WEBVTT - A Prayer to Hold Fast When a Close Relationship Changes

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, where we

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<v Speaker 2>help you find the words you need to connect to

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<v Speaker 2>your Father in Heaven. No matter what is happening in

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<v Speaker 2>your life today, you can trust that God wants to

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<v Speaker 2>hear from you. Right after this short word from our sponsors,

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<v Speaker 2>we'll pray for today's prayer to hold fast when a

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<v Speaker 2>close relationship changes. A prayer to hold fast when a

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<v Speaker 2>relationship changes, written by a Liah Gerard read by Kerrie Eichberger.

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<v Speaker 2>When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, tell me

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<v Speaker 2>what can I do for you before I am taken

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<v Speaker 2>from you? Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,

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<v Speaker 2>Elisha replied, Second Kings two, verse nine. Have you ever

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<v Speaker 2>had a mentor who meant the world to you? It's

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<v Speaker 2>a very special bond that can have an everlasting impact.

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<v Speaker 2>In Second Kings two, we're given the profound portrait of

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<v Speaker 2>an understudy transitioning into his mentor's leadership role. More importantly,

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<v Speaker 2>we see the fierce loyalty and devotion Elisha has for Elijah.

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<v Speaker 2>A pivotal transition like this from one prophet to a

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<v Speaker 2>new one is also seen in two other close Biblical

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<v Speaker 2>relationships Moses and Joshua, and John the Baptist and Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>It's marvelous how God continues to direct Joshua and give

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<v Speaker 2>him courage and strength after he's commissioned by Moses to

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<v Speaker 2>take over leading the people into the Promised Land. And

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<v Speaker 2>when John the Baptist declares in John one thirty six,

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<v Speaker 2>look the lamb of God as Jesus is passing by,

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<v Speaker 2>John effectively hands off his disciples to the leadership of Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>The relationship between a leader and a predecessor, or a

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<v Speaker 2>mentor and a mentee isn't always guaranteed to be close

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<v Speaker 2>or fruitful, but God shows us in Second Kings two

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<v Speaker 2>that when He is in it, it's miraculous. When God

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<v Speaker 2>changes relationships by transitioning leaders, he is demonstrating the infallibility

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<v Speaker 2>of his continual salvation. In fact, the name Elisha, rooted

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<v Speaker 2>in the two Hebrew words l God and Yeshua salvation

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<v Speaker 2>means God is salvation. In Second Kings two, Elisha had

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<v Speaker 2>been eagerly followed Elijah in this prophetic ministry for years,

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<v Speaker 2>and he faithfully stays right by Elijah's side wherever he goes.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, Elisha refuses to leave Elijah three times on

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<v Speaker 2>their way across the Jordan River. Just prior to our

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<v Speaker 2>scripture reference today, Elijah had struck the water with his cloak,

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<v Speaker 2>dividing the river in two so they could cross on

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<v Speaker 2>dry ground. That had to be big shoes to fill

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<v Speaker 2>in Elisha's eyes. In Second Kings two, verse nine, we

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<v Speaker 2>see Elijah, who knows he will be taken away from Elisha,

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<v Speaker 2>asking his loyal friend and follower, tell me what can

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<v Speaker 2>I do for you before I am taken from you?

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<v Speaker 2>And Elisha replies wisely, let me inherit a double portion

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<v Speaker 2>of your spirit. That's like saying, if you must go,

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<v Speaker 2>let me do what you did doubly well, bless me

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<v Speaker 2>abundantly with your spirit. This is an example of someone

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<v Speaker 2>deeply desiring to carry the torch forward out of complete

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<v Speaker 2>and authentic respect for his mentor. Elisha had to be

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<v Speaker 2>feeling some fear or sadness about losing Elijah or about

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<v Speaker 2>being left alone in charge without him, but it's possible

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<v Speaker 2>this request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit was

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<v Speaker 2>Elizhous way of overcoming his fear of change and his

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<v Speaker 2>dread of losing the sacred relationship. So he asked for

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<v Speaker 2>Elijah's strength and believed that he could serve as well

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<v Speaker 2>as his leader. Just to imagine the intense shock that

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<v Speaker 2>struck through Elisha's core in Second Kings two, verse eleven,

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<v Speaker 2>when a chariot of fire and horse disappear between them

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<v Speaker 2>and take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Right

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<v Speaker 2>after this awe inspiring moment, Scripture tells us that Elisha

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<v Speaker 2>saw him no more. Throughout life, our mentors, whether they're coaches, parents, managers, teachers,

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<v Speaker 2>or any other honorable sermons leave us. But throughout the

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<v Speaker 2>course of our close relationship with them, we are given

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<v Speaker 2>the courage and ability to do things we may not

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<v Speaker 2>have thought possible without their guidance. After Elijah is taken

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<v Speaker 2>from Elisha, he picks up the proverbial torch. He proceeds

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<v Speaker 2>to split the Jordan River in health and heal the

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<v Speaker 2>city's water, and in the continuing prophetic spirit of honoring God,

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<v Speaker 2>he declares in Second Kings two verse twenty one, this

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<v Speaker 2>is what the Lord says, I have healed this water.

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<v Speaker 2>Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.

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<v Speaker 2>Missions can change hands, leaders can pass, but in the

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<v Speaker 2>power of a close relationship that is based on honor, trust,

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<v Speaker 2>and faith. God is always with you. Let's pray God,

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<v Speaker 2>thank you for the mentors in my life who have

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<v Speaker 2>guided and equipped me. Thank you for showing me how

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<v Speaker 2>to hold fast their teaching. That's the lasting gift, even

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<v Speaker 2>when the relationship changes or they are gone. It's not

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<v Speaker 2>easy to lose a close relationship with someone I admire,

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<v Speaker 2>Yet somehow they remain in my heart. I hope you

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<v Speaker 2>will always feel me with your courage when I have

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<v Speaker 2>to let go, give me faith to believe I can

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<v Speaker 2>step up and step into a new role when a

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<v Speaker 2>relationship changes, rolls, or hands. I need your wisdom always.

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<v Speaker 2>Please keep guiding me to relationships that inspire me to

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<v Speaker 2>grow better amid all the changes you lead me through.

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<v Speaker 2>And your precious name, I pray Amen.

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