POSSESSING YOUR MANTLE

I am glad that God speaks again and again. He never stops speaking to His people; who are willing and sensitive to hear. What God wants to say to you dear reader today will definitely put you on the path of fulfilment. Many who are great today in business, ministry and different walks of life knew this uncommon truth and held it in high esteem therefore having an edge over their contemporaries in life.

After finding this truth and praying seriously about it into my own life, I feel strongly compelled to share it with others particularly the younger generation. You cannot agree less with me that everyone needs to know about their mantles and how to possess them because in this knowledge lies the key to fulfilment of destiny. As a foundation, please come with me into the scripture.

And it came to pass when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him. As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

 And fifty men of the sons of the Prophets went, and stood to view afar off and they two stood by Jordan.

 And Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went on dry ground.

And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me (II Kings 2: 2, 7-9).

It is important that we know what the mantle of Elijah represents and the import of the transfer of this mantle to Elisha and how does this apply to all of us today. After Elijah’s encounter with God in I Kings 19 when the Lord instructed him to anoint Elisha as a prophet in his room, the bible said he met Elisha plowing with his oxen. The sign that Elijah used to communicate to Elisha of the divine instruction was to cast his mantle upon him

So he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. (I Kings 19:19)

This implies that the mantle is an instrument of calling. As far as Elijah was concerned it was symbolic of his staff of office. It is what gave him the authority to operate his ministry. When he first cast it on Elisha, he meant to tell him, this authority will soon be yours. At that first instance, the mantle still belonged to Elijah but he temporarily shared it with Elisha. And Elisha was wise enough to discern the message of Elijah. Although, when he followed him, Elijah pretended as if he has not said anything.

This is where I am going. Have you met a man who shared his mantle with you before? Then follow him because that mantle may belong to you. Literarily speaking, a man’s mantle is his greatest asset. It is what identifies the man in his calling. He depends upon it to solve problems and confront situations. Remember how Elijah parted the red sea with his mantle. When you take the mantle from the man, you have taken a great asset from him. In business, it is what makes the Chief Executive to be in charge. In the office, it is what makes the Director to hold the sway. In ministry, it is what makes the man of God to command exploits and respect.

Interestingly, no man is designed to go with the mantle at the expiration of his tenure. No matter, how great a man of God is, he must leave the scene one day. No matter the level of acumen of a chief executive or director of an organization, he must necessarily retire or death retires him. No governor or President of a nation remains forever. But when they go, they pass the mantle over to others. Some do not prepare to do so but the wise ones do. Many who want to lack genuine and ready heart who will collect the mantle and produce greater exploits with it. Let me put it plainly; the mantle is the inheritance of power and authority that a man transfers to another generation.

You will note that when Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, Elisha answered that he wanted the double portion of Elijah’s anointing. The response to the request of Elisha was a mantle. This also implies that the mantle symbolises “double portion”. In Israel, double portion is always the preserve of the first person where there are others with equal rights; be it wives or children. For instance, If a man has five sons and he wants to share his inheritance among them, he will share his inheritance into six parts. One part will go to each son and the first son will get an extra portion to make his own double. It means, he is the Prince of the family. He is expected to be blessed above others because he should carry more burdens than others. When others have challenges, they will come to him. The double portion also means a sign of favour and preference among others.

Elisha understood that he was the Prince among the sons of the Prophets. He therefore craved the double portions. He knew that when Elijah leaves the scene, the burden of the Nation and other sons of the Prophets would fall upon him, so he asked for double portion. Men with a sense of responsibility will always crave the double portion.

Most times, leaders are able to perceive these people under their leadership and hold them close. That is why, many ministers may be serving under the same man of God but only one person will get the mantle. Different people may be serving under the same Governor but he knows who he’s preparing to take over from him.

Alas, is sad that many people today do not discern who’s carrying their mantle. So they change jobs anyhow. Many move from one ministry to another. Some despise and waste the opportunity of associating with the persons that carry the mantles of their destinies. Can you imagine what E. A Adeboye would have become without a relationship with Late Pa Ekundayomi. Can you try to subtract Idahosa from Mama Margaret Idahosah’s  name today and imagine where and who she would be now. When Mama Margaret said yes to the late Arch-Bishop Benson Idahosa perhaps then as Brother Benson, it was a decision for destiny fulfilment.

What do you do to possess your Mantle?

1.      Recognize: Every man who will possess his mantle must obey the law of recognition. Elisha recognized his own mantle and the man carrying it. One easy way to recognize it is the conferment of the special love from the man to you. That will make him to cast the mantle on you while it still belongs to him. By implication, he will give you the attorney he gives to no man. He will take you to places he takes no other man. He will share with you the secrets he shares with no other man. He may go as far as “showing” you the secret of his strength and power.

2.      Follow. You must follow the man faithfully, committedly and in integrity of your heart. Follow the man with a heart of service. Be there to pour water on his hand. Follow him not minding his weaknesses and the conflicts you may have with him. In following, you may not necessarily be serving under his very organization but you may be serving him more than the people who are with him.

3.      Focus. Remain focused on the inheritance- the mantle. Don’t allow any distraction. Distractions may come in form of temptations, pride and wrong advices. Sometimes, other sons of the prophets may even mock you, remain focused. The distraction may also come as a test from the leader which may discourage you, yet remain focused. Focus requires endurance and persistence and it is only those who endure that make it to the end.

4.      Pray! You need to be prayerful so that you will not lose your inheritance. Prayer is not an option if a man must fulfil destiny.

Prayer Points:

·         Ask the Lord to help to recognize the man that his carrying your mantle of destiny.

·         Ask God to bring you together.

·         Pray against the forces that make a man to lose focus and lose his mantle