Modern day examples are of a coach to a player, a master to a student, a teacher to a pupil, one older and wiser to one not so much. “So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. The story of Elijah is one of the most inspirational and influential stories in the Bible, and it presents us with an example of healthy mentorship as Christian leaders. God took him to the cave to have a fresh encounter with Him. He dressed like the people of his day and generally succored the people. You must look at your issues and deal with them. A foretaste of a Man who later would invite fishermen who were also busy about their work to come and follow. from my message from II Kings 2:1-4, on September 8, 2013. 6, Obe Street, Kongi, New Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria. Wonderful, inspiring message! Perhaps our perception of the mentor is challenged when we are introduced to the humanness of someone we greatly respect. Elisha was the faithful disciple of the prophet Elijah, and his successor.He had followed his master from the moment they met, when Elisha was a young man, plowing his father's field near the ancient town of Abel-mecholah in northern Israel.Elisha saw his master disappear in a fiery chariot, going up to heaven, without dying first. We have all had our cave moments. On the other side of the encounter, God led him into mentoring for the first time in his life. He was out in the field, minding his own business, when the man of God came up and threw his cloak over his shoulders. Today it is Elijah and Elisha, a classic example of mentoring, as the mantle of leadership is passed from one to the other. Visit www.speaktomyheart.org. He is discouraged and depressed, even uttering suicidal thoughts. In his first encounter with Elijah, Elisha is willing to let go of his occupation, his family, and the life he had built thus far in order to follow after a man offering his mentorship. It is impossible to mentor people on the run. Elisha, after sixty years of service as a prophet, died in his own home (2Kings 13:14, 20). It tells us much about both the role of the protégé and the mentor. Through Elijah’s story, here are four things God must do in our lives to prepare us for mentoring. In his first encounter with Elijah, Elisha is willing to let go of his occupation, his family, and the life he had built thus far in order to follow after a man offering his mentorship. Then Elijah was able to focus on the work to which he has been called. The story of Elijah and Elisha may be the most obvious mentorship story in the Bible. When Elijah spent the night in the cave, the word of the Lord came to him and asked him what he was doing there. Elisha was destined for a double portion, but if he had never first offered himself as a servant to Elijah, he would have remained a farmer and never performed the amazing miracles that blessed the lives of so many others. “Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. God was trying to move Elijah to a fresh encounter with Him because he was in a defensive and protective position, instead of a releasing and risk taking position. The great majority of us take on a victim’s mentality that people around us have to change, but I’m convinced every major change and breakthrough that God wants to do in your ministry happens in your heart. Bible scholars believe that Elisha served Elijah for six years before Elijah was ushered into Heaven. The story of Elijah is one of the most inspirational and influential stories in the Bible, and it presents us with an example of healthy mentorship as Christian leaders. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. Elijah was convinced it was everyone else, and he was complaining to God about his circumstances. Rather than rejoicing that his time had come, Elisha was crushed to see his mentor leave, proving that he wasn’t serving Elijah just to propel his own future. At times we are asked to do hard things. They are all wonderful, and gave me many ideas for my own messages where I lead and speak at our Wed. night Re-Charge worship service at Oak Hill UMC.I wondered what your last name was and then I realized you are Lynn Barton--I know you from many Emmaus years, and from my family--I'm Donna Broberg, as in Scott and Harlan.And I know you are a good clergy friend to my dear pastor and friend Jim Roberts! I am a lay worship leader in my church, Oak Hill UMC, Austin. Elijah three times told Elisha to stay behind, but each time his assistant refused to leave his side. Go back. Design credit All rights reserved. At this time an interesting test was set before Elisha. Being under the tutelage of another can be difficult. “Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together. Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River.” (2 Kings 2:6-7 NLT). I believe Elijah took Elisha on one last walk to affirm the valuable lessons he had learned in his journey of mentorship. So much can be learned by observing the life of another. We have all expected God to do things in a different way. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Once Elisha was anointed, Elijah began to pour into his life. Bishop Duane & First Lady Cynthia Johnson bring you an encouraging and inspirational word from God that will speak to your heart. Very cool to make that connection, and thanks for the inspirations. We need to start praying “God change me,” because when God does a work in us it has repercussions outside of us. He is discouraged and depressed, even uttering suicidal thoughts. But the reward is great for those protégés who press beyond these struggles until the day when the baton is clearly passed on to them. The story of Elijah and Elisha may be the most obvious mentorship story in the Bible. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant” (1 Kings 19:21 NLT). He killed his oxen and destroyed the yoke, giving the proceeds to his neighborhood. Others were watching from a distance, but Elisha wanted a close up and personal view of what God was about to do in Elijah’s life. We can learn from their habits and disciplines, how they relate to others, and even from their faults. At this time an interesting test was set before Elisha. On the other side of the encounter, God led him into mentoring for the first time in his life. 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