SERMONS THAT WORK FROM 1 KINGS 19 is a sermon about conquering discouragement. This is a topical sermon with three main preaching points which helps explain discouragement.
Sermons That Work From 1 Kings 19 is a topical sermon that examines the causes of discouragement, the consequences of discouragement and the cure for discouragement.
Sermons That Work From 1 Kings 19
INTRODUCTION: An anonymous pastor wrote the following: In the first five years of my ministry, I had a sign on my desk that read, “Win the World for Christ!” In my second five years of ministry, I put up a new sign that read, “Win One or Two for Christ!” Since that time I have this sign on my desk: “Try Not to Lose Too Many!”
When I read that, it reinforced the fact that discouragement is real and paralyzing.
Charles H. Spurgeon wrote: “Discouragement creeps over my heart and makes me go with heaviness to my work. It is dreadfully weakening.”
Someone said, “Discouragement is everywhere. It can be found in schools, in governments, in offices, in homes, in factories and in churches. In fact, it can be found everywhere. Anywhere you find people, you will also find discouragement.”
J. O. Fraser said, “Discouragement is a ploy of the devil to get a foot hole in our lives in order to destroy our effectiveness as Christians.”
Let me ask you a question, has discouragement touched your life recently? And if it has, what can we do about discouragement? How can we conquer discouragement before it destroys our vibrance for life? How can we conquer discouragement before it destroys our effectiveness as Christians? You know, that’s a good question!
As I look at the life of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, I believe we will gain some insights into conquering discouragement—insights that will help us to press on for Jesus Christ rather than be buried in discouragement.
There are THREE INSIGHTS into conquering discouragement. They are …
1. We need to REALIZE the causes of discouragement
When we read the story of Elijah (1 Kings 19), we soon discover that he lost his spiritual perspective to life and his spiritual freshness with the Lord.
All this seemed to take place in a twenty-four hour period. The day before he was on a spiritual high (1 Kings 18:20-39) but now he is on the run.
It seems his faith turned to fear.
2. We need to RECOGNIZE the consequences of discouragement
Discouragement affected Elijah’s ministry and thinking. He lost sight of God’s purpose for his life (1 Kings 19:4) and began feeling sorrow for himself (1 Kings 19:10).
Discouragement leads to negative thinking. It destroys our vibrance for life and ministry. It brings a dark cloud over our lives where we begin to think with a woe is me attitude. Discouragement exchanges faith for fear.
3. We need to RECEIVE the cure for discouragement
Often when discouragement comes, we develop a mind set that no one seems to care and no one seems to want to help. And yet, God cares (1 Kings 19:5-8) and God is there for us while we are going through these difficult situations.
Do you remember these words, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints. Other times there was only one. This bothered me because I noticed during the low periods of my life when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, “You promised me, Lord, that if I followed You, You would walk with me always. But I noticed during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I needed You most, have You not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Conclusion: Let’s remember that wonderful truth – God cares for us and He is there with us in those difficult times in life.
We can conquer discouragement by realizing the causes, by recognizing the consequences and by receiving the cure for discouragement.