DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WYNNE CHAPEL 5/16/04 Assoc. Pastor John Chapman
We’ve all experienced high points in our lives: our wedding day, graduation day, some fantastic accomplishment at work. Our perhaps your high point was when the Lord spoke to you and had you walk the aisle to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. Maybe for you it was a good speaker who inspired you or a song by a great band.
What an incredible high! Nothing can bring us down! But, time has its way of eroding even the most incredible events and soon we slip into a lull, a rut, or a little “valley” if you will. We come down off that mountain and seem to get stuck in the mud. Forward motion comes to a halt.
I know that in the Youth group, we have gone to some incredibly uplifting events like “Dare2Share,” “Make Waves” or our mission trip to Mexico and some of us have gotten “on fire” for the Lord, for telling others about Him, for doing things for Him…and, it will last for a time. But then something happens. It seems we’re unable to sustain that enthusiasm. Forward motion comes to a halt.
That’s what I want to look at today. What do we do when we come down off that “mountain-top” experience? How can we “raise the low spots” and keep that sense of excitement in our lives?
LET’S PRAY…
We’ll be looking at a familiar story today to glean some insights as to how we can “raise” the valleys, so to speak, in our lives. We’ll be looking at David’s life as we read about it in the Old Testament book of 1st Samuel beginning in chapter 16 and verse 11:
11And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. (NASB)
#1…David was chosen by God
We too, are chosen by God
Jesus said in John 6:44
44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
When we accept that call and the free gift of salvation that comes from believing in Jesus Christ, the Bible says, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, Just as the
“Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward”
It is important therefore that we start with a proper foundation, based on Christ’s sacrifice for us, our admission of inadequacy and our need for his taking over our lives. Then, we know we’re talking about a real “mountain top” experience, not just a thrill, and we can look at how to handle the valleys…IN CHRIST!
Now onto our first mountain…
THE MOUNTAIN, David kills Goliath
Turn with me to 1 Samuel chapter 17, beginning in vs. 48…
48Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
50Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him;
Wow, this young teenager, small of stature, with God’s help, killed the giant! That’s quite an accomplishment! The entire Israeli army, including King Saul had been terrified (17:11) and that had been going on for 40 days and nights! (17:16)
David wasn’t the strongest Israelite. He was neither the biggest, nor the smartest…but, he trusted in God. We don’t have to be the best salesman, the best farmer, the most efficient housewife, the greatest musician…all we have to do is use what He’s given us for His glory. TRUST IN GOD and He will make things happen. When we want what He wants GREAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN. David wanted this giant jerk to stop smearing the name of his God and God’s people, David’s people, and God honored that.
We all know that when we do something great there are usually rewards. Being on that “mountaintop” gives us a feeling of euphoria and exhilaration like nothing before.
When you accomplish something spectacular at work, finish a project, perform a great concert, people applaud and say you’re great. Sometimes the reward is financial and you get a bonus!
The same thing happened to David. All of a sudden he had
New Friends, especially Jonathan, the Kings’ son (18:1)
He was showered with
Gifts (18:4)
And they even wrote songs about him! (18:6)
That’s quite a mountain-top experience! But, as we all know, ‘what goes up must come down.’ It’s how we handle the ‘down’ that counts.
COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
"It's In the Valley I Grow"
Sometimes life seems hard to bear, Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember that it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountain top And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops, But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing. My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death; His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining When I'm feeling so very low,
Just give me a gentle reminder That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord And use my life each day
To share your love with others And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious But it's in the valleys I grow.
by Jane Eggleston of Williamsburg, VA
It’s in the valleys I grow…
It’s in the valleys we all grow!
After all, that’s where we get to apply the lessons we learned on the mountain top, or move on to the next level in the growth process.
So what happens next in David’s life? King Saul tries to kill him!
Persecution…18:10; 19:9-10
10Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. 11Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.
Notice King Saul’s reaction. He was jealous of the praise David was receiving. He tried to manipulate David into a situation that he hoped would end David’s life. (Jealousy and political maneuverings)….18:12-17
We can expect problems, not necessarily people trying to kill us, but we can expect people to get upset with us, to be jealous and to attack us…IF OUR MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE WAS OF GOD.
Maybe you did something really great at work, but your co-worker is jealous and tries to go behind your back and sabotage your character, your efforts.
What’s important is how we respond. Let’s look at David again…
RESPONSE IN THE VALLEY
17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD’S battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
Saul is trying to maneuver David into a marriage so He will have to fight the Philistines and hopefully get killed.
Let’s look at David’s Response in verse 18
1. HUMILITY v. 18
18But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
I’m just a regular guy. I don’t deserve any special treatment.
I’m not sure most of us would respond that way. The world tells us to try to climb that ladder of success no matter what. We might view this as an incredible opportunity for power and advancement. There are a lot of people in our time that says “I deserve more” the world “owes me.”
But God knows best and if we’re listening to Him we’ll take the humble path as David did. God’s ways are above our ways. The way of a man leads to death.
Saul didn’t like to take no for an answer. He needed a subtle way to get rid of this guy. So he offered David his other daughter because he noticed the way they looked at each other.
Again David responds humbly in v. 23
“How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the
daughter of a king?”
Saul sees his opportunity…
24When Saul’s men reported this back to the king, 25he told them, “Tell David that all I want for the bride price is one hundred Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want.” But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight.
David was delighted to accept this because he loved Michal.
But I want us to think about what this means on David’s part.
Saul had already tried to kill him twice.
I don’t know about you, but I’d still be ticked!! But David overlooked Saul’s attitude to take advantage of the opportunity to marry Michal and move forward with his life.
2. FAITH leads to ACTION
His faith that God would see him through the task Saul had given him led David to action. James affirms this relationship between faith and action in chapter 2, verse 17
“…faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”
David believed God, forgot the past, and then went out and did what Saul had asked…and Saul gave him Michal for his wife.
This reminds me of Paul’s exhortation to us in Philippians chapter 3, beginning in verse 13:
13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
You see, the other side of that coin is this…if David had not forgiven Saul for trying to kill him…he wouldn’t have gotten Michal for his wife. Holding grudges is hard on a person. It hurts the one holding the grudge more than the other person. It leads to inaction, to stunted growth.
Let’s look a little further in chapter 19, verses 1 and 2 for another important point to remember in the “valleys”…
1Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David. 2So Jonathan told David saying, “Saul my father is seeking to put you to death. Now therefore, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.”
All of us should have a Christian friend in our life that we can trust. Someone we can go to with problems; a mutual friendship where they can come to us as well.
- David went to his friend Jonathan who interceded with the king on his behalf. Saul promised Jonathan that he wouldn’t kill David (19:6).
3. PRAYER
David’s friendship with Jonathan parallels our “friendship” with Jesus (John 15:15). He has told us that we can take everything to Him…all our worries, cares, problems, joys, praises and sorrows. Just as Jonathan interceded on David’s behalf, Romans 8:34 tells us that Christ Jesus intercedes for us with God the Father.
1. The first thing to remember is you will experience problems in the “valleys.”
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2
IT’S HOW WE GO THROUGH THOSE VALLEYS THAT COUNT!
A. SPEND TIME WITH GOD…Don’t know what he wants you to do? You need to spend more time asking Him. Spend time on your knees, sitting down, lying down, standing up…spend time in PRAYER, talking AND listening to God.
B. Spend time with people who care about God and you.
C. Move forward in faith
D. Responding to the problems:
1) in humility….don’t’ let pride get the best of you AND
2) with a forgiving spirit…don’t hold grudges against people who hurt you…put your trust in GOD and press on.
Remember, God wants you to succeed.
He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11-13,
11For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.
He knows the plans He has for you. Have you asked about them lately?
I would also go back to the first point I mentioned today, that of having a proper foundation, based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don’t know Him, you can. Ask Him into your heart today.
LET’S PRAY