Deliverance from Discouragement 1 Kings 19: 1-4

1 Kings 19: 1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

1 Kings 19: 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

1 Kings 19: 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

1 Kings 19: 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Elijah under the juniper tree

Well known phrase: “What a difference a day makes!”

But for Elijah: “What a difference a chapter makes!”

Chapter 18: Elijah on Mt. Carmel He challenged Ahab to see which was the true and living God. He challenged the false prophets to see whose God would answer prayers. He proved himself to be the true man of God. His prayer resulted in fire from heaven, and in the deaths of 450 prohets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves (trees).

Elijah on Mt. Carmel

What Happened to Elijah? “Elias (Elijah) was a man subject to like passions as we are…….. James 5:17

Elijah walked down a path to discouragement. Jezebel was angry with Elijah and sent a message: “So let the gods do to me and more also if I make not THY LIFE as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time” (1 Kings 19: 2)

Elijah became AFRAID “And when he SAW that….” (1 Kings 19: 3) Why did the Holy Ghost pick the word “SAW” and not “HEARD” ?

Elijah became AFRAID The devil likes to sit next to us and make us think about terrible things. The Bible says “when he ‘SAW’ that” because Elijah was imagining terrible things in his mind. Our minds are very good at negative thinking!

Elijah became AFRAID “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Elijah became ALONE “….and left his servant there.” (1 Kings 19:3) Christians are famous for trying to live the Christian life alone.

Elijah became ALONE God is very wise, and He has given us people in our lives that we need! Who are those people in our lives? Why do we separate ourselves from them?

Elijah became ALONE We isolate ourselves for many reasons: Sin we try to hide Situations that embarrass us Scared about our future We must remember that God has put people in our lives to love, help, and support us!

Elijah became ALONE “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10

Elijah became ANGRY “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19: 4) Who is Elijah complaining to?

Elijah became ANGRY When we face trials in our lives, we often are tempted to blame God! God put Jezebel in Elijah’s life to help Elijah learn to depend on God. Elijah, when he was discouraged, tried to face his problems alone, and failed.

Elijah became ANGRY We must learn to handle our problems with faith. The first thing some people do when they get angry is QUIT.

Deliverance from Discouragement The Path to Discouragment FEAR Leads to ISOLATION Leads to ANGER Leads to DISCOURAGEMENT Leads to QUITTING

Deliverance from Discouragement BUT GOD……

Deliverance from Discouragement And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 1 Kings 19: 5

Deliverance from Discouragement And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 1 Kings 19: 6

Deliverance from Discouragement And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. I Kings 19: 7

Deliverance from Discouragement The only person in this story who is finished is Elijah. God was not done with Elijah…. And God is not done with you !!

Deliverance from Discouragement Elijah lived on, and God used him to train one of the great men of God! His name was Elisha…. What does God have left for you to do???

Deliverance from Discouragement Don’t allow fear to limit your life!! Don’t try to serve God alone!! Remember that when trials come, God has a purpose!

Deliverance from Discouragement There is no sin that God can’t forgive. There is no situation that God can’t control. There is no servant that God can’t use.

Deliverance from Discouragement ARISE AND EAT…. For the journey is too great for thee!