The Elisha Project

Introduction

What is the Elisha Project?

The Elisha Project is an Introduction to prophecy and the prophetic realm for individuals, leaders and churches

Why this project now?

There has been wide concern in the wider church about the unwise application of prophecy in recent years. There is no doubt that prophecy has been misapplied, misused, or misappropriated in national contexts. The outcomes have brought this God given gift into disrepute, resulting in significant doubt and confusion about the gift of prophecy in the Christian church environment. The natural inclination is to distance ourselves from this vital area of God given gifting to the detriment of of Christian discipleship and church mission in society.

In the light of this reality, this project has been designed to restore integrity to prophetic ministry, and ensure that its implementation is biblically, and practically aligned for the purposes of God in the 21^st century.

What do we mean by Prophecy today?

Today prophecy can be defined as the divine revelation of God’s heart, mind, and purpose, communicated through people. A prophetic message from God imparts insight and wisdom through His disciples to the church and to communities. What God says will always be redemptive, encouraging and not condemning. It will inspire a desire for holiness, and sacrificial dedication to His purposes.     

Foundation – Choice and Servanthood

The Elisha Project has been written with the aim of providing a balanced, bible-based, and practical introduction to prophetic ministry for individuals and churches.  

The foundational principles of the project has been based on the 1 Kings bible story of Elisha, who gave up everything to serve Elijah the prophet. Elisha also chose to pick up the mantle of anointing that Elijah left behind after being taken to heaven on a chariot. There are four key foundational lifestyle choice values to the project that are intrinsically linked, these are:

1 Humility in Service - Elisha was trained by Elijah and carried his bags,

observing, and humbly serving him for six years.

2 A Sacrificial Calling - Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha as he was called by

Elijah. He also subsequently chose to give up everything, his job and

livelihood, and leave his family to fulfil the call of God by serving Elijah.

3 A Double Portion of Grace Granted – When the time came for Elijah to be

taken up to heaven, he asked Elisha what he wanted. He could have asked for

anything but chose to ask for a double portion of the prophetic grace:

2 Kings 2:9 NIV

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of

your spirit,” Elisha replied.

He didn’t ask for riches, he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit!

4 He Chose to Embrace the Prophetic Mantle. - Elisha now came under the 

anointing required, and learned about the responsibility of being God’s

prophet. When Elijah’s season of ministry came to an end he was taken up to

heaven. By then Elisha was well prepared, but he wasn’t alone as a prophet.

There was a company of prophets observing all that was happening in this

transfer of authority. They observed Elisha picking up the mantle Elijah had

dropped then recognised the new power on Elisha as he carried out the

miracle of crossing the  Jordan river, thus confirming God’s prophet mandate

and anointing on his life.

1 Kings 19:19-21 (Tree of Life Version) - Calling of Elisha (to be trained in

the prophetic)

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat while he

was ploughing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the

twelfth. Then Elijah crossed over to him and threw his mantle on him.

20 So he left the oxen and ran after Elijah saying, “Let me please kiss my

father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”[a] “Come back,” he said

to him. “For what have I done to you?” 21 So he returned from following

him and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh

with the oxen’s yoke gear, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then

he arose, went after Elijah and became his attendant (servant).

2 Kings 2:13-14a (Tree of Life Version) - Elisha Takes Up the Mantle

(choosing to take up the gift and ministry of the prophetic)

13 He then picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. When he

returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan, 14 he took the mantle of

Elijah that had fallen off him, …

2 Kings2:14b-15 (Tree of Life Version) – Elisha Uses the Mantle

(exercising the prophetic gifting)

….. struck the waters and said, “Where is Adonai, the God of Elijah?” As

he indeed struck the waters, they parted here then there. Then Elisha

crossed over.

15 When the sons of the prophets at Jericho saw him some way off, they

said, “The spirit of Elijah has rested on Elisha.” So, they came to meet him

and bowed down to the ground before him.

The first scripture underlines the fact that when God called him through

Elijah the prophet, Elisha did two things. One, he chose to sacrificially leave

his family, livelihood, and everything he was doing. Secondly, he became

Elijah’s servant (attendant).

In the second scripture we see that God does not force a call on us but gives

us a choice. We must decide; to pick up and run with it, or not! The mantle

represents an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to

another at a significant moment.

In the third scripture it was clear that the mantle also carried a spiritual office,

with a prophetic anointing which included authority and supernatural signs.

It is important to note that the call of the prophetic realm is costly, but the

fruit is radical and transformational.

These passages from the Old Testament highlight principles that apply to us

as Christians today, and which are underscored throughout the New

Testament scriptures in application of prophetic gifting.

Vision

In our nation there are so many competing voices of reason and philosophy. In the church particularly there is a mix of theology and expressions of liturgy. Amid these voices Jesus is the clear message of hope and influence that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This message is from the heart of the Father, through His disciples, and too His church, and is one of restoration, rebuilding and renewal. The vision for The Elisha Project expresses the Father heart of God and draws from years of direct training, discipleship, and practice.

As a clear vision statement:  

The Elisha Project vision is to help re-establish, and maintain integrity in the prophetic grace, and help individuals, leaders and churches to renew, restore, and rebuild the church by bringing encouragement as God reveals His heart to His people through the prophetic gifting.

Leaders and Churches will have had mixed experiences with prophecy and the prophetic realm. Some will have been positive, but not all of them. There are many reasons for this mostly centring around character, reputation, and means of delivery of prophecy. When the prophet, or prophetic ministry is not accountable to apostolic authority it can be harmful to the body of Christ. It is right for shepherd’s to be guarded and protective of the flock. However, holding back completely may be detrimental, as the prophetic realm often ‘sees’ issues that if addressed, bring safety, revelation, and long-term fruit.

Mixed experiences may have resulted in church leaders becoming cautious about releasing prophetic voices into their congregations, citing potential for hurt, confusion and misunderstandings. Used wisely though, the prophetic realm under authority, and with a servant heart can be the key to stimulating the growth in people and churches. It can be the catalyst for unlocking doors that have remained closed for decades. It is a key vehicle God uses to bring insight, healing, and inspiration on forwards movement in the Kingdom of God.

Those that God uses in prophetic are essential in the church to stimulate faith and growth in spiritual maturity, holiness, and fruitfulness in ministry.

Amos 3:7 NIV - ⁷ Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing

his plan to his servants the prophets.

This scripture[i] in context indicates God’s divine initiative to answer the doubts and queries based on observations and assumed causes of problems amid battles. The trumpet sounds warning those encountering fear in what they face. The verse explains how God interrupts these questions and emphasises the importance of how He operates. Essentially, God doesn’t act strategically without first preparing the way through the voice of His prophets.

Context

Some may think prophecy was only limited to the Old Testament, but that is not the case. John the Baptist was a New Testament prophet, and prepared the way for Jesus, bringing the message, and need for the baptism of repentance. Jesus Himself was prophet (Matthew 21:11), priest (Hebrews 4:14), and King (Matthew 2:2). Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come upon the disciples, and He did! He released power (Acts 2:2). The gifts of the Holy Spirit were evident at the birth of the Church, and grew and expanded in (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Prophecy is one of the five-fold grace gifts spoken of in Ephesians 4:11 and was one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14.

The Elisha Project premise is that prophecy, and prophetic ministry is essential in the Church today. The reputation of Prophets and Prophetic ministry may have had some bad press, but it is essential there be restoration of integrity and trust to the prophetic realm. Our desire is to reaffirm prophecy as a valid, and a crucial ingredient to the balance brought by fivefold ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor (Shepherd), Teacher). We believe prophecy and prophetic ministry should be accountable to apostolic oversight. If this happens prophecy and prophetic ministry can flourish, and bring amazing revelation, insight, and dynamic input to the church, and aid the expansion of God’s Kingdom.

© Copyright Roger Grassham April 2026