CrossingPoint Church

1. Great victory is followed by a great fight. Elijah defeated the god Baal on Mt Carmel in 1 Kings 18, and killed 450 of this gods prophets. The queen Jezebel threatened Elijah through her servant. Intimidation and manipulation will come into your life immediately after a great victory.

Elijah laid under a broom tree. A broom tree was a juniper tree, similar to a Mountain Cedar tree. He later fled to a cave with the same despair. The threat from Jezebel drove him to despair. His response to the Lord three times was 1. "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" 2. "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life. 3. “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Who is Jezebel?
1. Revelation 2:20-21 calls her a self proclaimed prophetess, who is teaching and seducing those who serve God to commit sexual immorality.

2. She never speaks to Elijah personally, only through servants and her husband Ahab. Her presence influences others to attack the voice of God in their life. Elijah was the prophet of God, and she influenced others to attack him. This is manipulation.

3. She practices witchcraft. No, this is not the black hat and broom kind of witch. Witchcraft is not something that Satan does, it is something that people do that open the door to darkness. Galatians 5:19-21 calls it a work of the flesh. It is a work of the flesh whose intent to so gain power and influence over someone for personal and evil gain.

4. A modern day instrument of Jezebel: social media. Kids are bullied over social media, false stories of lives are projected in order to make people believe one thing about them, and many times we feel like we don't have it all together because it seems like everyone else does. This next week, join me in prayer every morning from 6-7am or your lunch time, and fast social media. Go ahead and delete the app from your phone this morning.

The voices you listen to determine can drive you to despair. "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” You are not in this alone, you can stand against the God of this day.

In despair, Elijah needed to eat. The angel of the Lord told him twice under this tree, "Arise and eat." You have to eat if you are feeling like you are in despair. You have a journey ahead of you. So if you are feeling in despair this morning, make sure your diet is a diet of the word of God. You need fresh bread and water for your journey!

The reaction in despair is often to withdraw further. Elijah went to a cave, and the angel of the Lord asked him twice, "what are you doing here?" Ultimately he heard the still small voice of God through all of the fear and intimidation of Jezebel.

The next generation depends on you coming out of despair.
1. Elijah would anoint Hazael the King if Syria.
2. Elijah would anoint Jehu King of Israel.
3. Elijah would anoint Elisha the prophet.

If Hazael didn't stop the enemy, Jehu would, and if Jehu didn't stop the enemy, Elisha would.

You are not alone in despair. This is the biggest weapon of Jezebel. She wants you to think you are all alone in this righteous fight. "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Small Group Questions:

What examples of despair have you expressed or heard lately? What types of events or circumstances have made you despair—or tempted you to give up? How did you come out of despair, and what advice to you have for those going through it?

Do you agree that it’s wrong for Christians to ever despair? Is it okay to feel despair about the consequences of sin, such as injustice, tragedies, loss, illness, and so on? Why or why not?

When Christians appear defeated or disengage from public life, what message do we send about our faith and our God? Do Christians always need to be upbeat and wear a smile, or can that seem phony? Explain.

To what degree are you intimidated by the world or by what might happen to you in it? Are you confident that the world can’t harm you, thanks to Jesus’ victory over death? If so, how does that show in your day-to-day life?

Read 1 Kings 19:9-18
What did Elijah tell God was the reason he was depressed?

Describe the progression of events as Elijah stood on the mountain before God. Why wasn’t God in the wind or the earthquake or the fire?

Why do you think God came in a whisper? What did God ask Elijah?

How would you describe the way God felt toward Elijah in that moment? How did God respond practically to Elijah’s loneliness and depression?

Help with Despair and Depression:
Physically - Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. How might taking care of your physical body be an important step in dealing with depression? What might it look like for you to begin honoring God with your body this week?

Spiritually - Even though we might feel ill equipped to help brothers or sisters suffering from depression, what are some practical things we can do (see James 5:16; Romans 12:15-16)?

How can remembering how God has loved you in the past help when you experience times of adversity in the future?