Dear Friend,

This is a story about a cloak - but no ordinary one. It was worn by a wilderness man of God named Elijah. While wearing it, this simple but chosen man communed with the God who chose him.

Day and night, night and day, good days, bad days, popular days, unpopular days, in his country, in foreign lands. Whatever the spiritual weather, Elijah, wearing his mantle, hungrily sought after the sovereign Lord who called him.

As this heavenly communion continued, a marvelous miracle happened. The Spirit of Elijah's God permeated the cloth of Elijah's mantle. Thus, it became not an ordinary garment but an extraordinary force, a mighty weapon against idols and sin and in favor of the Savior and His people. Wearing this God-permeated garment, Elijah went forth to rebuke Israel's sin-saturated king, call forth God's righteous judgments, and, later, pray in His merciful rains of restoration (1 Kings 17-18).

Consequently, an entire nation which had for years been soaked in idolatry and wickedness of every kind, and was led by two demonically formed and filled leaders, suddenly, unexpectedly, and miraculously fell on its knees and exclaimed, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39). This was the greatest mass conversion in Israel's history. How did it happen? The irresistible divine power soaked into and flowing from Elijah's mantle had released them from Baal's grip and gripped them for Yahweh! Then it came time for Elijah to pass.

His divinely chosen successor, Elisha, witnessed Elijah's amazing translation: "And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11). But something strange happened. When the man went up the mantle stayed behind. What happened next was, and still is, even more wondrous. And it's the best news I, or any other servant of God, could possibly bring you today.

Scripture states, Elisha "took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him" (2 Kings 2:13). It then repeats the key phrase to be sure we don't miss the larger point: "And he took the mantle of Elijah" (v. 14). Well taught by Elijah's mentoring and his God's Spirit, Elisha knew just what to do. Notice, the mantle did not fall on him. Rather, taking the initiative, Elisha "took" it up off the ground. This reveals God didn't force Elisha to follow Elijah's footsteps. He did so voluntarily, in full union with God's will. Fully embracing his call and Caller, Elisha grasped and held the Spirit- and God-filled cloak of divine power God had sovereignly committed to human hands. Now a complete transfer of ministry had occurred. The mantle was the same, but the man wearing it was different. So was his ministry.

Scriptures shows us that Elisha's ministry, as he had prayed, was twice as powerful as Elijah's. Wow! Elijah's ministry had been awesome: delivering timely messages from God; being fed by ravens; working astounding miracles; exposing false prophets; destroying idols; turning the nation back to God; uprooting its sins; humbling arrogantly evil leaders; ending a long, lethal drought; and renewing the sweet rains of God's blessing! But the record shows that, while Elisha did not do the same things Elijah had done, he worked twice as many miracles! Therefore, we see, while the man wearing the mantle had changed, the power flowing through the mantle had not diminished. To the contrary, it had doubled! Then, as it had for Elijah, the day came for Elisha to pass.

After Elisha passed, the Israelites laid his lifeless body in a tomb. But, amazingly, the "mantle" lived on, not physically, but figuratively. That is, the anointing of divine power that had infused the mantle continued resting upon and permeating those God called to the prophetic ministry. From one prophet to the next this spiritual mantle was passed, each qualifying to wear it by being called of God and having deep, sustained fellowship with God. As with Elisha, the mantle did not fall upon them arbitrarily or against their will. They had to voluntarily take it up. And they had to be willing to pay the price to bear this mantle of divine power. More on this later.

At the dawn of the New Testament era, the mantle resurfaced on the shoulders of John the Baptist, who had "the Spirit and power of Elijah" all over him and his ministry (Luke 1:17). He, too, turned a nation to God. More specifically, John prepared the pharisaically misled, first-century Jews for the arrival of their Messiah - the true Owner of the mantle. Again, the mantle-wearer had changed, but the mantle-power was undiminished. It was as full of sin-crushing, life-changing, miracle-working, demon-dispelling, idol-smashing, heresy-exposing, spiritual-birthing strength from on high as it had ever been. Then John passed - without his head. And another, far greater Prophet took up his mantle.

His name was Jesus of Nazareth! Yes, Jesus wore this mighty prophetic mantle throughout His three-year ministry. His followers recognized this, describing Him as "a prophet mighty in deed and word" (Luke 23:19). His apostles, at least initially, described Jesus as a man of God cloaked with the power of the Spirit of God: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him" (Acts 10:38). Thus, we see the old prophetic mantle and the new messianic mantle were one and the same.

Under the weighty power of this mantle, Jesus' words, grace, truth, and miracles were unique, inimitable, convincing, converting, and God-glorifying! When one woman who had been sick for twelve years touched the hem of His mantle, she was instantly cured and made His committed follower. Why? The messianic mantle was more powerful than ever, since it now rested upon its true Owner. Then the time came for Jesus to pass.

But here's the news flash of the ages: Jesus' spiritual mantle stayed behind! When the Roman soldiers gambled for Jesus' seamless garment, they had no clue that another, incomparably more valuable one existed, a spiritual mantle that could not be stolen or gambled for but could only be divinely given. And Jesus bequeathed it to His church.

Peter, John, and the original apostles took up that invisible royal robe of messianic ministry and soon discovered it had not lost its power. To the contrary, its power had increased, as their speaking and praying now released such dynamic divine energy that thousands were converted, healed, delivered, and discipled - in the very city where Jesus had been put to death (see Acts 5:11-16, 28)!

Later Paul took up this messianic mantle and did even greater wonders - as God chose to use Paul's Spirit-infused work aprons to work "special miracles" in Ephesus and throughout Asia, evoking memories of Elijah's God-permeated cloak (Acts 19:11-12). Then the apostles passed from the scene.

But the mantle lived on, as the spiritual ministry inheritance of all God-fearing Christians. The psalmist testified, "Thou hast given me the heritage [spiritual inheritance, legacy, ministry mantle] of those who fear thy name" (Psalm 61:5). Down the centuries, this living legacy of prophetic and messianic energy has never died or lost its power. Many times it fell, as its wearers passed, but every time it was "taken up" by another who was chosen and prepared by God. And in each case its power, like the bones of Elisha, remained potent, releasing a river of creative or reviving spiritual life wherever its wearers went.

The mantle passed from the apostles to the church fathers; and later to the pre-Reformers (Wycliffe, Huss); and then to the Reformers (Luther, Zwingli); and on to the Revivalists (Wesley, Whitefield, Finney); and finally, to the Pentecostals, Evangelicals, and first-generation Charismatics. Virtually all these heavily mantled leaders have now passed. But their mantle remains behind, full of power, ready to be used by prepared vessels to do far greater works in these most consequential last days of the church age.

So, the Spirit is crying to the church, "Where are my Elishas?" Who will take up the mighty messianic mantle of ministry in these desperate last days? And equally important, who will pay the high price of this calling - diligent Bible study; constant prayer; frequent worship; total consecration; a self-emptied life; utter commitment to practice God's Word; guidance by the Spirit rather than reason; and unending misunderstanding, misrepresentation, slander, rejection, and loneliness! Yes, who will pay this high price without an offended or discouraged spirit and continue giving themselves unreservedly to communion with God so He may permeate them with the full power of His mighty invisible cloak?

Yes, who will answer this call? Who will immerse themselves in God's presence until their presence is permeated with Him? Who will dare, as the Lord calls, step out to minister in the mighty name, message, methods, and miracles of the mantle's true Owner? The hour is late, the Bridegroom is at the door, the church is sleeping, our culture is rotting, our nation is reeling, antichrist's spirit is growing, and the world is rushing toward judgment. It's time for prayer.

Pray with me now, "Lord, please, call, prepare, and anoint me with your mighty mantle of messianic ministry that has never lost its power."

Praying,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries