Ministers Conference (Day 1)

Worship

Alpha, Omega (2ce)

You are worthy of my praises today

You are worthy of my praises today

Halleluyah

Text: 2 Kings 13:14

When I became a Christian, I spent quality time studying certain people in the Bible, people I will love to be like. I spent three years studying Elijah. Why will somebody spend so much time studying one man, there are several reasons:

1) I wanted God to answer my prayers by fire. This is a man who God answers his prayer by fire.

2) I wanted the ability to decree a thing and it shall be established. This is a man who decreed that no more rain until he said so. 

3) I studied Elijah because he was a revival man. He was a man who brought revival to Israel.

4) I studied Elijah because he was a human being. He could be hungry, thirsted and tired. He is not an angel.

5) I studied Elijah because he came from a humble beginning. His beginning was so humble.

6) I studied Elijah because I need security because in our community, security could be a challenge.

7) I studied Elijah because he knew when to run. He knew when to stand and fight. 

James 4:7, 

2 Timothy 2:22. 

I know when to run, have been running from trouble all this year's and am still running.

After studying Elijah, I realised Elisha seems to be superior. Am still studying Elisha for two years now.

When I look at Elisha, I can see the same, silent water runs deep. Elisha is cool, calm and collected

Who was Elisha?

I needed to know who Elisha was and decided to trace him to his roots.

Who was Elisha? 

1 Kings 19:15-16, 

I traced shaphat to Numbers 13:15 of the tribe of simeon. 

There was a generational curse on Elisha.

Genesis 49:5-7. According to Galatians 3:13-14, Christ redeemed us from all curses so I said I can relate to Elisha because we have the same background.

I decided to study this particular bible passage about Elisha

1 kings 19:19-21, 

I found several things to learn from the package.

1) Elisha was a diligent man, hard working fellow. 

Proverbs 22:29, 

Hebrews 11:6

2) I see a man who was not spoilt by success. Deuteronomy 8:18. 

I could see that I can succeed and prosper and that does not necessarily mean I will become spoilt.

3) I saw in him a good example of leadership, Mathew 20:25-28. 

Many of you who are a little older now, who are my disciples, take around to nations to prepare for programs way back 1976/77, you are not the one to sit down and say come and serve me, you are to be in the kitchen, washing plates and doing other things. A minister of God is not the one who will be bossing people. I taught some of you at the school of disciples that the hand that cannot do manual labour can not heal the sick. When we were smaller, we fetch firewood during convention, I know we can't be doing that now. Many of you have forgotten all these things. Many of you want to sit down now because you are the pastor in charge.

4) Elisha was a good son 

Exodus 20:12. 

This is the first commandment with a promise. Many of you don't honour your parents' spiritual and physical. This could hinder your growth in life. Elisha was a good son. If you have not been treating your parents well, destitute your ways. They carried you and sent you to school. 

5.) Elisha was a child of destiny. 

1 Kings 19:15-17. 

God discussed him with Elijah even before Elijah met him. You are a child of destiny too.

Jeremiah 1:4-5. 

If God had not ordained you before you were born, and you came for ordination or struggled your way in, then the oil on your head is just an ordinary oil

6) He understands true prosperity. 

He left all that prosperity and followed a man who has no place of abode. Proverbs 23:5, 2 Chronicles 1:6-15, Proverbs 4:7

7) Because he understands that true prosperity is not money or wealth, that is why he was so totally consecrated to God. 

His consecration was complete. 

Philippians 3:7-11, Philippians 1:20-21

8) I saw in him a true servant spirit. 

2 Kings 3:11, 

2 Corinthians 13:15

9) He was forward looking, looking to the future.

He didn't allow the present to rob him of the future. He wasn't like Esau who sold his birthright. 

Hebrews 12:2. 

It is sad to say that many ministers don't look to the future. They are now looking for what they can get now. Some of us want to invest in the future. Some of us sit down and allow the workers to do the soul winning. God is just, every worker will be rewarded for souls won and not the souls they won.

10. He was upward-looking.

Colossians 3:1-4. 

He was a man of great vision. He saw the possibility of a double portion. 

Genesis 13:14-17, Proverbs 29:18 (how great is your vision). 

I remember when I told you we have to double. It was not God that didn't make that happen, it was you the ministers. Some of you can see beyond where you are. Some of you believe that I am pushing you too hard, am not even pushing you at all. You are to witness everyday. Witnessing is supposed to be a way of life for you as a minister. You are supposed to win a soul in a day.

11) I saw in him, a man of rugged determination.

 I saw the kind of rugged determination that Jacob had, Genesis 32:24-30

12) I saw a man who was loyal to the end.

2 Corinthians 2:1-8. 

How many of our ministers are beds of passage, or how many of our ministers are here to work. We can't be this many without some mixed multitudes, God knows those who are his own, the foundation of God standeth sure. Loyal to the end.

13) I learned from him how to be a bold prayer warrior. 

A warrior who will ask for anything no matter how hard. 

2 Kings 2:9-10. 

Elijah was not a weak warrior. 

Elijah is not somebody who will hesitate at calling fire from heaven. If Elijah said your request is harder than mine then that says something. 

14) I saw in him a follower who had the same vision as his father. 

Elijah told Elisha, if you see me, you will have what you want, it means if your vision is the same as mine, you will have what you want. He has no private agenda. He wasn't the same as Gehazi, he has his own private agenda preparing to collect money. 

2 kings 5:20-27. 

How many of you are quietly preparing for your own ministry, may the Almighty God help you.

15) I saw in him a double portion man. Elisha is a double portion man.

I sat down and placed him side by side with his father, Elijah. 

1) I found out that Elijah was a terror 

1 kings 21:16-24

Elisha was a commander of kings not an enemy, a friend, a gentle commander,

2 kings 6:8-23

2) 2 Kings 1:9-12, 

Elijah was roasting soldiers,

Elisha arrested a whole army 

2 kings 6:18-20. 

He arrested the arrester.

3)Elijah fed a family of the widow of Zarephath and raised the son when he died 

1 Kings 17:8-24, 

Elisha fed a whole nation 

2 kings 7:1-22, 

He raised two people from the dead,  the son of the shunamite woman, and the dead bones, he brought the dead back to light.

4) Elijah pronounced curse on the nation, shut down the rain 

1 kings 17:1, 

2 kings 13:14-17, 

Elisha became the defender of a nation.

conclusion

Which of the attributes of Elisha are you lacking in your life?

Are you ready to make amends? 

Are you ready to pray? The Almighty God will make you a modern day Elisha.

Prayer

Pray until God himself does something about your case. 

Father release your power mightily upon me. 

Father do to me what you have never done before, uproot every tree you have not planted in me, let me come out of this ministers conference anointed filled to overflow.