

Good disciples make disciples.

The better we follow the better equipped we are to lead. The best leaders in the world will tell you that they have a mentor(s) that helped them get where they are.

Jesus, the greatest leader the world has ever seen, only said what He heard the Father say and did what He saw the Father do.

God wants to do great things in and through you, but it starts with your answer to the call. Can you answer in humility, wholeheartedly?

If you are unable to follow do not expect God to place you in leadership.

It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree. If i cannot follow how will I lead.

No one is greater than the Master/teacher, but we are to be like the master/teacher

Jesus loves you, He IS calling you, will you leave everything and follow Him?