Humor: Have you ever heard this expression, "It’s enough to make a preacher cuss." It reminds me of story about little boy trying to sell a lawn mower. The local pastor walked up and he was able to persuade him to buy the worn out lawn mower. The pastor pulled on the rope several times to make sure the mower would start, but nothing happen. Not even a spit or a sputter.
The boy told the preacher that he would have to kick the mower and say a few cuss words before the mower would crank. The preacher said, "Son, I can’t do that. It’s been years since I said a cuss word." The little boy replied, "Just keep pulling and it will come back to you."...
The Christians two chief occupational hazards are depression and discouragement.
What is depression? Depression is a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that leads to sadness.
It shocks us when we realize that great men and women go through periods of deep, dark depression. For instance, Winston Churchill said, "Depression followed me around like a black dog all of my life." A young lawyer in the 1800’s suffered such a deep depression that his friends did everything they could to keep all razors and knives away from him. He wrote these words, "I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not." This lawyer later became the 16th president of the United States. His name was Abraham Lincoln. Even a man 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.
· •Depression affects all classes, races, ages, groups and genders of people.
· •17.6 million Americans will deal with some form of depression this year.
· •One out of every 5 Americans can expect to deal with depression in their lifetime.
· •The rate of clinical depression is twice that of men. Statistics teach that one person out of every seven in this very room will need some form of professional help in dealing with depression in their lifetime.
· •The National Institute of Mental Health estimated that depression cost the nation between $30-$44 billion in 1990 alone. In addition to that, over 2 million work days are lost each year due to depression.
· •Depression is the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse, and other addictions.
· •Untreated depression is the number on cause of suicide.
· •Depression is not something to mess with! If you are dealing with depression, get help!
Of course, not all depression is bad. Depression is the body’s natural reaction to shock. When a time of grief, stress, frustration, or illness occurs, the brain will release chemicals that will serve to numb the mind and body. This is like a shock absorber. However, there are times when the brain and its chemicals become so out of balance that clinical depression may occur. Professionals say that a period of depression lasting over 2 weeks should be considered serious and needs treatment.
V. 3 After all he had already faced: the dry brook, the empty barrel, the dead boy, the prophets of Baal and the lack of rain; and after all that he had seen the Lord do: close the heavens, replenish the barrel, raise the boy, consume the sacrifice, enable the prophet to destroy the false prophets and to run to Jezreel - it seems that Jezebel was a nothing, a non-problem. Yet, Elijah does that which is irrational and runs away. I mean when you are kicked by a mule, just consider the source! When a carnal person kicks your life and work, just ignore them and carry on!
He doesn’t just leave Jezreel, Elijah runs due south almost 125 miles. He actually left Israel and ran all the way to the southern border of Judah. He went as far as he could so that he might avoid the reach of one woman!
Illustration: When duck hunting I often see beavers, the beavers never where a problem…until one time when I had a close encounter. It was just about dark and I was gathering up my decoys when I noticed a beaver swimming in my direction. I didn’t pay any attention to the beaver just figured he would soon turn and swim off as they always did. Just as I put a decoy in my bag and took another step towards the rest of my decoys I hear a large splash right behind me and looking over my shoulder I could tell it was just about to take a chuck out of my back side. As I spun to fight it off it spun with me, so I spun again and it did likewise. The faster I spun the faster it spun and the closer it got to my back side when finally I felt I could out run it no longer I put my hand down to fight off it’s bit and realized I was running from one of my decoys. The string that runs from the decoy to the weight had wrapped around my leg and with every movement I pulled the decoy behind me, and with every turn I wrapped the line and pulled it closer. I had almost given myself a heart attack running from a decoy. How often do we run from things in the same way just because we haven’t looked at them from the right perspective?
ONE IS THE LONLEIST NUMBER
1. Elijah separated himself from those closest to him, v. 3. As a result, he felt all alone. However, notice that this is irrational thinking. God still had 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal in Israel, v. 18. Elijah never sought them out. One of the worse effects of a depressed spirit is the desire to separate oneself from every one. Many people who become discouraged have a tendency to develop an "I’m all alone" or a "Nobody understands" mentality. If these feelings are allowed to go on unhindered the pessimistic person begins to think that they are the only person in the world who is right. It becomes, "me against them." That is a sad, lonely place to be! You see this kind of thinking in the church all the time. A person will become discouraged and will drop out of church saying, "No one understands me. I just don’t fit in." What they are doing is projecting their own feelings of hopelessness onto those around them. They are looking for a scapegoat to place blame upon so that they do not have to look too closely at themselves. Yet, the fellowship of the church is so important, Heb. 10:25! Even if the people at church don’t understand what you are going through, at least they can pray with you and be a friend to you! You need people around you!
2. Elijah took his eyes off the Lord and focused on negative circumstances, v. 3. When we leave God and His power out of the picture, we are in trouble. (Ill. Peter - Matt. 14:28-31. We must learn to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus - Heb. 12:1-2)
3. He stopped interceding for others and started focusing on himself, v. 4. This was the first time Elijah had prayed for himself. He had forgotten that he was the prophet to Israel. His attention is full of himself. When we become so self-conscious that it dominates our thinking, we are in trouble spiritually. When we get to the place where everything is about "me", we need to check up.
4. Elijah forgot all about God’s provisions v. 4. Elijah said, in effect, "I’ve had it! I quit!" He sat down and he gave up. Elijah felt that life was no longer worth living. As long as we can remember that there is hope, we can make it through. May we never forget that God is still on the throne, and no matter how bad things become, God is in control! He knows where we are and what we are facing. He will see us through! As long as there is a God in Heaven, there is hope for you - Rom. 8:28; Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17. Elijah gave up on life, on ministry and on God.
Num 11:14-15
14I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now--if I have found favor in your eyes--and do not let me face my own ruin."
Here was a man of God who said, Oh, God if you really loved me you would kill me.
Jonah 4:3
3Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
These where all successful prophets, so if it happened to them it could happen to any of us.
What are the problems they faced?
Illustration: 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 9:00 or the 11:00?"
1. A physical problem, all where physically worn out.
Elijah had done with out food, strung out, and had just finished a 30 mile run.
Jonah had a whale-house for a jailhouse, and a warm blubber mattress. Had just preached to a city the size of Philadelphia without a PA system.
When you are physically worn out you’re a candidate for depression.
Vince Lombardi once said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
These bodies were not designed to be pushed constantly. The Lord set this thing up so that man could have a day of rest, Mark 2:27; Even the Lord Jesus Christ took time away from His work to rest His body, "And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.", Mark 6:31. That’s why I say if you can take a vacation, take it! Your body needs the rest and the break from activity. Let’s face the truth; we run from activity to activity, with a cell phone in one hand and a day planner in the other. We stay up late and get up early and never take time for our bodies to rest. This is not what God planned and it can lead to serious trouble for you!
2. A psychological problem, they where emotionally torn-up.
Moses had a people problem, everybody was crying and blaming him for their problems. He was emotionally overloaded. He gave and gave and never replenished himself.
Elijah had a pity party. He has taken his eyes off the Lord. Evidently Elijah once had the idea he was better then other people. Jezebel promised him she was going to make him a foot shorter at the top before the sun went down. He didn’t want to die because if he really did, all he had to do was stay where he was.
Jonah had a pouty problem. He was angry because God sent revival, when Jonah wanted judgment.
Depression hits when something we value is threatened or taken from us. We get bitter and angry when these things are threatened or taken from us.
3. A spiritual problem, they were run down.
They had a spiritual problem when they where in physical and psychological trouble. The devil is the kind of friend that when you’re in quicksand he’ll pat you on the head. When your worn-out physically and wrung-out mentally you’re a sitting duck for the devil.
They where all coming off a great spiritual high.
Moses had just come out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. You would think that a man like that would be on the mountaintop forever, wouldn’t you? But he’s in the valley asking to die.
Elijah had just come from the greatest revival in Israel’s history, when the whole nation was turning from Baal worship to God. From the showdown to the let down, from the mountaintop to the valley, from standing up to 450 false prophets of Baal to running from one woman. All this in the same day! Have you ever been on an emotional roller coaster? That in and of its self is enough to wear you out, not to mention Elijah hadn’t eaten and just ran 30 miles.
When did the devil come and tempt Jesus? After a great spiritual victory, He had just been baptized by John in the Jordan River. He is physically worn out from 40 days of fasting. But the devil didn’t win with Jesus and he doesn’t have to win with you. There is a principle here when we get our eyes off of the Lord and put them on self, other people or circumstances we are in danger of depression and it doesn’t have to be that way.
THE PROVISION THEY FOUND.
What did God do for these people? We thank God for answered prayer, but do we ever thank God for unanswered prayer. We better…wouldn’t we be in trouble if God always answered our prayers with yes? God kill me was the prayer of these three men of God. God doesn’t always give us what we want He gives us what we need.
God knew what was best form them and His glory. God didn’t mistake the moment for the man. Have you ever had a moment before where you totally loose it? For the rest of your life some people will define you by that “moment”. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t do that; He knows you better than you know yourself. When you confess your sin He is faithful and just to forgive your sin and forget your iniquity.
What did God do for them physically?
He gave Moses 70 elders to help him. There is enough time in everyday for us to do gracefully what God wants us to do. So that means Moses was doing something God didn’t want him to do and calling it serving God. You need to make a list of all the things you’re doing that are consuming your life. We need to eliminate something, delegate something’s, and dedicate the rest. There are some things other people can do, to free you up to do the things gracefully that God wants you to be doing. God made a physical provision for Moses.
God also made a physical provision for Elijah. He gave him some food, water and rest. God knows you need some rest, do you think that when you’re running around overextending yourself that you’re being some super Christian for God?
Ps 127:2
2In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat--
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
The answer for you that is intensely spiritual maybe extremely practical.
I will leave you with this thought, your depression is not a sin, and it may not always be the result of sin! However, to allow yourself to wallow in it is a sin! If you see signs of depression in your life seek the help you need.
There are some people who do not believe that Christians can become depressed. They will say things like, "Just snap out of it."; "Where is your faith?"; "Just get over it!"; "If you trusted God like you should you wouldn’t feel like you do." I want you to know that Jesus Christ promised to save those who trusted in Him from Hell. However, He never promised to save us from the dangers of discouragement and depression. He did promise to help us, to be with us, to sustain us and to bring us safely home when our journey is ended.
