True Fellowship Holiness Church Bible Study
Facilitator: Sister Drewcilla Douse
Topic:Where’s My Fuel Gauge… Am I full, sputtering, half-full or running on empty?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:How is my present emotional energy affecting my spiritual life?
Introduction:Soul searching godliness is a vital part of living for God’s heavenly will. In order to live Godly, we must exam ourselves to have a sense of our own weakness(es).By our very own nature we all struggle with weakness.
What is your spiritual gauge reading?
Focus scriptures:
2 Corinthians11:16- (12:10)
2 Corinthians11:23
12: 1-10
1 Samuel 13:15-23
Romans 8:26-39
Genesis 29:31
3:1-13
Psalm 32: 1-11
2 Kings 5: 1-14
1 Corinthians1:25
Psalm 63: 1-18
Judges 13: 1,16:31
Romans 8 17, 28
Prelude to discussion:
We see at least four sources of despair in Elijah’s life that are often found in our lives today:
1. He was depleted by victory (1). Elijah was really pumped up after the amazing victory onMount Carmel. In his jubilation, 1 Kings18:40describes Elijah pulling a Forrest Gump by running ahead of Ahab and his chariot, arriving back at the palace before Ahab did. This run was not on a treadmill! He ran about 20 miles, up and down some pretty rough terrain. He couldn’t wait to receive the public recognition he deserved. He was on a spiritual high and maybe thought that since all the false prophets were put to death that Jezebel would be next.
Verse 1 tells us “Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.” Ahab was probably gushing about all he had seen. Jezebel began to turn bright red with anger. Here’s a principle to remember: The most vulnerable point in our life is right after we’ve experienced a mighty victory. When we come off the mountain, we often go right into the valley.
2. He was disconcerted by fear (2-3a). Instead of being impressed with Elijah, Jezebel was infuriated and flew into a rage, demanding his immediate execution. Look at verse 2: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this timetomorrowI do not make your life like that of one of them.” We could translate her sentiments this way: “Elijah, you’re a dead man!”
Jezebel’s threat consumed his every thought and overwhelmed his faith. In his panic he lost his handle on the power and provision of God, even though he had just experienced it in a mighty way.
Elijah should have laughed because her “gods” had just been exposed as powerless in chapter 18. Instead of chuckling, verse 3 tells us that he ran for his life! Just hours earlier he was riding an emotional high, and now he was knocked flat and headed into an emotional tailspin. Fear replaced his faith.
His focus shifted from God to the problem. He tucks his tail between his legs and runs toBeersheba, which is as far south inIsraelthat he could go. And then, once he got there, he went another full day’s journey into the wilderness. This threat from Jezebel had shaken him to the core. And, instead of praying to God for help, like he had always done before, he bolted.
3. He was disabled by isolation (3b-4a). Elijah was stuck in emotional overdrive. He was driven, fatigued, tired, exhausted, weary, burned out, anxious, and running on empty. Compounding his problem, verse 3 tells us that he left his companion who had always been by his side during the good times.
One of the great dangers of depression is its tendency to turn one inward. Let’s admit something this morning. Many of us do the same thing. When we’re hurting, we withdraw from others. Instead of reaching out, we pull into our shells. And then we wonder why we feel so alone.
4. He was devastated by self-pity (4b). Elijah ran for an entire day until he saw a small tree and collapsed in its shade. In his ditch of despair, he prayed that he might die in verse 4: “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” He let self-pity cultivate a “victim mentality” within himself. He had succumbed to the “poor me” syndrome. Swindoll writes, “Self-pity mauls its way inside our minds like a beast and claws us to shreds”.
Elijah had completely forgotten that God’s presence was with him under this scraggly desert tree just as much as it had been on the top of the mountain. In this state of despondency and dismay, Elijah, utterly exhausted by his own exercise in self-preservation, fell sound asleep.
I know that some of you have been going through some incredibly difficult times. Like Elijah, you may feel like giving up -- that you have no more to give. You may feel like you’ve tried to do the right thing but you just don’t get anywhere. Before you throw in the
towel, I want to show you the process that God brought Elijah through to help him regain emotional margin in his life.
Burnout is really a reversible ailment. Elijah was given a prescription that have great application to our own lives -- if we’re willing to take the medicine.
Prescription :Rest and Pray for enduring strength
The prescription may surprise you. Instead of telling him to suck it up and snap out of it, God knew that the most important medicine Elijah needed was rest. God didn’t give him a sermon or shower him with shame. Elijah had collapsed under the tree and fallen asleep in utter exhaustion. Because God loves us, He is with us at all times and knows our every hiding place. Psalm 139:7-10: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Discussion Questions?
1)How can we become more purposeful about seeking to grow through trials and tribulations?
2)How does God transform our lives and how do we play apart of it?
3)To what degree do you see God’s transforming work occurring in your life?
4)Do you consider yourself an ambassador for Christ?
5)What steps could you take to become more effective and reconciling to God?
6)How far does his compassion go?
CONCLUSION:Soul searching Godliness is really living in God’s holy will. Therefore, acknowledging flaws will only be removed by abrasions. Such weaknesses become a channel for strength and for God’s grace to work.
In closing, use your personal gas gauge to ask God, Am I full, sputtering, half-full or running on empty or simply need to be topped off?
Food for Thought:Crawling forward is still advancing. Ask God to fill you up!