Into the Valley

In the past we have covered such things as hunting and outdoor, and racing and cars, well today I want to talk about the stereotype of being the tough guy

Now in a modern context the common example of being a tough guy would have to be Chuck Norris, a committed Christian by the way

In the past we have used themes like racing and hunting and outdoors and while today I want to continue with that tradition, the topic that I have chosen is slightly different and perhaps even controversial if taken in the wrong way

This morning I want to talk about the need for men, and women too, I’m not leaving you out, to be warriors and to do battle

Here are 10 Chuck Norris facts that I looked up on the internet to help you understand the modern day tough guy image

Now just to clarify I am NOT talking about fighting for the sake of fighting and being tough in the way that the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts or cage fighting as it is known) portrays toughness

Chuck Norris makes onions cry

A couple weeks ago we looked at the story of David and Goliath and what it meant to David to be a man after the heart of God and this morning I want to revisit that story as a demonstration of what it means to be the epitome of toughness

Chuck Norris was once on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and was the first to spin. The next 29 minutes of the show consisted of everyone standing around awkwardly, waiting for the wheel to stop.

Chuck Norris threw a grenade and killed 50 people, then it exploded.

There once was a street called Chuck Norris, but the name was changed for public safety because nobody crosses Chuck Norris and lives.

Once a cobra bit Chuck Norris' leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.

It is rumoured that Death once had a near-Chuck-Norris experience.

When Chuck Norris swims in the ocean, the sharks enter a steel cage.

Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack. Because nothing is foolish enough to attack Chuck Norris.

In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten

And perhaps my favourite “fact” of all, On May 6th 1945 Chuck Norris was born, On May 7, 1945 the Nazis surrendered unconditionally

And a bonus one just for fun, Did you know that Chuck Norris sleeps with a nightlight? Not because he’s afraid of the dark but because the dark is afraid of him!

Now, with all due respect to Chuck Norris and his unlimited supply of manliness and toughness I am not using him as my example this morning

This morning I am going to use an example that has stood the test of time when it comes to being tough and standing up against the greatest of odds

Of course that example is David as He ran out into the battle field to face the giant warrior Goliath

Open up your Bible to 1st Samuel the 17th chapter and let’s consider this morning the characteristics of what makes a man tough

1 Samuel 17:1–3 NIV

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

Now we need to stop right there because for us to understand how David embodies what it means to be a “Man” of God we need to see what separated him from the other men

Can you picture the scene as described by Samuel?

Two nations have gone out to the hill country and set up for a war

Thousands of soldiers set up on two opposing hillsides with all of their tents and their horses and dining areas and their command centres and so on and so forth

And in between them a large valley that would be the stage for the battle to take place

While the valley was the battlefield and therefore represented danger, fear, and uncertainty, the hillside was a place of safety full of the comforts of camp and a place where they were secure

The difference between David and the rest of the men, the thing that set him apart was that David was willing to leave the safety and security of the hillside and go down into the danger and uncertainty of the valley

Verse 40 tells us that David “approached the philistine.” and verse 48 says,

1 Samuel 17:48 NIV

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

There were a lot of “tough” men in Israel’s camp, men who were trained for and experienced in battle but they were afraid to leave the safety of the hillside

Unfortunately that’s not where the battle could be won, that’s not even where the battle could be fought

The battle is in the valley and if we are going to fight we need to be willing to leave the hillside and the comfort of life that it affords us and walk, or even run, into the valley knowing that it is uncertain and dangerous and scary but that it is where God wants us to be

In what is arguably the most famous chapter in the entire book, David records, “Yea though I walk through THE VALLEY of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me”

But why? What possible motivation could we have to leave the hillside and put our self in harms way down in the valley

Well I believe the reasons that David went down into that valley that day define his courage and strength even more than standing toe to toe with Goliath

And so let’s take a look at the 3 reasons

The first reason that David went from the hillside down into the valley was to defend the honor of God

David’s entrance into the valley was not motivated by grandiose visions of glory or even of getting in on the fight, David was upset that this mere man was mocking God and trying to make God look bad

listen to David’s comments when he first finds out what’s going on, when volunteers to Saul to fight the giant and when he comes face to face with the giant

1 Samuel 17:26 NIV

David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17:36 NIV

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

1 Smamuel 17:26

1 Samuel 17:46 NIV

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:45 NIV

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

1 Samuel

David’s own safety and comfort were secondary to the disgrace being directed towards God and he was determined to put a stop to it

Now was God able to defend Himself? Absolutely!

God could have done what He had down many times before and destroy not only Goliath but the entire Philistine army

However God decided to wait for someone who would go down into the valley on His behalf and defend Him before all the world so that He (God) might be glorified for it

Our world is full of Goliaths today who have no problem openly and publically defying God and His people and God is looking for men (and women) who will leave the comfort of the pew and the safety of the church building and go down into the valley and defend Him

We can come up with whatever excuses we want but the reality is that these battles can not be won from the pew or even the pulpit, they can only be won at the battle line when God’s people say “Enough! I will not allow you to defame my God like this and whether I live or die is of no consequence, I will will defend Him before you”

‘Well Pastor shouldn’t we leave such things to those who are better qualified, who have the training and are equipped for such tasks?

NO!!!!!!!!! David was none of those things! He just couldn’t stand to see God being ridiculed

The second reason David went down into the valley was to defeat the enemy

Verse 16 tells us that every day for 40 days Goliath came out prepared for battle and challenged the army of Israel

That means that for 40 days the army of Israel was content to allow this go on and for the war to continue

When David came upon the scene he said, ‘Enough! This stops today’

Listen to verse 46

1 Samuel 17:46 NIV

There is a spiritual battle going on all around us and while we may have the option to sit up on the hillside safe and sound and secure in our salvation, our children and grandchildren are at serious risk unless we decide to enter the battle and say, “Enough! This ends today.”

Let me let you in on a little secret, When Jesus declared on the cross, “It is finished” He was declaring that the enemy was completely and utterly defeated

This is how Paul put it in his letter to the Colossians

Colossians 2:15

Colossians 2:15 NIV

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

The victory has already been guaranteed but God needs tough people who will stand toe to toe with the enemy and take the victory

The stakes are far too high for us NOT to

Which brings me to the third motivation for entering into the valley, because it is the only way to advance the kingdom

Matthew records these words of Jesus in the 16th chapter of his gospel

Matthew 16:18

Matthew 16:18 NIV

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

The church of Jesus Christ was never intended to be a static entity

The church of Jesus Christ was designed and equipped for the purpose of moving forward, for knocking down the gates of Hell and taking territory that once was controlled by the enemy

But just like Israel could not advance against the Philistines until someone went down into the valley to face Goliath, often times the entire kingdom of God can be held up because of the battles that people refuse to fight

Now I know what you are thinking, “There is no way that the entire kingdom of God is held up just because of me. God is bigger than that.”

Well yes, God IS bigger than that, but for whatever reason, God has also chosen to work through us, His people and you have no idea how you are woven all throughout His plans

It is strategically imperative to the plans of God for you to do this even if you don’t see it or understand it

Now up to this point I have talked a lot about going to battle but have said very little about what that battle is

I guess that the reason is that it is not quite as clear for us as it was for David

For David there was no doubt who he was going down from the hillside to fight, it was Goliath

In our lives there are many Goliaths that we need to leave the safety and comfort of the hillside to do battle with, and it might be different giants that each of face

Some of you might be faced with the giants of resentment, hurt, anger

Some of you might be facing the giant of habitual sin or addiction

Maybe the giant of pride is standing before you, or the giant of past mistakes/failures

Whatever the giant may be it is absolutely crucial that you stop pretending it’s not there, stop ignoring his taunts and his threats and that you leave the comfort and safety of the where you are and take him out with God’s help

God’s honour is at stake

The reasons should be as clear to you as they were to David

it’s not there, stop ignoring his taunts and his threats

God’s honour is at stake as this enemy tries to make Him look like a laughing stock

Because nothing short of complete and total victory should be acceptable in your life, Christ paid too high a price for you not to walk in complete victory

It is crucial for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, in your family, in our church and in our community