“So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak (mantle) around him. So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel (their yokes), he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah” (1 Kings 19:19-21).

In these scriptures Elisha is found as a farmer, plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. The number twelve signifies perfect government. This is a prophetic picture of Elijah mastering a season of his life. He was at the tail end of this season as he was with the twelfth team of oxen. Who knows how many years he spent in the dirt…plowing and digging up the ground.  No matter how long that season was, he had completely resigned himself to the assignment God had for him. When Elijah showed up, he threw his mantle on Elisha, signifying the beginning of a new season for Elisha. This is a prophetic picture of God’s “suddenly” in our lives. Elisha was faithful with what God had given him in the previous season of his life. Now God was about to do something very different, something much bigger and quite unimaginable with him. This transition was not gradual. There was a requirement – a demand that was placed on Elisha to leave it all behind, to permanently break away from the old yoke, and never go back.  This is indicated by saying goodbye to his mother and father. The next thing he did severed his connection to his last season forever: he took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment (yokes) for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people.  He utterly destroyed the old yoke.

This is a new season allotted for the children of God, the body of Christ. With this season there is also a requirement: it’s all or nothing. There is no room for lack of faith or hesitation. I am speaking to those who have gone through the fire. God has revealed Himself. You know Him and are known by Him. You are for Him, not against Him. It is time to grab hold of that which He has shown you, promised you, imparted to you, and opened up to you.

I hear Jesus saying this, “In quiet I have prepared you, not only to receive My love, but to make war with the enemy. He can no longer steal the promises. He can no longer set traps or cause delays.”

You have been transformed. The door to the old life has closed, and there is no going back. Going back means disobedience. Going back is an act of the flesh, not a scheme of the enemy. What bound you in the last season is broken. That yoke has been removed by the mighty hand of God. He was always for you, in all your training. He chose the difficult trials for you because they were the quickest path to His heart. He knows you through and through. He knows the tough stuff you are made of! In the last season He taught you to endure. He taught you how to find rest in the lion’s den. He taught you to resist the devil and He prepared a table for you in the enemy’s presence. You learned how to press in and draw near to God in the midst of chaos, depression, confusion, unfulfilled promises, shame, and hopelessness.  Under the old yoke He formed you into the warrior you are now. He strengthened you and armed you. In this season it’s time to call down fire from heaven and utterly destroy the works of darkness! The weapons He gave you are mighty in God!

I hear Him saying this, “You are able to grasp by faith that which is reality. In this last season the word of God was choked, stolen from you. But it was not the enemy who stole it. I took it  from you. I am the God who gives and takes away. What I took, I have stored safely away for the new yoke, this new season. I give it all back! Do not look back, not in your mind nor in your heart. Keep your gaze transfixed on Me, towards the hills where your help comes from.”

When He says “don’t go back to the old yoke”, He is saying that you are too mature to let the enemy steal what He has for you. There is no longer any residue on you. The anointing rests on you and it is in operation. He has peeled back the veil and now it’s time to have fun! We are warriors, weapons of destruction against the kingdom of darkness, forged in the hottest fire. God used the enemy’s attacks to create you into a weapon of mass destruction! In Psalm 2 it says God sits and laughs at the wickedness of the nations. He laughs at those who believe they can dethrone Him.

I hear Him saying this, “Do you not know you are the temple of the living God? Did I not promise My glory would cover the Earth? And now see what I have done. I am speaking to you my warriors, My chosen ones who have allowed Me to do the deep work within you. The nations plot in vain against Me. Deep darkness covers the Earth. There is a special inheritance for you, My kings and queens. There is a wall of fire around you, and My glory is within you. In the last season You have set Me as a seal upon your heart. Now you set Me as a seal upon your arm. Glory and fire go with you. This yoke is one of glory, fire and resurrection life! Will I not quicken your mortal bodies? Who am I? Am I not Creator of the universe? The greatest of all. The One true living God. It is a very small and easy thing for Me to accomplish what I want through you. I have created vessels of the greatest honor. Vessels that will not say no, vessels that will not say, “I’m too scared, or it’s too hard”. I have given you eyes to see, and nothing is impossible with Me. Crazy, wild faith beloved! (I can hear Him laughing wildly!) As the scripture says, Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things I have prepared for those who love Me.”

If this word resonated with you, then please pray this prayer with me!

Dearest Heavenly Father, what wonders to behold with Your heart! Confront Me Lord, take away everything that comes between You and I. Give me grace to walk with You in this next season, to leave the old yoke behind and never look back. Pour Yourself into me Lord, Your goodness, Your love, Your instruction, Your glory.  I want You to have Your way. Glorify Yourself within me. Thank You Father for the deep work You have done. Truly, You will complete what You started. Your ways are unsearchable. There is none so beautiful Jesus. Thank You for loving me the way You do. In Jesus name, amen.

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