Truly Free from Self Pity
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Every journey starts somewhere, and if we are trying to get away from a place, it’s likely that we took a journey to get there in the first place. Elijah had to journey away from self pity because he first took the jouney to self pity.
The Story So Far…
The Story So Far…
Ahab on the mountain with the prophets of Baal.
Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”
Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”
The chains of self-pity have a short memories.
The chains of self-pity have a short memories.
1. A Journey to self-pity has a short memory.
Then Elijah became afraid
Then Elijah became afraid
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009. Print.
a. Elijah just came off of a mountain top experience where God showed his power in an amazing way…
The chains of self-pity are locked in solitude.
The chains of self-pity are locked in solitude.
Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,
Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,
The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 19
and immediately ran for his life.
a. Lets be clear we choose to lock those chains on our wrists, and when we do we isolate ourselves mainly because we don’t want anyone to rain on our pity party.
Getting Back on Track
Getting Back on Track
Getting back on track takes a simple question with a hard answer.
Getting back on track takes a simple question with a hard answer.
He entered a cave there and spent the night.
Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
So hard to answer because
So hard to answer because
1. We have to let God in to ask.
1. We have to let God in to ask.
2. We have to answer it honestly if we expect to move forward.
2. We have to answer it honestly if we expect to move forward.
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
3. We have to be ready for God’s reply
3. We have to be ready for God’s reply
Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”
At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.
i. Special effects are great but they are designed to distract us. (Movies that Look great but have a light plot) The best communication happens in one on one interactions, in personal ways.
4. We have to stand up and move to where we can hear!
4. We have to stand up and move to where we can hear!
i. Special effects are great but they are designed to distract us. (Movies that Look great but have a light plot) The best communication happens in one on one interactions, in personal ways.
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Notice God repeats the question after he has Elijas full attention.
2. When we embrace the truth of who we are, especially who we are in Christ, we stop looking at ourselves and begin to see that with God our lives can be complete, our pity can be reserved for others, and his plan can be followed, and God always has a plan for our freedom!
2. When we embrace the truth of who we are, especially who we are in Christ, we stop looking at ourselves and begin to see that with God our lives can be complete, our pity can be reserved for others, and his plan can be followed…
Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. But I will leave 7,000 in Israel —every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
This Week’s Challenge
This Week’s Challenge
Write down all the excuses you have been using to tell yourself no one has it as bad as you.
Write down all the excuses you have been using to tell yourself no one has it as bad as you.
Go to your sink or your fire pit take a lighter and burn them.
Go to your sink or your fire pit take a lighter and burn them.
Take your Bible or device that has your Bible on it and read
Take your Bible or device that has your Bible on it and read
Let God show you His plan and unlock your chains of self pity!
Let God show you His plan and unlock your chains of self pity!