Audio from Senior Pastor Vaughn Drawdy on Sunday morning August 20th, 2017.
Our Valleys:
.Sickness
.Death
.Poverty
.Addictions
.Sinful Consequences
.Actions of Others
.Spiritual Dry Places
.Disputes
.Unforgiveness
(Fear, Stress, Anxiety)
Jesus said we would have valleys (trouble) in this life. But we can have victory.
John 16:33 NIV
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Define VICTORY
It is hard to see the big picture when you are right in the middle of the valley.
Genesis 50:20 NIV
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
God uses (redeems) our valleys for His purpose. Our VICTORY reveals Christ.
Romans 8:28 NIV
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
The Process of Revealing His Victory
.Valleys are places of revelation & growth - We learn that God is with us.
.We are being changed from (valley to valley) - glory to glory
.To survive - embrace, know, & obey His Word
.We are instruments of His glory through His victory
Valleys are places of revelation and growth
2 Chronicles 20
Valley: Israel under attack and alarmed
.Knew they needed God
.Remembered who God is and what He had done - they remembered the story
.God gave them instructions for victory and they obeyed
.They joined the story of God's power
We are being changed from (valley to valley) - glory to glory
1. We are all in a process of growth
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
We are being changed from (valley to valley) - glory to glory
2. We are all in a process of growth that reveals God’s love, strength and power.
Philippians 1:3-12 NIV
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
We are being changed from (valley to valley) - glory to glory
3. Do not lose heart. For God is at work in us and through us.
2 Corinthians 4:1-18 NIV
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Valleys are places of despair. But may we be like the Psalmist (David) who said with confidence through experience:
“I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me.” - Psalm 23
.Ask God for strength today to reveal His glory (victory) in your valley.