<“Elisha: Picking Up the Mantle
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. CHANGING OF THE MINISTRIES
A. CALL
1. BACKGROUND
I Kg 19:19a So he departed from [Sinai] and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth.
(also Mal 3:6; I Kg 19:16b-17)
2. BIDDING
I Kg 19:19b Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him.
(also Zech 13:4)
B. CAVEAT
1. BECKON
I Kg 19:20a He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”
2. BEAR IN MIND
I Kg 19:20b And he said to him, “Return, but remember what I’ve done to you.”
(also I Cor 1:27-29; Rom 1:5)
C. CONSECRATION
1. BURNED
I Kg 19:21a He returned home and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them
(II Tim 2:4)
2. BAR-B-Q
I Kg 19:21b and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate.
D. COMPANION
1. BEGIN
I Kg 19:21c Then he arose and went after Elijah
(also Lk 9:62)
2. BENEFIT
I Kg 19:21d and assisted him.
(also I Kg 19:15-16; Jn 14:16-18; 16:7-15; Pro 27:17)
II. CHALLENGE OF THE MINISTRIES
A. CLAIM
1. BEG
II Kg 2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.”
And Elisha asked, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”
(also I Kg 3:5)
2. BECOME
II Kg 2:10 “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.”
(also Deut 21:17)
B. CHARIOTS
1. BREATH
II Kg 2:11 As they continued walking and talking, suddenly, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2. BEWAIL
II Kg 2:12 Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
C. CLOAK
1. BETOKEN
II Kg 2:13-14 Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him and returned to the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle and struck the water, saying, “Where is YHWH, the God of Elijah?”
(also II Kgs 2:10; Ps 81:10; Jer 32:27)
2. BACK OVER
II Kg 2:14 When he had struck the water, it was parted to each, and Elisha went over.
D. CONFIRMATION
1. BLESSING
II Kg 2:15a The sons of the prophets in Jericho saw him approaching, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha,”
2. BOW
II Kg 2:15a and they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
(also Lk 14:26)