A Mentor
God is our provider
The Lord, He is God
Know when you need help
1 Kings 19:16 New Living Translation
…Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.
When you think you’re alone as a follower of Jesus, you’re not. There are others – you may just not know about them yet.
1 Kings 19:19-21 New Living Translation
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away.
Elijah’s mantel identified him as a prophet of God.
20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”
Elisha needed to consider what was at stake in following Elijah
21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
Elisha was just doing normal, everyday stuff when Elijah came by, placed his mantel on his shoulders, and God called him.
God’s call comes in the midst of the ordinary
Elijah walked past twelve of Elisha’s co-workers to get to him
You may think there are people far more qualified, far more educated, far more skilled, far more spiritual, with far less baggage than you…but God is the one who calls. When God calls, you have to decide whether or not to say yes
Do you have a spiritual mentor?
Discipleship is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and pursuing the mission of Jesus. Spiritual mentors are people who help us do that.
The example of Paul
1 Timothy 1:1-2 New Living Translation
This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.
2 Timothy 2:2 New International Version
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
The story of some real-life mentor/mentees
The conclusion of the relationship between Elijah and Elisha
2 Kings 2:1-15 New International Version
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.”
And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.”
And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.
Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.”
When God called Elijah to Heaven, Elisha remained humble, and asked for a double portion of Elijah’s blessing.
He knew it was all about God, not about Him.
God answered his request
Sermon Based Questions
- What was your biggest take-away from this week’s message?
- What happens when you feel like you have nothing left to give, and give anyway? What kind of relationship is there between depression/burn out and investing in another person in your emptiness?
- Why does God choose to use unlikely people to accomplish His will?
- Who would you most like a double portion of blessing from?