New Founding Leaders Raised Up by God

In Honor Of **CONSTITUTION DAY** 17 September 2017 and EVERY day...

We celebrate this crucially important time in our nation's history. Exactly 230 years ago this month, on 17 September 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the "Charter of Freedom" document they had collectively written. The National Archives and Records Administration celebrates this important national holiday by presenting special activities, lesson plans, and information. We encourage America's adults and students at all levels to explore more about...

• ... "the Constitutional Convention and the issues involved in establishing the U.S. Constitution and the new government."
• ... "the fascinating facts about the ratification process of the U.S. Constitution."
• ... "the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787."
• ... "how the members of the Constitutional Convention might have felt as they gathered in Philadelphia's Independence Hall and began the arduous and memorable task of writing the U.S. Constitution."
• ... "also *Celebrating CONSTITUTION DAY all 365 days* because the foundation it sets forth allows for us to enjoy our freedoms and rights *EVERY day*." #ConstitutionDay

We encourage America's adults and students at all levels to learn more about Our U.S. Constitutional Freedoms and Government. --Keith, Brenda, and the TTM Team

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"This is what He said, 'I Am dismantling the Church as you have known it, and I Am raising up a new breed of leader." --Keith, Brenda, and the TTM Team

In 1990, I (Keith) became totally grieved about the way I had been seeing so many of God's people treated. Profoundly anointed servants of God were having to endure terrible abuse and disservice at the hand of "professional religious leaders". I began to earnestly fast and to pray for a word from The Lord.

           Before long, while I was in that season of fervent prayer, I received a most amazing, and very timely, word from the Lord. What I heard Him say in response to my appeal was this...

           "Be encouraged, It won't be long now. I Am dismantling the Church as you have known it, and I Am raising up a new breed of leader.

           The pruning process that is occurring even now will yield a fresh, new, and abundant crop of men and women who love and seek Me with their whole hearts. Their affection will not be divided! They have both seen and endured the painful wrath and tormenting flames of religion's harsh taskmasters; and through it all they have emerged victorious.

           This will be that generation that will be called My bride. They will walk in purity and will be without spot or wrinkle because I will remember their sins no more. Tainted no longer by sin and the terrible stench of religion, they will be a sweet-smelling savor to Me and all who receive them. I will take pleasure in all of their exploits and will bless all they put their hands to -- because I know them intimately and because they know Me intimately.

           Just as I called forth Lazarus from the grave, I will soon call these new leaders forth from the factories, from the offices, from the job sites, from homes, and from all four corners of the earth. I will call all of those who have endured deafening loneliness for My Name's sake -- and while I have had them 'hidden in their caves' they have trusted in Me, rested in Me, and waited on Me without fail. These men and women are the Joy of My heart. And they will soon become easily recognized by all who see them, for they will be girded in the spirit with the towel of loving and selfless service to others! Selah. "

           Read this prophetic word and much more in our "The Crisis Of Eroding Integrity" book, now available on our TTM website.

           To those who have given up houses, lands, relationships, jobs, and their very lives to diligently pursue oneness with God, and to resist all manner of distractions, to fulfill God's plan for you and your life, we dedicate this message to you. To those who haven't invited Jesus Christ into your heart and life, especially if you do not attend a local church nor have truly dedicated Christian friends to hang out, we and our TTM Partners would like to present you with an opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.

           Also, if you, for whatever reason, have drifted away from The Lord God, we invite you to return Home where you, truly, belong. Giving your whole heart to Jesus Christ is "the most important" and "the best" decision you can and will ever make in your lifetime!"

           Below, we have configured a prayer of salvation that is easy to understand. Invite Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, right there where you are. Just read, and repeat out loud to God, each line of the salvation prayer. Then just relax, and listen in your spirit, by faith, and watch what God does...
... "Dear Father God, in the precious Name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of all lords, I lay my life at Your Feet. I come before You, confessing that I am a sinner, and I ask for You to forgive me of all my sins - those that I know I have committed, as well as those that I am not even aware of.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my Lord. I lay my life, and everything in it, at Your Feet, and ask that You please take me and begin to change me to be like YOU. I ask that You redeem the time that has passed, and allow me the opportunity to become exactly what You have predestined me to be, from before the foundation of the earth. I commit my life to You now, and thank You for receiving me as Your own. In the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, I pray, Amen."  And AMEN!!!

            WELCOME HOME!

            If you have just prayed this prayer, we want to congratulate you for making the greatest decision that you'll ever make! By accepting Jesus Christ, or rededicating your life to Him, as your personal Lord and Savior, you have begun the wonder-full process of being grafted into the family of God, and we welcome you "Home" to God's Family. We would also like to invite you to contact us so that we can send you information that will help you begin growing in your relationship and daily walk with God. We would encourage you to begin attending a Holy-Spirit-filled, Bible-believing church right away.

            We advise you to begin reading The Holy Bible daily, whether you understand it or not. Always remember, God's written Word in The Holy Bible is like no other book that has ever been written! When we rendezvous with The Person of The Holy Spirit as we read what God has written there, it becomes stored in our heart for The Holy Spirit to access it to bring to our remembrance.  You will find that the Scriptures will become applicable to whatever you are going through, at any given time!

            There are wonderful Bible teachers on television and on the radio that can, especially early in your walk with God, help you to begin receiving good teaching, and encouragement, right away. Although very informative, these programs are never to be a substitute for close relationships with people who love and serve God. At times, the transformation process that you have now begun will be difficult, and you will be tempted to go back to your old ways of living your old life. It will be during times like these that hanging out with strong Christian friends and mentors will be crucially important. There really IS strength in numbers!

            CONGRATULATIONS!!! We would like to be among the first to welcome you into the Family of God... right where you "belong", now and always! (Selah)

            And, remember, no matter what, KEEP PRESSIN' IN... learnin', and growin' w-i-t-h our Lord and Savior.  You might consider using Keith and Brenda Shealy's book The Crisis of Eroding Integrity, the special collection of 12 life-changing teaching titles:

What Is Integrity?	The Power Of The Tongue;
Feed My Sheep!	You Will Know A Tree By Its Fruit
The Wrong Anointing	The Deceivers
Smiting The Shepherds	Perilous Times
Integrity Is A Gift and A Result!	The Word Of God
The Love of God	Exposing The Culprit (Conclusion)

      This collection of twelve teachings,
when taken to heart,
will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations...
"The Crisis of Eroding Integrity"
available at
TowardTheMark online.

We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. If you have any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please  e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

May God bless you greatly as you carry this truth in your heart. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this blog, and all of our resources, possible by their faithful prayer and monthly financial support!

Your friends and servants in Christ,
         

    

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
This blog message, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well, by becoming a monthly financial partner. Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us, as we, "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are also available, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways: 

~  "Keith Shealy's Toward The Mark" on Facebook 

~   "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter 

~   "Between The Lines PODCAST" on TTM's Libsyn Channel
     (Podcast) Now Playing: *Four Revelations Forged in Fire* Between The Lines Podcast!

Blog Special Feature...

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps! And we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

          Take me back to the top of this post.

          Take me to "God shows Himself BIG in small things too" post.

          Take me to "What do you mean, take up the Cross?" post.

          Take me to "Smite God's Shepherd; Scatter the Sheep!" post.

          Take me to "Bite Your Tongue!" post.

          Take me to "Are You Ready to be Offered?" post.

          Take me to "Bring God a Sacrifice of praise" post.

          Take me to "God, why am I here?" post.

          Take me to "Murder by words?" post.

          Take me to "The BEST Fruit on the Limb" post.

          Take me to "We've Got to Let 'Stuff' Go" post.

          Take me to "Don't Take Your Gifts to the Grave" post.

          Take me to "Salvation is Every-Day Life" post.

          Take me to "Emergency Warning to Professing Witches" post.

          Take me to "Passionate Pursuit of Singleness" post.

          Take me to "We'll Miss You, Dad Shealy" post.

          Take me to "75 Years Ago: Pearl Harbor & Fleet Admiral Nimitz" post.

          Take me to "Our Military Vets Out of Sight...Out of Mind?" post.

          Take me to "Where to RUN When Trials Come" post.

          Take me to "Caught Up With Jesus" post.

          Take me to "True Leaders Speak Life" post.

          Take me to "Greatest Hindrance to Significance" post.

          Take me to Keith's MINI-Series of *Keep the FAITH* book, Chapter TWO.

          Take me to "Rattlesnake Revelation" post.

          Take me to "Gold Star Families Gave ALL" post.

          Take me to "Love of GOD" post.

          Take me to "My Broken Vessel's Fiery Trials" post.

          Take me back to "Magnetic Mantle...Why Cats Should Have Kitties".

          Take me to "Run TO the Roar!" post.

          Take me to "Overcoming Intimidation" post.

          Take me to "The Heart of Thanksgiving" post.

          Take me to "The Invisible Man" post.

          Take me to "The Abomination of Misrepresentation" post.

          Take me to "Living Among Thorns" post.

          Take me to Keith's Journey through Chapter ONE of *Keep the FAITH*.

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2017 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply | (757)251-2440 TowardTheMark.com | Contact TTM by EMAIL

SALVATION is for EVERY-DAY LIFE

In our pursuit of oneness with God, our Lord and Savior, as we love Him with our whole heart, He is there with us, always saving us, from our own poor choices, and from those circumstances that are beyond our control.

As we write this testimony, we pray, as we regularly do, that it finds you enjoying all of the wonderful life-giving and life-saving benefits that come with being a member of God's Family. When we ask Jesus Christ to come into our hearts and lives to be our Lord and Savior, and make Him The Lord of our lives, He gives us many benefits of Himself, beginning with eternal salvation. When we make Jesus Christ The Lord of our lives, our heart's passion to press IN and build that family bond and unity with Him brings also His passion to reveal Himself to us in every-day circumstances of our life. That is why we are writing this testimony today, to encourage you in the pursuit of "oneness" with our Lord and Savior in every-day life that depends on Him.  Hebrews 13:5 says it this way, "... He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

I have found that so often, when the word "salvation" is mentioned, people tend to think of being guaranteed the rescue from eternity in the fires of Hell. Though what God did for us on the cross through His Son Jesus Christ was a gift to us for eternity, it covers so much more. Throughout our entire time here on earth, the gift of "salvation" is for the sake of our protection, provision, peace, joy, fulfillment, and many other benefits. Truly, the countless benefits, too many to list here, are to be enjoyed by all who are saved, who love Jesus, and who pursue "oneness" with Him for all the days of our lives. If you don't keep a daily journal, consider starting one to write down each of your personal experiences with The Lord as you are walking ever-closer in unity with Him every day. You may very well see your testimony of "salvation" experiences as similar to ours that follow... or maybe very different. Either way, be encouraged in your pursuit, as proof of your desire, of Him. (Selah)

Our daily salvation proves to be pertinent when we go through times of testing and heartache that seem unbearable!  For us, heartache struck hard just before Christmas of 2016 when our loving Dad Shealy grew terribly sick, out of the blue. Just a few weeks later, the family was devastated when doctors ran tests that revealed stage IV lung cancer.  It was sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, that cancer came, spread through Dad's body unbelievably quickly, and took his life.  He graduated into Christ’s Loving Arms on January 23^rd, 2017.

Then we walked through the unexpected deaths of four more very dear people in our lives, in less than a month!  In fact, all five precious people we lost were deeply rooted in our life as a couple, and greatly shaped who Keith has become.  Just recently we made the solemn and emotionally-exhausting drive to and from the funeral of our 5^th dearly loved one.  At that time, we began feeling the immense, mounting pressure of heartache that we compare to that of ripping five mature, solid oak trees out of the tightly-packed soil of our hearts!  When we were on the way home from the last funeral, despite feeling like going home to nurse our agonizing wounds, we decided to press through and take a detour to go see our loving “Uncle" Ted (as we endearingly knew him to be as a result of the deep, life-long bond he and Dad Shealy shared since childhood). Within weeks of Dad becoming ill, Uncle Ted became ill as well, and was at the point of being under 24-hour hospice care nearing the end of his fight against skin cancer.  When we got to his house, precious "Aunt" Connie tearfully shared with us how difficult things had been, knowing her life journey with her best friend of 53 years was coming to a painful end.

Driving home from our "Uncle and Aunt's" house, the sorrow began to weigh heavy on us, making us feel pinned down in an inescapable situation.  We were realizing that we will never be able to talk with Uncle Ted, our loving Dad, or the others, again.  With this reality hitting us, floods of memories came rushing into our minds.  The torrent of emotions was a real fight to press through, and almost took our breath away!  The fatigue, caused by so much sorrow surrounding us, felt so strong that we asked our Father in Heaven if the grip of this weariness on us was going to let up any time soon.  At that point, The Person of The Holy Spirit flooded Keith's mind with the most defining moment in his life to prove to Keith that, as the title states, "SALVATION is not only for eternity... it's for every-day LIFE!"

In a painstaking moment, I (Keith) saw, in my spirit's eye, the near-death experience in my past that defined for me God's Promise, "... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5)."  God used this to show Brenda and I a direct parallel between how He is saving us through the current sufferings that threaten our every-day well-being, and the devastating surf experience He stepped in to save me from, that would've otherwise been my last.

One day I was heading out with a group of friends to do some surfing at the beach.  We were saying, as the surfers would say, "The waves are pumpin'!"  So excited to get in the water, I quickly waxed the deck of my board, but made a mistake of not thoroughly waxing its surface enough to offer the traction I would need to get on my feet.  When I dropped into the first wave, my left foot slipped off the board, out from under me and... down I went.  I found myself in the most tumultuous situation I had ever experienced up to that time in my life.

As soon as I fell off the board, and hit the water, the wave came crashing down on me, pounding the air out of my lungs.  Faster than a thought, I was slammed against sharp rocks underneath the water.  I was being thrashed around uncontrollably, much like a rag doll in a high-speed washing machine.  I couldn't tell which way was up, while I was being body-slammed against rocks, over and over.  Before long, I began to feel my body losing all strength and consciousness under the water, and I'll never forget the last thing I did! In my conscience, I prayed asking, "Lord Jesus, please forgive me of my sins."  As I was starving to breathe in a breath of air, I was unable to keep from inhaling any longer and I just knew that, with my last gasp, what my body was about to do is draw in water that would fill my lungs and drown me!  Instead, AIR??!!  I drew in AIR?!  In all of my experience as a surfer, there is no possible, or logical, way that my body, under its own strength, could've been anywhere near the water's surface!  In fact, nothing less than a miracle could've made a way for my face to break through the surface of the water, and get air when it did.  Because drowning was the only plausible outcome under the circumstances, being deep under the water as I was, it's only Christ Jesus alone, and only He, Who could've reached down and pulled me up to, and through, the surface.

By God's Saving Grace I was able to regain consciousness and begin making my way back to shore.  As if all that wasn't traumatic enough, about fifty feet from shore, I began to see blood in the water around me.  Hurting from the deep cuts on my body, and swimming fast as possible, my imagination began spinning out of control about sharks that accompanied us every now and then in these waters approaching me now, honing in on the scent of my blood.  I started to think that, if I can make it out of these waters with at least most of my limbs, I would be eternally grateful.  Needless to say, I made it out in one piece.  That is when I came to realize that salvation is for EVERY day!  THAT day, I realized how, Jesus Christ's involvement in our lives is continual.   God brought me to an intimate understanding of Acts 17:28, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being;... For we are also His offspring." God literally reached down and SAVED me, time and time again, even more than those times I am aware of!

When God put us here in this life on earth, He never intended to abandon us.  Throughout the entire Old Testament, He spoke with the prophets and gave them commandments that, if followed, would assure a full, happy life for a prophet.  When we ask The Person of The Holy Spirit for wisdom as we read the every-day life testimonies written in the Old Testament of God's written Word (The Holy Bible) He lets us know that our Heavenly Father stands ready to answer when we call on Him no matter the time, day, or season. The very benefits the prophets wrote about enjoying IN Him through salvation, we likewise enjoy just by our "want" for oneness with Him as we ask and seek Him.  Then, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to teach us further how to walk, and commune, with our Father in Heaven.  And, when Jesus arose and went to be with our Father in Heaven, He then sent us The Person of The Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, and lead us, each and every day.  Once again, He is always there, benefiting us in our every-day life.

If you haven't been pursuing oneness with The Lord and Savior, the benefits that await you are for every day!  Like Jesus did for me that day in the life-threatening surf, He reaches down continually to "save" us from “drowning” under the pressures and circumstances of our life.

Yes, it's true that, losing my dad, along with so many other (now 5 more) dearly loved ones in our lives in a very short two months, we find ourselves struggling through feelings of suffocating pressure and crippling devastation. Even as things seem to have come crashing down around us, these trials can not succeed in stealing, killing, and destroying us, because we keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Him and "the peace of God, which passes all (human) understanding (Philippians 4:7, KJV)."

Brenda and I cannot express enough how the many prayers prayed for us have, in great part, contributed to Christ delivering us through this set of fiery challenges.  We declare this unshakable truth, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the LORD, ... declare among the people his doings (Psalm 9:9-11)."  Won't it be fun when we stand in Heaven and see our Loving Father reveal to each of us all of those times when He reached down and saved us, yet countless were times that we were never even aware of what He did f-o-r us and our lives?!  From this experience, added to countless more life experiences in the past 35 years, we can rejoice, and encourage others to rest assured also, that each day we push through grief and trials by the light of "salvation" through Jesus Christ, is one day closer to reuniting with Christ Jesus and loved ones we miss so much. By pursuing oneness with Christ every single day, our whole heart becomes full with the light of Christ's "salvation", overflowing into the lives of others who may also need to be "saved", either from their own poor choices or from circumstances that resulted from beyond their control. Selah (meditate in Jesus Christ's Name).

We love and appreciate you for every way that you help lead others into oneness with God, including sharing this blog with your friends, loved ones, and associates. God bless you and yours!

  This blogpost is meant to be a source of hope, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full ways, and His plan and purpose for us in this life. To ask questions, place a special order for books or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to Toward the Mark, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

  We look forward to meeting here together again, for another PRESSIN' IN Toward The Mark testimony! We pray that God bless you in showing Him BIG in this world that sees Him small!

In Christ Jesus,

Take me back to the top of this blogpost.

"See Titles by Flip cards"

___________________________________________

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.  The complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family.  We'd like to welcome you to become a part of TTM's Family as well!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:

~  "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook 

      

~  "The Shealys & Toward The Mark videos" on Vimeo   

~  "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter

~  "Between The Lines TTM Podcast" by Keith Shealy 

      

This blog message, along with the rest of our inventory of Bible-based resources, is made possible by the support of our faithful monthly partners. Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools, available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, for getting to know the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps, and we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check to the order of:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

           Take me to "The Magnetic Mantle...Why Cats Should Have Kitties".

           Take me to "Valentine's 5-Step Prep" blogpost.

           Take me to "Run TO the Roar!" blogpost.

           Take me to "Overcoming Intimidation" blog message.

           Take me to "The Heart of Thanksgiving" post.

           Take me to "The Invisible Man" blogpost.

           Take me to "The Abomination of Misrepresentation" blogpost.

           Take me to "Living Among Thorns" blog message.

           Take me to the Journey through Chapter TWO of Keith's book, *Keep The FAITH*.

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005-2019 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply | (757)251-2440 TowardTheMark.com | Resources@TowardTheMark.com

The Magnetic Mantle -or- Why Cats Should Have Kitties

"If cats stop having kittens that become cats that have kittens, guess what?! Soon, we won't have cats anymore!"

Remember when we were kids in science class and our teacher showed us how to take a magnet and rub it along a screwdriver so that the screwdriver would become magnetized? How is that possible? It occurs when the screwdriver's atoms are realigned by the action of rubbing the magnet along the screwdriver blade. There is one thing for sure, the screwdriver would have never become magnetized if it had not been brought into active contact with the magnet itself.

So what does magnetism have to do with a mantle and what's a mantle, anyway? A mantle is an ornamental outer garment. The prophet Elijah wore a mantle and that fact figured quite prominently in the Biblical accounts of Elijah's life and ministry. When Elijah was instructed by God to select Elisha as Elijah's replacement, Elijah went to Elisha and, without a word, cast the mantle over Elisha and walked on. Elisha grasped the significance immediately and left his home to serve and to study under the prophet. When Elijah was taken up to heaven via fiery chariot, Elijah's mantle was a very important part of the event. Elijah used the mantle to strike the waters of the river Jordan, and God responded by parting the waters so that Elijah and Elisha could cross over to the other side. After crossing the river, as the two walked together, the flaming chariot came, separated the two men, and carried Elijah away. The mantle was left behind. Elisha took the mantle, walked back to the river, and, just as Elijah had done moments before, struck the waters with the mantle, crying "Where is the God of Elijah." And, just as before, God responded by parting the waters. The mantle of the prophet had been passed from Elijah to Elisha!

So, was there something "magical" about the article of clothing itself? No. It was symbolic of the time and effort spent by Elijah investing in the life of the younger man and of the fruit borne of those efforts. The passing of the mantle has come to mean the transference from one person to another of some quality or position, such as a spiritual ability or office. The mantle is passed in the same way that magnetism is passed from the magnet to the screwdriver -- by active contact. This is God's design for nurturing, caring for, and raising up the young believers among us. More mature believers are to spend time with younger believers so that the mantle will be passed on. Apostle Paul writes about this in Ephesians 4:11-13, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Many examples of God's design in action are recorded in the Holy Bible. In addition to Elijah nurturing and raising up Elisha, you can read about Moses and Joshua, Moses and the seventy elders, Naomi and Ruth, Jesus and the Apostles, Paul and Timothy, and the Sons of the Prophets. Each of these relationships is characterized by the significant amount of time spent together one-on-one or in small groups. The secular concept of "mentoring" is based on the Scriptural principle and truth, "the passing on of the mantle."

The active contact between a magnet and a screwdriver causes the atoms in the screwdriver to align properly to magnetize the screwdriver. Similarly, in the examples listed above, God used the active contact between the mature believers and the younger believers to align those younger believers with God's word and, hence, with Himself. In so doing, they became energized with His Power. For example, Paul, who invested much time and effort in teaching, training, and raising up Timothy to be a minister of the Gospel, wrote to Timothy, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (1 Timothy 4:14) Note the great involvement of the presbytery (as in Ephesians 4:11-13 above) in Timothy's life and mission: Paul the Apostle, a certain prophet, and certain elders.

In fact, active contact with anyone has the effect of realigning a person's character and personality. The company we keep determines, to a large degree, the health of our soul, walk with God, and even physical body. Active contact includes what we fill our minds with when we're watching TV and movies, and when we listen to music. The right thing to do is to make sure the people we spend time with are pursuing oneness with God and are right with God. How can we tell? Honestly answer the following four questions, first with yourself in mind, and then for each of the people you give place to in your life (including actors you watch, musicians and musical groups you listen to, preachers and teachers you sit under and learn from, friends, etc). (1) Does the fruit of their life reflect a religious spirit or the Holy Spirit? (2) Do they know the Bible? (3) Are they living according to what they know the Bible says? (4) Do they study the Scriptures to show off how much they know, or think they know? Be honest with yourself, first about yourself, and then about other people in your life. Sometimes in order to grow in the LORD we have to find new friends, new music, new activities other than TV, and so on. Which brings us to the subject of why cats should have kittens!

Kittens are supposed to grow up to become cats, but they cannot do this on their own. Since kittens cannot take care of themselves at first, they need cats; because the cats have what the kittens need to become cats. It's the way God planned it. Cats should take responsibility for raising the kittens. Similarly, the Scriptures refer to new and immature believers as babies. For example, in Numbers 11:11a-12, there is the record of a discussion between Moses and the LORD concerning the ministry of Moses to God's people. Moses said that his ministerial responsibilities were like "a nursing father beareth the sucking child" Similarly, Paul the Apostle wrote in a letter to the Corinthians, "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." (1 Corinthians 4:14-15) And Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) So, new believers need older, more mature believers in the same ways that kittens need cats and a baby needs a mother and father.

Interestingly enough, for their own sakes, mature believers should stay involved in ministering to younger believers. For he who refreshes others is himself refreshed as in Proverbs 11:25b, "he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Also, this type of ministry involves much more than meeting basic physical needs. Multiple studies have shown that food and shelter are not sufficient for promoting health. Although given equal nourishment and shelter, babies who are not given personal attention, such as, touching and holding. will not be as healthy and happy as those who are not touched and held. The nourishment of food is not enough! Proper development requires the involvement of someone who will nurture the baby. The baby cannot select the proper foods or care for itself. As the child grows the nurturer instills the knowledge that the child needs to be able to eventually assume responsibility for itself.

Today, via TV, radio, internet, etc, it is easy to hear teachings on just about any topic you can imagine without ever stepping foot into a church service. Degrees can even be obtained by taking correspondence Bible courses by mail or over the Internet. All of this can be done without ever having any kind of direct personal contact with God's people. Nevertheless, the Scriptures give ample evidence that a believer's health and development require personal attention and contact. The nourishment of teaching is not enough! When a person becomes born again it is essential that they become personally and actively involved with at least one person who is mature in the ways of God. Note that this may or may not be a licensed minister of the Gospel.

One misconception in the Church is the notion that "nurturing" is the job of the Pastor, and that "teaching" is the job of the teacher, and etc. This is simply not true. And the result is that way too much is being required of too few!

However, this is not a new condition and the letter Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews contains the rebuke on this very subject, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." (Hebrews 5:12) In this case, the kittens were not growing up to become cats! In fact, they were resisting the process of growing up altogether.

Concerning spreading the burden of caring for the flock, Paul wrote to Timothy, "the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2) Paul says that Timothy is to take what Paul had given to Timothy and give that to men who would be able to give it to others. Similarly, Paul wrote to Titus, that he was to instruct, "the aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness...; That they may teach the young women." (Titus 2:3-4) The idea that ministry is a limited calling is not supported by these and many other passages.

Mature believers must have influence in the lives and hearts of younger believers. However, there is the danger that the magnetic personality of a charismatic leader or person will exert influence in ways that prevent growth in the LORD. A strong personality can take control over a flock and cause them to bend more or less to his or her will, all the while quoting chapter and verse from the Scriptures. Self-seeking leaders love to be the center of attention. They love the limelight, being center stage, and the intoxication of gaining power or undue influence over others. A simple test to know whether a leader is self-seeking or a servant of God is, "Is the leader focused upon self, or is Christ Jesus being lifted up?" A godly leader will be a servant of the Lord and of others, even as Elijah served Elisha and the Lord (then, in fact, Elisha served Elijah and the Lord, as well, in various ways).

So where are the "Elijahs" of God today? Where are the people who are willing to put forth the time and effort to become mature enough in the LORD to help others grow and mature in the LORD? And where are the people who are willing, like Elisha did in following Elijah, to put forth effort to find and to serve alongside mature believers? Where are the "Elishas" of God?

Do you have a mantle to pass on to someone else? If so, then God's Will is for you to be a part of ministering that gift to others. If your answer is, "No, I don't have anything to pass on to someone else," then God's Plan is for you to be working diligently to acquire a mantle from someone else.

Always remember this: Success without a successor is failure. Cats should have kittens who will become cats who will have kittens. As Ephesians 4:13 reminds us, "Until we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" remember that the mantle must be passed on!

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

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XII SMOOTH STONES by Keith Shealy and Toward The Mark is a 12-message collection:

No Matter What!	The Magnetic Mantle or Why Cats... Have Kitties;
Fire, Pressure, and Them Slithery... Snakes	The Ultimate Home Gym
Vampires In The Church	STOP...
The Great Deception	The Invisible Man
God Is So Much Bigger Than You Think!	Die Empty!
Building Godly Friendships	The Secret To A Happy Life

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Keep PRESSIN' IN!

           Take me back to the top of this post.

           Take me to "Valentine's 5-Step Prep" post.

           Take me to "Run TO the Roar!" post.

           Take me to "Overcoming Intimidation" post.

           Take me to "The Heart of Thanksgiving" post.

           Take me to "The Invisible Man" post.

           Take me to "The Abomination of Misrepresentation" post.

           Take me to "Living Among Thorns" post.

           Take me to Keith's Journey through Chapter ONE of *Keep the FAITH*.

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