What Valley Are You In?

Many Valleys

Through out the Bible, there are many different valleys that represent places in our life.

We will take the next few weeks to talk about some of those valleys and discover if we need to get out of the valley or stay.

Some valleys are good for us to stay in but all valleys are good for us to learn from and take what God has for us while we are there.

Valleys:

What are there purposes?

Valleys are created by erosion of water that starts and wears down to form a “V” shape and eventually a “U” shape.

The valley that you may be in today will determine whether you can get out on your own or if you need help.

Some valleys can be walked out of under your own power, while others need help from someone with a rope and some strength.

Valley are also full of rocks and debris that has fallen down and become trapped, while others are valleys that are lush and full of life.

What does your valley look like in your life?

I want to shape your perspective on the different valleys that you have been in or are in now.

There are some valleys that you do not want to stay in no longer than you should, but there are some valleys that you need to stay until the Lord leads you out.

The Valley of Sin

The first valley is one that you want to exit as fast as you possibly can.

The Valley of Sin!

This is also related to the Valley of Siddim.

This valley was the battle grounds most likely located in the region of the Dead Sea or Salt Sea.

This valley was also believed to full of tar pits.

This battle took place in

Genesis 14:10 MEV

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell in them, and the rest fled to the hill country.

This is what happens when we run around in a valley that we do not belong in.

When we go along with the sight of the flesh, we will get ourselves in trouble every time.

Lot was given the opportunity to decide which land he would obtain.

Abram told him in

Genesis 13:9 MEV

9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you will go to the left, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right, then I will go to the left.”

Abram let Lot make the choice as to what land he wanted.

Lot used his own eyes to see which land direction looked the best to him.

Sometimes we make choices with the information of the World rather than what God has instructed us to do.

When we start looking around us and start wanting what the world has, we start going towards the land that make look good to the eyes, but God knows who the neighbors are!

Lot chose the land that bordered Sodom.

We all know the story of what happens to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lot’s association to these countries all started when he made the choice to go left when he should have gone right.

Have you ever made those choices in life as well?

The Valley of Siddim is a valley that we walk into by our choices that please the flesh rather than pleasing the Lord.

There is a reason that we Jesus said that we are to come out from among the world.

2 Corinthians 6:17 MEV

17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

We have to be careful where we hang out and who we hang out with.

Lot took the land that was adjacent to Sodom which lead to him being captured by his surroundings and having to be rescued by Abram.

This a valley that we need help getting out of.

The valley of sin is one that will keep you bound to the place that you may think that everything is ok, but according to the Word of God, it is not!

God Wants to Remove You From the Valley

Psalm 40:1 MEV

1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me, and heard my cry.

We need to pray to God this morning to take us out of the valley that leads to death.

Psalm 40:2 MEV

2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my steps.

He will set you up on the rock of Jesus if you ask Him.

Jesus knows our failures and He knows our faults.

He died for our sins so that we might have life, abundant life in Him!

Because He knows our failures, He is not surprised by those failures.

Satan has to get permission to tempt us!

Luke 22:31 MEV

31 Then the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you to sift you as wheat.

He can not mess with you without God allowing him too.

Don’t you get it, the hard times are for a reason, but this valley is a choice.

You have to make the conscious effort to enter this valley.

Jesus Prays For You

Romans 8:34 MEV

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes, who is risen, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Jesus is our advocate, the one that is vouching for us to the father.

He is seated at the right hand of the father as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

The blood of Jesus is what will lead us out of the valley of sin.

Without the blood, we would be stuck in the valley of sin and doomed to hell.

Hebrews 7:25 MEV

25 Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, because He at all times lives to make intercession for them.

We Must Repent

In order to leave the valley of sin, we must truly repent for the sins in our lives.

The faith in Jesus and the power that He has to forgive us of our sins in what allows us to walk out of the valley.

Once we have repented and asked Christ to come in and be our Lord, then we must release that sin to Him.

We can not go back to it again, we have the power of Jesus within us to resist the devil and he must leave.

God’s Mercy is Greater Than Our Sin

Lamentations 3:22–23 MEV

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed; His compassions do not fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,

his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.

They’re created new every morning.

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (La 3:22–23). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.The Valley of Decision

You can receive forgiveness for your sin, no matter how bad it may be!

God’s mercy is far greater than any sin that can be committed.

He wants to use you!

God Wants to Turn Your Worst Sins Into Your Best Ministry

Psalm 40:2–3 MEV

2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God; many will see it, and fear, and will trust in the Lord.

When God gets the glory, we get the miracle!

When God gets the glory, we receive the blessing!

When God gets the glory, we get the deliverance!

When God gets the glory, we are saved!

Alter #1

Do you feel trapped in the valley of sin?

Have you walked into the valley thinking that you were going in the right direction only to find out otherwise?

Have you played around on the side of this valley for so long that you may feel like you have wondered too far into this valley.

Do you want out today?

God’s mercy is greater than our sins!

All we have to do is admit that we have sinned,

believe that Jesus is the son of God,

believe that He died on a cross and rose again and is alive sitting at the right hand of the father this morning praying for you now, and

confess Him Lord of our lives!