Psalm23vs 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'
Luke9vs28,
And it came to pass about after 8 days,------He took Peter, John and James and went to a mountain to pray'
Verse37,
And it came to pass on the next day when they came down from the hill, much people met Him.
Verse38-------And a man cried to Him,Teacher I beg you look to my son----a spirit siezes and he suddenly screams-------it is destroying him i begged your disciples to drive it out but they could not'
AS soon our Lord Jesus came down from the mountain He was confronted with life in the valley. But our Lord was not taken by suprise, He was ready, the only people not yet ready were the disciples, they were perplexed like every body else. Today the church is in the same predicament, we ought to be prepared but we are not, not for ourselves or those we meet in the valley of life.
The valley represents all that life in a fallen world corrupted by sin has to offer if we see it with ordinary physical eyes. The valley is full of pain, darkness, sickness, fears, disappointments, poverty, injustice and the list continues. This is life colored, obscured and ravaged by sin.. In the valley is where you meet a man travelling that fell among thieves he was robbed, beaten and left for death. Before we judge the priest and the Levite that passed the man and looked the other way and went on their journey;; we must understand that they would have loved to help, but they lacked the power to do so. They are from the valley and of the valley, they had nothing better to offer. All that they learnt from the valley was religion, a form of godliness that denies the power of God to save to the uttermost. Religion in the valley tells you this person is not of the same race or social class with you, he is an outcast so you can not help him. Church even today is still divided to a large extent along racial lines. Today, the best religion in the valley has to offer is meet the physical needs of the valley and we have built our tents here, as every program is geared to meet a socio-physical need of the people.
The valley is an elongated depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills and mountains. Valleys are also low, hollow and depressed in nature, for these reasons they are usually dark and frightening as the hills cast shadows over it. David in Psalm 23 puts it better ''yea though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death i will fear no evil, for thou art with me'' By day or night the valley can be a scary place.
However this is not the end of the story, because the very son of God has come down from the mountain into the valley, to bring salvation, light, hope, healing and beauty into the valley. For His name is the "Lily of the Valley' and the "Rose of Sharon'. so even though we are in the valley we can be transformed inside and outside, for Jesus in us brings peace, hope and joy.On the outside our valley we can have beauty, healing deliverance, for the son of God has come to bring heaven on earth, meaning salvation, redemption deliverance for this where real life begins,every other thing we have is an addition or extra. He has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
As believers we are the agents of change and transformation for every valley we are in. For we are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. When we let our light shine our valley will be flooded with light and darkness will flee. What the valley needs is for believers who have been in the presence of God, and have been endowed with power from on High to flood the valley.In genesis 1 the very first command was for us to bear fruit multiply, increase and have dominion. Romans8vs19 says the whole earth waits for the manifestations or revelation of the sons of God. The groaning in the valley will not cease until there is rising up of the sons of God.
From scriptures to generations past, every one who had impact on their generation was not the books they wrote, or the TV programs and stations they had, or the state of the art cathedral they built, rather it was that these men and women had been with God. It was their spiritual devotion that set them apart.You can say that they were frequent and consistent in the Presence of God. Their very delight was the presence of God, and God did not disappoint them as they came away full of the power, love, grace of God upon them. Moses came down from the mount after 40 days, with face so shinning that the people could behold his face. The glory of God had rubbed off on Moses and the camp of Israel in the wilderness was better for it.
When Ezekiel came down to the valley he was confronted with a valley full of very dry bones. By the power of God Ezekiel brought the life back to the valley, the dry bones became a great army. Ezekiel did not do a food drive, neither did he do a fund raising to send them to the hospital. He spoke the word of God as given to him by God. After the spending ten days fasting and praying the promised Holy Spirit came upon the disciples ; they came down to their valley with great grace that the valley desperately needed. Peter's shadow was healing the sick and handkerchieves from Paul brought healing and deliverance to many.Elijah confronted with idolatry, and wickedness in the valley, and the power of God's word in his mouth turned the hearts of Israel back to their God. Elijah simply declared God before whom i stand----' He was bold courageous and strong to declare judgement on the prophets of baal. The valley changed, drought of three and half years ended. Mother Theresa of blessed memory, fondly called the angel of Calcuta, did more than feed the poor in the slums of Calcuta. She transformed that valley with burning love of God in her heart to see the poor saved and delivered. she loved the very out cast of society to salvation, thus transforming the valley.
Church, we have come a long way, but for the most part in the wrong direction particularly in this generation. Meeting the physical and social needs of the valley can not transform the valley, it makes those offering it look good. Today we seem to have turned service to our community the reason for the existence of the church, like Jesus said to the Pharisees' you ought to do all these but not to neglect the weightier matters of the law'. The social gospel of the 21st century is powerless to redeem, renew and transform the valley. There is an urgent need to heed the word of God that admonishes us that 'the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, the kingdom is the power of God revealed. The last command of our Lord to us the church was to go and make disciples of all nations, starting from our communities.Feeding and clothing and helping our communities is a laudable and noble act, but it should proceed from making disciples.
The gospel that tells us if we give back to the community then we have served our purpose is of the world and as such carnal. All kinds of people are giving back to the community that has nothing to do with God. According to Romans 8 vs19-20 the eager expectation of the valley for the manifestation of the sons of God has nothing to do with food or clothes,or a better life, but rather that the valley will be liberated from it's bondage to decay, and brought into the glorious light and freedom of the children of God. Let's stop competing with the celebrities, Let's go to the holy mountain, to the dwelling place of our great and holy God, where He is waiting to fill us with His life, His resurrection life and power when we come down to the valley, that life will spread like wild fire, because it has the power to multiply and extend itself.
Like the perfume that Mary used to anoint the Lord Jesus filled the room where He was, so when we come down to the valley from the mountain, the life of Christ that we have received will fill the whole valley, bringing beauty, love, light, grace. For it is written we are the aroma or fragrance of God among those that are dying. When Ezra the priest returned to the Jerusalem from exile,to the broken down burnt city, the first thing he did was to build an alter to God where worship and prayers can be made. The alter brought the presence of God. In the early days of the return Ezra initiated a 24 hour worship services, they worshiped for 8 hours, the next 8 hours they confessed their sins, made petitions, prayed and interceded, and another 8 hours they read from the book of the law. By the time Nehemiah returned to build the city walls the people were ready to work with one mind and with dedication.
Oh God help us to return to you with all hearts, so you can make us a people of power and praise that will move through our cities by His Spirit, and will glorify His precious Name.
I speak peace to every valley you are in right, i declare to your valley 'let there be light'.Let the beauty of Lord be upon you, and His glory be seen in your valley, amen. My beloved brethren it's time , let's rise up our generation needs us. He made 12 ordinary fishermen to turn their world upside down for Him, He can do the same with us and through us.
'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'
Luke9vs28,
And it came to pass about after 8 days,------He took Peter, John and James and went to a mountain to pray'
Verse37,
And it came to pass on the next day when they came down from the hill, much people met Him.
Verse38-------And a man cried to Him,Teacher I beg you look to my son----a spirit siezes and he suddenly screams-------it is destroying him i begged your disciples to drive it out but they could not'
AS soon our Lord Jesus came down from the mountain He was confronted with life in the valley. But our Lord was not taken by suprise, He was ready, the only people not yet ready were the disciples, they were perplexed like every body else. Today the church is in the same predicament, we ought to be prepared but we are not, not for ourselves or those we meet in the valley of life.
The valley represents all that life in a fallen world corrupted by sin has to offer if we see it with ordinary physical eyes. The valley is full of pain, darkness, sickness, fears, disappointments, poverty, injustice and the list continues. This is life colored, obscured and ravaged by sin.. In the valley is where you meet a man travelling that fell among thieves he was robbed, beaten and left for death. Before we judge the priest and the Levite that passed the man and looked the other way and went on their journey;; we must understand that they would have loved to help, but they lacked the power to do so. They are from the valley and of the valley, they had nothing better to offer. All that they learnt from the valley was religion, a form of godliness that denies the power of God to save to the uttermost. Religion in the valley tells you this person is not of the same race or social class with you, he is an outcast so you can not help him. Church even today is still divided to a large extent along racial lines. Today, the best religion in the valley has to offer is meet the physical needs of the valley and we have built our tents here, as every program is geared to meet a socio-physical need of the people.
The valley is an elongated depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills and mountains. Valleys are also low, hollow and depressed in nature, for these reasons they are usually dark and frightening as the hills cast shadows over it. David in Psalm 23 puts it better ''yea though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death i will fear no evil, for thou art with me'' By day or night the valley can be a scary place.
However this is not the end of the story, because the very son of God has come down from the mountain into the valley, to bring salvation, light, hope, healing and beauty into the valley. For His name is the "Lily of the Valley' and the "Rose of Sharon'. so even though we are in the valley we can be transformed inside and outside, for Jesus in us brings peace, hope and joy.On the outside our valley we can have beauty, healing deliverance, for the son of God has come to bring heaven on earth, meaning salvation, redemption deliverance for this where real life begins,every other thing we have is an addition or extra. He has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
As believers we are the agents of change and transformation for every valley we are in. For we are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. When we let our light shine our valley will be flooded with light and darkness will flee. What the valley needs is for believers who have been in the presence of God, and have been endowed with power from on High to flood the valley.In genesis 1 the very first command was for us to bear fruit multiply, increase and have dominion. Romans8vs19 says the whole earth waits for the manifestations or revelation of the sons of God. The groaning in the valley will not cease until there is rising up of the sons of God.
From scriptures to generations past, every one who had impact on their generation was not the books they wrote, or the TV programs and stations they had, or the state of the art cathedral they built, rather it was that these men and women had been with God. It was their spiritual devotion that set them apart.You can say that they were frequent and consistent in the Presence of God. Their very delight was the presence of God, and God did not disappoint them as they came away full of the power, love, grace of God upon them. Moses came down from the mount after 40 days, with face so shinning that the people could behold his face. The glory of God had rubbed off on Moses and the camp of Israel in the wilderness was better for it.
When Ezekiel came down to the valley he was confronted with a valley full of very dry bones. By the power of God Ezekiel brought the life back to the valley, the dry bones became a great army. Ezekiel did not do a food drive, neither did he do a fund raising to send them to the hospital. He spoke the word of God as given to him by God. After the spending ten days fasting and praying the promised Holy Spirit came upon the disciples ; they came down to their valley with great grace that the valley desperately needed. Peter's shadow was healing the sick and handkerchieves from Paul brought healing and deliverance to many.Elijah confronted with idolatry, and wickedness in the valley, and the power of God's word in his mouth turned the hearts of Israel back to their God. Elijah simply declared God before whom i stand----' He was bold courageous and strong to declare judgement on the prophets of baal. The valley changed, drought of three and half years ended. Mother Theresa of blessed memory, fondly called the angel of Calcuta, did more than feed the poor in the slums of Calcuta. She transformed that valley with burning love of God in her heart to see the poor saved and delivered. she loved the very out cast of society to salvation, thus transforming the valley.
Church, we have come a long way, but for the most part in the wrong direction particularly in this generation. Meeting the physical and social needs of the valley can not transform the valley, it makes those offering it look good. Today we seem to have turned service to our community the reason for the existence of the church, like Jesus said to the Pharisees' you ought to do all these but not to neglect the weightier matters of the law'. The social gospel of the 21st century is powerless to redeem, renew and transform the valley. There is an urgent need to heed the word of God that admonishes us that 'the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, the kingdom is the power of God revealed. The last command of our Lord to us the church was to go and make disciples of all nations, starting from our communities.Feeding and clothing and helping our communities is a laudable and noble act, but it should proceed from making disciples.
The gospel that tells us if we give back to the community then we have served our purpose is of the world and as such carnal. All kinds of people are giving back to the community that has nothing to do with God. According to Romans 8 vs19-20 the eager expectation of the valley for the manifestation of the sons of God has nothing to do with food or clothes,or a better life, but rather that the valley will be liberated from it's bondage to decay, and brought into the glorious light and freedom of the children of God. Let's stop competing with the celebrities, Let's go to the holy mountain, to the dwelling place of our great and holy God, where He is waiting to fill us with His life, His resurrection life and power when we come down to the valley, that life will spread like wild fire, because it has the power to multiply and extend itself.
Like the perfume that Mary used to anoint the Lord Jesus filled the room where He was, so when we come down to the valley from the mountain, the life of Christ that we have received will fill the whole valley, bringing beauty, love, light, grace. For it is written we are the aroma or fragrance of God among those that are dying. When Ezra the priest returned to the Jerusalem from exile,to the broken down burnt city, the first thing he did was to build an alter to God where worship and prayers can be made. The alter brought the presence of God. In the early days of the return Ezra initiated a 24 hour worship services, they worshiped for 8 hours, the next 8 hours they confessed their sins, made petitions, prayed and interceded, and another 8 hours they read from the book of the law. By the time Nehemiah returned to build the city walls the people were ready to work with one mind and with dedication.
Oh God help us to return to you with all hearts, so you can make us a people of power and praise that will move through our cities by His Spirit, and will glorify His precious Name.
I speak peace to every valley you are in right, i declare to your valley 'let there be light'.Let the beauty of Lord be upon you, and His glory be seen in your valley, amen. My beloved brethren it's time , let's rise up our generation needs us. He made 12 ordinary fishermen to turn their world upside down for Him, He can do the same with us and through us.
Great words. Truly inspiring.
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