“So Elisha left him and went back. Then he took a pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their meat with the implements of the oxen [as fuel], and gave the meat to the people, and they ate. Then he stood and followed Elijah, and served him.”
1 Kings 19:21 AMP
From our last study, we reckoned how Elijah offered a costly sacrifice as a dimension of consecration. Another example to consider is the aspect of service in consecration. After Elijah’s material sacrifice, there came an immaterial element through service.
Service is an aspect many believers tend to avoid. Their sole dependence is on their ability, capacity building, and anointing. These factors are nonetheless important, however service forms part of the training, the pruning, the preparation and the stirring of the giftings in you. In Paul’s rendition to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6-7;
“That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].”
2 Timothy 1:6-7 AMP
The apostle upon the commending the grace over young Timothy, further addressed him, to stir up the gifting in Him. The AMP version adds to the point we are making here; personal discipline. This is not a mere practice of jumping unto the platform of the pulpit, but a reasonable sacrifice through which one offers themselves to the service of the body.
Service is the place one is trained into control of the senses of the flesh, in order to subdue them and to prevent them from becoming their weakness. Service is also where you are pruned from the tendencies of the flesh for self-aggrandisement. This is where issues of pride, people pleasing and all the little foxes are dealt with. Service brings you into preparation for use in the masters business. It is a place obedience is learnt, through constant practice and observation of ordinances and where character is developed. These take place before the service that is offered through your gifting. If you cannot serve to the molding and forming of character and stature, Your gifting will become a danger to yourself and to those you are called to.
What then should be our goal? Just as Elisha, went on to serve the prophet Elijah, we cannot take hold of a mantle without service. In order to be trusted with the mandate of the mantle, we must be thoroughly trained, pruned and prepared through service. Wherever the need arises to be of service, rise to it, rather than the need for a platform to exhibit our gifts.