Prophetic Ministries Today

I recall the first time I heard someone mention the word mantle in reference to a prophet's ministry. I was puzzled since I didn't understand what they were talking about. This inspired me to begin studying the life and ministry of Elijah.

There are various garments that represent spiritual gifts. It is important to know what your gift and calling from God is. The more that you know about your spiritual gift the better equipped you are to do the work of the ministry. Now is the time to began exercising your gift; however, you must know more about your calling in order to be effective in the ministry.

If your calling is in the area of the prophetic, you will be interested in knowing more about the Prophet's Mantle. This garment, made out of mere sheep skin, indicates that Elijah did not walk as one who had great authority among his own people. The mantle itself was not an adorning piece of clothing; however, the anointing upon this garment, which came from the Holy Spirit, made it very special.

Even today during ordination services a garment is usually placed around the shoulders of the individual who is being ordained. This symbol is carried over into today's religious practices. It originated from the ministry of Elijah where we find Him passing his mantle on to Elisha.

“So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant. I King 19:20-21

We see in the sixteenth verse that God commanded Elijah to go to Elisha and anoint him to be the prophet that would ultimately take his place. Elijah did not pour oil on Elisha but rather draped him with his mantle.

When Elijah found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, he was plowing a field. Elijah passed by Elisha and threw his mantle on him. Elijah continued to walk on by, Elisha laid down his plow and ran after Elijah crying out to him, "Please let me just kiss my father and my mother, and then I'll follow you." Elijah replied to Elisha, "Go back again, for what have I'd done to you?"

This might appear to be a strange statement for Elijah to make; however, understand that what Elijah was offering was of great value and should not be viewed lightly. So Elisha turned back, and slaughtered the oxen and boiled their flesh, using the plow to kindle a fire, and gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he arose and followed Elijah and served him. By killing his oxen and destroying his plow, he outwardly expressed his will to follow after the man of God, destroying his only means of support. I have seen it happen many times. When God calls a man or woman into the ministry there seems to be very little they can do to provide for themselves except do the work of the ministry.

Shortly after Andrea and I were married, God began to close the doors to all my business ventures. It was from this very study on Elijah that God began to speak to me about sacrificing my business so that I could concentrate solely upon the work of the ministry. There was one problem; however, how was I going to explain this to my new bride? I had to tell Andrea what God had said, for it was weighing heavy upon my heart. I really dreaded the hour Andrea was to return home. When she walked through the door she looked like she had been crying. I thought to myself what bad news could she have been burdened with? Now I am going to give her more news that will probably discourage her even more. I asked her what was wrong and she replied, I heard the voice of the Lord today." I ask her, "What did He say?" Tearfully, she replied, "He said you were to sell your business and go into the ministry full-time." I asked her, "What did you say to Him?" She said, I told Him I would work to support us as long as He promised me that it would not be forever." The very next day we began to make plans to sell all of the equipment and close out the business.

I feel it is important to mention that anytime God speaks something that will affect your finances and possibly your marriage, you should NOT take one step until God confirms it through your spouse. A lot of the time God will not speak to your spouse until the time is right. Hopefully, your spouse is a believer and is obedient unto the word of the Lord; however, I have witnessed cases were God shook the unbeliever until they came in line with His will. On other occasions I have witnessed God removing the unbeliever out of the way so that His will could be done.

When the Lord commands someone to prophesy a gift, what happens is that a ministering spirit is appointed to that person, according to Hebrews 1:14 for the purpose of ministering for that person, i.e. the gift. What takes time is for the person to realize that the ministering spirit of the Lord is there for them and that they will see the ministering spirit (angel) of the Lord minister as they fulfill their calling. If they are called to preach on hearing God and they preach that related message, the ministering spirit will be there to minister for them. Now, if they do something or say something outside of their calling, the ministering spirit will not endorse their message. This is why is it important for us to know our calling. In most cases, in fact, all that I know of, when a person receives the gift by impartation, it is there. The problem is that of what Apostle Paul instructed Timothy. Do not neglect the gift that was given into you by the laying on of hands and prophesy. Most people do not strive to perfect the gift. Sometime is takes awhile before a person really realizes that they are called and gifted of God. The only way I know how to truly activate the gift is to start using it.