Burn The Plows
Notes
Transcript
19 Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.
20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”
21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.
JESUS makes one of the most shocking statements that you will ever find…
JESUS makes one of the most shocking statements that you will ever find…
12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
This passage about an OT character that went on to be a prophet for God has a lot to do with us today.
INVITATION TO A HIGHER CALLING
When Elijah came by and threw the mantel on Elishas shoulder, Elisha wasn’t expecting it and there’s nothing in here to say that Elisha deserved it.
Elisha was just… plowing oxen in a field far away from any signs of great significance . Just doing what he had always done.
This whole book is about Elisha and what God calls him to
ELIJAH HAD JUST WENT THROUGH A BAD EPISODE OF DEPRESSION
Mount Carmel
Jezebel
Ran 200 miles
“eat and take a nap”
While Elijah was running away God starts talking to him about Elisha BUT ELISHA DOESN’T EVEN KNOW THE CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING
YOU CAN JUST BE GOING THROUGH LIFE UNAWARE OF HOW GOD IS WORKING AND CALLING YOU TO SOMETHING GREATER
It’s hard sometimes to believe that your life could be greater.
Think about what Elisha was doing everyday. Staring at the backside of a bunch of ox. The last in the line. Smelling everything that was in front of him. Day in and Day out.
THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS JOB. There’s nothing wrong with your job. And there’s nothing in here to suggest that he had to do this job because he was disobedient. He probably loved his job.
SOMETIMES GOD IS CONSPIRING BEHIND THE SCENES AND CALLING YOU TO SOMETHING GREATER
WE TEND TO SEE THINGS THE WRONG WAY
We tend to think that the pastors and worship leaders and missionaries are the ones doing something greater.
It would be easy to hear from this that if you are working in the accounting department that you’re meant to quit and do something greater. GREATER DOES NOT EQUAL BETTER. MAYBE GOD ISN’T CALLING YOU TO QUIT FOR SOMETHING BETTER BUT TO DO WHAT YOU’RE ALREADY DOING WITH A GREATER PURPOSE.
STEP UP WHERE YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY INTO SOMETHING NEW
SPIRITUAL SURVIVOR MODE. JUST GOING THROUGH LIFE. WITH NO PURPOSE OR CALLING ON YOUR LIFE.
We go to church. we worship. We have a good time. Then Monday hits and we go back to work. And live as if God hasn’t called us to something great.
DID YOU KNOW THAT IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE AND WILL DO THAT GOD HAS STILL CALLED YOU TO A GREAT PURPOSE?
THERE’S NOTHING IN HERE THAT SAYS ELISHA EARNED OR DESERVED IT
12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
Just because you believe!! Just because you have faith.
Not when you pay off the credit card. Not when you finally get in shape. Not when you get everything in order. When you have FAITH!
WHAT IS GREATNESS FOR GOD ANYWAY?
WHAT IS GREATNESS FOR GOD ANYWAY?
HOW DO I KNOW IM LIVING IN THAT GREATER LIFE? I wonder if Elisha wondered this…
2 BOOKS I READ IN COLLEGE. ONE ABOUT HAVING FAITH AND GOD GIVING YOU EVERYTHING AND ANOTHER SAYING THAT IF I HAVE FAITH ILL GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY
I want us to answer that through this series. Because it feels hard to define. Jesus promised it but how do I know im living it.
AFTER ELISHA IS CALLED THERE ARE NO RECORDED MIRACLES WITH HIS NAME MENTIONED FOR YEARS.
He disappears for a while. And sometimes what God is calling you to do may mean that less people recognize and see what you are doing.
MOMS. What you are doing is such a high calling. But sometimes you feel stuck between knowing that you’re making a difference and no one actually seeing the difference you’re making all the time.
GREATNESS ACCORDING TO GOD VS WORLDLY STANDARDS
DEEPER SURRENDER
Elisha doesn’t just pray a prayer or sit and think about what to do. He actually decides to make sure that he never goes back to his old life. That from here forward he is living in a greater life.
20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”
He’s not having second thoughts he’s just dealing with the reality that he’s leaving his old life
LIKE SALVATION. YOU ARE KISSING THE WORLD GOODBYE. Saying Jesus is the greatest thing. That He is what matters and is our priority. No turning back.
21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.
This wasn’t cruel. Animal sacrifice was normal.
Why burn the plows and use them? You could have used something else. Im sure there were trees. Seems irresponsible. What if God’s plan didn’t work? What if you need to go back when things get hard?
THIS IS REAL SURRENDER. I’m not turning back. I’ve decided to follow Jesus there is no turning back.
YOU’RE NOT BEING CALLED TO FOLLOW ELIJAH BUT SOMEONE GREATER. JESUS. Elijah isn’t laying a mantel on you but Jesus through the cross has called us all. and so many people realize they are called to something greater but then nothing changes. BECAUSE THEY NEVER BURN THE PLOWS. THEY HAVE THE WRONG STARTING POINT.
OFTEN WE SEE NO CHANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE WRONG STARTING POINT
THE STARTING POINT Isn’t building your social media following, or gathering some people who will follow you, or building up your bank account IT STARTS WITH SURRENDER
MOST OF OUR LIVES WE SING “NO TURNING BACK” BUT REALLY WE HAVE OUR HANDS STILL ON THE DOOR IN CASE THINGS GET HARD
GREATER THINGS
ELISHA WENT ON TO DO TWICE AS MANY MIRACLES AS ELIJAH DID
We have to set fire first to whatever is anchoring us to our old ways of life.
CALLING TO MINISTRY IN 2007