FROM BURNOUT TO BREAKTHROUGH FINDING RENEWAL IN GOD

Good morning,

Pastor Josh, Zia and the family have taken a few days off to show Silas to the family.  They will be back Tuesday and yes he will be here in the pulpit next Sunday.  

So today I get the privilege to share God’s Word with you and you get to endure me talking with you.

Last week Pastor talked about King Solomon 

Before we get to far I think it would be beneficial to bring you up to speed and give you a brief overview of Elijah’s ministry

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Ahab was the king of Israel. We read in 1 Kings 16:30 & again in verse 33 - Ahab did evil in the sight of the LORD, the Bible tells us that  Ahab provoked the LORD more than any were before him. 

Ahab was a bad dude. Many don’t remember Ahab but most everyone is recognizes his wife - Jezebel, she was a bad Dudette.

The LORD wanted to get Israel’s attention and now Elijah enters the picture.  Elijah confronts Ahab and tells him there will be a famine in the land, no dew or rain for years and then only when I speak.  God then told Elijah to depart and I will feed you.  Elijah is the prophet who asked the widow to fix him a cake during the drought and she was blessed with flour & oil until the drought ends. 

Three years had passed and LORD told Elijah to go back to Ahab and let him know God will send rain.  But first Elijah places a challenge to 450 Baal priests.  Prepare a sacrifice but do not light a fire but call on your gods to bring the fire to consume the bull.  Elijah started mocking them where is your gods are they sleeping, on vacation, maybe they’re relieving themselves.  The Baal priests were crying out and they started cutting themselves - all to no avail.  Elijah then built an altar for the LORD’S sacrifice - he dug a trench around the altar then he had water poured over the sacrifice and it filled the trench.

In 1 Kings 18:36-37 — Elijah said: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

The fire of the LORD came from heaven and consumed the entire altar, nothing was left.  The people confessed the LORD IS GOD!  Elijah gave instructions to capture the priests and all 450 were put to death.  After this Elijah prayed to the LORD and rain came.

This is a quick overview of Elijah’s life in the Old Testament.

Pray with me!

Turn to 1 Kings 19 and follow along with me.

1 Kings 19:1-3

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 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.” 3 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.

Jezebel was evil and she threatened Elijah, she was livid to think that this man killed 450 priests of Baal and we can understand why Elijah ran. Could you blame Elijah? I am pretty sure I would be running away if someone threatened to kill me.

1 Kings 19:4-8

4 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, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 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. 7 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.” 8 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.

Verse 4 —— Elijah feels beat up and he has just been threatened by Jezebel.  He runs, Elijah is down emotionally and spiritually.  He was doing God’s work - showing the people that there was only one true God.  Theologian John Stott states: “The occupational hazard of Christian discipleship and ministry is discouragement.”

Elijah experienced a mountain top high.  Elijah was thinking wow did I show those backslidden people who the real God is and plus I got rid of 450 of Baal’s priests.   Elijah, like many of us may have been anticipating some attaboys from God.  When God uses us to do great things for the His glory, satan will be mad and will likely attack, but satan doesn’t attack God, he attacks God’s servants.  The only thing Elijah heard was Jezebel’s threats.  Elijah was beside himself - he was becoming depressed.

Theologian Derrick Tidball gives us this thought regarding Elijah in 1 Kings 19: “The narrative shows deep psychological insight in describing the generalized depression that sometimes results from stress, in this case the stress of fear coupled with the stress brought on by victorious success … Depressed persons cannot usually be talked out of their gloom. What does sometimes help is a sense of purpose, and that is exactly what God provides with a new commission.”

Depression is a real - we who have not experienced depression often phoo-phoo others who battle with depression with statements  like: it’s not that big of a deal, pick yourself up & move on, you are over thinking the situation, or some say, suck it up butter cup.  Many of have no idea and many just need to shut up and pray!

As I was preparing I was trying to give you a picture of what depression may look like.  Have you ever driven home late at night  as you go around a corner everything becomes a dark gray.  Fog has set in and you can’t see anything. I remember one evening I was driving home, I was 2-miles from home traveling on a well known stretch of road.  My headlights were on but it was like a curtain was right there.  I could not see in front of me, I could not see the sides of the road, I could see nothing but the hood of the car.  It was disturbing, I became scared, I was going so slow that what normally takes a few minutes seemed like a never ending road.  I was worried about the ditches, overcompensating when the tires touched the gravel shoulder.  I was soaking wet with sweat, I wanted to stop but was afraid of someone hitting me.  Finally, there was a slight break & I could see a light at the neighbors, to my dismay I was only gone a quarter of a mile.  After 30-minutes or some I reached the corner where I was turn, there were street lights on the corner and the fog started to lift, physically and also mentally.   For those experiencing depression it often may feel like one’s life is in a fog and they aren’t sure what is ahead and they are scared. 

I looked up some simple remedies one can possibly use to help those who are in the early stages of depression.  Nourishment - Rest - Renewed purpose.  God did all of that for Elijah under the broom tree.

Two things I am taking away from verse 4: 1). Elijah allowed the enemies voice to disrupt his relationship with God.  2). Elijah did not go to the LORD trusting that God had it all in control.  

How often do we allow the enemy to distract us from our walk with God.  A great reminder: Lean on the LORD - Press in to the LORD - Hold tight to the LORD - Keep your eyes on the LORD at ALL times, the good times, routine times, and difficult times.  

From experience I can tell you our enemy will be quick to speak up. One can go about doing ministry for the LORD and when there is success the enemy will attack, he wants to bring us down.  Satan may use our arrogance, self-pride, or whatever ways that will cause a separation in our relationship with God. 

Let me give a simple illustration: In years past our home was surrounded by corn & bean fields. When harvest began the mice would run to find shelter.  We did many things to keep the mice out but they only need a very small opening to infiltrate and cause issues inside the home.  In the same way Satan just needs a little opening to step in and mess with our theology, cause us to question our walk with the LORD. Satan entices us to question our walk with Jesus, Why?  So he can get his foot into our life.

Verses 5-8

Elijah complains asks the LORD to let him die, then lays his head down and sleeps. God doesn’t give Elijah a sermon or a lecture —He gave him bread, water, and rest.  He rested and ate food from the LORD twice.  Elijah was being strengthened by the LORD for healing and additional ministry.  

The LORD knows what we need: He provides us with bread and water, I’m not talking about physical bread.  I am talking the Word of God, the Bread of life and His Living water. That is what Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 

 Our LORD has life giving water, the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and to provide just what we need.   God knows when we are weak and He will strengthen us, give us peace & comfort, and His Word prepares us for what He is calling us to.

I believe that today, there are people within the sound of my voice that are having an Elijah type of experience, they may feel nobody cares, but I want to remind you Jesus cares, He is here right now and you can call on His name and receive refreshment from His Word and from the Living Water of Holy Spirit.  

Even as I am speaking, within your heart ask Jesus to meet you right here, right where you are, the LORD is here for you.

Elijah was strengthened and he went 40-days & nights traveling to the Mount of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

1 Kings 19:9-18

9 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?” 10 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, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 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. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 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?” 14 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, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael jshall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 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.” 

Some of the translations may say also Mount Sinai.  FYI: Sinai and Horeb are one in the same mountain, it also known as the Mount of the God.

I mentioned earlier that the LORD was gracious to Elijah running in fear.  If it was one of us I can imagine the conversation going something like: “You got to be kidding after all I have shown you and you still don’t trust me.  I thought you were one whom fully trusted me. Come on - suck it up buttercup!”

The LORD understood the turmoil, he knows that mankind often lets their human emotions take over.  In verse 9 and again in verse 13 the word of the LORD came to Elijah, “What are you doing here?”  God wasn’t asking Elijah why he was in the cave, the LORD was asking Elijah “what are you going to do now?”

Elijah’s has been nourished, he made his way to the Mount of God, yet his response to God’s questions shows us that he was still upset, he was still scared. In verse 10 Elijah 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, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 

Elijah was still scared / still hearing the threat. 

God told Elijah go stand outside, but Elijah did not go out right away. The LORD brought strong winds, then an earthquake, then fire, and then soft voice Elijah recognized the voice of God and Elijah then went to outside.  Again the LORD asked, “What are you doing here?” Elijah again repeated his previous complaints. Was that the answer God was hoping for? I don’t think so but God, knew what was in Elijah’s heart. 

“God ministers to our despair by giving us a new understanding of his person and his purpose for us.”  Gary Inrig

What did God do?  God wasn’t done with Elijah, He sent Elijah back to where he had come and He gave Elijah a new task: anoint two new kings and Elisha as Elijah’s successor as God’s prophet.  God gave Elijah a new purpose, a new focus.

As we grow in our relationship with God we will experience difficult times, we may be seduced the enemy’s words, we may blame others for our spiritual frustrations, and yes we may even assume that God doesn’t care.  For some unknown reason we have convinced ourselves that there is comfort in our discomfort.  We dive deep into an infamous “PITY PARTY!”  Even when we are down on ourselves, when our relationship with the LORD is in a weakened state; God wants to use us in spite of ourselves.  

God will wake us up and help us realize that He is Sovereign, God knows what He is doing and we are on a need to know basis. God will show us His plan in His time.   

Keep focused on Jesus our Savior

Hebrews 12:2-3 - Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Trust in the LORD no matter what life brings

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

Trust the LORD’S knowledge and wisdom

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God wants us to trust Him, follow His leading, and as we obediently follow and trust Him we will be a testimony & witness of God’s love and sovereignty and our LORD will be glorified!