Where Are The Eli’s?
The desperate need for spiritual Elijah’s and Elisha’s
You may have heard someone make a similar statement along these lines: “When we look at scripture, we see the term Christian used 3 times… we see the term believer used 2 times… but we see the term disciple used 256 times. It seems to be that we have enough Christians and believers, but not enough disciples.”
The fact of the statement rings inherently true in our culture and in our churches. There are plenty of people acting the part, even ones that are playing the part well. But at some point we have to become more like Christ. When we look at the disciples, we see the very ones that were closest to Him. They had an intimate knowledge of who He was. This should be our goal.
So where are we dropping the ball? Why has “revival” become incessantly in conjunction with “well, she prayed a prayer, let’s rejoice in the revival.” This is not to diminish the fact that it all begins at the foot of the cross, with repentance. However, What happened to the Day of Pentecost when 3000 were added to the church, and more daily? What has become of the church that was not just on fire for God, but burning for him? It seems apparent that there has been a breakdown in the relationship of the Eli’s.
When we look at the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, we see a rocky start. However, in the end, we see the beauty of the roles and stages of life that God has given us.
Elijah is often held in high regard for everything that he did throughout his life. He is often the most credited prophet, and one that every Christian can address by name. However, if we look at the calling God gave him concerning Elisha, we see a stark contrast in how our minds picture him, and the reality of his attitude. After being told by God to go anoint his successor, this is how he handled the command:
1 Kings 19:19-21
“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. 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?”
Elijah literally threw his mantle on Elisha and kept walking… resulting in Elisha chasing after him. Elijah was wrestling with the realization that his ministry would one day be passed on to someone else. However, because of Elijah’s fear of God, he carried out the commandment. The most commendable thing to be said of Elisha is that he chased after Elijah and explained that he would leave his family and follow after the anointing, but that he had not yet earned it. Elisha was ready to work. The purpose of elders, according to scripture, is to train up the younger generation after the ways of God. To be the examples, the ones that educate us, the Elisha’s. The purpose of the Elisha’s is work after God’s heart, to earn the mantle. It is a two-way street.
It is awesome to think that these two men became a strong force of God’s Word. If we reflect back to 2 Kings 2:8-14 we see that Elisha made the request for a double portion. I can’t help but think Elijah would have slapped him if he had made that request earlier. However, if we understand what is meant by a double portion, then we get a unique picture.
Double portion means: If a man had 4 sons, his inheritance would be split into 5 parts, and the eldest son would get two of them.
Elisha wasn’t asking to do double of what Elijah did, he was asking to receive double the favour from God and Elijah. This is the heart of a disciple.
So my question is this. WHAT ARE WE DOING?!
Where are the true worshipers? Not just in music, but in prayer. Where are the intercessors that stand in the gap between the spiritually living and dead? Where are the intercessors that cry out for a lost and broken world?
Where are the Elijahs, that show the young people how to pray, how to carry the mantle?
Where are the Elisha’s that long for a double portion?
Things to think about brothers and sisters… things to think about…
In Christ,
Sensible Spider-man