Day of Destiny

River

2 Kings 2:5–13 NKJV

Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 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.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 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. 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. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

Elisha was a man mentored by one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel

Miracle after miracle! Divine deliverance after divine deliverance!

The miracles of Elijah were 8

1) Causing the rain the cease for 3 1/2 years (1Ki 17:1) 2) Being fed by the ravens (1Ki 17:4) 3) Miracle of the barrel of meal and cruse of oil (1Ki 17:14) 4) Resurrection of the widow's son (1Ki 17:22) 5) Calling of fire from heaven on the altar (1Ki 18:38) 6) Causing it to rain (1Ki 18:45) 7) Prophecy that Ahab's sons would all be destroyed (1Ki 21:22) 8) Prophecy that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1Ki 21:23) 9) Prophecy that Ahaziah would die of his illness (2Ki 1:4) 10) Calling fire from heaven upon the first 50 soldiers (2Ki 1:10) 11) Calling fire from heaven upon the second 50 soldiers (2Ki 1:12) 12) Parting of the Jordan (2Ki 2:8) 13) Prophecy that Elisha should have a double portion of his spirit (2Ki 2:10) 14) Being caught up to heaven in a whirlwind (2Ki 2:11)

After theMt. Carmel experience, Elijah runs in fear of his life because of the threats of Jezebel.

Tired and worn out from the battle, God ministers to him on Mt. Horeb

God encourages him, promises a companion and send him on his way

1 Kings 19:15–18 NKJV

Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Even the most seasoned man or woman of God needs encouragement!

The enemy is forever trying to stop them from entering into their divine destiny!

Ephesians 6:16 AMP

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

James 1:2–3 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

In obedience, Elijah heads off on his assignment

1 Kings 19:19–20 NKJV

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. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

Elisha knew full well what this act of the prophet meant. Being faithful in his daily activities, God interrupts his life with a divine call!

Sometimes we think that God is interrupting our lives when in reality our lives are interrupting what God wants to do!

The first decision that will change his life forever is to be a follower, not a leader!

A servant must be willing to spend time focusing on the assignment of a mentor before qualifying for an assignment of their own.

Elisha know that he had to stay close to his mentor

The first step was to receive the call, not to assume the position!

At the end, we see his determination to be up-close and personal in his experience

3 times Elijah told him to stay but he refused to watch from a distance

It is generally accepted that Elisha served Elijah for more than 6 years - A time well spent

A servant must be willing to stay close to a mentor even when remaining is difficult.

We see difficult times ahead but through it all Elisha stays at his post!

2 Kings 2:9 NKJV

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.”

Now this was no friendly visit! Elijah just told the king that he would surly die!

2 Kings 1:1–4 NKJV

Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

Anyone else would see the writing on the wall! They don’t send an army to get you for a dinner invitation!

Standing strong, Elisha sees the salvation of the Lord

A servant must wait patiently until the appointed time to pick up the mantel left behind by others

The perfect example of this is king David, a man after God’s own heart!

1 Samuel 24:1–11 NKJV

Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

It is so easy to spiritualize our actions! Look at his friends, “God delivered him to you!” “Do it now David” But in his heart he knew it wasn’t the time!

So we find Elish, following close behind Elijah when Elijah asks him “What do you want?”

2 Kings 2:9–10 NLT

When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

A double portion! I am sure Elijah thought “brother, you don’t know what you are asking for!” Reflecting on his past experiences he replies, “You have asked a difficult thing!” Not that it would be difficult for God but it would push the limits of Elishas training, trust and faith! “See me go and the mantel is yours” Timing is everything!

Suddenly without warning, Elijah’s heavenly transport appears. Reality sets in as he watches his master taken into the sky

As he watches Elijah’s departure the cloak of the mantel falls before him, reality sets in that this is no practice run, it’s my turn!

I total humility realizing the overwhelming responsibility before hime, he rents his cloths and mourns the passing of his mentor and friend. But it doesn’t end there! He must now take the step of faith to exercise his call!

Standing before the Jordon river, I believe questions of wonder flooded his mind…will God be faithful to me? What will happen with everyone watching and seeing my actions? The moment of truth has arrived!

You see, the river represents all that is keeping you from fulfilling God’s call in your life! There will come a moment when the mantel will fall at your feet! What will you do?

With the confidence of his mentor, Elisha strikes the waters and they part!

The rest is history! More than 28 recorded miracles were wrought by his hands!

1) Parting of the Jordan (2Ki 2:14) 2) Healing of the waters (2Ki 2:21) 3) Curse of the she bears (2Ki 2:24) 4) Filling of the valley with water (2Ki 3:17) 5) Deception of the Moabites with the valley of blood (2Ki 3:22) 6) Miracle of the vessels of oil (2Ki 4:4) 7) Prophecy that the Shunammite woman would have a son (2Ki 4:16) 8) Resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2Ki 4:34) 9) Healing of the gourds (2Ki 4:41) 10) Miracle of the bread (2Ki 4:43) 11) Healing of Naaman (2Ki 5:14) 12) Perception of Gehazi's transgression (2Ki 5:26) 13) Cursing Gehazi with leprosy (2Ki 5:27) 14) Floating of the axe head (2Ki 6:6) 15) Prophecy of the Syrian battle plans (2Ki 6:9) 16) Vision of the chariots (2Ki 6:17) 17) Smiting the Syrian army with blindness (2Ki 6:18) 18) Restoring the sight of the Syrian army (2Ki 6:20) 19) Prophecy of the end of the great famine (2Ki 7:1) 20) Prophecy that the scoffing nobleman would see, but not partake of, the abundance (2Ki 7:2) 21) Deception of the Syrians with the sound of chariots (2Ki 7:6) 22) Prophecy of the seven-year famine (2Ki 8:1) 23) Prophecy of Benhadad's untimely death (2Ki 8:10) 24) Prophecy of Hazael's cruelty to Israel (2Ki 8:12) 25) Prophecy that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab (2Ki 9:7) 26) Prophecy that Joash would smite the Syrians at Aphek (2Ki 13:17) 27) Prophecy that Joash would smite Syria thrice but not consume it (2Ki 13:19) 28) Resurrection of the man touched by his bones (2Ki 13:21)

Now, Where are you? Are you preparing for the move of God in your life?

Peter was faced with a moment of truth

Matthew 14:22–32 NKJV

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

While his eyes were on Jesus he was able to do the impossible. When he lot focus he began to sink! The good news is that the hand of the Master will always be there! You will never sink in any step of faith you take with Him!

So, what boat is God asking you to get out of?

It is easy to hang around great men of God and see the magnificent work of the Lord, or, you can yield yourself to the training of the King and watch God use you in His mighty plan!