We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!

A typical Stone's Hill service has:

* music (so feel free to sing out);

* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);

* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);

* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)

So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!

MESSAGE TEXT
1 Kings 19:1-21 | Part 3
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INTRODUCTION
After the Mt. Carmel showdown (1 Kings 18), Elijah thought would spark a national revival in his nation. It did not spark a renewal movement and instead Queen Jezebel put a hit out on Elijah’s life. Elijah ran from the queen. He prayed that he might die. He hiked 40 days across the desert. He hid in a cave. He heard God’s voice. He claimed to be the only righteous person left. Elijah hit a really low point of depression in his life…and over the last couple of weeks we saw how God ministered to Him in that, and then built him back up. But now God has given him a few tasks to do…and one of those was to go find a man named Elisha who will become his eventual successor. When first we meet him, he is plowing a field. But soon he will burn his plow, say farewell to his family, and give up his security to follow this wild Elijah mountain man wherever God leads him.
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PROPOSITION
“All-in” is more mindset than expertise. When you're all-in, you’ve stopped weighing the pro’s and con’s of a decision. You’re committing to it. There’s no going back.
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APPLICATION
The prophets' mantle will rest on your shoulders if…
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1. You’re available. ”He left the oxen and ran after Elijah…” – 1 Kings 19:20 The best kind of ability is “availability.”
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2. You’re a fighter. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. – 1 Kings 19:17 The Christian life is a battle and the ministry is even more of a battle.
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3. You’re a worker. So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. – 1 Kings 19:19 not reading, nor praying, nor sacrificing, but ploughing. Elisha was a hard-working and diligent person before he was called. Have you noticed in the Bible that God usually calls people who are busy? Moses was caring for the sheep; Gideon was threshing wheat; Peter, James, and John were busy in their fishing business; Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king.
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4. You’re “all-in”. So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. – 1 Kings 19:21 Every call has a price.
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5. You’re a family person. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” – 1 Kings 19:20 The call often involves some kind of separation from your family. Invest in them while they’re young.
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6. You’re a servant. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. – 1 Kings 19:21 Elisha was known to the public as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11).
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CONCLUSION
Elijah wasn’t the only one left in Israel following the living God. He wasn’t the only seed to survive. God had a remnant. And God preserved His people until the ultimate seed, Jesus, appeared. Jesus was the slain seed, who was put into the ground, lying there silently, only to rise again triumphantly. Now Jesus has a people, not just from Israel but also of every tribe, who have been chosen by grace. God’s saving grace was a word of assurance to Elijah, and it should be a wonderful word of assurance to us as well. Look away from yourself and look to Jesus, who said, “It is finished.”
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What chips are you holding back? This is your time. The mantle is on your shoulders now. I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back. Though none go with me, I still will follow. The world behind me, the cross before me.