The Way to Take the Torch

The Church is an intergenerational movement built on the leading fathers and mothers investing in and believing in the sons and daughters of successive leaders. Yet one of the great obstacles of many future leaders is their own lack of confidence once the torch has been passed.

It's very hard to start in ministry. You go in a moment from being brothers and sisters with the flock of God to being their shepherd and spiritual parent. This hurdle keeps many great leaders from reaching their potential. Yet Elisha wonderfully exhibits the pathway forward by taking the mantle from Elijah and using his God-given authority to serve the needs of those Elijah left in his care.

First, after the departure of Elijah, Elisha takes the cloak that fell from Elijah and performs a repeat of Elijah's last miracle:
2 Kings 2:13–14 (ESV) And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

This will be the first of several moments in Elisha's ministry that imitates Elijah's ministry. What does Elisha model for young leaders? You don't have to reinvent the wheel. You have to watch carefully and learn what your forebearers do. If you do not have a spiritual mentor, please do whatever it takes to get one. They will show you what ministry is really about. They will model for you the essential aspects of operating in the Spirit of the Lord. 

But how did Elisha operate around Elijah all those years? The next chapter will let us know.

2 Kings 3:11 (ESV) And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?” Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

The washing of hands was a servant's role. Elisha served Elijah for the many years he walked with him and learned from him. Another mistake the younger generation can make is not having a servant mentality. Often prideful arrogance lies in the heart of the uninitiated. They haven't experienced the deep nuances of dealing with people. They haven't been in situations of great danger because the older generation in many ways bore the danger for them and acted as a shield. Yet humility and serving have always been the manner of Jesus and the Cross. 

Mark 10:45 (ESV) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Finally, the first episode of Elisha in the face of great need underscores another key to taking up the mantel of a great leader from the previous generation.

2 Kings 2:19–22 (ESV) Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the LORD, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

Nothing is more dangerous than bad water in a community. Elisha meets the need of the community as fast as he hears of it. The third mistake young leaders can make is thinking their ministry is to be served by the people instead of serving the people with their ministry. God does not call leaders to be great but calls leaders to care for those they lead. Every young leader does well to ask "Am I helping people?" when they seek to lead them. Jesus saw the helplessness of the crowds and instructed us to pray for workers in the very next moment. 

Matthew 9:36–38 (ESV) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Notice the generational passing on of leadership in the context of Jesus is also based on the needs of God's people. They need help, they don't need to be impressed. Three great and simple lessons on stepping into leadership: Imitate your mentor's ways, serve their needs and help the people. When those are your chief concerns, you won't feel nervous about stepping into that role at all.