PASSING THE MANTEL 2

 

PASSING THE MANTEL 2

II Kings 2: 8-10

When we really step out in faith, things cannot remain the same. The Lord blesses those who dare to live by faith. Faith is more about doing than believing. All the belief in the world will not matter if there is not works to back it up.

By faith, Elijah was able to face the unexpected with confidence. He knew that the Lord was about to take him out of this world by some extraordinary means. Whether or not God had told him that it would be by chariots of fire or not, we aren’t told. But, we do know that God told him where to go for his departure from the earth. He was going to be taken home to heaven. Even though Elijah must have been uncertain about what was about to happen, he trusted God. He went where God led him to. He believed that God would indeed work things out for the good.

By faith, Elisha was able to face the unexpected with confidence. Elijah had asked Elisha what he wanted him to do before he was taken away. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. What was he really asking for? He wanted not only the faith of Elijah, he wanted a greater faith. He knew that whatever the future would hold for him, he needed God more than ever. He was certainly out of his comfort zone and needed a lot of help from God.

Elisha not only wanted to carry on the ministry of Elijah, he wanted to do so much more, not for his glory, but God’s. He wanted to be a difference maker in Israel to help Israel return back to the Lord. He wanted God to be seen as Israel’s hope and salvation.

Elisha wanted not only to know God like Elijah did, he wanted to know Him better. What a lofty goal! Elisha was satisfied with just knowing God, he wanted to know Him in His power and glory. No matter how well we may get to know the Lord, we can get to know Him better. All of us need more of Jesus. All of us fall short of loving our Lord with all of our heart, mind, and soul.

Let our heart’s cry be, “Let thy mantel fall on me.” Let us never be satisfied with where we are at in our understanding and standing with God. Let us always seek to grow and become greater warriors for God. “Lord, let thy mantel fall on me.”