How To Increase the AnointingThis mantle actually was a symbol of that particular office.
It stood for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It showed that the
Holy Spirit was coming upon Elisha, but it wasn't the actual
anointing itself. It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the power
of God.
The mantle will envelop an individual and he or she will
minister under the anointing that goes with whatever their office
or calling of God is.
The word "mantle" means a cloak. Sometimes in ministry,
when the anointing comes on me, it seems like a cloak is coming
down over me. It feels like I might be wearing an overcoat—yet
I'm really not. But the power of God—the anointing—so
envelops me that I'll feel that way.
1 KINGS 19:20
20 And he [Elisha] left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said,
Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will
follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I
done to thee?
Elijah was saying, "Just go on back and forget it." In other
words, "If you're going to put other things first, no matter how
legitimate they may be, you're not going to enjoy the fullness of
God's anointing."
Elisha didn't go back and kiss his parents goodbye. He took
a yoke of oxen, killed and cooked them, and fed them to the
people. "Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered
unto him," verse 21 says.
2 KINGS 2:1,2
1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into
heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the
Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the
Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they
went down to Bethel.
Notice how closely Elisha followed Elijah. Elijah even tried
to convince him to wait behind. I think the Lord tries people
sometimes purposely. Through Elijah, He tried Elisha. He