Victory In The Valley

Judges 1:19

Judges 1:19 (ESV)

And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.

INTRO

The valley is a dangerous place. It’s a treacherous place. It’s the place of the unexpected. It’s dark, depressing & life threatening. How beautiful life would be if there were no valleys.

Often the blueprints we project for our future are valley-less. Don’t be deceived, tricked or bamboozled; the route that God has you on towards destiny is riddled with VALLEYS. Yes we’re blessed, favored, God’s children and He loves us, but as believers we will have to go through & fight in the valley.

Here is a snapshot of the opening credits of the book of Judges, “Joshua is dead”. The great warrior and leader who sat at the foot of Moses, has met his demise. Israel has officially moved into the promise land of Canna. Over 30 kings have bowed to their sword. However, there is still much land to be possessed.

In the first 18 verses of chapter 1, we see them doing just that. The tribes of Judah and Simeon team up to lead Israel on an unprecedented military conquest. Which included invading and conquering the city of Jerusalem in verse 8.

This momentum of victory carries us all the way into the driveway of verse 19. “So, the Lord was with Judah & they drove out the inhabitants of the mountain.”

· They were extraordinary on the mountain

· They experienced the type of success people sing about

· They carried an aroma of patriotic pride

· Doubt was suspended

· Fear was expelled

· They didn’t just defeat the mountaineers, they drove them out!

They were Victors on the mountain, but became Victims in the valley.

· Energized on the mountain, but Exposed in the valley

· Winners on the mountain, but Weak in the valley

Just. Like. Us.

We fight well on the mountain, don’t we? We look good on the mountain. We poke our chest out on the mountain. How fearless we are, on the mountain tops of life!

But in the valley… In the lowlands of life, often times our:

Optimism turns to pessimism

Chest caves in and head hangs down

Fear overcomes faith

Joy is turned in for trepidation

Laughter is pushed to the fringes

Our drive is crippled

We go from conquerors to cowards

What happened to Judah between the mountain and the valley? And how can we experience the joy of victory & revival in the lowlands of life?

1. We must know what made us Victorious on the mountain

First 6 words. “So, the Lord was with Judah”.

Us as black folk & culture love our entourages, clicks, frats, posses and gangs.

We love to write, rap, sing and boast about who we rolling with.

Coming up, we would warn Negros not to mess with us because of who our brother was, family, homie.

Till this day, we love to pull out our connection card.

But the devil aint scared of those connections

However, there is a name, person & presence that keeps the devil at bay and us on the path of destiny.

A presence that enables us to drive out:

📷 Fear

📷 Doubt

📷 Hopelessness

📷 Helplessness

📷 Hellishness

📷 Apathy

📷 Inconsistency

📷 Negativity

📷 Sterotypes

📷 Social status quos & labels

This presence was with:

· Noah & He built the Ark

· Gave Adam Dominion

· Gave Lydia Purple to sell

· Gave Peter a way out of jail

· And you & I a story to tell!

That is the presence of the Lord! That’s why they were victorious on the mountain. Not for any other reason.

Lord= speaks to what God is able to do. They had a presence that was able to do what they were unable to do. And all they could do, the presence of the Lord did for them. The writer is suggesting that the only way they were able to do anything on the mountain, was because the Lord empowered them to do so.

Every victory in your life is because of that very same reason.

2. Understand that what God did on the mountain, He can do in the VALLEY.

Valleys don’t scare God! The lowlands of life don’t intimidate Him! God works in the valley.

Gen 26:19

God gave Josh victory over Ai

David defeated Goliath

Valley of the shadow of death

The truth is, you didn’t need me to run Israelite history to prove this point now did you? Every time you look in the mirror, you conclude that God does his best work in the valley! Look @ ya:

· Use to be unemployed – valley

· With a criminal past

Use to be a walking zombie with no sense of direction

But God reached down in the muck & mire. Put you in his hands, made you into what you are now. You don’t believe it? Ask your neighbor, they’ve got a testimony! If he has to reach way down, Jesus will pick you up! He works in the valley.

You don’t have to wait until the situation is ideal, God can and will work on it and you, from right where you are. He works in the valley!

3. Believe what God said over what you SEE.

What did they see??

Walking by sight will cause you to lose to a defeated foe.

They operated off what they saw in the valley, instead of what God said about their valley. You’ve got to learn to operate off of what God said over what you see:

· If you see sickness remember God said many are the afflictions

· If you see poverty remember God said I shall supply

· If you see sleepless nights remember God said weeping may

· If you see an unmovable mountain Remember God said if you have faith the size of a mustard seed the mountain will be removed

· If you see struggle remember God said let us not get weary

· When others see giants, see God

· When others see cities walled up to heaven, see cities reduced to rubble

· When others see a dangerous, dreadful, diabolical foe, dare to see a defeated foe

· When others see problems, you keep your eyes on the promise

Value what God said, more than what you see. The same presence was with them, but they were still defeated. This teaches us, that God can be with you, but if your eyes of faith are distracted, defeat will be your name instead of victory!

Again, I ask, what did they see? Chariots of Iron.

What are chariots to God?

· Who’s mind is limitless

· Who’s hands are all power

· Who’s eyes never miss a detail

· Who’s ear is always inclined to hear

· Who’s nose sniffs out our adversary

· Who’s feet runs to our rescue

· Who came from nowhere, stood on nothing…

Chairriots don’t scare God. And whatever valley your navigating through right now, hasn’t thrown him off.

You can have victory in the valley, because one Friday…