- Passing the baton -

In 2 Kings we find two major prophets walking together. The well known Elijah was on his way to Bethel, then Jericho and then Jordan. This incredible prophet did 16 major miracles. For that the mantle on his life became pretty impressive. Alongside him was the younger prophet with the name Elisha. These two men represents two different generations.

Elijah seems unwilling to do the travel with the younger Elisha but the key in Elisha's life was the fact that he persist in staying with Elijah. To get the mantle will take persistence and much more at times. Needless to say this mantle ultimately did fell on Elisha. He split open the River Jordan and the facts are he did double the miracles that Elijah did. At the time of passing the mantle Elijah asked Elisha what it is he want. He asked for double and double he got.

In 2 Kings 13:14 we find Elisha on his deathbed. Now we have another person on the scene ready to take the baton from Elijah. When Elisha took the mantle from Elijah this was the words we found in 2 Kings 2:12 "My Father, my father the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" In 2 Kings 13:14 when Elisha was dying Joash uttered the exact words over the dying body of Elisha. "My Father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"

The moment Elisha heard these words it must have stirred something in the heart of Elisha. He immediately command Joash to take a bow and some arrows in his hand. This was the moment of truth. This was the act that would have ushered in the passing of the baton.

No generation is better than the other. From Elijah to Elisha to Joash. Passing the baton of His anointing is like a relay match with various athletes. Many athletes but one baton. The baton is the Holy Spirit. If one athlete runs a weak race it will affect the other. If the last athlete cross the line it is the team that wins.

The bow and arrow being activated was a prophetic act of what they believed would happen in the future. In verse 16 we find Elisha's hand on the hand of Joash. There is a time that generations touch one another. Let us influence the next generation to go higher and further than what we have gone. In verse 17 Elisha commanded a window to be opened. To activate a shot into the future you need an openness. Revival meetings behind closed doors with no openness into the future will take the church no where. To many arrows of faith has be activated against the walls of our own religious boundaries. Open the window. Get an open spirit and make sure you understand why you activate a shot. God is bringing a new openness in the mind, the hearts and the spirit of leaders and believers to understand why we are, what we have in our hands and what we are aiming at.

The window opened was the East window. Not north, south or west but east. Know your enemy and know your destiny. Do not aim at nothing for nothing will be hit. Get a specific strategy and know what is the specific calling upon your life. Your faith or prophetic act today will have everything to do with what will happen in your future.

The moment the shot was activated Elisha in verse 17 calls it the arrow of deliverance from Syria. Every act in faith are an act of specifics. Deliverance and Syria. When the arrow was out of the window Elisha named it. You can name your future breakthroughs even today.

The key thought is that Elisha was teaching the next generation exactly how to go about. Let us never ignore those who has gone before us. Let us respect their knowledge as they have run a good race.

Elisha goes further and makes another powerful statement in verse 17. He commands Joash that he must strike the Syrians at Aphek till he have destroyed them. A prophetic act of faith today does not mean that there is nothing to do tomorrow. You must strike till you have destroyed them. Get ready for an onslaught that is coming. We can know today what the victory of tomorrow will look like.

In verse 18 Joash strike the ground three times and stopped. This caused an anger to come over Elisha. He told Joash that he will now not destroy Syria. Pride crept in and caused Joash to miss what he acted out in faith yesterday. Our prophetic acts of yesterday is not where it stops. Let us strike hard in order to make sure Syria will come down. Syria still exist today. Remember, the enemy you spare today will come back tomorrow and frustrate you. Passing the baton is of utmost importance. Let us run hard and let us do what is expected of us in this time and age.

Allow the next generation to stand on our shoulders in order to reach higher and accomplish what we could never accomplish. The baton is in our hands and we need to run at our best.

Will I ever forget the day when I said good-bye to my mentor and dad as I was ready to fly back to America in 2003. I knew it could be the last time I will see him on the earth. I took my arms put it around him and said to Him I will run hard, dad. I told him I am the extension of what he and mom taught me through the years. I promised him I will run hard. I will pass the baton he has given me and I will give that baton to the next generation. Oh what a day. Let us run this race with a new zeal and passion as we are responsible for this generation.

My Father, my Father may I please you in all I do and may I strike till the enemy is crushed under my feet. Give me this generation, I pray. Put your hands on me and teach me how to make war till I have pleased you. You are my mantle and with you're hands on me I will be victorious.