Sabbath 5/6/17 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater FL Pastor John sermon �Dealing with Discouragement�

Posted : 6 May, 2017 12:58 PM

Sabbath 5/6/17 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater FL Pastor John sermon �Dealing with Discouragement� I Kings chaps 17, 18, 19

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Elijah is from Tishbite and he goes to King Ahab to speak the word from the Lord. The prophet Elijah just popped in on the scene with no family history listed. He just spoke what God said. There is no prophet that is spoken of more than Elijah. It is also Elijah that appeared with Moses on the mount of transformation with Jesus. When his time on earth came to an end, Elijah left this earth in a chariot of fire.



In our scriptures in chapter 17, Elijah has conflicts with King Ahab. In chapter 18, Elijah destroys the prophets of Baal after God shoots fire down from Heaven. God�s fire burns up the sacrifice, the 12 stones of the altar and dries up the water in the trench around it. In chapter 19, Queen Jezebel puts out an order to kill Elijah. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. He responded with fear to the leader that had just been defeated by God. Elijah ran to the mountains to retreat. Many of us have retreated, wanted to escape from our environment and issues. Elijah is now in a cave in the mountain. Verse 4-8: God sends an angel to feed Elijah food and water because he has a journey ahead of him.



Elijah was being prepared for his future. God gave him rest, food and water. God treated Elijah for physical and emotional exhaustion. Jesus fixed people�s physical and emotional needs. He does it for us today. Jesus has compassion for other�s needs and we should have this same compassion too. Elijah told God that Queen Jezebel was out to kill him. In a small still voice, God said for him to go back. God said this after He showed Elijah His power in the rocks being broken up, the strong winds and the earthquakes. Still Elijah was discouraged and kept his focus on Jezebel trying to kill him instead of looking at God�s power. God helped Elijah change his mind when He told him that he was not alone. In verse 18 God said He had 7,000 people who had not worshipped the idol Baal. God gave Elijah a look at the big picture and a look that was beyond himself. Twice God asked the hiding Elijah, �what are you doing here?�



***Moving Beyond Discouragement****



1) Do Activities/Tasks: God assigned tasks for Elijah to do. He was to anoint a couple of Kings and find a replacement prophet for his job. Eventually Elijah passed his mantle onto Elisha.



2) See Beyond the Picture: We need to know that God is using us for His Big Plan. God doesn�t need us but He has chosen us to be used. We all have a small part in God�s Big Plan.



Remember God is with us to encourage and uphold us. He will provide the way for us to go. God will help us recover from our discouragement.

AMEN

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