“Digging Ditches for What God Wants to Do Next”

INTRODUCTION — Setting the Vision

“This time of year is funny, isn’t it?”

Some people are already planning next year. Some people are just trying to survive this week. And some people are saying, ‘I’ll think about it after the holidays.

But whether we realize it or not, we are all stepping into a new season together.

And today isn’t about pressure. It’s not about numbers. It’s not about performance.

Today is about preparation.

Because before God ever sent water into a valley, He asked His people to dig ditches.

Before blessing… preparation. Before provision… obedience. Before victory… faith.

THE BIG IDEA (Say This Clearly)

Vision is not predicting what God will do— Vision is preparing for what God can do.

PLEASE STAND (IF YOU ARE ABLE) FOR THE READING OF GODS WORD- Text:

2 KINGS 3:10- 16

10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! 11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. 12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 14 And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. 15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.

THE CONTEXT — A DRY PLACE

Briefly, conversationally:

“These three kings didn’t start in trouble. They walked into it.”

Seven days into the desert. No water. No backup plan.

And that’s where vision often begins— not in comfort, but in need.

2 Kings 3:1–18

When God wants to do something in the future, He starts by dealing with us in the present.

1# A DRY PLACE

2 Kings 3:9–10

“9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

(Where we are)

“Let’s be honest for a moment.”

Every CHURCH has dry places. Every FAMILY has dry places. Every HEART has dry places.

Dry doesn’t mean DEAD. Dry means READY for God to move.

“God often chooses valleys— Not mountaintops— To reveal His power.”

2# A DESPERATE PRAYER

2 Kings 3:11

“11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

(What we must do first)

Jehoshaphat asks the right question:

“Is there not a prophet of the Lord?”

Before Strategy—Prayer. Before Planning—Seeking God.

Vision Sunday application:

“Before we plan calendars, events, or themes… let’s ask, ‘Lord, what do You want to say to this church?’”

3# A DIVINE DIRECTION

2 Kings 3:15–19

“15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. 17 For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.”

(God speaks)

“God doesn’t say, ‘Here’s the water.’ God says, ‘Here’s the work.’”

“Make this valley full of ditches.”

This is vision.

“God didn’t promise rain. God promised filling.”

4# A DITCH-DIGGING FAITH

(Our responsibility)

This is where Vision Sunday lives.

“Digging ditches doesn’t create the miracle— it just makes room for it.”

Then speak directly to the church, gently:

“What ditches do we need to dig now for what we’re praying God will do next?”

Examples (use a few, not all):

Prayer ditches

Outreach ditches

Leadership ditches

Calendar ditches

Vision ditches

“We don’t dig because we see water. We dig because we trust God.”

5# A DIVINE DELIVERANCE

2 Kings 3:20

“20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.”

(God always fills what He orders)

“God never asked them to dig ditches He didn’t intend to fill.”

Water came. Victory followed. And Scripture says:

2 Kings 3:18

‘This is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord.’

Vision line (important):

“What feels IMPOSSIBLE to us is never IMPOSSIBLE for God.”

VISION APPLICATION — LOOKING TO THE NEW YEAR

Now slow down. Speak from the heart.

“I don’t know exactly how God will fill this valley— but I believe He wants to.”

“And Vision Sunday isn’t about predicting outcomes— it’s about positioning our hearts.”

Ask reflective questions (don’t rush them):

What are we praying for as a church?

What are we preparing for?

Are we making room—or just hoping?

SHADOW GARDEN STORY

I DID PESTCONTROL FOR A LADY WITH A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT SHE DID TO MAKE HER GARDAN SO BEAUTIFUL SHE SAID I PUT THE SAME THING IN MY GARDEN EVERYONE ELSE DOES, I SAID WELL WHAT IS IT? MY SHADOW, IT MAY BE IN THE MORNING, OR AT NIGHT BUT THE MORE SHADOW YOU PUT IN YOUR GARDEN THE MORE BEAUTIFUL IT WILL TURN OUT.

SALVATION & SURRENDER MOMENT

Tie it naturally:

“Before God ever filled the valley with water, He dealt with the hearts of the people standing in it.”

There are some ditches we can’t dig with our hands. They MUST be dug in the HEART.

Proverbs 3:5–6

“5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

Some of us want God to direct our future, but we’ve never surrendered our heart.

1. SALVATION — THE FIRST SURRENDER

“The most important ditch you’ll ever dig is the one that makes room for Jesus.”

Scripture is clear:

Romans 3:23

“23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23

“23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“Notice—it says gift. You don’t earn it. You don’t work for it. You RECEIVE it.”

Ephesians 2:8–9

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

“You don’t dig this ditch with good deeds. You dig it with faith.”

And God gives us this promise:

Romans 10:9–10

“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Pause here.

“If you’ve never trusted Christ as Savior, today is the day to dig that ditch.”

2. SURRENDER — THE DAILY DITCH

Now shift gently to believers:

“But surrender doesn’t stop at salvation.”

Jesus said in Luke 9:23

“23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

“That word daily matters.”

Every year brings new decisions. New challenges. New opportunities.

“Vision isn’t just about what we want God to do— it’s about what we’re willing to surrender.”

Romans 12:1

“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

“Surrender says, ‘Lord, this year belongs to You.’ ‘My plans belong to You.’ ‘My future belongs to You.’”

3. BAPTISM — OBEDIENCE AFTER SURRENDER

“For some, the next ditch to dig is obedience.”

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19–20 to be baptized.

Acts 2:41

“41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

“Baptism doesn’t save you— but it shows the world you’ve been saved.”

“It’s not pressure. It’s obedience.”

“Some ditches don’t start with planning— they start with surrender.”

Salvation (grace, not works)

Baptism (obedience, not pressure)

“Before God fills the valley, He fills the heart.”

CLOSING VISION STATEMENT

“As we step into a new year together, let’s not just ask God to bless what we’re doing.” - Pause. - “Let’s do what God is blessing.” - “Let’s pick up a shovel. Let’s get on our knees. And let’s dig ditches big enough for God to show Himself faithful.”

INVITATIONAL CLOSE (Very Important)

Lower your voice here.

“As we stand on the edge of a new year, God isn’t asking us to be perfect— He’s asking us to be prepared.”

“Before God fills the valley, He fills the heart.”

“If God is speaking to you right now—

don’t ignore it.”

Pause.

“Dig the ditch.”

FINAL PRAYER (VISION-FOCUSED)

“Lord, show us where to dig. Give us unity. Give us faith. And help us prepare today for what You want to do tomorrow.”

HELP US THIS WEEK TO SEEK YOU

HELP US THIS WEEK TO SURRENDER TO YOU

HELP US THIS WEEK TO PUT OUR SHADOW IN OUR DITCHS

HELP US TO PRAY FOR A PASTOR HERE AT MORALES BAPTIST CHURCH

We surrender our hearts, our plans, and our future to You. Save those who need salvation. Renew those who need surrender. And prepare us for what You want to do next. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”