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Message Notes
“Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’” —1 Kings 19:1-2
“Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die…” —1 Kings 19:3
Faulty thinking.
How did Elijah get to a place of being so discouraged?
- He focused on his feelings rather than facts.
Feelings are not always facts.
- He compared himself to others.
“It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” —1 Kings 19:4
When we compare ourselves to others, we fall into three traps:
- We lose sight of what is actually real.
- We become too critical
- We label ourselves
- He beat himself up over things that were not his fault.
“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword,’” —1 Kings 19:9-10
- He exaggerated the negative
“And I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” —1 Kings 19:10
What should we do when we get discouraged?
- Take inventory of your physical health.
“And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’ And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.” —I Kings 19:5-8
- Take your feelings to God first.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:7
- Get a fresh awareness of God’s presence in your life.
“And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” —1 Kings 19:11-13
- Stay grounded God’s truth rather than lies and exaggerations.
“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” —1 Kings 19:18
- Stay connected to people
“So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.” —I Kings 19:19
“Elijah was as human as we are.” —James 5:17 (NIV)
“Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.” —1 Kings 19:21