June 14 2015 Freedom From Depression

FREEDOM FROM DEPRESSION

1 Kings 19:1-18 

Verse 4 – I have had enough, Lord.  Take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.

A Prime Candidate For Depression Is: Physically tired & emotionally exhausted.

I. First, notice what causes or increases depression.

A) One – You focus on feelings instead of facts.

Verse 3-4 – Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.

B) Secondly, you can increase depression by comparing yourselves with others.

Verse 4 – “I’m no better than my ancestors.”

2 Corinthians 10:12 – We do not dare to compare ourselves with some.

C) Thirdly, depression is increased when we take false blame.

Verse 10 – “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.  The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.”

You can sometimes influence people but you can’t control them.

D) A fourth mistake we make about depression is exaggerate the negative.

Verse 10 – “Everybody’s against me.”

II. Secondly, notice God’s cure for depression

A) First take care of physical needs.

Verses 5-6 – Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep, and then the angel said, “Get up and eat,” and he looked and saw bread and a jar of water.

B) Secondly give your frustrations to God.

Verses 9-10 – Israel rejected the covenant, broke down the altars, put the prophets to death, the only one left.

Many emotions:

Verse 3:  He was afraid.

Verse 4:  He talks about resentment.

Verse 10:  Worked hard for nothing. Thought they would kill him.

C) Thirdly get a fresh awareness of God.

Verse 11 – “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for I am to pass by.”

HOW TO GET A FRESH AWARENESS

Get alone with God.

D) Fourthly get a new direction for life.

Verse 15 –“Go back the way you came and go to the Desert of Damascus.  When you get there here’s what I want you to do.”

Matthew 16:25 – Whoever loses his life will find it.

YOU CAN CHANGE!

July 28 2013 Trusting God When You Feel Alone

TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE

Thoughts on Discouragement

1. Elijah was totally exhausted.
I Kings 18 - Meanwhile the sky grew black with clouds and the winds rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.  The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

2. Elijah was naïve.
I Kings 19:1-3 - Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, may the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like one of them.

3.  It can lead to isolation.
I Kings 19:4 - Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die.

Loneliness = inner emptiness.
A preoccupation with poor me.
Aloneness = is inner fulfillment.
Now that I’m alone with Jesus, I can recover, repair and regroup.

4. It hurts our self image.
Verse 4 - I have had enough, Lord, he said, take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.

We cannot consistently live in a manner that is inconsistent with the way we see ourselves.

5.  Causes us to run from responsibility.
Verse 9 - There he went into a cave and spent the night and the Word of the Lord came to him.  “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

6. Causes us to blame others for our circumstances.
Verse 10 - I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty, but now the Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.  I am the only one left.

7.  Makes our future look hopeless.

How did God deal with Elijah’s discouragement?

1.  Gave him rest and food.
Verses 5-8

2.  Encouraged him.
Verses 9-10

Areas I can Change:

Areas I can get changed:

Areas that are not going to be changed:

3.  Renewed relationship with God.
Verses 11-13

4.  Told him to get back to work.
Verse 15 - Go back the way you came.  Anoint the King and Elisha as the prophet to come after you.

5.  Gave him someone to minister to him.
Verse 21 - Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.