Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
I ask my classes I ask: "Do you have Gehazi's disease?" We then study the life of Gehazi. Gehazi was a witness to miracles and was tutored by a prophet but 'missed the mark.' He missed the opportunities to focus on God and be converted. This week we will learn from Gehazi and how to avoid this disease in our lives. As the "mantel of a prophet" is passed from Elijah to Elisha, we focus on how God is not limited by our faith or our resources. But He often asks us to do our part before He does His. God blesses us with what we need and then some.
Elisha
Lessons from Elisha
Gehazi
President Thomas S. Monson: “Our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives.” (“Consider the Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 88)
President James E. Faust: “Be aware that there are invisible hosts watching over you even as they did Elisha of old. The King of Syria sent hosts of warriors with chariots and horses to capture the prophet Elisha. They came by night and surrounded the city. Elisha's servants, seeing the great hosts, became very frightened and said to Elisha, "Alas, my master, how shall we do?"
"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire about Elisha."
"In answer to his servant's frightened question, Elisha said, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:15-17).
"My dear young friends, I believe that unseen spiritual hosts tend you as you seek to do the will of the Lord. Remember the words of Elisha: "They that be with us are more than they that be with them" (verse 16). (“Finding Light in a Dark World,” 102.)
Teaching Thoughts:
Elisha
- Six or seven years before the end of Elijah’s mortal ministry, the Lord revealed to him that Elisha would be his successor (see 1 Kgs. 19:16).
- Elijah went to meet him, found Elisha plowing a field and called him to assist him. Elisha kissed his parents good-bye, gave away all he owned, and “arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him” (see 1 Kgs. 19:19–21).
- Elisha was an eyewitness to the power of Elijah’s priesthood keys.
- First, Elijah confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and reproved them for the murder of Naboth (see 1 Kgs. 21:1–29).
- Elijah twice called down fire from heaven to consume 50 soldiers sent by the king to arrest him (see 2 Kgs. 1:1–12).
- Elijah rebuked Ahab’s son King Ahaziah for seeking counsel from false gods, prophesying of Ahaziah’s imminent death (see 2 Kgs. 1:13–17).
- Elisha was loyal to Elijah (2 Kings 2).
- Elisha felt that Elijah was like a father to him (see 2 Kgs. 2:12).
Lessons from Elisha
- The faithful knew he had the ‘spirit of Elijah’ (2 Kings 2:15).
- He had the power of God with him (2 Kings 2:14, 21).
- Elisha gives God the credit (2 Kings 2:21). It was not Elisha and it was not the salt--it was God. Elisha was only a servant of God and the salt a symbol. The salt is like the word of God (through a prophet) which can give flavor, preserve and be an antiseptic (see Matthew 5:14-16).
- Be respectful of prophets, even if you see a physical flaw in them (see 2 Kings 2:23).
- God is not limited by our faith or our resources. But he often asks us to do our part before he does his.
- God blesses us with what we need, and then some.
- Blessings come, but maybe not in the way we ask.
- When others have great ideas, he acts on them (see 2 Kings 4:14).
- Be patient with those he serves with (see 2 Kings 4:27-28).
- Help others participate in miracles in the lives of others (see 2 Kings 4:31-36).
Gehazi
- Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 4:12).
- Is perceptive of other’s needs (2 Kings 4:14).
- Sees a great promise made and its fulfillment (2 Kings 4:14-17).
- Lacks charity (2 Kings 4:26-27).
- Gehazi told to go and heal the child (see 2 Kings 4:29). Similar to when Joseph Smith sent Wilford Woodruff to heal at Montrose.
- Lacks the faith to heal (2 Kings 4:31).
- Is a witness to raising the dead (2 Kings 4:36).
- Has ‘Gehazi’s disease' – He looked beyond the mark.
President Thomas S. Monson: “Our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives.” (“Consider the Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 88)
President James E. Faust: “Be aware that there are invisible hosts watching over you even as they did Elisha of old. The King of Syria sent hosts of warriors with chariots and horses to capture the prophet Elisha. They came by night and surrounded the city. Elisha's servants, seeing the great hosts, became very frightened and said to Elisha, "Alas, my master, how shall we do?"
"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire about Elisha."
"In answer to his servant's frightened question, Elisha said, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:15-17).
"My dear young friends, I believe that unseen spiritual hosts tend you as you seek to do the will of the Lord. Remember the words of Elisha: "They that be with us are more than they that be with them" (verse 16). (“Finding Light in a Dark World,” 102.)
Teaching Thoughts:
- Do you have Gehazi’s disease? Why do people ‘miss the mark?’ How has your Come, Follow Me study this year helped you ‘hit the mark?’
- Recognizing the passing of a ‘mantle.’
- God is not limited by our faith or our resources. But he often asks us to do our part before he does his.
- God blesses us with what we need, and then some.
- What small thing has the prophet asked you to do?