Kill Your Oxen: Seven Steps on Elisha's Road to the Anointing
Dr RJ Sing, 23 min, Part 6 of Lockdown Messages 2020
Originally recorded as “Seven Steps to the Anointing”
Sermon outline
The anointing does not come by wishing. You receive it by walking the road Elisha walked: accept the call, fight, work, give up what is valuable and serve the man or woman of God you are with.
Main text
- Acts 10:38
- 2 Kings 4:38-41
- 1 Kings 19:19-21
Opening
He welcomes the church family at FCI Durban first and then viewers on every platform, and speaks of the very challenging time the whole world is living through. He calls Christians to pray for governments, leaders, churches, business and professional people, and reads Acts 10:38 to remind every listener that God is with them.
There is death in the pot, but you have power to stop it
In a time of famine Elisha put flour into a poisoned stew, and that one act stopped death. He applies it to the pandemic, which he calls a global warfare touching every society and nationality. Believers have power in their mouths, and will overcome by prayer, the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
Illustration: The company of prophets crying out that there was death in the pot, until Elisha added flour and there was nothing harmful in it.
“Prayer will get us through this time.”
- Acts 10:38
- 2 Kings 4:38-41
- Revelation 12:11
Follow the road Elisha walked
Elisha is the best example of someone who recognised the anointing as the main thing, asked for it, received it, had a spiritual father, served until he received it and became more anointed than his father. A road leads everyone who walks it to the same place, so anyone who walks Elisha's road will end up with the anointing. In this time believers must stand, speak, pray and walk in faith under the anointing.
Illustration: Elisha leaving his father's twelve yoke of oxen and running after Elijah, the senior prophet.
“You are not going to get the anointing or receive the anointing by wishing it.”
- Ephesians 6:13
- 1 Kings 19:19-21
1. Accept the call eagerly
Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. Many know deep in their hearts that God has called them but run from it with a thousand and one excuses, choosing uneventful, normal lives when God was calling them to a life of the supernatural.
“God calls many, but they do not accept the call.”
- 1 Kings 19:20
2. Be a fighting man and a fighting woman
You cannot sit on the fence. The Christian life and ministry are a battle, and much of it is fought in the mind against temptations, imaginations and alternatives to the will of God. Well-meaning friends and relatives will try to talk you out of your calling.
Illustration: People admire a highly anointed man or woman of God, but there is a life and a price behind that anointing.
“You will fight for every drop of the anointing that you will ever receive.”
- 2 Timothy 4:7
3. Be a ploughing man or a ploughing woman
Elisha was ploughing when he was called. He was hard-working and diligent in his natural life, so it was sure he would not be lazy in ministry.
“Ploughing the ground speaks of work.”
- 1 Kings 19:19
4. Understand what it means when the mantle is thrown on you
It is not mysterious or vague; you will sense something different happening in your life. Elisha did not ask what the mantle meant. He knew, and he lost interest in his ploughing business.
“Lift up your eyes to something higher and something greater.”
- 1 Kings 19:19
5. Kill your oxen
Everyone has something valuable when they are called. Elisha slaughtered the oxen, cooked them with the ploughing equipment and fed the people, signifying that his old vocation was over.
“Are you willing to give up something valuable for the anointing of God and for the call of God?”
- 1 Kings 19:21
6. Separate yourself
You cannot enjoy all the natural things and still enjoy the anointing. Drawing close to the things of God means giving up some friends, some associations and some family. Not answering the call is disobedience, and it carries a high cost.
Illustration: Elisha asking to kiss his father and mother goodbye before following Elijah.
“The cost of disobedience is higher.”
- 1 Kings 19:20
7. Serve the anointed man or woman of God that you're currently with
Elisha rose, went after Elijah and ministered to him. Serving the men and women of God over you is never fruitless, because something is taking place in the supernatural as you do it.
Illustration: Elisha pouring water on the hands of Elijah.
“God is busy anointing you as a vessel for himself.”
- 1 Kings 19:21
- 2 Kings 3:11
Putting it into practice
- Pray for governments, leaders, churches and business people through the pandemic.
- Answer the call of God instead of running from it.
- Be diligent and hard-working where you are.
- Be willing to give up what is valuable, and some associations, for the anointing.
- Serve the man or woman of God you are with.
Closing
He speaks declarations of change over listeners, then prays for business people, professionals, working people and everyone in the lockdown, telling them not to be afraid because God is with them, in their businesses and in their households. For those traumatised by the pandemic he prays that God will give back double for their trouble.
Declarations he led
- You are not a victim, but you're a victor. You will become all God created you to be.
- God is working all things together for your good. He has a master plan for your life.
- May God give back double for your trouble.
In his words
- “You have power to stop the death that's going around, the famine that's going around, the challenge that's going around.”
- “You are not going to get the anointing or receive the anointing by wishing it.”
- “You will fight for every drop of the anointing that you will ever receive.”
- “There's a life behind that anointing. There's a price behind that anointing.”
- “God is for us. God is not against us. God is with you.”
Every scripture in this message
- Acts 10:38
- 2 Kings 4:38-41
- Revelation 12:11
- Ephesians 6:13
- 1 Kings 19:19-21
- 2 Timothy 4:7
- 2 Kings 3:11