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Setting: 1 Kings 18Setting: 1 Kings 18• God’s Triumph Over Baal at Mt. Carmel

– God withheld rain from the land for 3 ½ years. (James 3:17)– At God’s command, Elijah challenges the king’s prophets to

come to Mt. Carmel. (19) – The people are admonished to chosen God or Baal. (21-22) – The prophets will prepare their altars and the deity which

lights the altar is God. (24) – Baal does not answer. (26-28)– Elijah saturates the altar and God’s fire consumes the altar,

offering and water in the trench. (36-37) – The 450 prophets of Baal are taken to the brook of Kishon

and slain. (40) – Rain is restored to the land. (41-46)

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Elijah’s Maximum Load LimitElijah’s Maximum Load Limit• 1 Kings 19:1-4 — And Ahab told Jezebel all that

Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"

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James 5:16-18James 5:16-18 — Confess your trespasses to — Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, that you may be healed. The effective,

fervent prayer of a righteous man avails fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 much. 17 Elijah was a man with a Elijah was a man with a nature like oursnature like ours, and he prayed , and he prayed

earnestly that it would not rainearnestly that it would not rain; and it ; and it did not rain on the land for three years did not rain on the land for three years

and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth and the heaven gave rain, and the earth

produced its fruit.produced its fruit.

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• Elijah’s Discouragement Came When He Was Physically And Emotionally Exhausted.

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• Elijah’s Discouragement Came When He Was Physically And Emotionally Exhausted.

• God Lifts the Load by Attending to the Physical.

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• Elijah’s Discouragement Came When He Was Physically And Emotionally Exhausted.

• God Lifts the Load by Attending to the Physical.

• God Lifts the Load by Attending to the Spiritual.

God Attends to the SpiritualGod Attends to the Spiritual

• REMEMBERING GOD’S PAST DEEDS.

• EXPRESSING IN PRAYER OUR PRESENT NEEDS.

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Three Signs of Spiritual FatigueThree Signs of Spiritual Fatigue

• Self-criticism.

• Feelings Of Foolishness And Ineffectiveness.

• Loneliness.

God Attends to the SpiritualGod Attends to the Spiritual

• REMEMBERING GOD’S PAST DEEDS.

• EXPRESSING IN PRAYER OUR PRESENT NEEDS.

• REAFFIRMING GOD’S POWERFUL PRESENCE.

• BELIEVING IN GOD’S PLAN.

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Applications:Applications:

• We will not overcome discouragement by running away.

• We will not overcome discouragement through self pity.

• We will not overcome discouragement through medication.

• We will not overcome discouragement by alcohol.

Keys to Overcoming Keys to Overcoming Discouragement:Discouragement:

• REMEMBERING GOD’S PAST DEEDS.

• EXPRESSING IN PRAYER OUR PRESENT NEEDS.

• REAFFIRMING GOD’S POWERFUL PRESENCE.

• BELIEVING IN GOD’S PLAN.

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