HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
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· 11 viewsThe call of Elisha shows us the commitment and dedication that needs to be in our lives if we are going to get the blessings from God that we want.
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20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
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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.
When ever I think of these verses of scripture three words come to mind
Determination
Commitment
Perseverance
Determination: Firmness of purpose; resoluteness
Commitment: The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity
Perseverance: Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Perseverance - Divine stick-ability - if you don’t have this you will not make it
*** The time to make a decision of commitment is before the journey begins
1 Kings 19:19 (KJV 1900)
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
Elijah did not say a word, he allowed his action to speak volumes.
“And he cast his mantle upon him”
This indicated to Elisha that God had called him into service (Ministering unto Elijah), And then to be his successor.
What a privilege
What an honor
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
IT’S TIME TO BURN SOME BRIDGES
With three actions, Elisha was displaying his commitment
1. Let me Kiss Mom and Dad goodbye
2. He killed the oxen and burned the plow
3. Went after Elijah and ministered unto him
LET ME KISS MY MOTHER AND FATHER
The realization of giving up everything to follow Elijah
WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?
The first test of how bad do you want it.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Complete commitment - I’m not going back
God requires complete commitment
A chicken spoke to a cow and said let’s have breakfast. The cow said what will we have?
Steak and eggs, replied the chicken. Wait a minute replied the cow, if we have steak and eggs, all you are is merely involved, but I have to be commited.
Being a Christian is not a spectator event, it’s a participant event. We have to be actively involved.
YOU HAVE TO CUT ALL OF YOUR TIES THAT WILL KEEP YOU BACK
YOU NEED TO GET RID OF SOMETHINGS
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Elisha determined that there would be nothing left to draw him back home
What causes us to go back?
Are we sold out?
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
ARE WE SOLD OUT?
Elisha didn’t know where he was going, but he was commited to following Elijah.
Are we commited to following Jesus like that?
In our text Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted.
HOW BAD DO WE WANT IT?
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.
It’s easy to have commitment and dedication in Church (Bethel) (The House of God)
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
There is always someone that wants to steal your blessing
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
Will you still have your dedication and commitment out in the world?
5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
You won’t get it by standing afar off
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.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT