John K. Jenkins Sr - Shut Up

The subject really for our theme for this year is moving forward with a double portion. Somebody say, "Moving forward with a double portion!" Moving forward—let's try that again. Moving forward, moving forward with a double portion. That's our theme, and this is really part three of that series. The subtitle today is "Shut Up!" I don't have time to go back and rehearse what we've covered thus far in this particular passage, but let me give you a brief overview. If you were not able to be with us on New Year's Eve or last Sunday, I would encourage you to get this—the tapes. We won't make tapes anymore, the DVD or the CD. Yeah, go get the eight-track; it's back there in the store.

But in essence, we are studying the relationship between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah is a prophet who is training and teaching young men to flow in the office of a prophet. One of the young men who was one of his students was this young man named Elisha. As a matter of fact, in chapter 19 of 1 Kings, God tells Elijah to go and anoint Elisha to take his place, and Elijah goes and finds Elisha, beginning to deposit in him and train him to be a prophet. In this passage, just before Elijah is taken away, the scripture says he was taken away; he didn’t die, he ascended into heaven. He is one of two men who didn’t die but were taken up by God.

Elijah said to Elisha, "What do you want? What can I do for you before I'm taken away?" In verse number nine, when he asked that, so it was when they had crossed over that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I may do for you before I am taken away from you." Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He asked for a double portion. So he said in verse 10, "You have asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if not, it shall not be so." He asked for a double portion.

I am believing that this is a passage for us today. I’m believing that God is going to pour a double portion of His favor upon the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. I’m believing God this year to save twice as many people as He saved last year. I’m believing Him to pour out double blessings upon the people who are connected to and members of this congregation who are under the anointing of this house. We’re believing God to give a double portion of His favor and His anointing upon their lives. We’re trying to tell people we’re not seeking after things; we’re seeking after the double portion of God’s Spirit. Because if you have a double portion of His anointing, He’ll give you everything else that you need in life. Can I get an amen right there?

So in those first few messages, we talked about what the key principles are that need to be in place. We talked about mentoring and mentorship, having a mentor, and being a mentor. We talked about having mentees while being a mentor yourself. We discussed those principles, and Elijah demonstrates this as he puts Elisha to a test. He says to Elisha, "The Lord is leading me to go over to Bethel. I’m going to leave Gilgal and go to Bethel. You stay here." But Elisha said, "I’m going where you go." So he went with him. He said, "I’m not going to get disconnected from you; I’m going where you’re going." That’s the true sign of a person who really wants to be discipled—they’re willing to go where the mentor goes.

It’s hard to find people who are willing to go where the mentor goes. A lot of people want to go as long as it’s convenient, as long as it fits into their schedule, and as long as they like where you’re going. But if you want someone to be a real mentee, you need to look for somebody who’s willing to pay the price and do what’s necessary to go where you’re going. Elijah sees Elisha’s faithfulness, so they go to Bethel. From Bethel, they go on to Jericho. Elijah says, "I’m going to Jericho. Elisha, you stay here." But Elisha says to Elijah, "I’m going with you." And he goes with him.