Accept the challenge?
WHY AM I IN THIS VALLEY? THIS TOO SHALL PASS...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THIS IN TWO PARTS, OR MOVE QUICKLY.
I use a series of metal bowls, starting the small and increase to larger bowls... we sing: HERE’S MY CUP LORD, I LIFT IT UP, the next person has a bigger cup and then a bigger until it is huge.
Ephes. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
I. MAN’S ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE MIRACLE CAN DEFINE WHAT THE MIRACLE
BRINGS. THIS VALLEY IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THIS VALLEY DID NOT CATCH
GOD BY SURPRISE.
A. We seem to be satisfied to build churches on man’s abilities and super programs. Our Father has bigger plans than a man can dream or think... for His Church. The Father’s plans for the Church is glorious and without spot or wrinkle.
Perhaps our eyes cannot see the Father’s Church with our limited natural vision. THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
B. REMEMBER THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS --- STAND STILL AND SEE...
2 Chron. 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
C. Perhaps our eyes cannot see the Father’s Church with our limited natural vision.
D. MAN’S VISION MIGHT HOPE TO FEED 5,000 --- JESUS’ PLAN FILLED 12 BASKETS.
My opinion was if there had been more baskets there would have been more food?
Matthew 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
E. THEY CAUGHT ONLY THE FISH THEY WERE CAPABLE OF LANDING AND NOT
SINKING...
Luke 5:7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
F. I COME TO THIS VALLEY WITH A MEASURING TOOL.
METE: to give out by measure to give appropriate portion.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge: ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be given to you again.
II. WHY CAN’T WE SEE GOD IS IN CONTROL AND THIS VALLEY IS A TEACHING
TOOL? SOME ARE CONTENT TO REACH FOR THE MUD PUDDLE INSTEAD OF AIMING FOR THE STARS ...
A. We have too many Christians listening to the barking dogs...
IF THE MOON LISTENED TO THE BARKING DOGS IT WOULD QUIT SHINING.
THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth he law, happy is he.
B. When will we accept God has more planned for us... ?
III. WHY ARE WE WALKING THROUGH DARK VALLEYS
I WOULD BE A BETTER CHRISTIAN IF ________________________?
WILL YOU REACH OUT TO GOD TO ACHIEVE GOD’S PLAN?
A. HARDSHIPS OF LIFE ARE NOT SENT BY UNKIND DESTINY AND FATE TO CRUSH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. HARDSHIPS, STORMS, TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS ARE BUT TOOLS GOD USES TO CHALLENGE AND OPEN OPPORTUNITIES TO ALLOW GOD TO ARISE.
THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
B. IT IS HIGH TIME THE CHURCH ARISE AND SPEAK TO THE VALLEY,
GET UP --- LET US GO FORWARD...!
A. AS A BLOSSOM GOES BEFORE THE FRUIT, SO FAITH MUST GO BEFORE THE
MIRACLE.
We would rather watch Larry King and talk about this one’s failures and shortcomings and why things long past are affecting our launching out in the deeper things of God and hindering our arising to a greater level.
So what, the boy spent all that he had and worked and lived in the Pig Pen! God can use the Pig Pen to advance His servant and His kingdom.
THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him: IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, all things are possible to him that believes. 24. And straight way the father of the child cried out, and said
WITH TEARS, Lord, I believe; HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!
Psalms 68:1 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered:
B. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, THE QUESTION IS NOT HOW MANY TIMES WE
FALL --- BUT HOW MANY TIMES WILL WE GET UP? ---
C. Mark Twain once said: EVERY DOG SHOULD HAVE A FEW FLEAS, IT KEEPS HIS MIND OFF BEING A DOG!
IV. THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAN THIS? THIS VALLEY CAN HELP ME
STRETCH MY FAITH.
A. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
We have two attitudes that can grow great danger within the church.
THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
B. ZEAL WITHOUT WISDOM CAN KILL US DEADER THAN A DOOR NAIL!
WE HAVE THE BEST PROGRAMS WITHOUT SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE?
THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
C. WE HAVE GREAT WISDOM WITHOUT EXCITEMENT AND ZEAL.
We can be like a dead fish floating down stream.
D. How can we sit through church and go to sleep?
How can we sing the songs of glory with a frown on our faces?
How can we allow testimony time to go by and not testify?
We need the fire back in our hearts! We need some excitement about church!
We must state: THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
V. DO WE TEACH THAT GOD AND HIS SON JESUS ARE OMNIPOTENT AND
OMNIPRESENT! WHERE IS JESUS? JESUS IS IN THIS VALLEY...
A. Did you hear about the grandfather that went into his daughter’s house.
His grandson was in the playpen crying and reaching for His grandfather?
The grandfather started to reach and rescue the grandson, when his
daughter put her head around the corner and said,
YOU BETTER NOT, HE IS BEING PUNISHED...
The grandfather did know what to do?
It got real quiet in the room, the daughter looked around the corner
and the grandfather had climbed into the playpen and was sitting with
his grandson.
WELL THAT IS WHAT JESUS IS DOING FOR US...
(Thanks Jerry Parritt for this illustration.)
B.TODAY MANY ARE SEARCHING FOR JESUS?
WHERE ARE YOU JESUS?
C. Jesus --- I cannot find you here?
There must be something wrong with here, because I cannot seem to
find Him?
DO I NEED TO TRAVEL TO TEXAS TO FIND JESUS?
DON’T TURN LOOKING FOR JESUS INTO A CIRCUS OF THIS WORLD!
D. OMNIPOTENT: almighty, having virtually unlimited authority and influence and power.
OMNIPRESENT: present in all places at all times, to be found everywhere.
E. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO MECCA in Saudi Arabia to find God.
You don’t have to go to the Vatican near Rome.
Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you:
LO, HERE IS CHRIST, OR THERE; BELIEVE IT NOT!
Mark 13: 21 And then if any man shall say unto you: LO, HERE IS CHRIST;
OR LO, HE IS THERE; BELIEVE HIM NOT:
F. YOU CAN FIND JESUS IN YOUR PRAYER CLOSET? YOU CAN FIND
JESUS IN YOUR CAR TRAVELING DOWN THE COUNTRY ROAD?
You might even find Jesus while you are washing your dishes?
Many Divine Possibilities are lost in the search for God.
VI. HOW MANY TIMES HAD MOSES LOOKED THROUGH THE TENT’S
SCREEN DOOR AND CRIED, FATHER THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAN
THIS! DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS VALLEY AS HOLY GROUND?
A. THE QUESTION MUST BE DO WE RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF GOD ---
HIS OMNIPRESENCE?
B. WHY NOW? WHY NOT 40 YEARS AGO? WHY NOT 30 YEARS AGO?
OUR GOD MOVES IN DIVINE TIMING!
MOSES HAD TO LEARN AND BE READY!
EGYPT AND PHARAOH HAD TO BE READY! THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
Exodus 3:4 And when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, God called him out of the midst of the bush, and said, MOSES, MOSES.
And Moses said, HERE AM I.
5 And God said, Draw not nigh hither: PUT OFF thy shoes from off thy feet, FOR THE PLACE WHEREON THOU STANDEST IS HOLY GROUND!
C. ONLY HE WHO SEES WILL RECOGNIZE HOLY GROUND!
ONLY WHEN HE SEES WILL HE TAKE OFF HIS SHOES.
EARTH IS CRAMMED WITH BURNING BUSHES ---- CAN’T YOU SEE?
D. TO RELEASE GOD’S PLANS IN YOUR DAILY LIFE YOU WILL
HAVE TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VISION TO SEE JESUS IN EVERY SITUATION?
E. ARE WE GOING TO LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED
OR ARE WE GOING TO WONDER AROUND THE DESERT ONE MORE TIME?
VII. IF WE CAN NOT SEE THIS VALLEY IS AN OPPORTUNITY --- WE WILL
NEVER COME TO FRUITION BECAUSE WE CANNOT RECOGNIZE THIS IS
HOLY GROUND! WE WISH FOR ELSE WHERE TO BE?
A. The grass is greener?
The grass is greener because his water bill is higher!
The grass is greener over the septic tank!
B. Many of God’s PLAN will be missed because
we FAIL TO IDENTIFY AND RECOGNIZE ALL GROUND AS HOLY GROUND!
C. THE GROUND AROUND THAT BUSH WAS THE SAME AS IT WAS THE
DAY BEFORE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
D. WILL THE FIRE OF THE BUSH HAVE TO BURN YOU TO GET YOU
TO SEE, WE HAVE COME TO THIS VALLEY TO GROW...
IT IS TIME TO ARISE AND LET GOD????
VIII. YOU DETERMINE YOUR TIME THAT YOU STAY IN THIS VALLEY?
YOU CAN LIMIT GOD BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE PERSON’S HANGUPS
AND PAST AND NOT WHAT GOD CAN DO.
A. JESUS HAD BEEN DOING MIGHTY MIRACLES EVERY PLACE AND THEN
A PLACE THAT LIMITED THE DIVINE POSSIBILITIES.
Numbers 14:34 AFTER THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS IN WHICH YE SEARCHED
THE LAND. EVEN FORTY DAYS, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, shall ye bear your
iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
B. Why would we handcuff Jesus?
Matthew 13:58 AND JESUS DID NOT MANY MIGHTY WORKS THERE BECAUSE
OF THEIR UNBELIEF.
IX. SOME TIMES THIS VALLEY’S PURPOSE MAY DEPEND ON YOUR MATTER OF
PERSPECTIVE? ARE WE WILLING TO GET UP?
A. The Snail stops at the end of his little slime trail and watches the turtle fly by and the little snail says: WOW, is he fast or what?
B. The rabbit says: THAT AIN’T NOTHING --- WATCH ME?
The snail and the turtle stand back and watch the rabbit run out into the road and back?
C. The snail and the turtle are so amazed they ask to see the rabbit run again? Then all of a sudden a really fast car flies by and crushes the fast rabbit?
D. You might be on the Emmaus Road, Jesus might be walking beside you and you can’t see it?
X. YOUR VALLEY DOES NOT HAVE TO HINDER GOD’S PLAN.
HIS PLANS ARE FAR BEYOND OUR LARGEST DREAMS!
NOW LET US CONSIDER THAT EVERY MIRACLE COMES WITH A PROBLEM.
A. We cannot legislate our problems away? We cannot reason our problems away?
B. Consider the problem of the cat vs the bird?
If you try to resolve that: then you must address the bird vs. the worm?
Then what about the dog vs the cat? Legislation cannot bring our solutions?
C. Seems we have a problem with our color lines? We want to make black white and white black, how about making everything GRAY?
D. The problem of the heart is the heart of the problem.
ARISE OUT OF THIS VALLEY AND BRING GLORY TO GOD.
1. ABRAM HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM?
HE RELEASED DIVINE POSSIBILITIES AS ABRAHAM.
2. SARAH laughed at God, me have a son?
Sarah laughed with God as she held her own son.
3. Enoch walked with God and his walk took him HOME WITH GOD.
4. JACOB HAD A PROBLEM HE WAS A SUBPLANTER, A CHEATER ---
The miracle was change --- ISRAEL-PRINCE WITH GOD.
5. RUTH HAD A PROBLEM, HER HUSBAND WAS DEAD? BOAZ THE
KINSMAN REDEEMER, brought Ruth and Naomi the miracle.
6. We would have never known DAVID had he not faced a giant named
Goliath. One little boy, ONE BIG GIANT, ONE HUGE GOD.
7. HANNAH had a problem and a dysfunctional home,
Hannah prayed and had Samuel, and Hannah had 5 kids, ---
3 sons and two daughters.
Only God could see the miracle for Hannah.
8. The Shunammite woman’s son is dead at HARVEST TIME!
IT SHALL BE WELL! II Kings 4.
CONCLUSION:
WHY AM I IN THIS VALLEY? WHY DO THE STORM WINDS BLOW?
Big mess? Big message!
Great tests? Great testimonies!
You have come here to this time and place to STAND ON HOLY GROUND,
TO LET GOD ARISE, TO LET HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED!
THE DARKER THE NIGHT THE GREATER THE LIGHT!
ARISE O, GOD... THIS TOO SHALL PASS...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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