For example, Elijah had just had two of his greatest victories:
• All alone, he has just confronted a cult, and had 450 of their prophets on Mount Carmel killed.
• God had just used him through prayer, to bring rain after three years of drought.
He was on a SPIRITUAL HIGH, he was on a roll, and everyone was talking about this man of God. However, one of the most dangerous times in our life is after the SPIRITUAL HIGHS in our life. For example:
• Every year, people begin to make all kinds of plans for Christmas. The excitement begins to build as the day of Christmas gets closer. And then that wonderful day comes and goes! But after it goes, and the routine of life sets in and all the excitement disappears in their life, many suffer POST CHRISTMAS DEPRESSION.
• The same thing happens when a young couple is getting married. As the special day approaches, the excitement is almost unreal. And when that glorious day come and goes and they are forced to fall into the routine of every day life, and all the excitement disappears, it can be a time of discouragement.
• Sometimes it happens to a person visiting a church. Everyone is glad to see them and they feel so special as a visitor. But once they join the church and they become a member, they no longer get that first time visitors attention and they wonder what happened to all the excitement in the church.
But listen:
• We can’t have Christmas every day, if we did it would not be special to us
• We can not jump from marriage to marriage because we like the excitement of being newlyweds
• We can’t go from church to church because we like the excitement of being a first time visitor
Thank God for the SPIRITUAL HIGHS in our life, but we can not live up there forever. Once we come down from our SPIRITUAL HIGH we can become discouraged.
Illus: Someone said: “We are never closer to defeat than in the moments of our greatest victory.”
Who would have ever thought this man of God going through these SPIRITUAL HIGHS would fall so low that he just wanted to die? He definitely was a depressed man!
WHAT IS DEPRESSION? Depression is the body’s natural reaction to shock.
HOW DOES IT WORK? When a time of grief, stress, frustration, or illness occurs, the brain will release chemicals that will serve to numb the mind and body to get the individual through the experience. This numbness serves like a shock absorber in a car.
However, there are times when the brain and its chemicals become so out of balance that clinical depression may occur. This can happen to anyone, but we are often shocked when it happens to a man of God like Elijah.
Have you ever heard the expression, "It’s enough to make a preacher curse"? Preachers face difficult times also.
Illus: This expression reminds me of the story about little boy selling a lawn mower to the local preacher.
The pastor pulled on the rope several times to make sure the mower would start, but nothing happened. Not even a sputter.
The boy told the preacher that he would have to kick the mower and say a few bad words before the mower would start.
The preacher said, "Son, I can’t do that. I am a minister and I have chosen to live on the high road.” He then said, “It’s been years since I said a bad word, I do not even remember how to say bad words."
The little boy replied, "Just keep pulling the rope Preacher and it will come back to you."
We all have had to face things in life that were so devastating that they threw us into a state of depression.
Who would ever have thought that Elijah could be on such a SPIRITUAL HIGH one day and reach such a SPIRITUAL LOW on another? Some think he had more than a state of depression. SOME THINK ELIJAH HAD A NERVOUS BREAK DOWN.
Let’s look at some of these symptoms for ourselves in the life of Elijah. For example, we see:
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of sleep or energy
• Loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities
• Reduced ability to concentrate
• Feelings of hopelessness or uselessness
Let’s look at the scriptures and see if these symptoms prevailed in his life.
I. HIS LIFE REVEALED PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION
Look at 1 Kings 18:45-46 “And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”
Some of you marathon runners might want to know that the Bible says the hand of the Lord was on Elijah and he ran for approximately 20 miles. This would exhaust anyone! Listen, if I had to run 20 miles, the hand of the Lord had better be on me or I would not make it.
After defeating the prophets of Baal and praying for rain, Elijah was on a SPIRITUAL HIGH. It is always a shock to us when we see men and women who have enjoyed SPIRITUAL HIGHS fall so low.
But even the greatest among us have to deal with depression.
• Winston Churchill said, "Depression followed me around like a black dog all of my life."
• Job was depressed. He lost everything, then cursed the day he was born: "Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?." Job 3:11
• David was depressed: " Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?…. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." Psalm 6:2-3, 6
• Moses dealt with discouragement and depression. Look at Numbers 11:14-15, we read, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.”
• A young lawyer in the 1800’s suffered such a deep depression that his friends did everything they could to keep all the razors and knives away from him. He wrote these words, "I am now the most miserable man living.” This lawyer later became the 16th president of the United States. His name was Abraham Lincoln.
• Even a great preacher by the name of Charles Spurgeon was given to periods of depression. History tells us that there were times when Spurgeon would be so depressed that he would refuse to leave his home to go to church. On more than one occasion, his deacons had to come and physically carry their pastor to the pulpit.
Preachers, like everyone else, have to deal with discouragement and depression.
Illus: A man asked a preacher friend, “How many active members do you have?” The preacher replied, “They’re all active. Half of them are working with me and half of them are working against me.”
Satan always loves to attack us, but he especially loves to attack us when we are tired and weak in body. If you said, “Elijah, how are you?” He would have said “I am tired,” and he could have said:
• I confronted the idolatry of an entire nation
• I challenged an entire cult and it’s leaders and had 450 of their prophets killed
• I fasted, and prayed down fire from heaven
• I prayed intensely for it to rain after three years and it rained.
• In the power of the Holy Spirit I ran for over 20 miles back to town
This man had a right to be tired!
When this man of God became weak and tired, the devil pounced on him and he became so discouraged that he wanted to die.
Some ministers, in their efforts to serve the Lord, do not take any time off from the ministry. They know:
• There is always a sermon that needs to be completed
• There is always a funeral to attend or conduct
• There is always someone having surgery
• There is always someone needing encouragement
• There is always someone needing to be witnessed to
Week after week and month after month they are under the strain of the ministry and this is when the devil pounces on them.
God said, in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing…” Why did the Lord say this? BECAUSE WE CAN BE WEARY IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD!”
But not only does the preacher get PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED, so do hard working Deacons, Sunday School teachers and lay people in the church.
Illus: One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning Alex." "Good morning pastor," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. "Pastor McGhee, what is this?" Alex asked. "Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service." Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex’s voice was barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the MORNING SERVICE or the EVENING SERVICE?"
There are people all over this nation being treated for depression and all they need to do is take off a couple of weeks or a month and get some good rest, and they would be a new person. In our service for the Lord we can become very tired and weary in body.
HIS LIFE REVEALED PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION and -
II. HIS LIFE REVEALED LONELINESS
Look at 1 Kings 19:4, we read, “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
A depressed person isolates himself from others. Notice, Elijah separated himself from everyone, he went a days journey into the wilderness and sat under a juniper tree and requested that THE LORD TAKE HIS LIFE!
It is good to be alone at times, but sometimes it can be the worst thing for us. There are times when we want to be alone and we should surround ourselves with family and friends that love us.
Illus: Parker and Hart's comic strip, "The Wizard of Id" showed a lonely and bored little king who finally sighed from his balcony, "It's lonely at the top." A voice from below answered, "It ain't no bed of roses at the bottom, Charlie!" (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).
Loneliness is a major problem in this country. We can be surrounded by busy people who do not have time to say to us:
• Good morning
• How are you
• How has your day been
We live in a world where people are so busy that many do not even know their neighbors next door.
Illus: Dear Ann Landers:
A man wrote, "Please come home early" was the most unreasonable request ever made by my wife of almost 40 years. She didn't make this request often. It came mostly on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but it seemed that I always had so many things to do that in spite of her gentle urging, I rarely came home early.”
“I don't want to give the impression that I was never at home. I was at home a lot. We rarely did anything out of the ordinary. We enjoyed the kids and the grandchildren. We listened to music, read the paper, and had meals together. Sometimes we would just talk about how the day had gone.”
“Now I know why she asked me so often to "Please come home early." She wasn't just lonely, she was lonely for me. When she passed away a short time ago, I learned firsthand what loneliness is all about.”
“I have a supportive family and many good friends. I'm free now to go places and do things, but I'm lonesome. Lonesome for her. Now that she's gone, I've found the time to "come home early," but there is nobody to come home to. There is nobody to do those simple little things with, such as watching the evening news, listening to music, and reading the paper. And nobody cares how my day went.”
“If I should get a call from the good Lord to "Please come home early," I won't fight it.” (Lonesome in K.C.)
Loneliness is a terrible thing. When we are lonely, we are left alone with our thoughts and Satan takes advantage of us and tries to make us think the most horrible thoughts we can think. We all get lonely at times, but sometimes loneliness can become a serious problem.
Illus: A man said to a waitress, "Do you serve breakfast here?" • Waitress: "Sure, what will it be?"
• Man: "Let me have some watery scrambled eggs. Some burnt toast and some weak coffee."
• Waitress: "Whatever you say, sir."
• Man: "Now, are you doing anything while that order is being filled?"
• Waitress: "Well, not much."
• Man: "Then you could please sit here and nag me a while. I’m homesick."
Notice that Elijah’s loneliness was self-induced. When he should have sought for the companionship of family and friends, he went into the wilderness alone and it wasn’t long he before he wished he was dead!
Look at 1 Kings 19:14, “And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
But the Lord reminded him in 1 Kings 19:18-19b “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. So he departed thence….”
There are times Christians get discouraged and the devil talks them into staying home alone. Why? He knows he can bombard their minds and soon they will began to think they do not have a thing to live for. The best thing they can do is get up, get dressed and surround themselves with people that love the Lord.
But do not expect everyone at church to be a mind reader. Confide in someone and say, “Listen, I am so lonely, do you have time after church to go out with me for a cup of coffee. I need a friend to talk about some problems I have.”
One of the worst feelings of a depressed person is the desire to separate oneself from everyone. This can be the worst thing in the world for us to do at times.
The fellowship of the church is so important, God said in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
HIS LIFE REVEALED PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION, HIS LIFE REVEALED LONELINESS and -
III. HIS LIFE REVEALED HE LOST FOCUS
He lost focus in two ways:
(1) HE LISTENED TO THE WRONG VOICE
Look at 1 Kings 19:1-2, we read, “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.”
This great man that God had spoken to and worked through was scared to death because Jezebel threatened to kill him.
Now remember, Elijah was under a Juniper tree saying, “I WISH I WAS DEAD!” But he did not mean it, because all he had to do was sit there long enough and Jezebel would have been glad to accommodate him.
He became discouraged when he started listening to Jezebel and quit listening to God.
(2) HE GOT HIS EYES ON THE WRONG PERSON
Look at verse 4, “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness…and he requested for himself that he might die…”
Notice, he is not praying for OTHERS, he is only praying for HIMSELF. He had forgotten that he was the prophet to Israel. His attention is on himself.
Elijah gave up on life, on his ministry and on God. He was one discourage CHILD OF GOD.
Illus: He was like the teacher who said to her students, "Boys and girls, there is a wonderful example in the life of the ant. Every day the ant goes to work and works all day. Every day the ant is busy. And in the end, what happens?" Little Johnny said, "SOMEONE STEPS ON HIM."
Conclusion:
We have to avoid things and people that can cause us to become discouraged.
There are a lot of things in life that discourage us, and if we should avoid them if it is possible. But there are some things we can not avoid.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger tells how he and his wife were in their mountain home in Chimney Rock, N.C.. He was carrying some building supplies up a steep mountain road and his truck could not make it. He had to back it down the hill, but as he did, his truck jackknifed and the trailer he was pulling got caught on a large rock. One of the native mountain men and his son came along and saw their predicament and stopped and assisted them. When he got through helping him and his wife get out of the bind they were in, he jokingly turned to him and said, “You flatlanders do not know how to drive in this rough terrain!”
Now many of us have no problem with the HIGHS in our life, it is the FLAT LAND that gives us the trouble. But the Lord wants to teach us how to live in the FLAT LANDS as well as the HIGH LANDS.
Once Elijah got some rest and some food, God told Him to go back to work.
We have looked at:
I. HIS LIFE REVEALED PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION
II. HIS LIFE REVEALED LONELINESS
III. HIS LIFE REVEALED HE LOST FOCUS
