1.19.25 Huddle
Opening Discussion
- What was an event from your past that seemed like a big deal, but looking back it wasn’t as substantial as you thought it would be?
Read and DIscuss
1 Kings 19:1-9a
Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”
3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 He entered a cave there and spent the night.
- Elijah had just witnessed a mighty act of God before his life was threatened. Why does he become so afraid of Jezebel?
- Why did Elijah pray that God would kill him?
- How did God respond?
- When you find yourself in a dark place, what are some ways the Lord can help you through those things?
Extra Questions
- What are practical day-to-day things you can do to help fight depression?
- How can you remind yourself of the good things God has done in your life when you are in the middle of a dark place?
- Who is someone that could help remind you of your status as a child of God when you are depressed?
Read 1 Kings 19:9b-18
Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”
At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
- Why did Elijah feel alone?
- What are some things you tell yourself when you feel alone?
- If they are all negative like “no one likes me” and “I wouldn’t want to be around me either”, how can you change your perspective?
- Why did God show His power first before speaking to Elijah in a gentle whisper?
Extra Questions
- How can you stop and listen to the Lord’s gentle whisper this week?
- What are some ways the Holy Spirit brings comfort to you?
- The Lord reminded Elijah that He had a plan in place already and that Elijah was not alone. How can you remind yourself of God’s bigger plan for your life when you feel stuck in a dark place?
Discipleship Questions
- If you find yourself in a season of anxiety and depression, what are some things the Lord is teaching you?
- Who is someone you know going through a dark time? What can you do to help them during this time?
- What is one thing you can do this week to take a step towards Jesus?
Take It Further
Every day this week, use Psalm 139 as part of your prayer time. You can pray the whole thing, part of it, or just use the themes to guide your time with Jesus.
Memorize it!
1 Kings 19:12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.
Psalm Prayer (we will probably be back to our TACOS next week)
Pray this section of Psalm 139 aloud with your group.
Psalm 139
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon,
10 even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”—
12 even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.
13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.
17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is!