Barbara Smith 
Advancement of the Kingdom [EPUB ebook] 

In the event of a spiritual emergency, who would you call? Do you have an Elijah in your life, a mentor and role model who God has put in your life? Despite the fact that God provides us with Elijah, we eventually learn not to rely on him.
 
God provides us with mentors for a reason, but only for a limited time. His ultimate goal for us is for us to be self-sufficient. If you haven’t already, the time will come for you to leave the safety and protection of the nest and fly.
 
Consider Elijah and Elisha’s cooperation. ‘As Jehovah lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you, ‘ Elisha said three times in response to Elijah’s preparations to leave. Elijah was someone he adored and aspired to be like. He didn’t want his mentor and friend to abandon him. However, Elijah would have to go at some point (see 2 Kings 2:13-25).
 
Your Elijah, like Elisa’s, will have to go at some point. It’s unpleasant, but it’s also predictable, and it’s all part of God’s plan. You must not reject to release your Elijah, or then your whole Kingdom potential would be lost.
 
Elisha was left alone when Elijah ascended in a fiery chariot. He made his way back to the Jordan River, which represents death and separation. ‘Crossing Jordan’ signifies the end of the old and the beginning of new possibilities and responsibilities.
 
Your Jordan experiences will need you to take responsibility for putting what your Elijahs have taught you into practice. When you’re alone, the Jordan, which was previously a very familiar location, is overwhelming and impossible.