Recovering from Spiritual Depression Part 2 - 1 Kings 19:9-18

• 7 Things to never say to a depressed Christian (C. Michael Patton, Church Leaders Today)
  1)    “Just snap out of it.”
  2)    “Think positively.”
  3)    “Confess your sins.”
  4)    “Get on some meds immediately.”
  5)    “I’ve been through worse.”
  6)    “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
  7)    “Depression is a sin – You should have joy in your life.”

1. Calling out from the self-made cave.

• “There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (v.9)

  a. Making it extreme.

  • “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” (v.10, 14)

  b. Being consumed by self.

  • “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (v.18)

  • Self-righteousness
    “Self-righteousness is usually the last sin we see in ourselves; it is the hardest to see, the hardest to admit to.  For that reason it may take years and years before we begin to see how self-righteous we are.” (R. T. Kendall) 

  • Self-pity

    Self-righteousness and self-pity are twins.

    “And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’” (v.11)

2. Speaking through still small voice.

• “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” (v.12)

3. Empowering with new assignments.

• “Go, return on your way” (v.15)

• “Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.” (v.16 b)