Key Episode Scripture: 1 Kings chapters 18 and 19 and 2 Kings chapter 2
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. (2 Kings 2:9-12 ESVUK)
The Bible is descriptive and prescriptive. It outlines a narrative and offers important life instructions. It takes the wisdom of God to tell the difference between the two if we think we should follow people who appear holy, hoping that we can get what they have when they’re caught up in heaven by chariots of fire. While we avoid such ill-advised applications, it’s also important not to overlook insights offered in the narrative that can help shape our journey with God.
Elijah went on a 40-day journey to consult with God. He was powered by God’s provision to get there and empowered by God’s instruction after he left. We’ve considered the episode’s context and outlined the content of Elijah’s close encounter of the divine kind. We looked at a few concepts to help us understand what was going on. Previously, we noted a few points to conclude. As we move on from this, it’s key to see the consequences of this episode for our journey with God.
Encounters Essential to Engage
It takes a lot to be on the mission for God. It is wearing, exhausting, and overwhelming. That’s even for those enjoying the sweet blessing of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Even those in such a position have still experienced dark seasons. We can only effectively engage in the mission in the light of encounters with God – He sends, He provides, He encourages, He instructs, He empowers. This happens because the great one who lives among us and inside us still requires us to encounter Him to engage in His mission.
Appreciate Mission Rhythms and Cycles
The series of Elijah’s life marks out rhythms and cycles of mission. It’s not unique to Elijah. It’s not unique to the Old Testament. We can see scripture accounts of people going on this cycle – called, empowered/enabled, activated, prospering, challenged, and preparing for those to follow. That pattern can be seen in Moses’ life. It can be viewed in David’s life. It can even be traced to how Jesus set up His apostles through His own ministry. Awareness of that approach to rhythms of mission should inform us. First, it should challenge us again to understand all believers are called to be on a mission as long as they’re disciples of Jesus Christ. Then, it should inform us to consider where we are in any given context of serving. Sensitivity to that helps align with what God requires from us on the mission.
Pursue God’s Blessing For Those in the Mission
We operate in a fallen world. It’s understandable to highlight just how fallen it is. How wicked, depraved, adulterous, misguided, deluded, corrupt and polluted. We can do that. We can also, however, place trust in God to still make an impact on the community and the country. As the prophetic included expressions of God’s blessing of restoring and healing in the individual and collective, we can look to God for missional expressions of those blessings. They won’t necessarily get people to believe in Jesus Christ, but they can indicate God’s presence. We desire to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and as we do that, we look to be a blessing wherever we do mission, even as Elijah and Elisha, as well as the apostles and Early Church.
Practice Community That Thrives Off Godly Communication
Before he took on the prophets of Baal, Obadiah informed Elijah of groups of God’s people kept in caves. When Elijah asked God to take him out of service, God informed him that there were still people who hadn’t succumbed to Baal worship. When Elijah was about to depart, there were groups of prophet students who looked on eagerly, knowing what was to happen. All of this outlines that as much as figures like Elijah and Elisha get attention, they operate and excel in the context of intentional community. This practice was something Jesus perpetuated in His approach to discipleship, and it carried on afterwards in apostolic teams.
It’s beautiful to know you’re a part of a community of grace if you belong to a church. It’s even more profound when you discover that you’re called to be a part of an intentional missional community thriving from godly interactions that shape and guide action for the glory of God. The key, however, is that it is an intentional missional community, learning from Jesus how to carry out the mission from Jesus. Not just a social club, an academic gathering or a special interest group.
In that light, as we encounter God, appreciate missional seasons, and pursue God’s blessing in the mission and practice community, we persevere in stormy seasons with our eyes focused on Jesus, even in a world that rejects God.
Next, we will go from a man who wanted God to take his life because of seeming failure to a man who had an issue with God because of succeeding. We consider Jonah in the episode called Doomsday.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Life With CD 