“The God Of the Mountain Is Still God In The Valley” 1Kings 20:23-27.
Intro:
Have you ever faced a valley before? Where it seemed that you were out numbered, surrounded, and were completely and totally helpless. .This is how Israel felt this day. The tear before Ben hadad had brought 32 kings and their armies against Samaria, and God brought a wonderful victory. But now Ben Hadad is back. A servant had convinced him that Israel’s God is a God of mountaintops, but their gods are gods of the valley. If they could get Israel into a battle in the valley, they would be victorious.
Israel is so out-numbered that they look like 2 small herds of sheep, While Ben hadads army cover the whole valley. Could you imagine the fear that gripped the hearts of the army of Israel? Discouragement and despair must have filled their minds. Thoughts of giving up; Surrender must have been the discussion of the day. But God was not going to stand for the idea that His presence was limited to the mountain tops.
Many times in our lives we find ourselves in the middle of the valley, We are weak, tired, empty and alone. We feel so far from the presence and the anointing of God. And when we call on Him we feel like we get a busy signal.
ILL: We are like the man who went to the Doctor;
The Doctor says to the patient I have bad news, and I have worse news.
The patient says ok lets have it.
The Doctor says the bad news is that you only have 24 hrs to live!.
The patient says I can’t imagine what could be worse than that!!
The doctor replies I forgot to tell you yesterday.
But I want you to Know today that God is not only the God of the mountain but He is God of every valley that you will face in your life.
1. A Valley is a place of Trial.
(A) The valley is the place that our faith is put to the test.(1Peter 1:6-7)
(B) The valley is hard( Psalm 84:5-6)
Baca means place of weeping;
A valley in Palestine, Full of thorns and brush.
God will care for them in the valley.
God will bring them out.
Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy Comes in the morning. (ps 30:5)
© When you are standing on the mountain tops the Power of God fills your Spirit.
1. Nothing like those services where the anointing is so great
Souls being saved.
People being baptized in the Holy Ghost.
Many slain in the sprit.
We need those mountain top experiences.
2. The saint of God needed the mountain top experiences.
Peter, James, john. Needed Encouragement for the days ahead.
Moses Mountain tops.
Needed direction for what God called Him to do.
Moses didn’t even know how to refer to God.
He needed encouragement to face Pharaoh.
3. But as much as we would like to we can’t live on the mountain tops.
We experience these wonderful mountain tops to prepare us for our valleys.
D In the valley our faith is stretched. (John 11)
1. Mary and Martha were in a valley
Lazarus was sick
They called for Jesus
He delayed His coming
Martha and Mary both said If you only….”
Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life do you believe?
2. What a valley of despair to walk through.
They had done everything right
They had given to the ministry
They called Jesus when their Brother Got sick.
3. Jesus was stretching their faith!!
Martha Do you believe?
I am here in the middle of your valley
DO you trust me.
4 He is God of the mountain but He is also God of the valley.
ILL:
Many of us need to be more like the little girl whom the farmer found lost in his meadow. The farmer said to her “Do not cry I’ll take you home. The little child snuggled upon to him and with a smile said I knew you would. I was waiting for you. Waiting for me? Said the man? What made you think I was coming? I was praying you would she said. Praying? When I first heard you were saying A B D E F G What was that for? She looked up again and said I’M just a little girl. I was praying al the letters of the Alphabet and letting God put them together the way he wanted to. He knew I was lost, and He knew how to put them together better than I do.
2. A Valley is a place of victory.(1Samuel 17)
A) Israel stood on the edge of the valley for 40 days listening to Goliath.
Fear had gripped their hearts.
Depression hung heavy over the army of Israel.
They were humiliated.
They hid in the rocks.
(Gods great men of war)
B) David stood that day full of the anointing Proclaiming the power of God over this heathen that defiled the living God.
The moment the rock hit it’s mark Victory was heard in the valley, As all the army of Israel rose up to defeat the philistine army.
God was their God in the valley that day.
C. Victory comes to those that place their trust in Him. (Mark 9:17...)
There was a man that was in a valley his son was possessed
Would through himself in the fire and water to destroy him
Deaf, mute
The man brought him to Jesus.
Jesus said to Him Mark 9:23, 24.
What the man was saying is, Jesus I believe as far as my earthly faith will take me. Come alongside of me, in the midst of my valley, and extend my faith.
3. A Valley is a place of assurance.
a. No matter how hard it gets how alone you feel you can rest on His promises that He will be with us.
Deut 31:6
ILL:
When Campbell G Morgan was a young Christian he used to visit several elderly ladies to read the Bible to them. When he came to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Morgan read, Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the age, He added Isn’t that a wonderful promise? One of the ladies quickly replied Young man that is not a promise. It’s a fact.
B. There is a song that Goes:
The God of the mountain is Still God in the valley
When things go wrong He’ll make them right
The God of the Good times is still God in the bad times, the God of the day, is still God in the night.
ILL:
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms calling to his son, Jump ‘l catch you. He knew that the boy had to jump in order to save his life. Al the boy could see however was flame, smoke, blackness. As can be imagined he was afraid to leave the roof. His dad kept yelling jump I’ll catch you. But the boy protested daddy I can’t see you, The Father replayed But I can see you and that’s all that matters.
He is the omnipotent Al powerful God
Not only will he be in our valley but he will lead us through.
Prov 3:5-6
Concl:
A little boy was away from home visiting. He was so afraid. The lightening would flash and the thunder would roar. He would cry, shudder, and say, I wish I were at home. But still the storm raged on! Finally, about midnight the little boy looked out into the darkness and saw a light. It was someone coming toward the home with a lantern. Nearer and nearer the light bearer came. It was the brother of the little boy. He said Little bro I thought that you might be afraid, and I came to lead you Home. The big brother took the little brother by the hand, and as they walked home the storm raged, but the tears had dried from the eyes of the little brother. He was not afraid as the big brother led him home.
