"Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant." (1 Kings 19:21)

The Bible tells us that Elisha served Elijah for 20 to 30 years. That takes dedication, that takes desire, and that takes patience. You cannot serve someone for nearly thirty years and not pick up something.

Elisha followed Elijah everywhere he went. He watched his every move and he learned from him. It's interesting that Elisha did not try to receive an anointing from God by overpowering Elijah or by trying to eliminate him and move him out of the way. Instead, Elisha continually learned from his mentor.

In God's timing and when everything was in its season, God removed Elijah from this earth. Because of Elisha's diligence and patience, he received the prophet Elijah's mantle. Elisha was involved in exactly double the number of miracles of Elijah. He received a double anointing.

Recently, I read a book by a great man of God who has an international ministry. This great minister did not start out that way. In fact, he spent many years serving another great man of God. He did this in humility and he did not seek his own agenda. In due season, God raised him up.

Several years ago, I knew a young man who was a marriage counselor. He had all the right education. He had a degree with the diploma hanging on the wall. He was intelligent and had a great personality. The only problem was that he himself had never been married and knew little about life in general. I'm sure that today he is a mature counselor. However, at that time he was just too young to have the experience and wisdom required to advise married couples about their lives. He had the education, but he needed wisdom.

When Loretta and I were first married, I was fresh out of college and became the pastor of a rural Southern Baptist Church. Even though I studied the Word, my sermons were not very good. Education is good, but education alone is no substitute for revelation, wisdom, and experience.

One thing I have discovered over time is this. There is wisdom in age. Of course, not every old person is wise. But, for those who have spent their lives in true ministry, serving God with all their hearts, there is wisdom that should not be wasted.

There must be respect for elders. When I was a boy, I was taught that doors should be opened for women. In the presence of elders, I was taught to speak when spoken to. The world has changed, but the church should not change.

We must tap into the wisdom and experience of our fathers in the faith. Second Chronicles 20:20 tells us to believe the prophets of God and we will prosper. Our prosperity is directly connected to our submission to the prophets of God. If we truly believe the prophets of God, then we will submit to their words. Belief in God's Word requires submission on all levels of ministry.

After teaching this principle at a conference, a couple approached me with a worried look on their faces. The husband said, "How can we submit ourselves to another minister as a mentor? He might just be a false prophet."

It is true that the Bible says that there are false prophets in the world (1 John 4:1). But we, especially spirit-filled ministers, should not be fooled into following them. Jesus said in John 10, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." According to Jesus, we know His voice. Take time to listen and another voice you will not follow.

One definition of the word intern is: "a person who works as an apprentice or trainee in an occupation or profession to gain practical experience, and sometimes also to satisfy legal or other requirements for being licensed or accepted professionally." An intern submits his time, will, and energy in order to learn from the mentor. It would be foolish to make a recent medical school graduate head of an established brain surgery team. It is no different in ministry.

We need to implement ministry internship. Elisha was an intern with Elijah. Solomon submitted to his father, David. Samuel was taught by Eli. Timothy was a student of Paul before going out on his own.

First Timothy 5:1 says, "Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father." We must respect, honor, and submit to anointed eldership.

Belief and submission are partners. To believe truth without submitting to it profits nothing. Honor eldership. Believe the true prophets of God and prosper.

So today I have this to say to all the men and women of God who are starting in ministry. Find an anointed ministry and submit. In due season when God feels you are ready, He will raise you up. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)

Devotion 0465