Sermon

These are the days of Elijah

Prophetic Paralysis / Depression

How to get up when you’re feeling down?

Live Happily
 

Intro #1

• How many of us here couldn’t say that we had experienced the Blues at one time or another.
• What is depression and what are it’s signs?
• Causes A serious loss, chronic illness, relationship problems, work stress, family crisis, financial setback, or any unwelcome life change can trigger a depressive episode. Very often, a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors are involved in the development of depressive disorders, as well as other psychological problems
• Depressive statistics.

1 Kings 19:1

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them."

3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died."
 
5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you."

8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.  But the Lord said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
 
10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
 
14 He replied again, "I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

15 Then the Lord told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"
 
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!"

Elijah replied, "Go on back, but think about what I have done to you."

21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
 
 
Intro #2

• Won the Spiritual battle by calling down fire from heaven.
• Defeated his enemies. By killing the 450 prophets of Baal.
• Prayed for rain after 3.5 years of drought and it rained.
• Then to top it all off ran a foot race against a chariot and won.
• If any one of those things happened to me or you we would write a book about it and be famous for the rest of our lives.
• And yet what we find in 1 Kings 19 is a depressed men who is ready to end his life.

I. Depression came to Elijah because:

    * He didn’t think realistically or clearly.Vs. 3a
    * Elijah had separated himself from relationships that strengthen 3b
    * Elijah was caught in the aftermath of a great victory.
    * Elijah was physically exhausted and spent emotionally.
    * Elijah gave in to the beast of self pity.

 
II. Elijah overcame depression because God loved him: 

    * And He loves You too!
    * He allowed rest and refreshment for Elijah.
    * He communicated wisely with Elijah
    * He gives him a close personal friend.

 

GO Question

 

Prophetic Paralysis/Depression

Verse: 1 Kings 19:1-18

 

Ice breaker:

gives everyone in your group a piece of paper. draw a face that represents the emotion you have right now. and rate from 1-10 how happy/sad your feeling.

then share in your group how big your emotion affects your relationship with God.

 

Discussion:

1. Have you ever felt spiritual dryness and far away from God?and in that moment, you may not feel His presence. What would you do to refresh your soul when you think you are both physically and spiritually exhausted? recreation or spend time with God? Have you ever tried the 2nd choice? How does that impact you?

2. please share one extraordinary things or moments that you think is the result of God's works. Then, what's your reaction when you ask for greater miracles, you can't meet it? are you still going to be thankful or angry?

 

3. Do you think self pity will slow down your spiritual growth? How does that affect your spiritual growth?

4 what do you think you can do for your friend when he/she is feeling spiritual dryness? In this case, you need a great accountablity and commitment with your friend(s). 

 

Have a great discussion

 

by Santi Novia (GO Uni)