Sermon Notes:
 
So far:
What a playbook is and that the devil has one. We are not unaware of his schemes. He comes to kill, steal and destroy, he is roaming like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We do not battle with flesh and blood but with unseen powers.

Distraction – from loving God, people to all sorts of things to do with lust and pride
Doubt – doubting God and his character

This time:

Despondency

Next time:

Division

When we looked at distraction, we saw that the enemy comes in the way of our preferred focus of loving God, loving people and making disciples. He comes with the lust of the flesh – things that appeal to our emotions, the lust of the eyes – things that distract with instant appeal and the pride of life – things that make us look better to other people and ourselves, but not to God.

When we studied doubt we saw that this tool of the devil has a two-pronged attack – first to see if we can doubt God’s existence and if that doesn’t work to doubt his character. For the believer these doubts all start when we neglect God’s word and our relationship with him.

In all these sections, let us remember that we are here to win.

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

But the idea of doubt last time links well into this week’s topic – despondency.

 
Despondency

“Low spirits from loss of hope or courage.”
It’s what David felt when he cried out to God in the Psalms, it’s what Bunyan wrote about in Pilgrim’s Progress where he referred to the Slough of Despond, or swamp of despair.

There are times in life when everything seems to be against us physically or emotionally or both and we just can’t face any more. It feels like there is no way out of the darkness.

Work stress
Exam stress
Family crisis
Empty nest syndrome
Death of a loved one
Financial problems
Illness
Mental health
Delay in God’s rescue
Disappointment with the way things turned out

Good things that didn’t happen
Bad things that did



Everybody has times of despondency and it’s not a sin. Jesus sweat drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane. What is a sin is neglecting God and what he has to say to you in these situations. Let’s look at one bible character in particular. We will learn some vital lessons, partly from his mistakes.
1 Kings 19
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
Back story – Mount Carmel – Repairing God’s altar – Ahab and Jezebel

 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.”
Who cares what ‘the gods’ think? They are the false idols you’ve just disproved! This should not affect Elijah. He’s just had a mighty victory over any other gods.

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
Depression and despair are real. They come when we least expect it, although there are signs. And one of the warnings is after a great event, a hilltop moment. It’s normal to feel polarised emotions. The anti-climax. Fear is one of the threads that bind the devil’s playbook together. Doubt leads to fear, despair is based on fear. It’s a basic human emotion.

When he came to Beersheba in Judah,
This is over 100 miles away! Most of God’s advice in the bible is to stand firm in battle. There are times to flee, but this was not one of them. You have seen a victory. You will get a counter-attack. Don’t run. Hold your nerve. Stand. Having done all, to stand.

he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
Here’s what not to do when you notice yourself rebounding from a high to a low,

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