Pastor Cho's Sermon Outline - Yoido Full
Gospel Church - Seoul, KoreaElijah’s Depression 1 Kings 19:1 ~ 19:8 2008-11-02
"1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.' 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,' he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.' 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God."
Introduction: Depression has no clear symptoms, but it brings enormous suffering into the life of a human being. The stress from depression is as powerful as the power that can destroy a house. It is like a heavy thing which cracks a roof and collapses in an instant, or like a furious storm or a sudden flood that pushes against a house and destroys it. At any rate, depression is a breakdown of self and is caused by excessive stress and exhaustion of mental power.
* My personal experience of depression when I built Yoido Full Gospel church.
1. Elijah who was burned out from overworking. 1) The event on Mount Carmel and excessive stress. 2) Elijah fell down at Jezebel's threat (1Ki 19:2). 3) Extreme depression and a longing for death (1Ki 19:3-4).
2. Elijah's recovery and rehabilitation. 1) An angel came to Elijah who was in despair (1Ki 19:5). 2) Bread, water, and sleep (1Ki 19:6). 3) A journey for 40 days and 40 nights (1Ki 19:7-8). 4) An encounter with God and recovery (1Ki 19:9-12).
3. A remedy for depression. 1) Excessive stress syndrome. - Continuous fear, terror, frustration, depression, anger, pessimism, self-abandonment, despair, etc. (Job 3:26). 2) Somebody has to be an angel to them. ① They cannot sustain their self from collapsing (Ecc 4:9-12). ② They need understanding, compassion, love, communication, and help from others (Php 2:1-4). ③ They need to rest by eating, drinking, and sleeping (Ex 20:11; Lk 21:37). ④ They need to refresh themselves with physical exercise (Pr 17:22; 18:14). ⑤ Word of God, prayer, and encounter with God (Heb 4:12; 1Th 5:16-18; Isa 40:28-31). ⑥ The birth of a new dream (3Jn 1:2; Mt 11:28).
Conclusion: Depression is a serious illness of the heart and life, and death hangs upon it. Compared to physical disease, it is easy to neglect mental disease, because it cannot be seen with our eyes. People who suffer from depression must not be left as they are. They must receive special care and treatment.
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