“HIDDEN VALLEYS IN LIFE.”
Text: Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is referred to as “The Wilderness Psalm.”
David’s son Absalom has revolted against him, and David flees to the wilderness to escape the unintended actions of a dysfunctional son, who chooses to take by force what can only be given by God Himself.
It is in this wilderness experience that David writes these words as the God of heaven comforts his heart.
2 He makes me lie down in [b]green pastures. He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
3 He restores my soul. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil. And I will [d]dwell in the house of the Lord [e]Forever.
-Many times as Christians we will walk through the valley, but we will not stay in the valley. It doesn’t say that we will avoid the valley. It doesn’t say that the valley won’t exist. It doesn’t say that the valley will last forever.
ILLUS.: It doesn’t say once you get saved, life will be full of bubbles, fun, and good times.
Understanding that our strength is in God is key to getting out of the valley.
We keep persevering and keep trusting, and we leave the valley behind us.
YOU HAVE TO PRAY IN THE VALLEY, AND YOU HAVE TO WALK OUT OF THE VALLEY. It isn’t something that we are going to stay in.
I entitled this message “Hidden Valleys because we all of a sudden find ourselves in a valley, and we wonder how did I get here?
1. THE VALLEY OF DISTRACTION.
Joshua 7:25-26
The Valley of Distractions – Achan looked, saw, and was distracted.
SO many people miss what God has because of simple distractions.
Anything that captures your eye that is outside the will and timing of God is a distraction. When God speaks to you about your purpose and your destiny, you need to stick to the plan that God gave you.
ILLUS.: Young people get distracted from the call of God. They go to college, get with a group of new friends, and life distracts them away from what God has for them. I don’t believe that it just happens. Something catches your eye, and you become pulled away.
A Distraction from the enemy will destroy your future. We must understand how easily things come in and steal our attention. I Corinthians 7:35
-We need to serve God without being distracted.
-Galatians 5-Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Walk-in line with the direction of God, then you won’t get distracted.
Often a Valley of distraction will destroy your God-given destiny.
2. THE VALLEY OF DOUBT.
Numbers 32:9
-They discouraged the heart of the children of Israel. THE VALLEY OF DOUBT. Doubt will cause you to 2nd guess everything, even the good things of God.
-God had a promised land set aside for them, but they allowed doubt and unbelief to take over. It robbed them of their destiny.
-They couldn’t see it. Their memory was greater than their vision for their future.
-When God speaks destiny over your life……then there is territory for you to take. As Christians, we are called to take territory for God’s kingdom. We don’t just exist; we are called to take ground in our workplace, we are called to take ground on the college campus.
Take new ground-Doubt and unbelief will cause you to doubt.
-Question God’s purpose
-Question the call of God on your life.
-Question the leading of God.
-Question God’s faithfulness
-Question who you are.
James1: Be careful that you don’t become a double-minded man.
-So many Christians do not have a revelation of who they are. This is what robbed their destiny in this story……you cannot allow doubt to enter.
–You say: “I believe.” “God will make a way.” “My faith is in the Lord.” Doubt will destroy your focus.
II Timothy 1:5-7
We have to stir up faith, stir up the things of God. Get around Christians that encourage you. Singing praise and worship. It stirs it up, God stirs up faith. When you get so full of faith, then you don’t have room for doubt.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION: BELIEF AND PRACTICE GO TOGETHER. DOCTRINE AND HABITS =BELIEF AND FAITH.
Doubt will destroy destiny. A child of God has a supernatural destiny. Why? Because we serve a supernatural God. A supernatural God is not going to give you a natural calling.
Let’s understand: Supernatural calling looks scary. [Can’t do it] We can’t.
But we can’t do– It’s not by might, power, and strength. We accomplish this by the Spirit of God. God calls us to do things that we can’t do.
If we can do it in the natural…it is a boring destiny. It is easy.
A destiny, a plan, a purpose, that is bigger than us. It drives us to pray. We earnestly seek God for His help and direction. The circumstances and situations that we face will appear different because of faith.
THE VALLEY OF DOUBT WILL CAUSE YOU TO MISS GOD.
Joseph told his sons, take my bones to the promised land. I won’t see it, but as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow-I know it will happen.
3. THE VALLEY OF HURT.
Psalm 84:5-7 A few times Jesus traveled through this valley when Lazarus died. Jesus traveled this valley on His way to the last supper. The night he was arrested. David escaped through the Kidron valley from his son, Absalom.
KIDRON = [Nahal Kidron] “To be dark-colored or dad.” {ash colored} To mourn in sackcloth-to be heavy.
This is THE VALLEY OF HURT–
Everyone goes through hurt and disappointment. Sadness, heaviness. It is a part of life. The Bible says that there is a time for sadness and a time for weeping.
BUT-If you stay there, it will destroy what God has called you to do. I know some of you have gone through heartbreak; hurt, divorce, death.
But understand if you stay in that place…of hurt..it will destroy your joy. Don’t let hurt stop you from doing what God has called you to walk in. We will go through challenges, but Jesus comes to heal the broken-hearted. You can go through HEARTBREAK but it doesn’t have to hold you back. Psalm 84:5-7
-As you pass through the Valley of Weeping, those whose strength is in God, God will make a new spring. -If your strength is in God, then it will be your hurt that God uses to propel you to the next place of victory and help.
-What the devil meant for evil, God will turn around for good. I am not going to stay in this place of disappointment.
We get to the place where we feel justified in our response.
Let’s understand—everyone has some kind of hurt. People say..this happened to me…
-I went through this….We hand it on to it. Victim mindset. I know it hurt, I’m not playing down people’s hurt and mindsets. Don’t let the VALLEY OF HURT DESTROY YOUR DESTINY.
Allow The Holy Spirit to heal your Valley of HURT.
4. THE VALLEY OF DRYNESS.
Ezekiel 37: 1-6, THE VALLEY OF DRYNESS -Dryness of Spirit will make life difficult. Nothing better than getting with someone with a fresh Spirit. That’s why the presence of God is so powerful. Moments in church when God’s presence is so wonderful. Don’t let moments in the Christian life become routine. Don’t let yourself get dry.
ILLUS.: Video of people in China. Ripping boxes open, and getting a complete Bible. They would hold it to their chest-treasuring their Bible.
Q-How familiar can we get? Don’t let yourself get dry in Spirit. The Holy Spirit is attracted to a hungry heart.
The water of Life; Spirit is called: breath, wind, water, refreshing. Dryness of Spirit will destroy you…stay in the place of hunger. Keep that place of hunger. YOU DON’T HAVE TO STAY IN THE VALLEY OF DRYNESS
5. THE VALLEY OF GUILT.
Matthew 27:5 Hinnom – This is where Judas hung himself. Valley of guilt. We have all made mistakes.
“We have all sinned, and fallen short of God’s glory.”
-You cannot let the past mistakes, the guilt, the shame, the condemnation. You cannot let it get a grip on you, because it will destroy you. I LOVE ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD-How powerful it is.
SONG: “No matter what I have done, you pick me up again.”
We hear a wrong theology: Ticket to do whatever you want.
THE GREAT GRACE OF GOD DOESN’T JUST DEAL WITH YOUR PAST. IT EMPOWERS YOUR FUTURE.
-MEAN? You look across your past…His grace covered the mistakes. We didn’t deserve the forgiveness. His grace now empowers me to live in the newness of life. THE GUILT AND CONDEMNATION…past mistakes and past hurt will destroy you. Some of you step out for God….The enemy says: “Remembering when you were doing that?” You step back. “You’re burdened to do something for God, and the voice whispers in your ear.
Remember what the Bible says…. “There is now therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” PAST, SINS: Gone!
Don’t let the valley of shame and guilt destroy your future. IN CHRIST IT IS GONE!
6. THE VALLEY OF DECISION.
Joel 3:13-14
Valley of Decision: Unsure. Double-minded. Not sure what you believe.
Where you stand. What to do. Too many Christians…live in the valley of decision. It’s ok to weigh out the revelation of God, praying over things. Can’t stay in the decision process or it will become indecision.
Indecision is really a decision. Can’t stay there. You will fall. A double-minded man is unstable in all their ways. (Yes/no)
I’ll just go over here…. I Kings 18:20-21
Daniel 1-Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
-Purposed-hearted Christians. You know what you believe. You know what you stand for.
-Greatest witness for the Christian is when he stands strong for what he believes.
“I LOVE YOU -IT’S ALL GOOD, BUT THIS IS ME – THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE.”
It is hard to stand strong on someone else’s revelation. .…You can’t really believe in 2nd hand revelation. Someone has told you. What someone in your family tried to teach you.
-Get in the Bible and get your OWN word from God.
-Just so you can appease a group of people -it isn’t worth it. It isn’t worth it to lose God’s blessing in your life.
Decide and stand up for who God has called you to be.
ILLUS.: Friend and I were walking home. Kirk Ludwig.
-My dad coached Kirk in Football. I told him, you don’t need this in your life.
–Cancer Center – Froedtert Hospital.
STAY CLEAR OF THE VALLEY OF DECISION
7. THE VALLEY OF SIN.
Genesis 14-SIDDIM
Lot – Battle of Siddim, 4 Mesopotamian armies. Sodom & Gomorrah.
The valley of sin. All have sinned & come short of the glory of God.
Sin will weigh you down. Can’t go forward with sin.
Must deal with the sin in your life. Your destiny is not worth it.
Many decide to not sell out because of addiction in their life.
Because of this sin, you are hanging onto. Get it right – Give it to God! Get it right and give it to God.
SIN/PRICE…wages of sin is death. Freedom through Jesus Christ.
Price has already been paid- Jesus paid the price. It is all done.
Just receive forgiveness…..get that sin righted by God.
Don’t go another day, don’t go another moment, because God has a plan for your life. It is not worth it.
Some of you are trying to carry too much. You can’t run to your future because your baggage is too great. Leave the baggage at the ALTAR.
YOU HAVE TO PRAY IN THE VALLEY, AND YOU HAVE TO WALK OUT OF THE VALLEY.