“How to Help a Caveman”
1 Kings 19:5-9
AGE OF ANXIETY
Elijah is depressed, discouraged,
physically drained and spiritually
wiped out. We too have days or
periods of times when…our spirit gives
way. God met Elijah’s needs and He
meets our needs.
God Meets Elijah Needs
1. God Gives Elijah Comfort and Care (Rest
and Relaxation) v.5
2. God Gives Elijah Help to Face His Fears v.9
3. God Gives Elijah a New Vision of Himself
v.11-13
4. God Gives Elijah a New Commission v.15-16
5. God Gives Elijah a Dose of Reality – Clarity
of Truth v.18
1. God Gives Elijah Comfort and Care
(Rest and Relaxation) v. 5
• The Lord’s spiritual Advice – “Get up and
eat.”
• Spiritual Truth – Sometimes we need to work
hard and serve the Lord and at other times
we need to roll over in bed and get a good
night sleep – both are spiritual.
• Meets God at Mt. Sinai even as Moses had
done earlier.
2. God Gives Elijah Help to Face His
Fears v. 9
• Good Question – “What are you doing
here Elijah.”
• The question is not for God’s benefit,
but Elijah’s.
• “I am the only one left” – self pity
• Self pity is the enemy of all spiritual
growth.
3. God Gives Elijah a New Vision of
Himself v. 11-13
• A new vision of God speaks to the need of the
soul.
• When Elijah wallows in self pity – God’s
answer is not to put him down, but to reveal
more of Himself.
• Fire, wind and earthquake remind Elijah that
God is God, however
• God also speaks in a “gentle whisper”
because Elijah needed to experience both
the Power of God and the Presence of God.
4. God Gives Elijah a New
Commission v. 15-16
1. Anoint Hazael King over
Aram
2. Anoint Jehu King over Israel
3. Anoint Elisha to succeed
him as prophet
5. God Gives Elijah a Dose of Reality
– Clarity of Truth v. 18
1. God reminds Elijah he is not alone.
2. God is not limited by the smallness of
our vision - Elijah was never alone
3. Elijah had accomplished more than he
knew- his life had served at a
testimony to 7,000
4. Irony – Elijah was not in a position to
estimate or determine his own
effectiveness and neither are we.
Conclusion
1. Being dedicated to Jesus doesn’t make us
immune from discouragement.
2. Fatigue can make us susceptible to despair.
3. We need to invest our energies in others
rather than be absorbed by our own pain.
4. Communion with God is only way to
maintain strength for battles.
5. We need to learn to rest in God’s gracious
care.
No pit is so deep that the love of
God is not deeper still.