The Discouraged Witness
Arizona State Lectureship • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Discouragement, defeat, distress, domination, dreadfulness, dreariness, despair, damaged, danger, debauchery, dejection, deficient, delirious, deplorable, denied, despondent, dilapidated, discontent, disdain, disturbed, and most of discouraged. I imagine if we had to sum up the emotions that the prophet Elijah was feeling during this time in , imagine we could use these words.
It is one thing to go through a tough time but it is another to face that time alone. Not only facing that time alone but facing that time at the expense of facing trial as a result of helping someone that you really did not want to help in the first place.
The prophet Elijah was called by God during a critical moment in Israel. Omri gave his son Ahab in marriage to Jezebel, and she brought Baal worship to Isreal. This is a testament to the idea that leadership takes a team effort. A good man’s leadership can be in question at the expense of a contentious wife. God’s calling on Elijah’s life was one that would essentially change the dynamic of his Kingdom and just know that some jobs are meant to be done alone.
it’s quite ironic that Elijah would prescribe the same warning in the same place in the same manner as Moses. Be mindful that a good example does not mean discouragement will not ensue. Nonetheless a good example can be the determining factor to a profitable outcome.
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.
But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.
Essentially Elijah imitates the directives and strategy of Moses, in the same place to the same people. Understand my fellow brothers and sisters sometimes no matter what you emulate or repeat some folks just will not take heed, do not be discouraged.
Understand in the spiritual forest of the church everyone does not have giraffe vision, just because you can see amongst the trees does not mean the turtles in that same forest will have the same vision you have, do not be discouraged.
Discouragement by Betrayal
Discouragement by Betrayal
Elijah predicted drought, be mindful that everyone is not a fan of your prophetic word. Everyone does not appreciate the truth you may be able to speak to their lives.
Some folks will refuse the truth and then be mad at you because what you shared comes to fruition.
They would rather destroy you than except what God has called you to share on their behalf.
for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and provided them with bread and water.
If you are discouraged do not be afraid when God calls you to walk in the face of death. I’m reminded of King David, yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.
Do not be afraid of the discouragers, because God is with you. Even when you have to go alone do not be discouraged.
He said, What sin have I commited, that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?
Customarily we have been conditioned to think that a tough situation means we have done something wrong, sometimes it is not about doing something wrong sometimes God knows you are strong enough to solve this situation.
Do not be discouraged by dysfunction find a solution.
Do not be discouraged by contentious folks, find a way to minister to them.
Do not be discouraged by back-stabbers find a way to forgive.
Understand that God has a plan, understand that if God called you to confront it, he’s called you to conquer it.
Do Not Be Discouraged By Loneliness
Do Not Be Discouraged By Loneliness
This level of discouragement is essentially depression. The bible tells us in verse 4 that Elijah traveled for a day on the run from Jezebel. We see that his discouragement has led him to a deep depression of truly wanting to die.
Verse 4 - Enough, now, O Jehovah, take my soul, for I am not better than my fathers.
See that Elijah is resting under a Juniper tree. Isn’t interesting that God will cover us with stuff that is going through the same stuff we are going through.
Elijah is in the midst of a drought, Juniper’s have the ability to grow in a drought.
Be mindful of the fact that he is has been traveling a day in the midst of a drought, by himself. He’s depressed he’s probably not in his right mind, he’s most likely dehydrated yet God gives him a place of rest in the midst of his trial.
English Standard Version Chapter 19
7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
Verse 7 states, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.
A Juniper has a lot of medicinal uses it can cure infections, it can flush excess fluid from the body, it’s always beautiful that in the midst of discouragement God will put you right in the midst of your resource.
A Juniper has a lot of medicinal uses it can cure infections, it can flush excess fluid from the body, it’s always beautiful that in the midst of discouragement God will put you right in the midst of your resource.
Sometimes just in case your journey gets a little too tough for you to handle God will put you in the midst of the juniper trees of life to ensure you can complete your journey.
This wasn’t just any type of meal, this wasn’t just any type of rest. It was a meal and some rest that was better than a plate of soul food and Sunday nap because the bible says that he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights.
Come out of Your Cave
Come out of Your Cave
Just when Elijah was so discouraged he wanted to give up God protected him
Often times when we are discouraged our first response is to hide, but when God is on my side I do not have to hide. God has called us to stand out on the mountains in front of our oppressors.
Here’s the key, understand that just because you are alone, just because you are going through one rough experience does not mean that the other tough experiences are a result of that.
Sometimes God has to show you his phenomenal acts so you will be confident moving forward. See human nature allows us to forget what he has done for us previously.
In verse 10 Elijah says “I only, am left” how soon we forget that God just slayed Baal’s prophets Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 19
So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
English Standard Version Chapter 19
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
Do not be discouraged because just when you feel alone and believe it is all over, the Lord is passing by.
When you feel alone and you believe no one is there to help the Lord is passing by.
The winds of your storm might be strong enough to knock you over but just know that the Lord is passing by.
Your world might be shook up like an earthquake, Elijah’s world was so shaken up, prophets were being executed, and Elijah felt alone but the Lord was passing by.
Everything around you might be in flames, everything you’ve worked hard for might seem to be crumbling right before your eyes but the Lord is passing by.
Oh, but thank God for the peace that passes all understanding! Do not be discouraged, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith? Then he rose and rebuked the winds and sea and there was a great calm”.
The calmness of God comes at the right time, there is no need to run, there is no need to be afraid, there is no need to be discouraged, the gentle whisper is coming (v, 12).
In conclusion, God will allow you to return to those who discouraged you and prepare a table of power in their presence. He left discouraged but returned encouraged to appoint the people of God.
He left being hunted to death but he returned to see the power of God put the people to death that wanted to kill him!
Be calm and stand at the mountain top because your gentle whisper is coming!
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.