RISING HIGHER

“Rising Above Your Fears and Worries”
Pastor Gary Hoyt – January 15, 2023

1 Kings 19:1-9 (NIV) — Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 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.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat.” 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. 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.” 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. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

The Downward Spiral

1. When we isolate ourselves, we create a playground for FEAR.
   
   1 Kings 19:3-4 (NIV) — Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there…
   

2. When we yield to worry and surrender to FUTILITY, we squelch our God-given purpose.
   
   1 Kings 19:4 (NIV) — …He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die…
   

3. When exhausted by anxiety, our FATIGUE can lead to terrible decisions.
   
   1 Kings 19:4 (NIV) — “…Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
   

4. When we allow angst and FRUSTRATIONS to swallow us, our minds can distort the truth.
   
   1 Kings 19:10 (NIV) — “…I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

The Upward Ascent

1. GET UP.
   
   1 Kings 19:5 (NIV) — All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat."
   

2. Get FED UP.
   
   1 Kings 19:7 (NIV) — “…Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."
   

3. Go STAND BEFORE HIM.
   
   1 Kings 19:11 (NLT) — “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him….”
   

4. Get BACK TO MISSION.
   
   1 Kings 19:15 (NIV) — The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram….”