Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

T HE E XAMPLE F ACTOR There are three general ways of learning: first, being taught by a teacher; second, reading detailed books on a subject; and third, by watching others and following their examples. We live in a town with a Christian university and a great school of theology. I have many friends who graduated from both. Once they are out of the academic community and rubbing shoulders with hardhearted sinners, saints in crisis, and disgruntled church members, they often say, “They never prepared me for this in Bible school!” Paul told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). The word example is the Greek word tupos, which is an image created by striking a die or a stamp. It is like saying, “Be a model, or be the mold that others can pattern after.” 5 Strong models are effective in mentoring students who will act in the same manner as their teacher. When Elijah crossed the Jordan, he rolled up his mantle and struck the water, causing the river to split and form an opening for him and Elisha (2 Kings 2:8). After Elijah’s translation into heaven, his student Elisha took the prophet Elijah’s mantle and struck the same waters of the Jordan, again causing the waters to open a dry path for Elisha to return to Jericho (v. 14). Paul reminded his spiritual son, Timothy, that he was a by-product of several generations of faith that had been passed on to him: “When I call to