UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
THE LEGACY OF A LIFE
1 Kings 19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time!”
3 When he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!”
6 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 Yahweh’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
8 He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain. 9 He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
11 He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.”
Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
15 Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 Anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place. 17 He who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I reserved seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.”
19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him, and put his mantle on him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”
He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
21 He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
We are looking at the final days in the life of Elijah the prophet. His departure is as dramatic as his entrance was. Elijah knew God. He was a man of prayer, faith, and obedience. He faithfully delivered the message. Now the ministry of the great prophet is coming to an end, and the Lord is directing Elijah to pass his mantle on. The calling that God put upon Elijah’s life was now going to be put on another person’s life. That was going to be symbolized by him pulling off his mantle and
giving it to someone else in a symbolic way. Passing on the baton.
There are not a lot of advantages of getting old. But one of them is that, hopefully, we have acquired a little wisdom that we can pass on to someone else.
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. Ministry is everywhere. Ministry is all around you if you will just open up your eyes. In John 4, Jesus tells us to look around because vast fields are ripening all around us and are now ready for the harvest. Do you want to know where to begin in ministry? On the streets. Look for any opportunity to be a Christian who has heard the gospel, believed it, and wants to share it.
2. If we love God, we will obey His commands. Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14 NKJV). He didn’t say, “You are My friends if you do whatever you find convenient or appealing,” or even, “whatever you completely agree with.” You are His friend, His follower, and His disciple if you do what God tells you to do. If we love God, we will obey His commands (see 1 John 5:3).
3. Discipling is part of the Great Commission. Elijah is doing what every mature Christian should do: mentor other people. The Great Commission is to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded us (see Matthew 28:19–20). We are called to help others—to lead them to the Lord, be an example to them, take them under our wing, and help them get on their feet spiritually.
RELEVANT REMINDERS
• A younger believer needs an older believer to stabilize them—to help them know what is
right and wrong. Older believers need younger believers, because they can start to grow
stagnant. And sometimes the best remedy for stagnation is to have a new believer asking
those hard questions, discovering the truths of God for the first time, and getting excited
about their faith. It gives you a chance to rediscover it all for yourself.
APPLICABLE ACTIONS
The goal is not merely to live a long life. It is about living a full life, a meaningful life, and offering something as a result of your life. What kind of legacy are you leaving today? What are you doing with your time? Are you living your life well?
If you are a Christian, are you seeking to win people to Christ? Are you discipling someone? Find a new believer and take them under your wing. Help them get up on their feet spiritually; help them grow and continue on to serve the Lord.
Monday, 21 April 2014
The Legacy of a Life — I
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him, and put his mantle on him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”
He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
21 He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
Whose job is it to preach the Gospel? Preachers? Yes! But Pastor Greg Laurie reminds us we're all to be preachers of the Gospel! Listen for an inspiring look at the privilege and responsibility of sharing our faith, along with some practical pointers to help us get there.
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
The Legacy of a Life — II
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him, and put his mantle on him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”
He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
21 He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
"Disciple" is not only a noun, it's a verb! We're to disciple others; show them the way. But Pastor Greg Laurie points out that isn't some burdensome obligation. It's simply allowing ourselves to rub off on someone else!
NO NOTES
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Hope for Hurting Hearts, Greg Laurie on Family Talk — I
In an interview with Dr. James Dobson, Pastor Greg Laurie recounts the moment he learned his son had died. It's a candid look at overwhelming pain, but how God meets us in our darkest hour.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Hope for Hurting Hearts, Greg Laurie on Family Talk — II
Grief can seem like a deep chasm with no way of escape. Pastor Greg Laurie speaks with Dr. James Dobson about where believers can find hope in their times of greatest pain.
Friday, 25 April 2014
Hope for Hurting Hearts, Greg Laurie on Family Talk — III
Pastor Greg Laurie visits Dr. James Dobson and his son, Ryan in the studios of their radio broadcast, Family Talk. It's a revealing discussion of Pastor Greg's journey of grief after losing his son suddenly. But they reveal the hope and reassurance found in the arms of our Lord!
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Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie
P.O. Box 4000
Riverside, CA 92514-4000 United States
Phone: 1(800)821-3300
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