Elisha was called into the ministry while he was doing his secular work and at that time his occupation was with the oxen. Most probably he was a farmer as he was plowing with his 12 yoke of oxen when he received his call. When Elijah came to him under the instruction of God and threw the mantle on him, it was a sign that now he has to serve God under Elijah’s mentorship.
Elisha’s response to the call was interesting. He knew the right timing and what he ought to do. He immediately left the oxen and ran after Elijah for his counsel to tie up his loose ends before he stepped into the ministry.
He slaughtered his animals and used his work-related instruments to cook the meat and gave a farewell feast to his people before he left. In this feast he burnt up all instruments that were used for past victories and attachments because now Elisha had received a higher call to serve God Almighty.
Like Elisha when one receives a call from God, he or she needs to know exactly what they ought to do. Settle all debts and tie up loose ends. Don’t carry your debts into the ministry. Owe no one anything so they may have no charge against you.
Be free to serve God not with financial burdens or relationship issues hanging over your life.
Servant-hood
Elisha in the next phase of his life did not hold any position in the temple or anywhere in Elijah’s ministry. He was just a servant. How do you feel if you were a professional earning a great salary and God called you into the ministry? Do you immediately look for position and status? All Elisha was called to do was serve Elijah and minister to him.
Recently a man of God had someone who wanted to follow him and be a part of his ministry, so he graciously received the man. The man of God and his wife were gracious to him and paid him a good salary for his wages and provided him accommodation. Many times he had meals with them and was treated as a member of the family more than a staff. The wife of the man of God would graciously even attend to his laundry while doing that of her family.
Yet, his eyes often focused on what he could benefit from them. Instead of him serving them, many times it seemed the other way around – the man of God and his wife were serving him. Yet he was not satisfied.
He began to be so petty over little things. Basically it was all about how much money he could get for all his services, without considering the fact that his lodging and other expenses were all paid for. In fact, his services did not justify the income he was drawing. His employers were just being kind and gracious to him since he was from another state and needed assistance to adjust.
Out of his frustration the young man left and is still wandering about looking for greener pastures.
Whenever I think of the incident this family went through with the staff’s sudden resignation out of anger that his demands were not met, I cannot help but feel sorry for this man who had lots of potential but no integrity in service before God.
If only he knew the timings and seasons of God, he would have waited patiently under the mighty hand of God and served
faithfully for God to promote him like He promoted Elisha and Joseph.
In fact this is a common phenomenon in many churches and Christian organisations. Those who serve think they are doing a favour in serving the ministry or man of God. If their expectations are not met, they just resign with immediate effect without caring if it affects anyone or the organisation. It is a selfish attitude that many have and then they wonder why they are not blessed.
The actual fact is that one should not serve at all, if his attitude is not right. Our attitude should be that we are serving God not man. So if God calls you into the ministry and you take time to think through and then serve, it means you have made a quality decision. Then if the man of God did not line up to your expectation or the work given did not meet your taste, is it right to say, “I quit”?
Some spiritualise it by saying, God told me to leave so I left. If God told you to join and you took some time to count the cost and then join, why quit immediately – without considering the implications to your employers or organisation – if God tells you to quit? Isn’t that totally irresponsible and disloyal? God does not encourage or promote irresponsibility simply because of your unfaithfulness or lack of comfort!
Elisha is blessed because he paid careful attention to Elijah though Elijah was not a comfortable man to live with. He allowed God to sandpaper him through Elijah so that he could be well polished and refined for the Master’s use. Where there is no furnace, there is no refinery. Refinery refines and much fire is needed. When God puts you through a time of refining do not rebel against the Lord or His servants but yield and surrender to God so that He may lift you up after He has thoroughly polished you.
Elisha served Elijah for a long period of time, so much so that he was commonly remembered as the man who poured water on Elijah’s hand.
2 Kings 3:11
So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the
hands of Elijah.”
Truly the furnace is not the main issue. Neither are the trials you go through. The real issue is on our ability or inability to gaze our eyes on Jesus and trust Him through all the issues we face.
Elisha’s faithfulness paid off in the last lap of his race as Elijah’s protégé. His challenge was not to take his eyes off his master because Elijah would be taken up at anytime. Everyone knew Elijah’s time was near but no one paid the price like Elisha did. In spite of many distraction and discouragements from many other prophets and ministries, he persevered. Elijah too was not at all encouraging. In fact he discouraged him many times. It was Elisha’s perseverance that paid off finally. He saw the mantle drop from Elijah as he was taken up into heaven.
I am very encouraged and refreshed to see such a faithful servant. No wonder he was a prized breed for God. He was a
polished arrow for the Lord’s use.
As an act of faith the moment the mantle fell on him, he tore his servant’s garment and embraced his new mantle – the new anointing for the new task and appointment God had for him. Elisha received his promotion.
My Mentors
My first mentors were my parents. The spiritual impartation of personal and family devotion and prayer is priceless. Our family gathering in seeking God daily became like a ritual. However it was more than a ritual; it was cry and a passion to invite God’s intervention into our affairs of life. My dad’s tears while he prayed earnestly every morning and night lingers fresh in my memory. My mum’s instruction that we need to seek God with all that is within us to the extent that we are moved to tears stays in my heart as a constant reminder.
Living with them for over 29 years, watching them crying out to God with the sincerity of their hearts, giving generously in their deep need and loving people regardless of whether they are lovable or not has left a lasting impression in my life. They had very few enemies, and I hardly encountered anyone who disliked them. They were well loved by many – rich and poor, privileged and underprivileged, believers of Jesus and unbelievers. Both of them are currently enjoying the glory of God in Heaven.
Peter
There was a season where this servant of God was used by God to propel me further into the things of God. His continual
and steadfast prayer and fasting and knowing his scriptures thoroughly, made an impact in my life. I would look up to him as a father figure, one from whom I learnt much. His obedience to the Holy Spirit’s nudge in the meetings he spoke and the God given ability to flow with the Holy Spirit was so amazing.
Not many servants of God move in that type of revelation of God’s word and anointing. His fall was a deep loss for the kingdom of God. He had many enemies and people who disliked him but he also had many that loved him and looked up to him.
Being one of those who loved him much as a father and prayed so much for him, I felt so sad and betrayed when he fell. I do believe that someday God will restore him for the furtherance of His kingdom. It is like one of those unanswered prayers in my prayer logbook.
Paul
Paul Ang had been instrumental in taking me into a new dimension of serving God in an awesome way. Though I learnt
much under the former mentors, it was through Paul that I learnt the apprenticeship of ministry. The wisdom of God and the grace upon his life has an everlasting impact. Paul has been used by the Lord to open many doors and opportunities for me. He is a great mentor with a tremendous heart of love and compassion.
New Wave
There were different phrases of ministering with him. In the early days, he would get me to minister by his side. Not only was I a prayer warrior for him but I was a helper in his ministry.
Through time and after I had Asher our son, I found a change that I found difficult to adapt. He no longer wanted me to minister by his side but wanted me to move forward and be a minister in my own right. I would go to meetings longing so much to be by his side in ministry but it was no longer the same. He would not have me to be there in the same platform as before, as he felt that it was a waste of time and resources.
He would rather that I speak somewhere and minister to some people somewhere than to be with him. Honestly I took offence with his words and found it hard to assimilate. I struggled with him on that issue. I would say, “Previously it was okay, why is it not now? Why so and so can get others to work as a team in ministry but why you won’t have me?”
The more I tried to explain the harder it got. I never thought it was a waste of time. I thought I was doing him a favour by praying for him continuously while he preached and ministered.
Kicked out
You know, I felt like the mother eagle had kicked the little eaglet out of its nest and say, “Grow up and fly on your own”. Yeah, I had to grow up and stretch out my wings and look up to the Sun from whom I get the light and warmth and soar up with the air currents of the Holy Spirit.
To be kicked out is not a pleasant thing. I cried so much and even pleaded with my husband not to misunderstand my desire to be with him but to no avail! Then it dawned upon me that I had turned my focus off God and was looking on to my husband. I realized my grave sin. I repented to God for not looking up to Him and believing in Him.
You know, I had hardly prayed for open doors as I regarded my husband as my only door. To minister by his side was my biggest dream and I was not yearning for anything more. I was simply contented being with him. But it seemed I had walked in an area that displeased God as my focus and contentment was in my husband and not in God.
At the time of writing, I had overcome my struggle and have been blessed with opportunities to minister with him as well as on my own. When I surrendered to God, God in His mercies caused His favour and love to be extended to me. It is good to fall into the mercies of God than in the sympathies of men.
Notice, there are many seasons and timings in our life. There are seasons of learning, growing and maturing in the arenas we are placed in. There are seasons of joy and victory, grief and pain, sorrow and loss.
The seasons of trials and furnaces are not the seasons to quit but the seasons to allow the polishing to be completed in you. In whatever circumstances and seasons of life, we need to enter into a place of rest with the Holy One. Welcome His involvement into our seasons of life, our joy and sadness, failure and victory and let Him be the cornerstone of our life.