
The Prophet Elijah left a legacy that went on to live in the next generation
• By God’s grace, you and I can have the same impact in our day!
Walking with a partner and protégé
• God gave Elijah the gift of a partner in ministry (1 Kings 19:15a, 16b)
• Scholars believe that Elijah and Elisha spent a decade or more raising up a new generation of godly leaders
• We see this in 2 Kings 2, where we read about “the sons of the prophets” (vs. 3, 5, 7)
• These were the men that Elijah wanted to spend his time with as he made a farewell tour in three towns before crossing the Jordan River
• Elijah’s day began near Gilgal and then proceeded to Bethel (2 Kings 2:2, 3)
• Then they journeyed to Jericho where they meet another cohort of young prophets (2 Kings 2:8-10)
• Elisha can’t imagine being in ministry without Elijah and he is like a sponge soaking up all that he can
• He asks to be doubly blessed in his life and ministry…to be Elijah’s principal heir
• As they walked and talked, a chariot and horses of fire suddenly whisk Elijah away to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11b)
• Elisha cries out in grief and tears his clothing, then picks up the mantle that had fallen from Elijah’s body
• Just as Elijah had done, Elisha strikes the water of the Jordan with the mantle and it parts
• Clearly, he was not only wearing Elijah’s garment, but he had also assumed Elijah’s ministry
Passing the mantle
• Elijah didn’t simply pass on an inheritance (the mantle), he passed on a legacy (his anointing and example)
• Who’s your Elisha? Who are you anointing? Who are you investing in?
• So many in the next generations need an Elijah
• What would it take for you to pass your mantle?
Taking up the mantle
• This ‘Elisha moment’ comes for all of us…when it’s our turn to take up the mantle of leadership not only for our own life, but in our church, our community and in our nation
• That is what our elders have been preparing us for
• If we fail to pick up the mantle from our spiritual teachers, then we will fail the generations that follow
• Are you watching and learning from the older saints that God has placed in your life?
Looking forward, not back
• Elisha knew his master was gone for good
• But the company of prophets wasn’t ready to accept it (2 Kings 2:15-16)
• They had a new leader and now they had to accept him
• All of you are soon going to have a new leader…a really good leader
• Pastor Brandon will have his own distinctive voice and mission
• I want you to receive him, celebrate his unique style and work with him to take new territory in Chesapeake and beyond
• That’s part of the legacy I want to leave…a church that is prepared to step into the double portion anointing of their new leader, while rising to the new opportunities to lead that the future will bring
Elijah was a man just like us
• And at the end of his life, he left more than an inheritance…he left a legacy that lived beyond his lifetime
• We are no different than Elijah…so let’s start living with a desire to impact our generation and the generations that follow!