A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day Jan. 30, 2019
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
According to the Bible, Elisha served Elijah for a period of between twenty and thirty years. That takes dedication, desire, and patience. You cannot serve someone for nearly thirty years and not pick up something.
“So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” (1 Kings 19:21)
Elisha followed and served Elijah everywhere he went. He watched his every move and he learned from him. It’s interesting that Elisha did not try to receive an anointing from God by overpowering Elijah or by trying to eliminate him and move him out of the way. Instead, Elisha continually learned from his mentor.
In God’s timing, when everything was in its season, God removed Elijah from this earth and because of Elisha’s diligence and patience, he received the prophet Elijah’s mantle (2 Kings 2:13). The book of 2 Kings reports that Elisha was involved in exactly double the number of miracles of Elijah. We might say he received a double anointing.
Recently I read a book by a great man of God. He has an international ministry, many employees, books, tapes, and an international television presence. It’s interesting to note that this great minister did not start out that way. In fact, he spent many years serving another great man of God. He did this in humility and he was not seeking his own agenda. In due season, God raised him up.
Most young ministers recognize this principle in the Word and they’ve heard many sermons on receiving a prophet’s anointing through being a servant first. However, being a servant means you must have the Master’s plan in your heart and not be seeking to raise up your own ministry.
Loyalty seems to be a harder and harder trait to find today in ministry or business. Everybody is out for themselves. They are impatient and want what they want now. We see it in ministry when young ministers go down the road from the church they are serving and start another church. We see it in business when people start a similar business like the one they are presently working in. And of course, each of these people are looking to draw people from their former ministries or businesses to help build their own base.
So today, if you are a person of God and are seeking a place in the ministry or in a business, find an anointed ministry or successful business and submit. In due season, when God feels you are ready, He will raise you up. However, have enough faith and integrity not to steal someone else’s people. God will provide for you just like He provided for Elisha if you do it right.
