When Elijah the prophet cast his mantle on Elisha, the man who would be his successor, very much was involved in that gesture. That mantle was symbolic of the prophetic ministry, and all that went with it. What went with it was the vocation of the prophet to stand in the absolute truth and Presence of God and deliver that word to His people. Elijah had experienced great victory and tremendous moves of God as he served Him. He also felt the wrath of a nation who didn't want his ministry or the word from God, yet Elijah was faithful to his calling. He threw the mantle on Elisha, almost with an air of relief, as if he was saying,"take it, it's your now." Elisha responded, saying goodbye to his people, offering a sacrifice of the oxen he was plowing with, and followed, freely accepting this calling and mantle.
I wonder if we as the church in the USA are willing to pick up the mantle that has been throw onto us. Ours is to be faithful to the word of God preserved for us in the Bible, and to speak, teach, live and display the truthfulness of God's reality to those around us. We may experience great demonstrations of Gods love and power, or the great resistance of ungodly persons who, like those in Elijah's day want no part of God's revealed truth. It's up to us. We have to decide if we will be like Elisha, who let go of all his worldly trappings, said goodbye to those closest to him, and followed God's call.
Pick up your mantle now. Stand for the Lord Jesus Christ in these confusing and pagan times. The mantle of Elijah has been thrown onto us for this generation.
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