Let's pray. Great God, as we examine a very serious topic today, I pray, God, that you would speak to your people, minister to your people, especially, God, minister hope. You are the God of hope, but this world is hard. Help us to believe your word and be transformed by it. In Jesus' name, amen. that you heard in my prayer were talking about a serious topic and starting on a serious note today. Perhaps you saw on the news that on last Friday there was a terrible plane crash in Brazil. The investigation as to how that crash took place is still ongoing, but one of the things that eyewitness footage has already confirmed is that this plane went down after entering a spin. What is a spin, you might ask? Well, a spin is one of the most dangerous situations that a pilot can face. A spin, also called a tailspin. For in a spin, not only is the aircraft stalling, which means its wings are no longer generating lift to keep it in the air, and so it's basically free-falling, but also, in a spin, the plane is rotating as it falls, as it plummets towards the ground. And it only takes a few minutes for a plane to enter a spin. One moment the pilot is flying high and attempting to make a turn, but if he positions the plane at just the improper angle based on the plane's current speed and direction, then he will suddenly find himself wildly careening downwards, entering a spin. You can imagine, as a pilot, how frightening and disorienting a spin would be. Part of pilot training involves understanding how to get into, and more importantly, how to get out of a spin. I happened to watch a couple of videos showing flight instructors demonstrating how to recover from a spin. And just watching the videos is heart-wrenching. Because you see how quickly a spin can occur. And it indeed looks like the plane is completely out of control. Just watching, you can immediately tell that unless something decisive is done to rescue that airplane, the pilot and anyone with him, they will perish. Thankfully, there is a proven protocol for recovering from a spin. But the steps to recovery, though simple, are non-intuitive. In some ways, the pilot must do the opposite of what he would naturally feel like he should do to recover the aircraft. Now, why do I bring this up to you this morning? Well, it's to ask you this. Have you ever felt like your life was in a spin? That you had lost your lift? Do you even feel like right now? You're either in a gradual or rapid descent and perhaps headed towards a disastrous crash on the ground. Maybe everything was going well for you. You were flying just fine. But then a severe, an unexpected setback came upon you. and you don't know how to recover. Or maybe you've been going through in-flight emergencies for a while. You'd already lost an engine, cabin's depressurized, you're using the oxygen mask, you're desperately trying to cling to God, trying to keep serving him. But then another warning light pops on, another alarm goes off, something else has gone wrong. And you say, That's it. What's the use of trying? I'm going down. Our society has a word for this feeling or mood that I've been describing, and it's depression. But a more biblical and informative term, I would say, is hopelessness. Hopelessness or despair. Our world is filled with hopelessness because life in a sin-cursed, wrath-cursed world is hard. And because most people in the world don't know the God of hope. But even true believers, even strong believers, can slip into hopelessness, into times of despondency. I know this is true because we see it in the Bible. We see it with men and women of God who otherwise you would think are quite strong in faith. And actually, today, I want to look at one of those times in the Bible where we see someone who genuinely loves the Lord and believes in Him experience a time of hopelessness, even rapid spiraling into despair. I want us to look at that instance not simply that we're comforted that this isn't an issue that others haven't dealt with, but because in that same instance we see God restore this brother who'd fallen into hopelessness. We will find that restoration of God encouraging for us and instructive for us as we also battle with hopelessness and help one another to do so. If you would, please take your Bibles and open to 1 Kings. 1 Kings chapter 19. The title of the sermon today is Hopelessness, a Self-Destructive Spiral. Hopelessness, a Self-Destructive Spiral. I'm going to be looking at the entire chapter of 1 Kings 19, verses 1 to 21. But to appreciate what unfolds in this section of historical narrative, you need to understand the context. Let me provide that for you. We're in the divided kingdom period. Kingdom of Israel in the north, Kingdom of Judah in the south. Wicked King Ahab and his wife Jezebel are ruling in the northern Kingdom of Israel. These two have propagated worship of the Canaanite storm god Baal for Israel. And many Israelites have abandoned Yahweh, their God, the true God, for Baal. or they've tried to serve both in syncretism. Meanwhile, Jezebel has killed all of Yahweh's prophets that she can find. In steps the prophet Elijah. He arrives on the scene in 1st Kings 17 to announce a judgment of no rain on the land because of Ahab's and Jezebel's wickedness in leading Israel into idolatry. He then hides, and the Lord miraculously sustains him for three and a half years while there's no rain in the land. But then in 1 Kings 18, which we read part of earlier, God sends Elijah back to confront Ahab and the false prophets of Baal. And they engage in a little contest at Mount Carmel to see which god, Baal or Yahweh, can send lightning to consume a sacrifice. That's what it means when it says fire from heavens, likely a reference to lightning. Who can actually send lightning? Is it Baal, the storm god, or is it Yahweh? Yahweh turns out to be the clear victor. Elijah then proclaims that Yahweh has turned, well actually he says this in his prayer right before it happens, but he says that Yahweh has turned the heart of his people back. And Elijah has the people execute the false prophets of Baal, and he tells King Ahab to get ready for the rain to return. Before a rainstorm comes, Elijah supernaturally outruns Ahab's chariot 17 miles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel, which was Ahab's winter capital. But what happens next? That's what we see in today's text, 1 Kings 19. I'm not gonna read it all at once to start, we'll read it as we work through it. This passage divides into five sections, and so I'll give you five headings as we read and examine this passage and see how we're instructed when it comes to hopelessness by God's Spirit. Our first section is in verses one to four, and let's read that now. 1 Kings 19, one to four. Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So may the gods do to me, and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. He was afraid, and arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went today's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree, and he requested for himself that he might die. And he said, it is enough. Now, O Lord, that's the Hebrew word Yahweh, O Yahweh, take my life, for I am not better than my father's. Our first heading working through this passage is the servant despairs. That's what we see here. Number one, the servant despairs. Notice in verse 1 that Ahab tells Jezebel all that Elijah did at Mount Carmel. Hey, honey, he killed all your precious prophets. So in verse 2, Jezebel sends Elijah a threatening message. May the gods punish me severely if I don't kill you tomorrow like you killed my prophets. Now the fact that Jezebel sends a messenger rather than an assassin or an executioner is significant. It tells us that her threat is hollow. If she really was going to kill Elijah, really could kill Elijah, she would have done that right then. Besides, she appeals to gods that Elijah knows. They're not real. Your oath is useless. But notice verse 3, Elijah's response. He responds with fear. He even runs for his life all the way to Beersheba. You say, what's significant about Beersheba? Consider its location, it's at the southern end of the territory of Judah, right on the edge of the wilderness. So he's in the northern kingdom, he doesn't even feel safe going into the southern kingdom, he goes right to the border of the southern kingdom on the edge of the wilderness. He's trying to get as far away from Jezebel as he can. And then we also see in verse 3 that Elijah leaves behind a servant. That's curious. Elijah, aren't you gonna need your servant's help? Especially as you prepare to do the next thing that God's called you to do in ministry? Elijah makes clear in verse four that he never intends to return to prophetic ministry. It says he goes a day's journey into the wilderness, and what that means is the rocky, barren desert south of Judah. Elijah sits down under a juniper tree, and he asks God to kill him. Talk about a tailspin. Elijah, what on earth has happened to you? Is this the same bold prophet who confronted 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah by himself? Look at you. What's going on now? We get a clue into Elijah's mind when we hear him speak in verse 4. He first says to God, It is enough. This is that short cry of resigned despair that many of us have uttered before. Maybe not out loud, but in our hearts. God, I've had enough. I've reached my limit. I cannot take anymore. I can't go on. This is too much. This is all too much for me. Second, he says, now, O Yahweh, take my life. Has life ever overwhelmed you to the point that you wished to die, wished that you were dead? Elijah's wish here. Now, significantly, he does not try to take his life. That was understood among the Jews. Suicide is not an option. God is the only one who can give and take life. But Elijah, like Job, and like a few others, is at such a low point that he wishes that he were dead. Third, he says, for I am not better than my fathers. Not better in what way, Elijah? Not more righteous? Not more able to endure hardship? not more able to be successful and produce change in Israel? Probably all of those things. In fact, to get a handle on the change that is taking place in Elijah's mind, we just need to consider verse 4 in light of 1 Kings 18. Why has Elijah turned from bold faith to broken despair? The answer is simple. dashed expectations. Elijah thought something would happen, was hoping something would happen, was sure that God would make it happen, and it didn't happen. Elijah loves the Lord. He hates Baalism, and he longs to see his own people repent. And with the Mount Carmel showdown, Elijah thought, Israel was on the verge of revival. Three and a half years of Elijah's being on the run were coming to an end. Consider his excitement as Elijah runs to Jezreel, to the capital, to help oversee the transformation of syncretistic Israel back into a true kingdom of priests and a holy nation like God had always designed Israel to be. This was his happy expectation. Remember, he even said, you are turning the hearts of your people, God, back to yourself. It's going to happen right now. But what does Elijah find when he arrives in Jezreel? Not the upswell of support from the people that he expected, but apathy from both people and king. Worse, the decisive defeat at Carmel of the prophets of Baal has not daunted Jezebel one bit. Though limited in her abilities to inflict vengeance, Jezebel is clearly as defiant as ever and determined to see Baalism victorious and even Elijah killed. So then to Elijah, all that effort, all that hope, all the ministry up to this point that Elijah has faithfully pursued, what does it look like? What does it feel like? It feels like it's all for nothing. Nothing to show for it. Nothing is changing. God, I've been putting my life on the line for years. I'm hated. I'm a fugitive. I'm trying so hard for you, and nothing is changing. What's the point? Who can keep going? Who can keep going when it's all useless? Just kill me now. I'm not a superhero. I can't endure such hardship when there's no hope. There's no hope of relief and no hope of victory. I think this is very relatable. Has your heart ever felt or said the same thing? Did you have some hope or expectation for your life, but then you saw it dashed multiple times? God, I thought my spouse would change, but it's been years. My spouse is as wicked as ever. God, I thought you'd heal me of this illness. It's only gotten worse. God, I thought you'd use me to save my family, but now they've disowned me. God, I thought I'd be married by now. God, I thought you would grant us children. Don't you love children? God, I thought you'd provide a job. I'm barely getting by. God, why are you doing this? God, why aren't you providing? Why does it seem like nothing is working out? Why is nothing changing? God, where are you? If your heart has ever cried out in that way, keep listening. Because God has something to say to you, to say to us this morning. We see number one, the servant despairs. But now God enters the picture to help his downcast servant. Our next section appears in verses five to eight. And the heading is, number two, God ministers. The servant despairs, but God ministers. Let's read verses five to eight. He lay down and slept under a juniper tree. And behold, there was an angel touching him. And he said to him, arise, eat. Then he looked, and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of Yahweh came again a second time and touched him and said, arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you. So he arose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God." In this section of text, we find something very surprising. At Elijah's doubting cry of despair, we do not hear a word of rebuke from God, nor do we find a word of comfort or instruction, none of these yet. Instead, we find the Lord himself tenderly meeting Elijah's needs. After all, Elijah is very distressed. He has no doubt been desperately fleeing from Jezebel, He must be physically and spiritually exhausted. He is spent in every way. So what does the Lord provide for Elijah? Food, drink, and sleep. Elijah, I know you need these things. I'm gonna provide these for you. And notice verse seven identifies the ministering angel as the angel of Yahweh. Now that's a significant title. The rest of the Old Testament reveals that the angel of Yahweh is actually Yahweh himself. So this means that God doesn't just send aid to Elijah in Elijah's distress. The creator himself comes down to minister to Elijah and meet his needs. Now that is a loving God. And mark this, brethren. The same God who is so committed to tenderly caring for Elijah also tenderly cares for his own sheep today. Even you and me, when we are faced with a temptation to despair. Twice Elijah sleeps, twice Elijah eats. And notice why. Notice why specifically God urges Elijah to eat in verse seven. He says, because the journey is too great for you. In other words, where you're going, Elijah, you're going to need extra sustenance. Now, verse 8 says that Elijah goes in the strength of that bread and water, that food and water, 40 days and 40 nights. That description of supernatural sustenance should sound a little familiar. Who else in the Old Testament went without eating and drinking for 40 days and 40 nights? Moses. Exodus 34, 28. And where did that take place? the same place to which Elijah is going, Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai. You see, something important for Elijah is about to go down at this ancient site of God's revelation to Moses. But as we're about to see, it's gonna be a little different for Elijah than it was with Moses. We come now to our third section, which is the center of our text. Verses nine to 14, number three, God instructs, God instructs. Let's read verse nine and following. Then he, Elijah, came there to a cave and launched there. And behold, the word of Yahweh came to him. And he said to him, what are you doing here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very zealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with a sword. And I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it away. So he said, go forth and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. And behold, Yahweh was passing by. And a great and strong wind was reddening the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before Yahweh. But Yahweh was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake. But Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire, a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and he went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, what are you doing here, Elijah? Then he said, I have been very zealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it away. In verse 9, we immediately discover more details that should remind us, as I shortly reminded Elijah, of Moses meeting with God on Mount Sinai. In Exodus 33, 18, Moses expressed his desire to see the Lord's glory. God granted Moses' request, but in a very particular way, which is described in Exodus 34. God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock, which is another way to refer to a cave, until God's glory passed by. And when it was safe, Moses went to the entrance of the cave to gaze at God's back. God then declared his name to Moses, resulting in Moses bowing down to worship God. You may notice we have a similar setup here. Notice the word that comes to Elijah from Yahweh in verse nine, a question. What are you doing here, Elijah? This question is a gentle rebuke from God to Elijah. Elijah, there's no good reason for you to be here. You're supposed to be back in Israel, serving and speaking for me. But by asking a question, God gives Elijah a chance to explain himself. Notice in verse 10, Elijah, in his reply, he gives a depressing and mostly true report of the situation in Israel. He says, I've been very zealous and faithful for you. I've been very zealous and faithful on God's behalf. Israel, though, has been stubbornly unfaithful and resistant to God's prophets. In fact, I'm the only one left. Wait a second. Is that true? Is Elijah the only faithful prophet left? Elijah actually made the same claim back at Mount Carmel. But, in the passage we didn't get to read, the beginning of 1 Kings 18, the beginning of 1 Kings 18 shows that that technically is not true. Elijah, you're not the only prophet left. Obadiah says, I've actually hidden another 100 prophets of the Lord. Don't tell Ahab, but there are 100 other prophets that I've been protecting. So why does Elijah say he's the only one? Well, perhaps Elijah was the only currently active prophet in Israel, the others were in hiding, but certainly Elijah felt like he was the only faithful prophet left. And that's pretty consistent with hopelessness, right? You feel alone. You feel like you're the only one going through your circumstance. We can sum up Elijah's reply to God in this way. God, I'm here because the situation in Israel is hopeless. I fought hard, but the people are unmoved. They've killed everyone else. Now I'm next. Why go on? Why keep fighting a doomed battle? Give me some reason. Show me some sign that I should take up the sword and shield again. Perhaps that's what Elijah's looking for. God gives Elijah a sign, alright, but not at all the one Elijah expects. Verse 11 says, Behold, Yahweh was passing by. Wow, it seems like Elijah is about to get the full Moses Sinai experience. God passed by Moses, God's about to pass by Elijah. Notice in verses 11 to 12, we have a succession of these terrifying and powerful momentous happenings. We have rock-splitting wind, then we have earthquake, and then we have fire. This has been awesome. And very reminiscent of the first experience at Sinai. Maybe not with Moses so much, but forces of fire and storm were unleashed on Mount Sinai when the Israelites first came there in Exodus 19 and 20. But there is one great difference between that and what's happening here. Because Exodus 19.18 says, Yahweh descended upon Mount Sinai in fire. In other words, Yahweh was in the fire. But what do we read here? Yahweh was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire. Specifically, the text says that three times. But what comes after the fire? And what is the only happening as part of Yahweh's passing by that does not include the phrase, but Yahweh was not in it? The end of verse 12 says, and after the fire, a sound of a gentle blowing. Now there's a phrase that is one of the most intriguing in the Bible. The sound of a gentle blowing. The King James famously translates this phrase as, a still small voice. ESV says, the sound of a low whisper. NIV says, a gentle whisper. Why is there such variation in translation? It's because the phrase itself doesn't seem to make sense on its own in Hebrew. Literally, the Hebrew phrase is, the sound or the voice of a thin silence. The sound of a thin silence. Now, what sound does a silence make? Silence is the absence of sound. And what's a thin silence? What's the difference between a thin silence and a regular silence? Translators do their best to understand this phrase, and that's why we see their attempts and variation. But I think the phrase's mystery is part of the point. After all the clamor of the windstorm, the earthquake, and the fire, what comes next for Elijah is this silent, thin sound. or a vibrant silence, as one translator puts it. And out of all these four phenomena, which is the one that manifests the Lord's special presence? It's this silence, this mysterious silence. And Elijah himself realizes this. For notice, verse 13 says that it's at the silence, or whatever sound that was, That gentle, quiet sound. It's at the silence that Elijah wraps himself and goes to the entrance of the cave. And why would he do that? To behold Yahweh passing by. Now consider the implication of this. Despairing Elijah has come all the way to Sinai because he doesn't see Yahweh at work. He doesn't see Yahweh at work in Israel, doesn't see Yahweh at work in his life, and therefore he has no hope. Elijah wants to see at Sinai some dramatic action. He wants to see some Sinai fire. Both at Sinai and maybe even in Israel. God, I want to see you on the move. But God shows Elijah at Sinai, Elijah, I can bend heaven and earth dramatically as part of fulfilling my will. But that's not how I'm choosing to work right now. You think, because you don't hear or see anything, that I'm absent. But I tell you, I am there and I am working, even in the silence. Do you see that this same truth This same fundamental truth applies to us today, those of us who are in Christ. Really, this is the main takeaway of our passage. Whenever you think that God has abandoned you or failed to act, you need to realize that God is there. He hasn't abandoned you. God is there, and He's actually working in the silence. The silence is not a mark of Him being absent. It's actually a mark of Him being there. He may be unseen, he may be unheard, but he is still there and bringing about his perfect will for you and the world. God never stops working, not for his own sake and not for the sake of his people. Sometimes his work is obvious, loud, dramatic. Sometimes it's quiet, even silent. But God is always there, God is always working, and his works are always good. Not just good for the universe, good for you. He's working for your good. This is the great object lesson of Elijah's experience at Sinai. But did Elijah understand it? Apparently not. Because you may notice in verse 13, when God asks Elijah again what Elijah is doing there, Elijah gives the exact same dejected response as he did before. Word for word. What's this tell us? Elijah didn't get it. Elijah missed the object lesson. He goes back to his prepared speech for why, God, there's no reason to go on. So God, our God, graciously and patiently, comes at the issue for Elijah from another angle. Which is what we see next in our fourth section, verses 15 to 18. This is number four. God commissions. God commissions. Verse 15. Yahweh said to him, go return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you have arrived, you shall anoint Haziel king over Aram. And Jehu the son of Nimshi, you shall anoint king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel and Mahola, you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death. And the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. Notice here that God gives Elijah a new task and direction. Excuse me a second. God tells Elijah to go back through the wilderness and start heading toward Damascus in Syria. God then tells Elijah that Elijah is to anoint three individuals, Haziel king over Aram or Syria, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha as prophet to succeed Elijah. Now, note that these anointings represent pretty dramatic geopolitical changes, totally new rulers in these places and a new prophet. And notice the purpose, notice a purpose revealed by God about these three anointed men in verse 17. These three, God says, are going to work together to put certain fugitives to the sword. Whoever escapes from one man, the other two will make sure to track that fugitive down and execute him. Now, which fugitives does God have in mind? Well, remember, Elijah has just been complaining about how Israel's turned to Baal worship and God apparently hasn't done anything about it. Baal worship is also the subject of verse 18. So, we can infer that this word about fugitives is actually God proclaiming a coming judgment on Baalism in Israel. God is saying, Elijah, you think I'm not doing anything about this heinous Baal worship? I tell you, I am. In fact, You have an important part to play in what I'm doing. Go and anoint these men that I will use in the future to punish unfaithful Israelites and eradicate state-sponsored Baal worship in Israel. But also notice in verse 18, God clarifies that not everyone will need to be judged in Israel. There are yet, God says, 7,000 who have not bowed to or kissed statues of Baal in worship. And notice the way God says this. He says, I will leave 7,000. Why is that phrase significant? Because like Greg was praying earlier in our service, it emphasizes that God is in total control. Yes, even over the hearts and salvation of men. In summary, God is telling Elijah, big change is coming. Judgment is coming, but so is the preservation of a remnant that I myself have chosen and will cause to remain faithful. Now, why would these newly revealed facts be significant for Elijah? Well, first, because they reveal that God really is active. He has already taken notice of the situation. Second, because they reveal that Elijah's zeal for the Lord is not in vain. Rather, Elijah still has an important role in bringing about God's will. And third, because they show that Elijah was never totally alone. He thought, he even insisted, he was the last faithful Yahweh worshiper in Israel. But God reveals, you're not the only one. There are others like you out there. I will cause them to stand. I will cause you to stand. Get back into the ministry for my sake and for theirs. Really what we're seeing here in this commission is a more direct explanation of the object lesson that God previously showed Elijah. God is telling Elijah, you can't see it yet, Elijah, but know that I am, in fact, at work. I'm here, I know, and I'm at work. But you know what's so striking about this commission given by God to Elijah to anoint these three men so they may bring about God's intended changes for Israel? Elijah is not going to be on the earth to see these things come to their completion. If you keep going in the record of Kings, we're only in 1 Kings 19, you'll see that everything that God promises here does come to pass but largely without Elijah's direct involvement. It's Elisha who anoints Haziel king over Aram in 2 Kings 8, 7-15. It's some unnamed prophetic assistant who anoints Jehu king over Israel in 2 Kings 9, 1 to 13. Elijah didn't actually do it himself. Does that mean that Elijah was unfaithful? He ultimately proves derelict in his prophetic duties? He never really gets back into the good fight of faith for God's sake? I would say no. God's continual affirmation of Elijah, as you go through the Book of Kings, and the glorious departure that God arranges for Elijah via chariots of fire in 2 Kings 2, they argue otherwise. God was not considering Elijah an unfaithful prophet. No, Elijah indeed returns to faithful service, but he only sets the wheels of God's plan into motion. Others would literally take up the mantle of Elijah to see to completion the commission given to him by God here. In other words, Elijah's important work given to him by God It was part of a multi-generational plan. Not a plan of just a few years, but decades, or even more. Elijah would not be on the earth to see the working of God come to its dramatic conclusion, yet Elijah had an extremely important role to play, a critical role to play in God's plan. And there are implications for us there too, aren't there? Let's face it, we will, you will, encounter moments when God is silent. You don't see Him. You don't see Him working. And it will be obvious to you that great changes seem to be needed in your life, in the world. You may not see anything happening in the moment, but take the same courage from God's commission that Elijah was meant to take here. You too have an important role to play in God's plan. You have important work to accomplish for the Lord. Work that you may not see the good outcome for a while. Maybe not this year, maybe not five years, maybe not 50 years, maybe not until after you are with the Lord. We tend to get micro-focused on our momentary struggles, but we need to remember that God, he's with us in those micro-struggles, but he is accomplishing something in them that is cosmically grand. Your work is not in vain in the Lord, but you must realize that It may be a while until you understand how it is not in vain in the Lord. How specifically? What must you do in the meanwhile? You must trust God. You must believe that he is working out his good purpose for you and through you and get back to what he has called you to do and to focus on. How does Elijah respond to his new commission from God? We see the beginning of his response in our last section, which is verses 19 to 21. Number five, the servant obeys. The servant obeys. So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat while he was plowing with 12 pairs of oxen before him and he with the 12th. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you. And he said to him, go back again for what have I done to you? So he returned from following him and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him. We see in this last section that Elijah gets right to work with part of his new commission from God. Elijah seeks out Elisha in Elisha's village in Israel and marks Elisha for prophetic succession. But would Elisha actually follow Elijah? I mean, when so many in Israel were seeking the bales, what are the chances that this random Israelite will drop everything for a dangerous life of serving Yahweh and serving Elijah, the marked man? Notice Elisha's response to the ministry column, verse 20. Elisha begs leave to say goodbye to his family. Uh-oh. Is this request a sign of hesitation toward God's call, even of repudiation? Maybe you're reminded of what a certain disciple said to Jesus in Luke 9, 61. Let me go say goodbye to my family. Elijah responds to this request from Elisha by basically saying, you're free to go back. I'm not forcing you to do anything. Choose what you want. But young Elisha doesn't shirk the calling. On the contrary, as we read, Elisha takes the oxen with which he was just plowing, along with their yoking equipment, and he prepares a final meal commemorating his entering Yahweh's service. In other words, Elisha makes clear he's totally giving up his old life to follow Yahweh and serve Elijah. Do you think these events might be encouraging to Elijah? course. And the Lord knew that they would be encouraging. Not only does Elijah begin to see God's work coming to pass, God's plan coming to pass, but Elijah gains a fellow minister and a friend. Even someone who's just as zealous for Yahweh as Elijah is. What a compassionate work of God. Elijah says, I'm the only one. There's no one who's willing to stand with me. God says, just keep going and look, I'm going to provide someone. He's going to stand with you, even when it seems like no one else will. And again, there's implications for us. Brethren, you will experience similar blessing and encouragement when you step away from despair When you step away from your own expectations about how life is supposed to go for you, and when you step back into faith-filled obedience to God, it will be hard, especially at first, to let go of those thoughts of, woe is me, inadequacy, self-pity. But as you proceed by faith into the work that God has called you to, upheld by His strength and not your own, You do, you will discover the goodness of God again, especially as he brings brethren around you to encourage you and to serve alongside you. For his part, Elijah would go on to faithful ministry, and he would again see dramatic acts of God's power and faithfulness. But in this moment of seeming silence from God, Elijah desperately needed reorientation from God, away from spiraling despair. And our gracious God provided that. But this passage is provided for us as well. Do you realize that God is speaking to us this morning, even so that you might experience a similar restoration and transformation as Elijah? Be rescued from despair and even made to help others. who are being tempted in that way. Really, the truths we saw just summarizing this passage are actually a pretty good application outline for dealing with hopelessness. I mean, just look at the outline again. The servant despairs, all of God's servants will face temptation towards discouragement and despair. If you haven't faced that significantly in your life yet, you will. But number two, God ministers, God in tender kindness will minister to us when we face despair, even by the simple goodness of his creation and meeting our physical needs. Number three, God instructs in those moments of temptation towards despair, God instructs us that when we think that God is absent and silent, to remember that God is both present and working in the silence for our good, and his ultimate glory. Number four, God commissions. God therefore commissions us to fulfill our meaningful calling by faith. It is never in vain. The work is too much for us, but it is not too much for Emmanuel, God with us. He says, go into the work and I will provide. And number five, the servant obeys. When we return in obedience to the work of the Lord, he will eventually vindicate our trust in Him, and He will bless us with the encouragement of our fellow soldiers in Christ. I mentioned in the beginning that the basic recovery protocol for a plane in a spin is simple, but it is counterintuitive. For instance, from what I read, in a spin, you actually need to point the nose of the plane down rather than up, which is the opposite of what you might naturally expect. Something similar is true for us in our battle against despair. If you've ever dealt with despair, if you've ever dealt with hopelessness, what does it do? It tends to drive you away from all the people and things that can actually help you. You don't want to be around people. You don't want to pray. You don't want to read God's Word. You ultimately are tempted to withdraw from God, and withdraw even from the goodness of His creation. I don't want to eat. I don't want to do fun things anymore. This is why I say hopelessness is self-destructive, even a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom. It's not that God is going to abandon you, but when you keep withdrawing from God, you are moving yourself towards ruin. Therefore, the steps necessary to escape despair must be taken by faith against your feelings, your feelings which are being heavily informed by the flesh, the old man. In your flesh, believe me, you will simply want to withdraw and wallow. But that will never help. It will only increase your sense of hopelessness, increase the problems in your life. And you know this, if you've ever experienced this yourself. You must go against your flesh. You must keep pursuing the Lord and his kingdom. And God will show you good again. His timing, His way, but He says, keep going. It looks like I've been blocked out by a cloud. It looks like I'm silent, but I'm there. Keep going. You will see my light again. You will see my goodness again. It's like I sometimes remind people, the only way out of your bad situation is faith. Not faith that God will simply make everything better immediately, but faith that God will enable you to endure it. that God is good, that his promises will not fail. That is the only way out. If you just follow the flesh, you follow the world's advice, you're not going to find rescue. The only way out is faith. God says, keep holding to me, you will see good again. Now, if you are facing despair, but you don't know Christ, then the very first thing you need to do is you need to come to Jesus. You need to come to Jesus in repentance and faith. because you are in this section of Kings as well, but you're not Elijah. You're the prophets of Baal. Remember the prophets of Baal? They called out to their God the whole day. They screamed. They cut themselves. But what does the scripture say? There was no voice. There was no sound. Nobody heard. Nobody did anything. If you don't know Jesus Christ, if you haven't repented and believed in Jesus, then you don't have a true God to help you. You can't even help yourself, because ultimately you're not in control, God is. And worse, the prophets of Baal, not only did they not see their God provide, but they were judged by the true God. They were put to death in accordance with the law. And we're aware of the other scriptures that that's just the beginning. Revelation warns us against the second death, which doesn't end, which is the lake of fire. God says, for all those who ought to turn to me as their creator, as the Lord, but they instead trust in themselves, live for themselves, seek out the treasures of the world for themselves instead of me, they will one day be judged. There is no hope for you outside of Christ, but there is abundant hope for you in Christ. If you will turn from your sins, if you will turn from the lordship of your own life, if you will turn from all your self-righteous efforts to make yourself right with God, this is what repentance means. If you will turn from all that and take Jesus, take Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it's His perfect life, on your behalf, and his sacrificial death on your behalf, that is the only way you can be made acceptable to God. It's the only way, and it's the sure way, because God has already shown that he accepted his son's sacrifice. He accepted his life, he accepted his death, and he says, all those in him are saved and safe, because I raised my son from the dead. And he's sitting at the right hand of God now. So repent, turn, and believe. Take Jesus as the only one who can make you right with God. Take him as the Lord of your life and follow him. And God says, not only will you find rest for your souls right now, because now I'm your God who takes care of you. Now I've settled the most terrible things that were looming over you. You've been saved once and for all. But when you're through the sojourn of this life, you will enter into the kingdom of God with his son. The Lord offers you that today. He is the only sure hope. He is the only true hope in this world. But you're really hoping something else that's ultimately going to fail. Now, before he ascended back to heaven, Jesus reminded his followers in Matthew 28 that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to him. But what else did he tell his disciples? He says, I am with you even to the end of the age. You know, that statement is really a parallel to the central truth of this passage. Jesus told his disciples that they would face trials. And you know what? We know that that's true, because we are facing them even now. Jesus says, I am with you. I am with you in the trouble. I am with you in the storm. I am with you in the silence. And I am working. All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. I am there, and I am at work. So take courage. Do not be afraid. Do not despair. Hope in the Lord. He will vindicate you and you will see his good again. Let's encourage one another with that truth continually because we need it. Let's close in prayer. Lord God, thank you for this scripture. Thank you for all of your word, because when we face what this world really is because of sin, when we face the calamities, when we face the sorrows, when we face the troubles of this world, God, we, without you, would quickly lose hope. We realize how little control we have. We realize how all our dreams and expectations just get shattered right and left. But God, You have a purpose even in those things that yet remain in this unredeemed world for the good of your people. You say, yes, you are experiencing calamity. You are experiencing hardship that doesn't seem to have an end. But I'm working in it. I'm there. I'm with you. And I'm working in it for your good. Don't despair. Keep going. You will see my goodness again. Lord, help us, help us to believe that when the trials come. Lord, it is easy to sing this when we're not going through the trials. But Lord, help us to believe this when we are going through the trials. Lord, you will never leave us or forsake us. And the testimony of Elijah, the testimony of Job, the testimony of Habakkuk, even the testimony of your own son as he faced the cross, was my God will vindicate me in the end. You will raise us up from the dust. You will restore us. More than that, one day, Lord, you will seat us on thrones to rule in your kingdom. What a great God you are. your tenderness, your wisdom, your sovereignty, they're all continually on display. Help us, Lord, against the flesh, the world, and the evil one. The evil one especially, Lord, wants us to despair. He cannot destroy us eternally, those of us who are in Christ. We've been saved once and for all, but oh, how he can hobble us. Oh, how he can cause us to lose out on reward because we can get so discouraged. We can really lose hope. But we know the schemes of the evil one. So God, help us to not only believe your word, but continually draw close to you, even by fellowshipping with one another. It's no accident that your word says, Encourage one another as long as it is called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We need the encouragement. We need the ministry. And others need it from us. So God, I pray that that's something that we as a church would be continually mindful of, that we'd be constantly encouraging one another, instructing, restoring one another as the situations would need. God, so that we may all persevere by faith until your appearing. Thank you for this time. Amen.