Sermon Tone Analysis

Firebug

As we move on in our winding down series, we are going to look at Elijah and Elisha.

Elijah’s life is punctuated by so many amazing acts of God.

Prophesying a drought and being fed by ravens

The widow that fed him from a cruze of oil and a bit of flower.

Raising that same widdows son

Fire from Heaven burning up the sacrifice

Racing the King down the hill

HIding from Jezzabell

The conversation with God and that still small voice.

The strange way he took on Elisha as an apprentice

The final big deal pophetic act to a king that was not just far from God but actively seeking other God’s counsel.

More fire… my favorite part of this part of Elija’s story is well this verse.

it was after this that Elijah delivered the last prophesy to Ahaziah....telling him…that asking another God for help meant that he was not going to get up off his sick bed but he was going to die..and sure enogh that’s what happened.

It’s after this that we come to the end of Elijah’s life on earth, and the beginning of Elisha’s Ministry proper.

One Last Walk

Elijah and Elisha knew what was coming.

We need to understand that everything has an end, not only did the two prophets know but it appears as we read the account that each of the prophetic schools they visited knew as well

What is even more important is the acceptance of both men that this was happening.

There was no big pleading of please please please..(Dread Pirate Roberts) There is a simple acceptance that this is what is going to happen.

But whats even more amazing is that Elijah is going about his business here.

He is visiting other prophets as he was winding down his journey…There is a lesson there for us you know.

We never retire from following Christ.

The hard way

The easy way is not always the way.

Far from being commands that are being ignored Elijah is testing Elisha a bit.

He is giving him an opportunity a chance to do the easier thing.

NOt the wrong thing, not even a bad thing but it would be easier.

Sometimes in our lives we are faced with choices, choices where the right thing to do is clear there really is not a wrong thing to do.

We are permitted to make choices in our lives, choices that while not what God wan’ts for us are not going to resualt in judgment.

But they will resault in missed opportunity to be in the fullness of what our relationship with God is supposed to look like.

Is that your final answer?

Having stayed the course Elisha and Elijah were coming to the end of the Journey.

Elijahs time had wound down, and while he did not know when it was going to happen exaclty he knew that things were finishing and so he asked this question.

and Elisha gives the perfect answer.

Far from being asked in a selfish way.

Elisha knew the work that they were to be doing and so wanted to be equipped to do it, he wanted to be able to carry on the work that was so important to the children of Israel.

Elisha didn’t ask for stuff, for material blessings, he asked for a spiritual blessing that would enable him to serve, and Elijah knew that was not his to give.

The Final Test

As Elijah’s time and ministry was winding down, Elishas was just beginning in earnest.

Elisah watched his mentor and friend be taken away and even though he knew it was coming he was still sad but he didn’t wallow in that sadness.

He picked up the cloak that had fallen and began to go back they way they had come, back to the task at hand back to the ministry and calling he was to fulfill.

When Elisha struck the water and it parted it was not people could see that God was going to speak through Elisha as he had through Elijah.

The ministry that was begun was going to continue.

This Week’s Challenge

Bring someone to church!