BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE! IN THE VALLEY HE RESTORES MY SOUL.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CORN FARMER THAT LEARNS ABOUT THE VALLEY.
In the mid-west there was a very successful corn farmer. He grew many acres of corn and made his living by selling corn. One spring he plowed, fertilized and planted hundreds of acres of corn. Later that year a swarm of millions of grasshoppers invaded the corn. Everything was utterly destroyed. The farmer surveyed the damage from the grasshoppers. The corn crop was 100% destroyed. The farmer started crying and complaining in prayer. Dear God, we are going to lose everything. We will go bankrupt.
The farmer had thousands of chickens and he fed them corn. There was nothing to feed the chickens. As the farmer prayed he kept hearing: Open the doors to the chicken house. The next morning the farmer opened the doors to the chicken house. The chickens roamed the farm eating the grasshoppers. The chickens thrived. The farmer started selling eggs and chickens. The farmer made more money on the chickens, more than he would have made selling corn. What appeared to be a disaster became a great blessing. CAN WE ACCEPT OUR GOD REIGNS IN THE VALLEY?
WHY DOES GOD “MAKE US” GO THROUGH DARK VALLEYS? IN THE VALLEY, HE RESTORES MY SOUL!
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
LET’S TALK ABOUT CEMETERIES! SORE AFRAID? BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE? SEE THE DUST ARISING BEHIND US? SEE THE OBSTACLE OF THE RED SEA IN FRONT OF US. I THOUGHT THERE IS A PROMISE LAND? WHY ARE WE IN THIS VALLEY?
There was impossible obstacles in front of God’s people. Let us add to that: Pharoah’s best trained soldiers and chariots are hot on our heels. You talk about a ROCK and a HARD PLACE. Why are we in this VALLEY?
Exodus 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
IN THE VALLEY: THEY SHALL KNOW WHO GOD IS… THE LIGHT! THE DARKNESS?
Exodus 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
GOD IS FAITHFUL. GOD’S PEOPLE HAD TO LEARN TO TRUST GOD’S PLAN IN THE VALLEY. GOD CAN DELIVER HIS PEOPLE FROM SLAVERY TO THE PROMISE LAND. God leads through the valley to FREEDOM BEYOND THE RED SEA. This valley SYMBOLIZES GOD’S DIVINE INTERVENTION knows no limitations.
IN THE VALLEY: WHY DO WE KNOW ONE LADY OUT OF THE CROWD OF MANY? THERE IS A INSIGNIFICANT LADY THAT WE KNOW… SOMEBODY TOLD HER… SHE HEARD ABOUT JESUS
WHY DO WE KNOW THE LADY THAT HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD FOR 12 YEARS?… BECAUSE SHE PRESSED THROUGH THE CROWD AND TOUCHED JESUS. This sickness opens the door.
Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
***IN THE VALLEY (Dottie Rambo)
WHEN I AM LOW IN THE SPIRIT, I CRIED LORD LIFT ME UP.
I WANT TO GO HIGHER WITH THEE.
BUT THE LORD KNOWS I CAN’T LIVE ON THE MOUNTAIN.
SO HE PICKED OUT A VALLEY FOR ME.
AND HE LEADS ME BESIDE STILL WATERS,
SOMEWHERE IN THE VALLEY BELOW.
HE LEADS ME A SIDE, TO BE TESTED AND TRIED,
BUT IN THE VALLEY, HE RESTORES MY SOUL.
ITS DARK AS A DUNGEON, AND THE SUN SELDOM SHINES,
AND I QUESTION THE LORD, WHY MUST THIS BE?
THEN HE TELLS ME THERE IS STRENGTH IN MY SORROWS.
AND THERE IS VICTORY IN TRIALS FOR ME.
AND HE LEADS ME BESIDE STILL WATERS,
SOMEWHERE IN THE VALLEY BELOW.
AND HE LEADS ME BESIDE STILL WATERS,
HE DRAWS ME A SIDE TO BE TESTED AND TRIED,
BUT IN THE VALLEY, HE RESTORED MY SOUL.
DEATH IS JUST A CHANGING ROOM IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH: IF THERE IS A SHADOW THERE HAS TO BE BRIGHT LIGHT SHINING.
In this valley of testing, God will SHOW HIMSELF STRONG. In the valley ABRAHAM IS TESTED. Abraham is asked to lay down his dream. You talk about a mean test? Faith can close doors. Faith can open doors.
Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
CONCLUSION: In this valley God can restore his plan. I think this valley can teach us, PRAY, REFUSE TO WORRY. PRAY, MY FRIEND, DON’T BE HEAVY AND ALL STRESSED AND STRETCHED TO YOUR LIMIT. PRAYER WORKS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PANIC IN ANGER. MY DEAR FRIENDS GIVE NO GROUND TO FEAR. PRAYER CHANGES THINGS. PRAYING IN THE DARK VALLEYS CAN HELP US REACH THE PROMISE LAND.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
