Title: “He Is The God Of The Valley”
Psalms 23: 4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your Rod & Your Staff, they comfort me.”
Every one of us likes to have a Mountain Top Experience with God;
-Because it feels so good.
-It’s a Place of Refreshing.
-We feel so close to God.
-We don’t ever want it to end.
We’re like the Three Disciples that Jesus took up on the Mountain & He was Transfigured before their very eyes.
-His Face began to Shine like the Sun.
-His Clothes became as white as Light.
-Moses & Elijah appeared before them.
-They knew something Supernatural was happening.
Peter couldn’t contain himself. He said to Jesus, “Lord it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make three Tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses, & one for Elijah.”
While Peter was still speaking, a Bright Cloud overshadowed them; & suddenly a voice came out of the Cloud saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased hear Him.”
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God was doing something Supernatural on this Mountain Top, & He wasn’t doing it for Jesus;
-Jesus knew He was God’s Son.
-He knew what His assignment was.
-God was doing this for the Three Disciples.
I think that every one of us have had a Mountain Top experience with God, where God revealed Himself to us in a Supernatural way.
-Moses did on the Backside of the Desert.
-Jacob had it when he wrestled with an Angel.
-Saul had it on the Damascus Road.
-Peter had it when he cast his net into the deep.
-We enjoy the Mountain Top Experiences.
-We don’t want to come down from the Mt.
But Jesus had to say to the Disciples, “No, I don’t want you to build Three Tabernacles here Peter, because we can’t stay up here, we have a work to do down there.”
I want to say something that you already know, but sometimes we need to be reminded, “Life is not always a Mountain Top Experience.”
-You can’t always stay on the Mountain Top.
-God allows us to have Mt. Top Experiences.
-Because He knows that we need them.
-But He knows that we can’t stay there!
p. 4
I want to say something that I hope you never forget. “The God that is with you on the Mt. Top, is the same God that has promised to be with you in the Valley.”
Every one of us in this room someway between the New Birth & The New Jerusalem will experience, not one, but many Valley Experiences in our Lives. And it isn’t always because;
-You have some deep dark Sin in your Life.
-It isn’t because you have a Lack of Faith.
-It doesn’t mean you’re off Track.
-But Valleys are a Part of Life.
p. 5
Job 14: 1
“Man who is born of woman, Is of few days & full of Trouble.”
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have Peace. In the world you will have Tribulation; but be of Good Cheer, I have overcome the world.”
It’s easy to Trust God on the Mountain Top when everything is going our way. But it takes the Faith of God to continue to Trust God when you are passing through a Dark Valley. Notice I said, “Passing Through”.
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Some of you may be facing a Valley in your Life even now. I know that some of you are, & you are wondering, “God, how long will this Valley Experience Last. I don’t enjoy it?”
I don’t think that’s a bad question to ask. I really think it’s a Natural Question. But I think that there is even a better question to ask God & it is, “God what is it that You are trying to teach me in this Valley? I want to pass the Test!”
I wish that all of us could face our Valleys like Job;
-He Lost His Children.
-He Lost His Possessions.
-He Lost His Wealth.
His friends said, “Job you must have sin in your Life.” His precious wife said, “Job, why don’t you just curse God & die.” He said, “You speak like a foolish woman!
Job 23:8-10
“Look, I go forward, but He is not there & backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
“When He works on the Left Hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right Hand, I cannot see Him.
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has Tested me, I shall come forth as Gold.”
I don’t know why, & I don’t think that we will know this side of Eternity, but it seems as if some people face more valleys than others. But I know one thing, “We have a Shepherd who has promised to always be with us.”
Psalms 30:5
“For His Anger is but for a Moment, His Favor is for Life; Weeping may endure for a night, “but Joy comes in the morning.”
The man who said, “Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear not Fear, for You are with me; Your Rod & Your Staff, they comfort me.”
He had his share of Valleys. But some of you might be Thinking, “Yeah Pastor, but he sure didn’t experience any valleys like I have experienced.”
p. 9
I. David Was A Man Who Experienced Many
Valleys In His Life.
The way that you come out of your Valley is Totally up to you.
-You can out the Victim.......
-Or you can come out the Victor.
-It’s your Choice!
-David Faced Many Valleys in his Life.
1. He fought a Giant by the name of Goliath when it seemed all odds were against him.....
2. He faced a Valley when a Crazy King by the name of Saul, hunted him down like a wild Animal.
3. He faced a valley when he committed Adultery with Bathsheba, & even though God forgave David, he had to reap the Judgment for his
Sins.
4. He faced a Valley when his own Son Absalom tried to take over the Kingdom.
5. He faced a Valley when he Disobeyed God by Numbering the People & Thousands of innocent people died.
Psalms 42:3
“My tears have been my food day & night, while they continue to say to me, Where is your God?”
p. 11
David knew what it was like to face Valleys in his Life. But even though he faced many Valleys in his Life, he never got Stuck in the Valley.
I have known many people who have faced many Valleys in their Lives, but some of them got Stuck in their Valleys. There is no Testimony if you get stuck in the Valley & never come out.
Some people just want to tell you about their Valleys;
-Somebody did me Wrong!
-Life hasn’t been fair to me!
-They go through their entire lives Whining!
p. 12
But David realized that even though he passed through many dark valleys & he didn’t understand them all, he knew that God was with him in the valley & he would take him through it!
Psalms 84:5-7 is a Powerful Scripture
“Blessed is the man whose Strength is in You, whose Heart is set on Pilgrimage.
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a Spring. The rain also covers it with pools.
“They go from Strength to Strength; Every one of them appears before God in Zion.”
The Valley of Baca meant the Valley of Weeping.
p.13
It was named “The Valley of Baca” because the Trees in the Valley would give off a Sap, & when they you saw them , they appeared to be Weeping.
Have you ever had a Valley of Baca experience in your Life? There are some Golden Nuggets in theses verses. This individual doesn’t stay in the Valley, but he passes through it. Why?
How Do You Pass Through Baca?
1. His Strength is in the Lord & not in Himself.
p.14
2. His Heart is Set or Established on His
Pilgrimage. (He keeps his eyes on the goal).
3. They Plan to Pass through this Valley, & as they pass through it, they make it a Spring.
It doesn’t say that the Lord makes it a Spring, but they do! Paul said, “You can chain me to a Roman Soldier, but I have made up my mind that I am going to serve God......”
4. They Go From Strength to Strength.
-They don’t depend upon the Preacher.
-They don’t depend upon the S.S. Teacher.
-Their eyes aren’t on their Circumstances.
-But they have their Focus upon Him.
-They depend upon Him, DAILY!
II. What Does God Want Us To Learn In The
Valley?
1. You Find Out How Much You Really Love God, when you are in the Valley.
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2. You don’t make it to the next Mountain Top, unless you grow in the Valley.
I heard someone say, “Change is Inevitable, Growth is Optional.”
3. You Find out what your True Motives are in The Valley.
The Valley is a Place where if you are Open, God can really show you the Pure Motives of your Heart.
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4. The Valley Is A Place of Total Surrender.
When you get to the End of Yourself, that’s where you find God. The Valley is a place where you recognize that you can’t do anything without God!
5. The Valley is a Place That Once You Have Been There & Passed Through It, You Can Lead Others Through It.
I’m convinced that God allows us to experience some things in Life so we will know how to minister to others!
p. 18
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies & God of all Comfort.
“Who comforts us in all our Tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
6. Don’t Doubt In The Darkness What God Has Told You In The Light.
We enjoy the Mountain Top Experience because we feel so close to God. But remember, “No place is out of Place when you are in God’s Place.”
p. 19
7. Faith is Paralyzed, When You Have To Analyze Everything.
In Matthew 14, we see the Miracle of Peter walking on the Water. But why did he begin to Sink? The answer is found in verse 30.
v. 30
“But when he saw, that the wind was boisterous, he was Afraid; & beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” (He started trying to figure it all out).
p. 20
You cannot look at Everything & Try to Figure out Everything through the Carnal Eyes of the Flesh. God wants us to Learn to Trust Him.
Someone said, “Wherever the Finger of God Points, the Hand of God will Provide.”
Are you facing a Valley This Morning? You may not understand it, but I can tell you that you don’t have to get Stuck there, Because you have a Shepherd who is there with you to Lead you through it!
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