The Promise & the Process The promises of God are . His Word can not . His Word will not return to Him . It’s important that we trust in the promises and the . Let us not forsake the promise because we don't like the process. Romans 5:3–4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope (KJV) What is “experience” referring to? What experiences have shaped who you are and who the Lord desire you to become? What is Process? Progress; advancing (in the process of time) The result of gradual change (the process of growth) A series of actions (steps) leading to an end product Elijah and Elisha (The repetition is in bold for emphasis) 2 Kings 2:1–7 *And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.* (KJV) Three times Elijah told Elisha the Lord had sent him to a certain location. Three times Elijah asked Elisha to “Tarry here” (wait here). Three times Elisha said “As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” Three times the sons of the prophets are mentioned (verses 3,5, and 7). Two of those times (verses 3 and 5) Elisha tells them to "hold your peace” (“be quiet” or “be still”). Questions to Consider What may have been signficant about these locations? (Gilgal, Beth-el, Jericho and Jordan) Why did Elijah tell Elisha to wait? What made Elisha so determined to keeping following Elijah? Why did Elisha tell the sons of the prophets to hold their peace? Elisha's Question 2 Kings 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.(KJV) The question was not where is Elijah, but where is the Lord God of Elijah. Am I asking for a miracle or seeking the Lord God of all miracles? Am I asking which path to take or seeking the Lord God that makes my paths straight? The Lord has plans for his people (Jer 29:11-13). That's a promise. I don’t want to forsake that promise because I don’t like the process. Sometimes it's a purifying process Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.(KJV)