Receiving Someone’s Mantle (Cloak)- Authority? 7-3-26

Each person has their own ministry given to them by the Lord.

I have heard some people say that they received someone else’s mantle, but it has been questionable. My late mother told me that I was like my grandmother because of the way I lived my life; she never said I received my grandmother’s mantle. In writing this message things have become more clear to me. My grandma was the godliest person I’ve ever known; I was very close to her and she was my spiritual mentor.

Elijah throws his mantle over Elisha, symbolizing a call to prophetic ministry. It was similar to my prophetic call; the Lord placed a prophetess in my path to help me to be developed in my gift.

Great info from AI- lines up with what I believe. The mantle symbolized authority and the prophetic ministry. Elisha demonstrated his commitment by following Elijah and asking for a double portion of his spirit. After Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha picked up the mantle and began his own prophetic ministry.

To understand the symbolism of the mantle in the ministry transition from Elijah to Elisha, consider these points: The mantle represents the prophetic authority and responsibility passed from Elijah to Elisha. It signifies God's choice of Elisha as Elijah's successor.

The act of Elijah throwing the mantle symbolizes the initiation of Elisha's prophetic mission. Elisha's acceptance of the mantle demonstrates his commitment to the prophetic calling. The mantle serves as a physical reminder of the spiritual legacy and continuity of God's work. This transfer highlights the importance of mentorship and succession in spiritual leadership.

 Back to Betty- Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha (2 Kings 2:15). The same Holy Spirit that was on Elijah was also on Elisha to function in his prophetic call (ministry). Remember this, Elijah did not transfer the anointing on Elisha, God chose Elijah to be Elisha’s mentor; he trained him in the ministry.

It was stated in yesterday’s message about putting new wine in old wineskins, how they will burst, cannot mix the two. Since the subject is about mantles, today, I am going to use putting new cloth on an old garment.  No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse (Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:21-22, Luke 5:36-39).

In other words, it is bad to put something old with something new; it won’t work. I am not saying that the Old Testament is not for us today, we learn principles from it. However, to use symbolism literally is not good. For instance, the Passover was symbolic, a foreshadowing of Christ. When He physically appeared on earth there was no need for a shadow.

There is no need for a physical mantle (coat) because Jesus took care of that when He died and rose from the dead. Notice in the Old Testament how the fire was symbolic of the Holy Spirit leading the Israelites at night, and the pillar of cloud led them by day. Under the new and better covenant, we don’t have anything physical to lead us. The Holy Spirit is like the wind which we cannot see, but there is evidence of its power. This is a spiritual thing!

Moses’ spirit- Did Joshua receive a transferring of anointing? And the LORD said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him (Numbers 27:18). This means that the Lord had anointed Joshua to succeed Moses, which can be a transferring of ministry, not transferring the anointing from one person to the next.

Paul was Timothy’s mentor (spiritual father in ministry); again, in the New Testament, not one thing is said about receiving someone’s mantle. It was God who ordained for Joshua to be Moses’ successor and Elisha was ordained to Elijah’s successor. They were their mentors.

Some people are still using an old and outdated system. How do you think Jesus Christ feels when He is not being recognized and honored for giving up His life for us to be free. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1).

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org