WHERE IS ELISHA?

II Kings 2:8-15

The question that should be asked today, should not be, where is the God of Elijah? "Rather, where is Elisha?”

Everyone is familiar with the story of the calling and life of the Prophet Elisha. Elisha had been a prosperous farmer until the day he left everything to follow the prophet, Elijah. He served Elijah as his disciple for many years. These were years of obscurity for Elisha, until that great day when the mantle of Elijah fell on him. When he returned to the Jordan River, Elisha asked, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" Taking in his hand the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters of the Jordan and realized that the power of God that had been upon Elijah was now upon him.

Now Elisha was not that obscure and powerless servant of Elijah, now he was a powerful prophet of God. The exploits of Elisha were many and powerful and sometimes spectacular. He did much for the kingdom of God, but there was a reason for it. Elisha was not always a prominent person. He became great by the choices he made in his life. When he chose to turn his back to the economic security of his farm, to follow the prophet Elijah, he was humbling himself to be exalted. When he was willing to help and attend to the needs of Elijah", he was preparing to be a leader.

In the process of caring for the prophet of God, he was accumulating a treasure of wisdom that he could not have found elsewhere. In meeting his menial responsibilities which were those of a disciple of a prophet, Elisha laid a foundation for a glorious career.

Today, mantles of great men and women of God are falling. There is power in these mantles, but unfortunately many times there is not an Elisha to take them. The Elijahs of today are being taken by the Lord without anyone to receive the double portion of his spirit. The world and God's people like lost sheep stumble in the dark because they have no prophet to guide and instruct them.

"Where is Elisha?" In many cases, these Elisha’s of tomorrow are busy with their dreams of grandeur, which they cannot take the time to prepare. They despise the menial jobs of a disciple because they do not want to get their hands dirty; they are planning and looking to see how they can advance quickly in life or in the ministry. Many of them think that they are too educated to listen and learn from the advice of the old prophets. They prefer to wait in Bethel, Jericho or close to the Jordan where there is more security. For these and many other reasons, they are not present, nor prepared to receive these mantels, the power, and glory that God has for them.

There are churches without pastors and ministers, missionary’s fields that are suffering because there is no missionary. There are Sunday schools without teachers; there are church auxiliaries that suffer because there is nobody who wants to be leaders. The work of the Lord is suffering because the Elisha’s have not prepared themselves to take up the mantles that have fallen.

Are you willing to be an Elisha? Are you willing to turn your back to the security of this world and dedicate yourself to the service of God and prepare for it? Are you willing to do what God and His work ask of you whether big or small? Are you willing to hear and receive advice from the servants of God, even if you think you know more than them?

If you are willing, great things await you in the Lord. Frustration and vanity await those who are not prepared. What about you? If you want to become an Elijah, you first have to be an Elisha!