In 2 Kings Chapter 3:11, we see a beautiful title given to the prophet Elisha by others in Israel: "He who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah." Each time, after Elijah had finished eating, Elisha would bring some water and pour it for Elijah to wash his hands. He did that job so regularly and faithfully that others observed it and gave him that title! That is how Elisha started out on his ministry. God will test our faithfulness in little things before He commits a ministry to us. Joshua had served Moses faithfully for many years before he became the next leader. Timothy served Paul faithfully and became an apostle.
Elisha was not known as a great preacher or a great prophet when he started out. He was known only as a servant. Many young people miss God's best because they look for fame in the ministry and not for the opportunity to serve others. Jesus taught us by His example that we should wash people's feet till the end of our lives. It's not that we begin by washing people's feet for a few years, and then move up to more senior ministries! No. We are called to wash people's feet until the end of our lives. We must always be ready to do the lowly tasks.
Jesus said that He had come to serve others, and not to be served by others. Be a servant always - till the end of your earthly days. If you want to be a servant of the Lord forever, be a servant of people forever. Always consider yourself a servant of others and nothing else. When you serve the Lord, others will be kind to you and serve you. But don't ever take any delight in that. Don't ever look at them as your servants. They are your brothers. Be willing to serve them and to wash their feet. Most preachers today have become "lords", and thats why the anointing has gone from their ministry.
I want to show you something else here about prophetic ministry. When Elisha wanted to seek the mind of God so that he could prophesy, he asked for someone to play a harp (3:15). As the musician began to play, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he prophesied powerfully. There we see the value of godly music. I can think of numerous times in my own life when during a time of worship and praise on Sunday mornings, the hand of the Lord has come upon me and given me a word that I did not have when I came to the meeting. There was a power in that anointed music, that brought the spirit of prophecy upon Elisha.
Even a prophet needs help at times from the musicians. That's why those who lead the music must be anointed. They must not be just good musicians. They must be anointed, and have a good conscience. David appointed singers and musicians, and they had to be anointed. Some of the music- leaders like Asaph, wrote twelve wonderful psalms (Psalms 50, 73-83). Two of the music-leaders were called seers (prophets) - Heman (1 Chr.25:5) and Jeduthun (2 Chr.35:15).
So God needs anointed musicians to encourage and support anointed prophets. That's how the church is built. Some of you may not be called to be prophets, you may be called to be musicians. Be anointed musicians. I don't think Elisha would have been inspired that day, if the harpist had tried to imitate some worldly style of music. No. There was something heavenly about that music. There is music that is worldly and that is heavenly. You can sense it when music is heavenly, because it will lift your spirit to worship God. Some music only makes you admire the musicians! You are an anointed musician if you can lead people to worship God and can bring the spirit of prophecy into a meeting. _________________ Shibu Clement
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