Overcoming Discouragement

Introduction

Good Morning. If your team has ever made the superbowl, many of you would know the feeling of rooting for your team. Some of us can be really passionate about our tear. Especially, if they are doing well in the contest. Even if they’re not — we still cheer for them. We’re excited for them, and we continue to cheer for them from our living room. And, it’s great when we see them gain a win.

Our passage this morning picks up in the 9th Century BC. If they had superbowls during this time, Elijah would have won it! This is because he is coming off of some major wins for the Lord! We have “fire of the Lord” falling and consuming burnt offerings! We have thunder-heads rolling in from the sea! We have rain falling! We have all these things going on, demonstrating the Lord God is real and sovereign before the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Only to be thrown under the buss. If it were up to some, this could have been a literal term for what were about to see. I’d like to invite you to open your Bible’s with me to the First Book of Kings. Lets read together verses 1 through 2 from Chapter 19.

1 Kings 19:1–2 ESV

1 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.”

1 Kings 19:3–4 ESV

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. 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.”

1 Kings 19:5–6 ESV

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.

1 Kings 19:7–8 ESV

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.

Pastoral Prayer

[Display Verse 1 & 2]

If you’re taking notes, know that Chapter 19 can be viewed in 4 episodes. Those episodes are flight, depression, recommissioning and obedience. Verse one get the ball in motion. We hear that “Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had kill all the prophets with the sword.” If you aren’t familiar with the story. Elijah never killed the “prophets with the sword!” This is a whole lot of hot air! Killing prophets with the sword never happened! This is not the first time Jezebel acted to have a person removed. Verse 2 is all about an oath. Jezebel is making a solemn promise to deliver on her word. And, Elijah knows this. In the previous Chapter (18 in verse 4 and 13), we’re told Jezebel has killed prophets of the Lord. Elijah has reason to believe she’ll deliver on her word! Jezebel has the fierceness the king lacks, the civil authority of the Baal prophets, with the freshness of battle for Elijah.

Discouragement can come through disappointment in people. Nehemiah heard a report that “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). Nehemiah felt the call to begin construction on rebuilding the wall. The rebuilding of the wall is a powerful story unity and working toward a common goal. Along the way, Nehemiah was met with opposition to the work. In Nehemiah Chapter 4, we hear about a man named Sanballat who “angry and greatly enraged.” He gathered some like minded individuals and confronted Nehemiah. They critiqued those involved. We don’t know the exact words that could have been exchanged, but its reasonable to say there could have been some mocking going on. We have a recording in Matthew 27 that our Lord was mocked by the soldiers. There’s one fundamental aspect between Elijah and Nehemiah and our Lord. That’s people.

[Display Verses 3 & 4]

Discouragement can come through fear of people or focus on people. Verse 3 says, “the he was afraid, and arose and ran for his life.” Elijah didn’t have to think about it twice. He was out of there, not causally, but with a purpose — he ran! He traveled to Beersheba. This is the contrast between Elijah and Nehemiah. Elijah was focusing on Jezebel. Nehemiah acknowledged Sanballat and his group. Nehemiah didn’t allow the situation to bring him down. Instead, Nehemiah encouraged the people by saying:

Nehemiah 4:14 ESV

14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Nehemiah focused on God as the source of his confidence. Elijah focused on the situation which was causing him to become discouraged, which began to fuel his loss of confidence. Elijah was among many who witnessed incredible power that pored down from the Lord! These mighty acts of God started to fade fast when the threats began to fly. Fear was becoming distracting and pulling his attention.

[Display Verses 3 & 4]

Take a look at verse 4! Elijah journeyed, “sat down under a broom tree.” He had enough of the whole situation! He wanted to die! He said, “it is enough; now, O Lod take away my life for I am no better than my fathers.” Sometimes we can face the battle with fear. We tend to fear physical ailments, but we serve One who has the power to heal and even raise the dead. We worry and fret over the condition of our nation and society and fail to realize that God is sovereign. Paul provides the Red Bull, Full Throttle, Shot of Espresso or cup of cowboy coffee, what ever you want to call it that gives us that extra boost — The Everlasting Love Of God! Part of Romans 8:31 says, “if God is for us, who can be against us.” When fear and discouragement get in the way, they can distract us from being effective in our service to the Lord. Elijah’s situation continued to worsen. That is what we can expect when we get away from the Lord and our focus become blurred. This is a tough situation to be in. Many of us have been there before. We have see circumstances in life come-in out of left field, they can really knock the wind out of us sometimes, especially if we’re not ready for them.

All morning we’ve seen Elijah dealing with this challenge from Jezebel, the first step in overcoming discouragement was overlooked. Elijah overlooked the step of calling on God in the beginning. Elijah spoke to God in the heat of trouble. The book of Nehemiah starts off with a report from Jerusalem. The next step Nehemiah takes is prayer “before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). Prayer took place before Nehemiah was sent to Judah, and before wall construction. Seeking the Lord helped Nehemiah overcome some of the potential discouragement we already talked about. In the heat of the moment, we can forget about some the might works of God, how he has displayed His power.

Elijah could have forgotten about the 100 prophets Obadiah hid in the caves (1 Kings 18:4). He could have forgotten about the fire that “consumed the burnt offering” (1 Kings 18:38). The rain the Lord sent could have slipped his mind. Perhaps you’ve been there before. Caught up in the moment where God was absent from thought. If you’ve studied the books of kings, perhaps you’ve come across this, if you haven’t, the books of Kings have many teaching messages. One teaching message that weaves its self through the books is the message that God is present.

[Display Verses 5 & 6]

Turn your attention to the middle of verse 5. The Bible says, “and behold, an angel touched him and said to him, arise and eat.” God doesn’t come to Elijah with words of rebuke. He doesn’t say, “Well this is a fine mess that that you gotten yourself into. I suppose since you got into this predicament, then you can get yourself out of it.” God intervenes with an angel. It’s wonderful to see how God knows our heart and how His tender love speaks our love language. In the Hebrew, the word “behold” brings attention to what follows, here the word introduces a new and unexpected event. Like Elijah, when God sends him some unexpected encouragement. I know you’ve experienced that before. When that unexpected call, text or card in the mail arrives, it warms our heart. It’s great when we see God working through other people, reaching out in love.

[Display Verses 7 & 8]

Twice now, in verse 7, we see an “angel of the Lord” and God providing a meal. God is still providing for Elijah. Lord is faithful even when Elijah’s faith had faded. The same can be true in our lives. God continually meets our needs. He is able and willing to prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies. Even when we’re unfaithful and undeserving, God is faithful! I’m glad that His provisions for us don’t rest upon our actions. He has never failed us. He may not show up when our how we hoped He would, but He is always right on time!

The final step in overcoming discouragement is to get back into the saddle, return to work. God had allowed a time of respite for Elijah. God knew he was worn-out and needed a short period of rest. Take a look at what the angel tells Elijah as the end of verse 7, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” There are two aspects happening here. First, “arise and eat.” This is a call to recharge his battery. One, because, Elijah will need physical strength to travel “to Horeb, the mount of God.” The food gave Elijah “strength to travel, strength to walk.” Second, this shows us that God is not yet finished with Elijah. It won’t be part of our discussion this morning, if you read ahead you will see how God gives Elijah a new commission. This runs a strong parallel found in:

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The Lord our God is renewing Elijah’s faith to continue on. Some of you know what it’s like to be on the home team where we’re down a few points in the final minutes. The coach comes along clapping, encouraging everyone — it’s been tough, it’s been hard, we can get there - because we’re First Baptist Church Kirtland. We have the Lord of Lord’s and King of King’s with us! Elijah’s getting pumped-up! He’s getting fired-up! He’s getting excited for the Lord! Yes, his ministry for the Lord had a slight pause. But! His ministry is far from over. AND NOW HE KNOWS IT! [(Speaking figuratively) Elijah kicks off the dust], and the Bible says, “went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God!” I think I might need a burrito some where along the way, forty days and forty night is a long time. Elijah had not only the physical strength he needed. Elijah also had the spiritual strength to carry on!

Application

Discouragement is one of the weapons our enemy has in the arsenal that can cause us to lose track from our purpose! It’s been said that everyone faces discouragement at one point or another! Discouragement might knock us down. It might even try to drag us down. It might cause us to be unproductive for the Lord. Our application rests on the words of this series: Who Am I In Christ — I am a child of God who overcomes discouragement. How do we know this. The blood of Jesus Christ tells us! The cross of Jesus Christ tells us! The resurrection of Jesus Christ tells us! The blood of Jesus Christ washes us. The cross of Jesus Christ reminds us that sin is dealt with once and for all. The resurrection of Jesus Christ shows us death has lost it’s grip! Take a look at the last verse of John Chapter 16:

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus Christ has overcome the world! Our peace, our assurance, our hope all come through Jesus Christ! Perhaps your dealing with some discouragement today. Whats stopping you this morning from approaching the cross of Christ?

Closing Prayer