What are You Doing Here, Elijah?

“Victory in Personal Crisis”

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:            I Kings 19:1-18

I.          Elijah was a man just like you and I (James 5:17-18).  He was a man who experienced personal crisis.

II.        Ahab and Jezebel

            A.        Elijah challenged Ahab and the 850 prophets by the Spirit of God and won.

            B.         Elijah’s life was threatened by Jezebel, Ahab’s wife.

            C.        Elijah experienced a personal crisis which had the power to destroy his faith

III.       Getting victory in times of personal crisis

A.        Resist fear (I Kings 19:1-3)

1.         Don’t be alarmed by the threats of the enemy.  The same God who gave you victory in the past will give you victory today.

B.         Don’t run from your problem (verse 3):  “And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life.”

C.        Recognize the signs of depression  (verse 4-5, 9-10):

            1.         Weariness (burnout):  “It is enough!”

2.         Discouragement:  “for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword.”

3.         Forgetting past accomplishments.  Elijah had been successful against Ahab and the prophets of Baal.

4.         Self-pity:  “I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

5.         Feelings of unworthiness:  “Who am I?”

            6.         Despairing of life:  “Lord, take my life!”

            7.         Withdrawal:  “He lay and slept under a broom tree.”

D.        Get back to the basic routines of life (verse 5-6):  “Then an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’”

E.         Get back to the bedrock of your faith (verse 8):  “So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God

F.         Get honest with God and let God get honest with you (verses9-10):  “And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’  

G.        Don’t be overwhelmed by circumstances but be led by the still small voice of God (verse 11-13).

H.        Go back to what God has called you to do (verse 15)

I.          Plan for the future

1.         Ask yourself:  “How would I be acting right now if I were confident that I have the victory?”

2.         God told Elijah to anoint new leaders for the future.  Victory was ultimately realized through these leaders.