"I'm Not Going Back"
Pastor Albert Almore
“So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away.”
1 Kings 19:19
“Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.””
1 Kings 19:20
“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
1 Kings 19:21
I want to share in a message this morning titled….
I’M NOT GOING BACK
“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and SLAUGHTERED THEM. HE BURNED THE PLOWING EQUIPMENT to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
1 Kings 19:21
📝 Elisha’s ACTIONS spoke of COMMITMENT.
Elisha’s actions, not his words, communicated to himself, and to everyone watching, I’M NOT GOING BACK!
This has to be the same tone that you take on your life from this day forward! I’M NOT GOING BACK! I’m not going back to that place of DARKNESS! I’m not going back to that place of SIN! I’m not going back to that place of FEAR. I’m not going back to that place of ANXIETY. I’m not going back to that place of WHAT IF. I’m not going back to that place of feeling UNWORTHY, UNQUALIFIED!
📝 I’m not going back to the same place where God’s GRACE FIRST FOUND ME.
The Bible says, Elisha took his yoke of oxen and SLAUGHTERED THEM, AND BURNED THE PLOWING EQUIPMENT to cook the meat.
Elisha had no plan B.
By doing this he had no intentions in returning to the place where God, through Elijah first found him.
Elisha’s ACTIONS spoke of COMMITMENT.
But what about you? But what about me?
📝 What ACTIONS do you need to take to communicate your COMMITMENT?
I believe Elisha almost missed it, as we all do. What was it for Elisha that made it click? I believe it happened in verse 20. Let’s look at it again,
“Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE TO YOU.””
1 Kings 19:20
In essence, Elijah was saying, Elisha…
RECOGNIZE THE MOMENT.
📝 Don’t get so caught up in GOING BACK that you miss WHAT’S AHEAD.
That’s when it clicked. That’s when Elisha took his yoke of oxen and SLAUGHTERED THEM, ANDBURNED THE PLOWING EQUIPMENT, because he recognized that he was in a moment.
Church, WE’RE IN A MOMENT.
Elijah shouted to Elisha, hey!
…THINK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE TO YOU. 1 Kings 19:20
I believe that God is saying the same thing to us! Hey! THINK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE TO YOU. THINK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR YOU. THINK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE THROUGH YOU. Church, WE’RE IN A MOMENT!
📝 This church is standing on THE BACK OF PRAYER. We’re living in ANSWERED PRAYERS.
It’s up to us to Recognize the moment.
Here’s the thing about moments. Moments often don’t announce theirselves. They often show up and wait to be recognized, JUST LIKE ELIJAH.
“So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders AND THEN WALKED AWAY.”
1 Kings 19:19
Since we’re living in a moment, and this moment is passing us by, come what may…
📝 I’m not going back to the place of EXCUSES.
“The sluggard will not plow BY REASON of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”
Proverbs 20:4
There’s always a reason why not to do it. There’s always a reason why not to start it. There’s always a reason why not to finish it!
📝 Your reason, your WHY for PRESSING ON, must be greater than your reason for GOING BACK.
📝 I’m not going back to the place of COMFORT.
I know the boat is comfortable. I know the boat is familiar, but here’s the thing….
DESTINY, AND THE PROMISES OF GOD, DON’T LIVE IN THE JURISDICTION OF COMFORT.
📝 What God is calling you TO is greater than what God is calling you FROM.
📝 I’m not going back to the place of BLAMING OTHERS.
I’m not responsible for what happened to me BACK THERE. But I’m responsible for where I go FROM HERE.
📝 I’m not going back to the FROGS.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land.”
Exodus 8:1-2
“The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’””
Exodus 8:3-4
“Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.””
Exodus 8:8
““You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.””
Exodus 8:9
““DO IT TOMORROW,” Pharaoh said. “All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said...”
Exodus 8:10
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TOMORROW’S.
“So teach us to NUMBER OUR DAYS, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalms 90:12
“Teach us to realize THE BREVITY OF LIFE, so that we may GROW IN WISDOM.”
Psalms 90:12
We must commit to the call, we must commit to the opportunity, while it’s still here. We must commit to the call, we must commit to the opportunity, while we still have time. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says,
“Whatever your hand finds to do, DO IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
There is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom it’ll be too late.
This is why today’s message is…
A CALL TO COMMITMENT.
Will you commit to The One Who’s committed to you?
God is so committed to you that 2 Timothy 2:13 says,
“If we are unfaithful, HE REMAINS FAITHFUL, for HE CANNOT DENY WHO HE IS.”
2 Timothy 2:13
📝 God is looking for an INSIDE OUT commitment.
What ACTIONS do you need to take to communicate your COMMITMENT?
Areas Where You Can Commit Your Commitment ATTEND CONNECT & LAUNCH.
START SERVING.
JOIN A D- GROUP.
Outside the four walls…
Work, school, anywhere….allow God to work, speak through you.
“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.”
Daniel 6:3
Inside out—commit to excellence!
📝 "COMMIT your actions to the Lord, and your plans will SUCCEED.”
Proverbs 16:3
Good News: The commitment doesn’t come in your own strength! I Corinthians 15:10 says,
“But BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM, and His grace toward me WAS NOT IN VAIN; but I labored more abundantly than they all, YET NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD which was with me.”
I Corinthians 15:10
There’s a grace on you to commit. There’s a grace on you to succeed.
In every aspect God is looking for a commitment.
His master replied, 'Well done, good and FAITHFUL SERVANT! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' Matthew 25:21
WHOEVER IS FAITHFUL with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10
“The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.”
1 Kings 19:15
“Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, AND ANOINT ELISHA son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”
1 Kings 19:16
You are the ANSWER to someone’s PROBLEM.
📝 God chooses to work THROUGH PEOPLE. Don’t let the work stop with you.
“Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the UNFAITHFUL in a time of trouble.”
Proverbs 25:19
Our world is in a time of trouble….can God count on you? Can God work through you?
What ACTIONS do you need to take to communicate your COMMITMENT?
“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find A FAITHFUL MAN?”
Proverbs 20:6
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