On Sight

Call to Worship

The Lord is in His Holy Temple.

Let all the Earth keep silent before him.

I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the House of the Lord.

Our feet shall stand within Thy gates Oh Jerusalem.

Give Scripture: 2 Kings 2:8-14

Song- To God be the Glory (Andrae Crouch)

How can I say thanks For the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved Yet You gave to prove Your love for me The voices of a million angels Could not express my gratitude All that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to Thee

To God be the glory To God be the glory To God be the glory For the things He has done

With His blood He has saved me With His power He has raised me To God be the glory For the things He has done

Oh, ust let me live my life Let it pleasing, Lord to Thee And if I gain any praise Let it go to Calvary (Calvary)

Oh, with His blood (His blood) He has saved me (He has saved me) With His power (His power) He has raised me (He has raised me) To God (to God) be the glory (glory) For the things He has done

Read: 2 Kings 2:8-14

2 Kings 2:8–14 KJV 1900

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Subject: On Sight

Prayer

African American Vernacular English (otherwise known as AAVE) is a type of colloquial English that has developed as a direct result of the unique experiences of black people in the United States. Borne part from the generally reduced degree of education within our community compared with many of our counterparts of European descent but also born of the general inventiveness of black people.

AAVE is the direct result of generations of arts and culture meshing among black people who were denied their culture by the choices of a government and nation built on their backs.

Beginning with the early whooping of preachers...

Then moving to the scatting and blues howls of jazz singers

And now continuing with the quick and sometimes muffled lyrics of rap singers...

AAVE (also known as Ebonics) has produced a unique and jilted smattering of linguistic effects and peculiarities.

And yet, despite the historical value of AAVE, many in our society do not recognize it as a pioneer of English grammar rules and others even seek to ridicule its use as improper or broken English.

Words such as ain’t which were not pioneered by black people but were continually spoken by us have been deemed improper

Despite following the traditional grammar rules associated with other contractions such as; are-not, will-not, and can-not, people try to use language to erect barriers to success for people who typically use them.

Ain’t which should be considered perfectly acceptable as proper English is set aside more as a result of who uses it rather than the actual use...

And these are problems that, while they overwhelming effect black people, are not completely exclusive to black people

Southerners, Spanish-Speakers, Arab Peoples, and all manners of people face ridicule for their use of a language that is the mutated offspring of the worst parts of four other languages.

Make no mistake about it, English is one of the most ridiculous and broken languages on the planet because it is the Frankenstein result of merging German, Spanish, Latin, French, and all manner of others languages together.

However, no matter what is said in our society about “Ebonics,” African-Americans across the country continue using it not only as a hallmark of our culture but as a dialect that simplifies the language and improves communication.

One such example of that is the AAVE slang, “On Sight”

The phrase “On Sight” is based on the idea that words are no longer necessary between two people and that the best resolution is to forgo words and use action.

The phrase “on sight” is a challenge to both the speaker and the subject of that speech to put up or shut up.

The phrase came about with the rise of the telephone, the internet, and social media which has made it commonplace for arguments to take place over without the benefit of being in-person because the pressure associated with retaliation is lower.

People have limited ability to inflict violence upon you in the safety of your home, when you are separated by the vastness of the internet or a telephone line.

In response to this development, a new threat had to be developed that conveyed the egregious nature of your virtual statement or action but also took into account the limitations imposed by the very platform you used.

Thus arises the notion of “on sight...”

Because it lets the hearer know that we do not need anymore words, actions, or conversations… but establishes the expectation that the next time I SEE YOU… you will face the consequences of your actions.

On sight is based on the notion that this cannot wait, that I will not let this go, that I need this now, I will chase after it, I will seek it.

It is based on the idea that WHEN I SEE IT… IT IS ON AND POPPING

And while it can be used to refer to violence inflicted upon an enemy or naysayer, I see it today in an entirely different light.

Sure you may have wanted to fight somebody. The person in traffic cut you off, your boss used the wrong tone, your kids said the wrong thing and you said within yourself that it was on sight. But that is not what I want to talk about. I want you to be honest with yourself… have you ever been in a situation where your said to yourself and said… I am so ready for change, I am so ready for a shift, and I am so prepared for a move that when I see my first opportunity I am going after it.

I’m tired of this same old job… and I will be out of here on the first thing smoking.

I’m tired of this same old house… and I will pack up the whoopty and move to Beverly as SOON as I get the chance.

I can’t take life in this same old way another day… but I need, I want, I crave, I desire… something altogether new.

You just thought to yourself, the next time I see an out, the next chance I get, when I see an exit sign, when I see an exit ramp, when I see an opportunity to leave my responsibility and my circumstances, my situation I AM TAKING IT because its ON SIGHT.

You had a desire in your heart that did not require anything extra

You did not need a conversation, committee, a gathering, and appointment

You did not want to ask nobody’s permission...

You just wanted the next opportunity to get out of your situation and no matter what it looked like you were willing to get out if you just saw a way.

You are sitting back waiting so desperately that you consign yourself to any old thing and you do not even set parameters for yourself you just know you need a way out.

By any means necessary, under any circumstances… it was going to happen.

It is this exact spirit of urgency that we see here in the text.

2 Kings 2:8-14

In the text, we see that the Prophet Elijah has led his assistant (his adjutant) across the Jordan River on dry land.

They crossed the river because God had called Elijah to that place but not before the prophets of the nearby towns came to Elisha seeking to undermine his master the Prophet Elijah by speaking

Many of us are desperate for the wrong things.

The school of prophets who had followed Elijah were so desperately following him waiting on him to die that they ignored what he said and did while he yet lived.

The school of prophets were so busy trying to make Elisha mess up because they wanted to hear some gossip… they wanted to hear some mess… they wanted to be part of the foolishness.

But Elisha looked at them and told them to shut their mouths.

Their comes a time when you have to ignore what people have to say.

Its not that they are wrong.

Its not that they are workers of the enemy.

Its not that they are out of the spirit.

BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME TO RUN YOUR MOUTH.

Elisha made it clear to Elijah, you can send me away but I am not going.

You can cast me aside but I am going.

You can go to the next city… but I am going. WHY?

Because it is on sight.

Elisha knew what he wanted...

Elisha knew what he had seen the Man of God do.

He knew what he had seen the Man of God say.

He watched as God performed through the vessel Elijah.

Elisha had heard the stories of fire falling and consuming the people.

He heard Jezebel’s death and lack of burial be prophesied.

He saw these things, he heard these things and he made up in his mind that I will not leave the man of God but I will follow him.

And he followed him through the pages of 1 Kings and in 2 Kings 2 we see that Elijah tries one last time to send Elisha away.

But Elijah says as sure as the Lord is living and as sure as you are living… I will not depart from you.

I hear Ruth in my spirit...

Whither thou goest I will go. Your people shall be my people. Your God shall be my God. You not going and I’m not there.

And so, Elijah goes on and when he goes the other prophets stand back and watch.

Some people are not going to go with you because they are too busy watching to see what happens.

They want to see if you mess up.

They want to see if you die.

They want to see if you miss it.

They want to see if you slip and fall.

So they stand off to the side and as they do Elijah takes his mantle and smites the water to its parting.

And both he and Elisha walked across the Jordan on dry land.

Elisha did not have some extra leg up on anybody else out there, he only had the faith and integrity to stand beside the Man of God.

Elisha was looking for something. He was waiting for something. Anything. Nothing. Everything. He was waiting on something and he knew (I do not know exactly what I am waiting on but I will know it when the time comes)

He knew, that he had to be there. He knew that he had to be watchful as well as pray.

He went with the Man of God across the Jordan because he was waiting for something.

I am reminded of Abraham… Abraham take your son Isaac and go to a place I will show thee and worship…

He did not give direction but he said go.

He did not provide details but he said go.

He did give a rundown but he said go.

And Abraham had enough faith in God to know that I will know it… when I see it.

And that which the other prophets were waiting so desperately for happened just across the Jordan.

See when you want something bad enough you cannot afford to miss a single opportunity to get it.

You got to go over Jordan to get this.

See the Jordan represented the beginning of conquest.

When the Israelites (led by Joshua) crossed over the Jordan… that is when God sent them to Jericho to conquer the land...

The Jordan represents fulfillment of the call to go in and possess the land.

The Jordan represents the end of the Wilderness experience and the beginning of the Kingdom.

The Jordan represents out with the old and the beginning of the new.

And Elisha had to step out of the land of promise to step into his new promise.

I got to draw to my close.

Conclusion

But see...

Many of you have been wondering why have you been so challenged.

Many of you have been wondering why everything in your life seems to be a fight.

Many of you have been wondering why God keeps promising you stuff and you are wondering why what you see does not match the promise that you know you hear from and see from God.

Many of you are wondering why people keep whispering in your ear and all you really want them to do is shut their mouth because you are looking for and waiting for something… anything… a little thing… to hold onto.

You are wondering why God is challenging you and testing you like never before because it feels like God wants you to turn back.

But be encouraged my beloved brothers and sisters for your Word today is On Sight.

I want you to know that God is calling you into a new place in your life and in order to get there you have to cross out of your promise and receive your elevation. God wants to take you out of your comfort zone so you can possess that which he has assigned to you.

You cannot allow yourself to become fearful of what God has promised you and you cannot become recalcitrant and lazy at the prospect of God doing a work but you have to stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free… let me say it in the words of Paul.

Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding. When they talk about you keep watching. When they criticize keep watching. When they leave you for dead keep watching. You have to walk out of your promise keep watching. When you feel like giving up keep watching. Because God is trying to see if you have what it takes to capture what he has for you.

Elijah already knew who Elisha was called to be. He already knew that God had called Elisha. But he had to see his faith.

God knows who you are… he just wants to see if you know.

God has already called you… he just wants to see if you will answer.

God is already prepared to move… he just wants to know if you will follow.

God is already taking a stand… he just wants to know if you will stand with him.

And I hear the song… on Christ the solid rock I stand… ALL OTHER GROUND is as sinking sand.

I know you are tired.

I know you are weak.

I know you are weary.

I know you are broken.

I know you are hurt.

The have gossiped about you.

They even ran you off.

They criticized you.

They threatened you.

But I hear scripture saying

Numbers 23:19 KJV 1900

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Know that God is faithful to do what he said… and he is going to do it on sight.

You will not have to wait it out or see… because he will do it ON SIGHT.