Outrageous Faith (part 1 of 5): Kill the Cow & Burn the Plow

Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's faith. The Bible records that Elisha performed more miracles in the Bible than any other person. Elisha demonstrated outrageous faith. Outrageous faith starts with outrageous commitment. So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” 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 19:19-21 NIV) Elisha had a boring job. Everyday, all he smelled was oxen poop and all he saw was oxen butt - all day, everyday. In this environment it would be very easy to lose hope of ever having a life of significance. But Elisha was faithful. When you are faithful with the little things, God will trust you with a lot. Elijah went up and through his cloak around him. He was declaring that God wanted to use Elisha just as God had used Elijah. Two principles to outrageous commitment: 1. You don't have to understand fully, in order to obey immediately. We must have margin in our lives: a padding such that we can respond to opportunities that God puts in our path. We must be in a posture of spiritual readiness. But even when God asks you to move, He usually does not give you all the details. We can't handle all the details. When He wanted Peter to step out of the boat, all he said was "come." He did not tell him to step out carefully: "Be careful now, don't get your knees wet, keep your eyes focused on Me." No, all He said was "come." You don't have to understand fully, in order to obey immediately! You can't eat filet mignon, when your mouth is full of Ding Dongs! What is your one word? Is it "come", "stay", "go", "stop", "quit", break it off". You will never understand fully, so stop trying, and start obeying. 2. Those God uses the most are the ones who hold onto stuff the least! Let go and let God. Do what Elisha did, "kill the cow & burn the plow." Don't have a plan B. There can be no contingency plans, no way to turn back! Do what the disciples did when Jesus called them, "they left everything." As you look at your life, answer the following question: "What cow does He want you to kill? What plow does He want you to burn?" How long has it been since you have had to trust God and not your bank account? As humans, we love security. Babies love their blanky. If we are to grow as Christians, we have to let go of our security blankets. To step towards our God-ordained destiny, we have to step away from our earthly security. Kill the cow & burn the plow. Isn't it time to develop an outrageous faith - right now! Do you know what you are uniquely designed and called to do? Are you having trouble transitioning into that calling? Is there something in your life that you have been thinking of pursuing for several years, but never committed to? Truth@Life can help. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a FREE consultation. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/