Enthusiasm is good but the direction has to be on the right way

2 Kings 2:1-25

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

the Lord has sent me to Jericho;  the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. 

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.

“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

But they persisted until he was too embarrassed to refuse. So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

Elijah seems to want to face this last experience alone. But Elisha stays with him right through the journey. The final scene - the whirlwind which catches up the prophet, and Elisha's vision of a fiery chariot and horses - is played out east of the Jordan, close to the place where Moses died. It is a remarkable end to a remarkable life. Elijah's reappearance at the transfiguration of Jesus underlines the unique position of this man amongst all the prophets of God, Elisha, left alone, takes up his task straight away.

Why?

Elisha followed Elijah for he hopes to get the same power from the Lord, he likes to know the source of the power of the Lord. Even a double portion of Elijah's spirit.

Elijah can't answer the question of Elisha, for this is the right of the Lord, but after they separated Elijah did many miracles, which proved Elijah has the double portion of Elijah from the Lord.

Elisha called Elijah the chariots and horsemen of Israel, for Elijah with the power of the Lord is more than the chariots and horsemen of Israel.

We should have the desire and hope like Elisha to get the Holy Spirit with us. For we are working by the Holy Spirit instead of our fresh efforts.

Respect the servants of the Lord, no matter what he looks like. Respect the servants of the Lord is honor the name of the Lord.

Even Elisha had told the 50 men don't go out to search for Elijah, but they insisted, so Elisha allowed them, they went out for three days, which proved Elisha is right. People like to prove something or like to show their enthusiasm. Sometimes enthusiasm only can't complete the work, but with the wisdom of the Lord can make it.

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以利亞考驗以利沙事奉的心智，是否永遠跟隨?是否辛苦?我們跟隨主的路也不是那麼好走，也很辛苦！不管往那裏去都願意跟隨嗎？

緊緊且安靜的跟隨！不作聲也是代表順服！

以利沙不僅接續以利亞的工作，他不是以利亞第二，他希望神使用他超過他的師父。不須要完全做的和以利亞一樣。以利沙知道他不如以利亞，所以希望神加倍感動他！師徒二人都知道這是神的工作。神給每個人的託付都不同。我們跟隨主的引導，不是跟隨某個牧者或是長老！用衣服打水過河，是以利亞最後一個神蹟，也是以利沙第一個神蹟。無縫接續以利亞。

以利沙年少禿頂，被這群年輕人嘲笑。少年人質疑他先知的身份，權柄，即質疑神的揀選、帶領，不承認他是先知。這些少年人從伯特利來，可能是巴力的假先知，向以利沙挑戰他的職份。因此他必須為此對付這些人。神的職份不可挑戰，更不可用外表來批評人，何其膚淺！

50個壯士想要去找以利亞！人常常看見、聽見還是懷疑！人說眼見為憑，許多人眼見還是不信！

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How?

Enthusiasm is good but the direction has to be on the right way.