Post Victory Doldrums

Great victory from the hand of God.

Satan is furious, so someone remember a charge member got a call and steal your joy away from one part so small as always on my nothing relationship just received what was in you well. Nonetheless, thank you for joining Dr. Michael and his staff. This edition of leading the way you throughout Elijah's life unites great victories about raising someone from the dead and ending up publicly against the hundreds of profits of bail these up victories that should've confirmed God's hand in favor was upon them yet. At one point in his life.

He cried out for God to and his life. Now you may not be fighting against bail this week or praying for someone to rise from the dead, but the wife of Elijah can still offer you practical guidance as you face whatever may be poised to try to steal your joy, listen along with me as Dr. Michael yourself begins with replace the first Kings 19 larger than the last message first Kings chapter 18 verse 46 we left him. He had already ran a 14 mile Mount caramel Marathon and he rounded first of the horses. Supernatural power of God gave him the doctor spoken and he ran you look at chapter 19 verse three and he would say verse 46 of chapter 18 does not prepare you for chapter 19 verse read only three little versus but they do not prepare your from one extreme to the other.

Look at the verses when Elijah finally gets in the conference Jezebel in here about her friend who goes to Beersheba, Barbara shaver is way south of the country. It's a little over 100 miles south Jezreel, and the more Beersheba down in the south and then we got the Brushy about this little village. He leaves his servant. Then he goes for a full day's walk gets in the desert and he gets there under the juniper tree puts his head between his knees and this is God kill me and kill me now. I'm running away from Jezebel. The bond of the previous episodes which seem larger groups stored in the power of Yahweh calling upon Yahweh to come and send fire from heaven after the miserable profits of bail file for the whole day to call upon bail. He could not answer them when he calls upon the God who hears all things God sends fire the coming I lick everything inside and then Elijah goes up for the amount caramel and their meals on the promises of God calls upon God and God sends rain after 3 1/2 years of dryness and drought. Now King I have seen is all this taking place.

This is all this happening in this bigwig goes home. Not repentant of this compromise between bailment, Yahweh. So he goes home to the White House and what does he do what you think the first thing going on his mind.

All board what am I going to tell just about all for one identical Jezebel and his domineering, controlling wicked nature worshiping woman you know was waiting for him and she was right there inside the Lord just waiting for him to walk him and she sees working with a heavy foot is like a little boy coming in, afraid of mommy. She probably won't her fingers around his ears and said what is wrong, but boy, I honestly think that I have had a child mother relationship with Jezebel other than the husband-wife relationship will look at him and see the dependency on Jezebel watch see how he looks at the absolute control of the palace and of the kingdom and runs the whole thing when I have filled his wife Jezebel. What happen he never once mentioned what God did, he never one sister I said now Jezebel Yahweh's real and from now on we go to worship him and worship him alone. Elijah got rid of the profits of bail and I'm going to finish the job. No, those who refuse to see God.

They were refused to see him in the blessings and the governor refused to see him in the judgment, and nonprogram or psychological help is don't help them that the spiritual blog about the blind opened her eyes, in this moment, the wicked, Jezebel heard all that has happened and how her precious profits of bail die. She became enraged when I can imagine her lips quivering in her hands were shaking and swearing by her God's will turn out to be used was purchased. What is by the contract on a large stop right here and I'll tell you something very important I think it is as real as I'm standing in front of you right now when you receive great victory from the hand of God. Satan is furious, so he immediately uses someone maybe a family member and maybe a church member. Maybe some friend to somebody who's going to come and steal your joy away from you and the poisoning of your joy is always so small as always, minute is always on my nothing relationship to the victory that you have just received what it was in you well.

Nonetheless happen to a larger great victory series of victories.

Look at verse three of chapter 19, the first Kings Bible study Lodge was afraid he had not been afraid when he confronted years ago. He was not afraid when God told him to go fast, the very heart of bail worshiping Gentile world.

He was not afraid to confront anybody. He was not afraid to stand before these 850 profits on profit. This is a bail and was not afraid, but now is afraid of Jezebel and he runs to Beersheba, and even though he divests himself of the only human companion that he had.

He goes along said as it ever gets worse gets a lot worse. Elijah gets out into the desert where it's 130° in the shade. That's enough to talk yourself and this is okay God kill me and kill me now.

He said, but this is a great man of God you give us an example from James chapter 5 that this man of God is been given as a model.

As an example, he prayed and it did not rain, and then he prayed in the right. He's a great man of God, yes. What is not even the only man of God who has found himself in this situation. In the book of Numbers chapter 11 after putting up with people murmuring after putting up with people resizing off putting up with people's complaining after putting up with people badmouthing Moses comes the goddess of God, our brother be killed in the book of Jonah chapter 4 John after he preached not great victory.

None of this at the goddess of luck if you are that good with the wicked people of Assyria be good to me until later. Jeremiah chapter 20 was self set up with God's people's indifference to God. Their indifference to God's kingdom. Their indifference to God's work and he was fed up with their self-centeredness is that the God God, I wish you take my life. If you've never been there. Take note because you might be and you want to know this and you will know what to do. I want to give you some lessons that I have learned through the years and to come right out of this passage. Lesson number one. Write it down. Never act after victory without a word from the Lord never act after victory without a word from the Lord. If you look at verse three of chapter 19. You don't notice something that is uncharacteristic of Elijah. You know what it is all explained by give you three of the references in chapter 17 verse two. His word says the word of the Lord came to a larger and said leave here and go to Sheriff and at the word of God. He left Ahab and went to Charles Brooks.

Verse eight of 17. The word of the Lord came to him.

God wants to sell FF. He left the brook in the wilderness and winters artifacts.

Chapter 18 verse one after long time. In the third year the word of the Lord came. Logic got you know what it is now you see it. Elijah was a man whose movements and messages were ordered by God. But when you look at verse three of chapter 19. What is missing it's you between the eyes. There are no word from the Lord and therefore there was fear and there was panic and is running away his resignation. Those leaving to put it bluntly, Elijah got blindsided first lesson.

Do not make a major decision without a word from the Lord, particularly after great spiritual victory. Have you been blindsided.

We blindsided give up O this phone call of this confrontation that you totally not banking on you, not even expecting any rather not have what you need to do is wait for word from the Lord, don't respond immediately. In fact, there are many times when I get blindsided like this. I hear the Lord to be saying don't respond at all. The experiment 2nd lesson. Elijah left himself alone at a time when he least needed to be alone. He left his servant and Beersheba and he walked for a day and there he sat under the tree, putting his head between his knees as of God kill me and kill me now. I had to lift my imagination run a little while when I look at the text is him examining it and studying it, I began to think if this was is a tradition said he is the son of that widow's artifacts is the young man that he raise from the dead.

I try to imagine if he had taken with him for the rest of the trip, what would be his reaction if he hears a logic to be saying all God kill me, kill me now about brother my ancestors.

I would imagine this young man would've said limited on Elijah don't say that you remember what God did in Santa Fe. Dr. Cruz of oil in the jar of flour. Not sure that I was dead before you stretch yourself and I was raised from the dead, God brought to life again larger, there is hope in God, don't you remember Elijah you sent me out to the seaside to look for the cloud seven times I kept going back and you never distrusted God you never doubted God and God answered your prayers. Please send rain after 3 1/2 years of drought. Don't you remember Elijah, have you forgot the fire that came from heaven.

Everything inside, including the water. No, Elijah, God's to business. Elijah did not need to be alone at this low point of his life. Some of you are trying to walk alone right now and alone is the last thing that you should be doing. Some of you are not trying to grip to season and clinching you this thing is one of God's will truly need to do. Surrender toughness and did God give you a Christian friend to walk with you.

There's 1/3 lesson here. I believe the Lord would have us learn from this passage and it is this when you're down you lose perspective when you're down you lose objectivity.

There's something here that fascinated me in this passage for years and absolutely fascinated me and I'll know they've noticed it on if you have noticed it when we pointed out to verse two of chapter 19 first Kings. Elijah runs away from Jezebel because she wanted to kill and so he runs away and what is ego. He goes to the ones he goes to God. This is God kill me.

What is this doubletalk if you want to be killed. Jezebel would've been a much better job than God she would've killed them with passion to see when you are in the bosom of defeat, discouragement and depression.

You lose touch with reality. Look at what he said. He said I'm not better than my ancestors. That's a somatic way. I will explain it to you in plain American English. This is the use of translation is what it means no everybody hates me. What is Elijah doing this thing. There he was beginning to think of the thousands and thousands of Israelites who were faithful to Yahweh who lived for Yahweh and died for Yahweh.

Those nameless people, those faceless people throughout the generations all the way back to Moses and all of a sudden he said I'm not better than they are right now. Elijah did not know he's going to wind up in a series of messages on how God works. He did not know what is going to be mentioned in the book of James.

He did not know if he was going to be in the Scripture, so that when you sit down and you begin to have your own personal pity party. Remember Elijah the something else here, which is 1/4 principle Elijah was truly exhausted. I mean physically exhausted, emotionally exhausted, spiritually exhausted.

He was exhausted in every sense of the word. Look at verse five really find the bottom line of his depression and discouragement. He fell asleep.

The sleep of depression. Some of you know what I'm talking about this one… The liquidating sleep that sleep that when you wake up you feel more tired than when you went to sleep so I was how was he physically exhausted what he just ran hundred miles to get away from Jezebel tired. I was emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Listen to me very carefully.

Please there is nothing that can emotionally and spiritually and psychologically exhaust you like spiritual warfare. You do not endure the confrontation with the prophets of bail amount, as he did, and then spend time on your knees, imploring God to answer and give and fulfill his promise and then you're confronted with this wicked witch of the North you don't face all of that getting emotionally depleted. The greatest part of the whole passage not his depression but is discouragement, not his fear, not his weakness. No, the greatest part of this episode in Elijah's life is a way God deals with us as a whole series since we started way back talk about how God deals with how God works. How God and this is it. This is a negative the nuggets in the Bible said that the Lord looked down and then he yelled that a larger saying you week will vacillating wimp I gave you an important assignment that you blow it versus that no in the million how does God deal with the depressed, discouraged servant of his that is very important. Listen carefully want to talk to specialist super achievers Superman and super women wanted to listen to replace another little bit about you. I think most of you know why you are harder on yourselves than God's look at what happened here when he lashes down God matches Elijah's every need and every point on this that you forget everything I said.

Don't miss this one because he larger did not wait for word from the Lord. What does God do his work from because Elijah left his companionway out there the day's journey gives him an angelic companion because he needed desperately some food and some drink some refreshments.

God supernaturally provides him with food and drink refreshments.

He meets him at every point of his needs. When you're down God does not say you are so you have failed me. You have left me no this is not God. This is not how God works with his faithful children when they get blindsided more than anything else. God knew that Elijah needed some R&R. That is why the angel does not come and say, Elijah wake up and ponder the great doctrine of the sovereignty of God. There is a place for that.

As you know, I believe with all my heart and the doctrine of the sovereignty of God.

There's times when God knows that's not what you need what you need is food and drink and that is why after he drank. He went back to sleep. He was in desperate need of sleep. I remember one time I went to three straight days without a week I was traveling overseas did not sleep for three days and three nights. When I collapsed into two different countries and seven. I'm glad my companions were taking care of Gulati know what I was. The check made out till I go to sleep or wake up. I got the next what's and that's what Elijah needed. He needed to sleep and went back to sleep after rest he was ready to resume ministry God was ready to talk to him and he talked them through the earthquake, but he did not really speak to him. He talked to him through the fire, but he did not respect him.

He waited until he spoke to me in a gentle whisper. Spurgeon, one of the great preachers of yesteryear used to say that the above that is always bent will certainly break we conclude by saying this. I really had a great hesitation in my spirit is on working on this message and I had some fear is fear.

Yeah, because this is dangerous stuff so anyone dangerous tell you why it is dangerous.

It is dangerous because some slothful lazy person appear warmer. For many years.

Going aside man alive. I've been waiting for him to preach a sermon like this for 10 years is giving a lot of comfort today, but what is not for you. That message is not from the Lord for you. My fear is that when I preach a message like this in the slothful and the lazy and those are indifferent will react in this way. My biggest fear is that those who exhausted those who are frazzled in the kingdom work those who have given sacrificially those who have given of themselves have given of the possessions say you must be talking to the guy didn't exempt themselves in the keep working hard. Don't mix yourselves up today. Please hearing this word from the Lord. This message long squarely to the few of you work hard give of yourself give sacrificially all was ready to do whatever is needed.

Never rest that messages from the Lord asked of the spectators in the watchers and appear warmer. Someone to tell you there's another message from Joseph Newsom. Newsom is something new, something for God. Get up and do something for. Thank you for joining listeners all around the world for leading the way with Dr. Michael you sent. If you could use a strong voice to guide you toward vast will challenge you to do something for God. Maybe offer a conversation with one of leading the ways pastors on staff.

They would love to spend time with you and help you want toward the next steps biblically to start your conversation@ltw.org/Jesus. When I came here to Massachusetts and to train for ministry there came a time in my life when I did not feel fit for ministry in my second year of Bible college training. I felt like giving up. I wanted to leave Dr. Yousef's new book, never give up. He talks a lot about second Timothy and the importance of perseverance in our lives as Christians. I became a believer over 10 years ago because Dr. Yousef preached a sermon.

I think Dr. Yousef never knew that his preaching brought me to faith in Christ. It's not always immediately apparent what God is going to do if you have the courage to keep going. You never know Timothy's that God might bring out of your life if you live a life of faithfulness.

I've been pastoring out for six years and I'm watching God do through me what he began to do through Dr. Yousef.

I grateful that people like Dr. Yousef continue to invest in areas that are difficult like he did in Northfield Massachusetts because it is quite an amazing thing for somebody like Dr. Yousef to come to an area like this and give the gift he has to pastors here and giving them training God is reaching people all over the world. We just need to continue to execute the call that he's given each and every Christian which is to proclaim Christ as Lord in every area of our lives, and God will bring the harvest when it's time. Whatever you do don't ever, ever, ever give up. Think advanced means to Christians around the compromise that I could not get any amount from leading the way. Contact me if you haven't already, make it a point to get a copy of never. Dr. Yousef is offering to send it your way. When you give a gift of any amount to leading the way, 866-626-4356 or order through leading the way's website. LTW.org 866-626-4356 LTW.Brad Casper today always invited to join Dr. Michael you sent once again time for more. Leading the way this program is furnished by leading the way with Dr. Michael you sent