Text: I Kings 19:1-18
Introduction: Sir Alexander Mackenzie, an early fur trader and explorer, accomplished a magnificent feat when he led an expedition across Canada from Fort Chippewyan on Lake Athabasca to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before the famous Lewis & Clark expedition. He is hailed to this day as a Canadian hero.
However, in 1789, four years earlier, Mackenzie’s first attempt had been anything but successful. His valiant explorers set out in an effort to find a water route to the Pacific, following a mighty river (now named the Mackenzie) with high hopes, paddling furiously amid grave danger. Unfortunately, the river didn’t empty into the Pacific, but into the Arctic Ocean. In his diary, Mackenzie called it the “River of Disappointment”. (Adapted from illustration from sermoncentral.com)
Perhaps, you are traveling down a river of disappointment now, with questions like this, “Why have things gone this way, Lord?” or, you are saying, “Where are you, Lord?” or perhaps you are in a state of shock trying to take inventory of your own feelings amidst chaotic circumstances. Whatever the scenario you find yourself in, ALL of us struggle with the DISAPPOINTMENTS in life.
Context:
READ VERSE ONE: EXPLAIN ALL THAT ELIJAH HAD DONE
Elijah has just experienced perhaps the most incredible time of revival in his life on Mount Carmel (I Kings 18).
• The Lord confirms the prophet’s words with fire upon the altar,
• 850 false prophets were slain,
• The people of Israel acknowledge their need for God, and
• The Lord sends rain from heaven, ending a 3.5 year drought.
Surely, Elijah the prophet was encouraged that day as he ran under the anointing of God’s spirit faster than the chariot of King Ahab back to the palace. It seemed that true revival had come at last. Then the ominous message from Queen Jezebel, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them (the slain false prophets) by to morrow about this time.”
• Elijah goes from FAVORITE to FUGITIVE in a matter of moments, and runs for his life, while the queen’s henchmen put up “most-wanted” signs of the prophet all over town. (Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, story of Ralph and Piggy and the Conch, Ralph the Leader, becomes, Ralph the Rejected.)
• Elijah travels from the Mountaintop to the Mulley Grubs, as the all too familiar emotion of DISAPPOINTMENT fills his being.
Outline: Dealing with Disappointment
I. Reasons for Disappointment
a. Great physical exertion
b. Great spiritual breakthrough
c. Great sense of isolation
II. Overcoming Disappointment
a. Redefining success
b. Remembering to rest
c. Regaining heavenly perspective
Sermon:
I. Reasons for Disappointment
a. Great Physical Exertion: The picture we have of Elijah is of a man of God that was willing to take bold stands for the truth in the midst of gross idolatry, and wicked leadership.
i. He has lived as a fugitive for 3.5 years as the drought has continued according to his prophecy, while Jezebel has tried to eradicate the prophets from the land. (Obadiah able to hide 100.)
ii. He puts his life on the line to appear before Ahab and all the people of Israel with their false prophets on Mt. Carmel.
He brings himself to the place of exhaustion, after enduring continued hardships to fulfill God’s calling upon his life.
Application: Perhaps you’ve:
• prayed for years for that lost loved one, a spouse, a son or daughter, but you’ve seen no desire in that person to get saved.
• witnessed to that family member time and time again, only to suffer rejection at their hands.
• Held a job you really didn’t want because you felt led to witness to your co-workers about Christ, even under great stress.
b. Great Spiritual Breakthrough: Elijah witnesses and becomes the catalyst to a great awakening in Israel, as the fire of God consumes the sacrifice, believing that revival has come, only to realize how shallow the ring to the cry of the crowds, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God,” as it becomes evident that they return to their idolatry.
i. Jesus: As Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, the multitudes cry, “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” only to have them a day later crying, “Crucify him. Crucify him.”
ii. Application: You’ve prayed until you’ve seen the conversion of a friend, a loved one, only to watch them return to their old ways of sin.
c. Great Sense of Isolation: Elijah has lived under the feeling of isolation (I’m the only one) for over three and a half years. He begins to feel as if no one cares.
i. Jesus:
1. Sons of Zebedee desiring to call fire down from heaven on the Samaritan village. “Ye know not what spirit ye are of.” They didn’t “get it”.
2. Garden of Gethsemane, “Could ye not pray with me one hour?”
ii. Application: witnessing to a loved one, only to feel the sting of rejection.
iii. Illus.: Thomas Andrew Dorsey was a black musician from Atlanta that lived in the Great Depression. In 1932, when times were hardest, he was largely unaccepted by many people. “I got thrown out of some of the best churches in the land.” But the real hardship came one night in St. Louis when he received a telegram informing him that his pregnant wife had just died. It was in that time of intense loneliness that he wrote the beloved song
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light;
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.
(Illustration from sermoncentral.com)
Review: The reasons for disappointment:
• Disappointment after great physical exertion, now exhaustion
• Disappointment after great spiritual breakthrough that doesn’t “carry through”
• Disappointment after living under a great sense of isolation—misunderstood, unloved and rejected.
II. Overcoming Disappointment
a. Redefining Success: Elijah feels failure because he did not experience the results he had hoped for. His expectations were let down.
i. Is it wrong to have expectations? In no wise. We should hope and pray for great things. William Carey’s maxim, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”
ii. As a Christian, success is not something quantifiable. A lot of times we want to “see” the results to feel like we have succeeded.
iii. Success is defined as “doing” what the Lord asked us to do. One sows, another waters, but it is God who giveth the increase.
iv. God has “bottled up our tears”. He has heard our prayers.
b. Remembering to Rest: Elijah is not only physically exhausted but also emotionally spent.
i. The Lord provides him an opportunity to rest. He does not criticize the prophet for sleeping, but rather further adds to this rest a meal of supernatural food, and allows continued rest.
ii. God provides time for the prophet to heal emotionally over a period of 40 days. He never criticizes Elijah’s complaints.
c. Regaining Heavenly Perspective:
i. God’s plan is going forward—you are not alone! 7,000 left in Israel that have not bowed the knee to Baal. “Missio Dei”
ii. God is not through with YOU!
It is NOT time to give up! It IS time to GET up! Trust Him!
Illustration: He lived a life of dashed hopes and shattered dreams. His mother died when he was just a boy. He had to work in the fields to help support his family. He only attended school sporadically, but read every book he could get his hands on. He married and had four children, but only one grew to adulthood. He regularly dealt with depression but never stopped working toward his goals. (Failed in business—age 22; Ran for the Legislature—defeated age 23; Failed in business again—age 24; Elected to the Legislature—age 25; His sweetheart died—age 26; Had a nervous breakdown—age 27; Defeated for Speaker—age 29; Defeated for Elector—age 31; Defeated for Congress—age 34; Elected to Congress—age 37; Defeated for Congress—age 39; Defeated for Senate—age 46; Defeated for Vice President—age 47; Defeated for Senate—age 49; Elected President of the United States—age 51.) We know him as one of the greatest men in American history: Abraham Lincoln. GOD WASN’T THROUGH WITH HIM YET! (Adapted from illustration on sermoncentral.com)
