Many years ago as I walked to the back of a classroom in Virginia, the Lord spoke to my heart. He said that he was placing his mantle on me. I had never heard of Jesus placing his mantle on someone. I knew about Elisha receiving the mantle of Elijah, so the word mantle was familiar to me. However, I had never heard anyone minister on the mantle of Jesus being placed on someone. Honestly,, the gravity of it brought fear to my heart—seriously—the mantle of Jesus! Just what did that mean? I made the decision to go on with my life as I had been doing. I didn’t pray about it, nor did I ask the Lord to explain what it meant. I was a Christian and I loved the Lord, but that was very intimidating. I pondered in my heart: Did the mantle of Jesus have something to do with was the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Was it about the Great Commission mandate? I had a feeling that the Lord meant more.
Throughout the years, those words of Jesus would resurface in my heart, even as I prayed, read, studied the Word or served in ministry. Those words—mantle of Jesus—were foreboding. I think I feared deep down in my heart, that I would not be able to accomplish the mission they entailed!
On the other hand, I remember crying out to the Lord for a mentor during those same years. Oh, how I would have loved to have had a Paul, a Peter or a John to disciple me! I would have gladly taken a Joe or a Mary. I fail to realize, at that time, that Jesus was all I needed!
The Mantle of Jesus
In the natural, a mantle is an outer cloak for protection; spiritually, it refers to power and authority. The Holy Spirit places a mantle upon someone to fulfill kingdom purpose. That person is empowered to fulfill an assignment. We cannot place a mantle on ourselves. God does that, we, however, must be willing to receive the mantle.
According to Barry Raeburn Evangelistic Association, the mantle of Jesus is the restoration of Jesus’ power and authority through his sacrificial love, compassion, healings and miracles.
Jesus’ Embraced His Mantle
Jesus accepted and fulfilled all righteousness and received his earthly mantle in a series of events as he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. Jesus obediently got in the right position to receive his mantle of power and authority. He said, “In this way, it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) Then, as he was baptized, the Spirit came and lighted upon his shoulder. At that same time, Father God acknowledged from heaven his approval by saying, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) The NKJV and KJV says, “My beloved Son.” The baptism and manifestations of the Trinitarian Presence marked the first step in the process of Jesus’ messianic ministry and his mantle of power and authority to rule. The second was his testing by the devil in the wilderness. (Note: This visual Trinitarian Presence [the appearance of the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit] is believed to have been seen by only Jesus and John the Baptist.)
Discerning the Mantle
Having a knowledge of a biblical mantle is very important, so we, as believers, need to pray for discernment. Now is the time to tell this particular story with hopes that it will bring hope, deliverance and healing for others. I could not have told this story earlier—it was not the time! Truthfully, I am telling this story even now out of obedience to the Lord. (Note: I choose not to place names in my blogs. I have not done it in the past and I will not in the future unless I am directed by the Lord.)
I had been attending a place of worship for some years. I loved that church—in fact, I thought it would be my forever church. I was wrong!
After some years, I felt that I had been placed in a corner—on the shelf, if you will. I could view everything that was going on—the prayers, the healings, the deliverances, et al. But I was not allowed to minister to anyone in a real tangible way. I saw the hurting people coming in and some going out. I wanted to help the Lord’s hurting sheep—that’s what it is all about, right? So, I prayed in my metaphorical corner, desiring to be an instrument of God to set his captives free. No one could stop me from praying!
As I cried out to the Lord, I remember getting a vision of myself with a red dress. But I could not fit into that red dress no matter how much I tried. It was not made to fit me! In this vision, I placed that red dress around my shoulders and wore it draped around my shoulders whenever I attended church. I so desperately wanted to fit into that dress!
As I continued to cry out to the Lord, I received another vision of myself on a tightrope. That tightrope was far up in the sky between two high rise buildings. I was standing on that rope with a balancing pole. As I looked down from that tightrope far up in the sky, I saw that there was no net between me and the ground! I heard the Lord say, “I’ve got your back.” That was the first time I heard Jesus say that he had my back. Yes, Jesus and Jesus alone, had my back! I knew that to complete my destination, I had to keep my eyes focused on Jesus, at the end of that rope!
I heeded the Holy Spirit and removed myself from an untenable place where I felt the need to wear an earthly mantle. God had already granted me permission to leave that church earlier. Keeping my focus on Jesus is the only way to insure fulfilling my kingdom purpose.
Accepting the Mantle
I was ready to receive the mantle. That meant I had to repent for all those years of ignoring Jesus’ assignment on my life. My prayer of repentance went something like this:
Dear Jesus, I repent for not taking your mantle seriously. None of your words should ever fall to the ground. Forgive me Jesus for disobeying by not embracing your mantle immediately. I repent, Lord I bind the demonic spirit of fear and cast it out, in your Name, Jesus. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I thank you Lord for your patience towards me for all of these years. I speak peace and confidence to fulfill that perfect plan you have for my life. I thank you for your grace and blessings to walk out the call and the mantle—your mantle—so that I can fulfill your assignment on this earth, in the Name of Jesus. Amen
So, I began to pray, study and research the mantle of Jesus.
I am still moving towards that destination—that higher calling in Jesus. As I walk in that path of righteousness for his namesake, I will keep my focus on him. I have embraced the mantle of Jesus and I refuse to place an ill-fitting earthly mantle or garment around my shoulders.
My Final Thoughts
Here are some guidelines to always consider when dealing with decisions related to God’s plans for your lives, my friends.
1) Embrace the love of Jesus. He loves you and me, even when we do not fully embrace a call or disobey. He is right there with us and will never leave us or forsake us.
2) Repent of disobedience. If you have been given a mantle, an assignment or a call, obey the Lord. We must seek after the Lord with all of our hearts, our souls and our mights, and we must stay away from earthly mantles.
3) Allow Jesus to direct your paths in all things. So, beloved, if you are a seasoned Christian, get into a church that will, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, allow you to serve and operate in the other spiritual gifts (and your calling, if applicable). If you are baby Christian, or you need to learn the Word and be discipled, ask Holy Spirit to lead you to the right place of worship. If you are reading this and you do not know Jesus, acknowledge your sins, repent and ask Jesus to forgive you and come into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Then, get involved in a Bible believing church.
To be continued.
Be blessed, my friends.
Scriptures for Meditation:
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Isaiah 52:12 But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8-9 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
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