Had enough

TEXT: 1 Kings 19:1-8

THESIS: We all have to face obstacles, but by leaning on God we can do anything (Phil. 4:13).

INTRODUCTION: Being in this life is hard (Job 14:1), being a Christian in this life is harder; and God never promised it would be easy.

1. There is a misconception that when you become a Christian it is supposed to be sunshine and rainbows.

a. We know that it is the complete opposite, in fact being a Christian means dying to everything you thought was good to embrace what God calls good (Jhn. 8:31-32).

b. We have to give up friends at times, loved ones, and relationships with our boyfriends or girlfriends if it is necessary to keep ourselves in Christ (2 John 9-11; Jude 20-21).

2. Suffering, some would ask “Why should a Christian suffer,” our response why should Jesus, must suffer “many things” Luke 9:22; 17:25.

a. Why should Paul have to be imprisoned 2 Corinthians 11:24-27?

b. Why should John the Baptist have to be beheaded Mark 6:14-29?

3. As people, we are so quick to look at our situations and forget that others also go through things (1 Cor. 10:13).

a. But so many give up, one God because of our situations and seeing things as not benefiting us.

b. We give up on only people, for even worse reasons.

c. When all we do is give up, we get to the point where living is not worth it.

4. Briefly I want to tell you about the stats on suicide.

a. According to the CDC 1.38M people in this country alone attempt suicide.

b. Forty-seven plus thousands of Americans die by suicide.

c. It is in the top 20 leading causes of death in this country, to put that into perspective people are more likely to kill themselves than to die of murder.

5. But the scariest fact is how many of those souls are lost because people have given up.

a. Growing closer to God, together can not be a novelty or gimmick we must be working at this we are living in a country where people do not want to live.

b. Last year in this community a man took his own life.

1.) God’s people, if we do not instill hope in this community or this world who will?

2.) You know I love each of you, we cannot just be going through the motions, because if we are we do not need to be here.

3.) We cannot be the ones giving up, making excuses, or just playing at this.

c. But it is hard at times to be God’s people, that is why we have to do it together, this morning we are in 1 Kings, and we are going to learn from a life event of Elijah the prophet.

DISCUSSION:

I. ELIJAH’S DISCOURAGEMENT (1 Kings 19:1-3)

A. Elijah prophesied during the time of Ahab, who did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Bible said he did, “more evil” than any that came before him 1 Kings 16:29-30.

1. If that was not bad enough Ahad married Jezebel, then went and worshipped Baal.

2. And instead of worshiping God, he worshipped her gods instead.

3. That’s not all Ahad did he had built an altar and a house for Baal (1 Kings 16:32) He was provoking God to anger.

a. When the wrong man is leading a nation, and when the choices are being made that go against God.

b. God removes Himself, and when God is gone so are the blessings.

B. That is what God did, but God always leaves hope and gives people a chance to change.

1. So, while this was happening Elijah came along and told Ahad God is going to punish you for this and He did.

2. For three years there was a drought, but Elijah did not suffer it because he did what God said 1 Kings 18.

3. However, Ahad blamed Elijah for the troubles of Israel, 1 Kings18:17-18.

a. Then Elijah challenged Ahad and Jezebel

b. Elijah said this was your work, then he told him to go get all of Israel, and all the prophets of Baal to meet on Mount Carmel.

C. This is where his troubles start, he was doing what the Lord commanded, he was trying to show Israel the error of their ways.

1. In verse 22 he says, “I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.” In the next verse, he said, we are going to make an offering, one to your god, and one to The God.

2. The false god Baal did not respond, but the Lord God of Israel did.

a. And when the people saw, they fell on their faces and worshipped verse thirty-nine.

b. Then chapter nineteen witnessing all that Elijah had done verse one.

c. Ahad ran to tell Jezebel.

d. Then Jezebel sent Elijah a message threatening his life.

II. ELIJAH’S SORROW (1 Kings 19:4).

A. Elijah is now at the point where we all have been and often get to.

1. Doing everything God says knowing we are right, then someone comes along and causes us discouragement in some way.

2. Then we lose sight of what God has done because of our own grief.

B. Forgetting the fact that God took care of him, disregarding the fact that God provided for him, he has had enough.

1. 1 Kings 19:4, “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.”

2. Is it hard to imagine why he would ask this at this moment?

3. What did God ever do for him?

a. He did everything that God commanded, for three years and never went hungry.

b. He did everything God asked of him and God protected and sheltered him.

c. Why wouldn’t he want to give up; by the way, why do we give up when we are confronted?

4. It is easy for us to neglect the good things God has done for us when we are not the ones who are suffering.

a. How that looks is in any number of ways.

b. Covid did one thing for the church, it separated the wheat from the chaff, and that is not necessarily a good thing.

c. It means those souls who were saved are now lost and we, not me, need to get them back.

C. Giving up when things get tough, started with him saying I am alone, we are never alone, but he asked for death.

1. How did God respond, this is a lesson in itself, but let us read 1 Kings 19:5-6.

2. He relaxed, he rested, and he slept.

D. The Lord answered his prayer not with what he wanted, but with what he needed.

1. Then the angel came again with more instruction, and Elijah followed.

2. He traveled forty days and nights to a log in a cave and the Word of the Lord came to him.

a. Jesus came to him; how do I know it was Jesus?

b. John 1:1

c. Here Elijah starts venting, unloading everything, catch this that God already knows (1 Pet. 5:7).

3. Elijah here said I was jealous for you this is what they are doing 1 Kings 19:14

a. And they seek my life for following you.

b. And God knew, and after he was done venting, he told Elijah get back to work verse fifteen.

III. GOD’S SOLUTION (1 Kings 19:18).

A. God's solution was resting the Lord knew what Elijah needed.

1. Elijah wanted his work to be finished.

2. God had more work for him and a better answer to his request.

a. Elijah thought giving up was the answer, God gave him rest.

b. Elijah thought he was alone, God said there are 7,000 that are as faithful as you.

B. The lesson here is that God knows when we are working and doing his will faithfully that we might get tired.

1. That we can get so caught up in whatever we are going through that it might be discouraging.

2. That is the wonderful thing about our Lord He knows and expects it, but that does not mean we can give up.

3. He sent Elijah a message saying rest, and God was a listening ear when Elijah needed it most.

C. Today, we are blessed not only to be able to rely on one another.

1. We have fellowship with each other, to be an aid when we are weary.

2. God has provided many different things to help aid us when we just need a break.

a. It is okay to take the load off, to take about…. the volts and everything do not have to be formal and spiritual.

b. But often people will go to one extreme or the other when there is a proper balance.

3. So, that we can continue to fight the good, so we can finish our course, and keep the faith so we one day might hear those words well done thy good and faithful servant.

CONCLUSION:

1. Elijah, had enough he was weary and felt overworked and underappreciated by those whom he was trying to help.

a. He asked for death.

b. Just like us sometimes we are tired and feel overwhelmed in our work and our walk.

c. when it can be so easy just to give up but look at the state of our world today.

1.) It has gotten this way because people have given up.

2.) Look at the state of the Church today, because people have given up.

3.) When sometimes we just need to rest and relax enjoy a meal or two and laugh.

2. God knew the solution to Elijah’s request and provided for him.

a. When we get tired in our work God provides us with comfort and rest.

b. So, we can use these things for the glory of God, to rejuvenate ourselves so we can get back to work.

c. So, that we would not give up.