Life is filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys. Here's an overview of our last year. In August of 2007, we were launched to the mission field by the miraculous provision of God, we raised our support in record time, the stories of God’s supernatural power were fresh in our mind, we were motivated by the vision which God had called us (training pastors in a West African country where less than .01% are believers). Then we landed in France for language school and life got strangely hectic. The stress of culture and language slammed us in the face, our bodies were often sick fighting French viruses (including several trips to the doctor and an overnight in the hospital), we felt claustrophobic moving from our house to a cramped apartment in a huge city, we felt trapped because we didn’t have a car the whole year and were at the mercy of the public transportation system which seemed to constantly be on strike and paralyzed the city for weeks, our kids often walked home in tears after dealing with their strict French teachers, but we couldn’t help them with their homework or even read parent notes from their teachers. Our fuses were shorter after long days in school full-time and evening hours of homework all added a new dimension of stress to our family schedule. Moving to the City of Lights might sound very romantic but let me assure you, there was no real honeymoon. We basically were stripped of everything familiar (no friends, no church, no family), and went into immediate survival mode. There were moments when we were frustrated to the point of questioning whether we could finish this course and often felt like dropping out. We went through one valley in February when we had to decide about extending our language study an additional semester. Though we were at the top of our class, we were still a long way from a proficiency level needed to teach and preach in French. Meanwhile the dollar was dropping and we had only budgeted one year of language, so we knew that staying would deplete our funds for moving to Senegal and getting our house and car. In the end, we prayerfully decided to stay for the fall semester. Four months may not seem like a long time, but when you’re walking through a valley…it seems like an eternity.For those who have followed our journey, I have tried to be transparent with our struggles but I also wanted to show how God was speaking to us through it all. We have appreciated those who’ve supported, prayed and sent notes of encouragement. But we also know that our struggles cannot be compared to some of the life-and-death situations that many of our friends and family have gone through or continue to deal with. Our faith-journeys intersect, but I don’t want to sound like a martyr or expert in human suffering because there are some in this very room who have walked through much deeper valleys.Perhaps the next time we return from Africa, in the fall of 2010, I will be able to share some mountain top stories, but right now in 2008, we are here to share how we are finding vision in the valley. Several times this year, I was drawn back to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19 because here you see a man of God struggling on the rollercoaster - riding the victories and the valleys of life. As I read and re-read these two juxtaposed stories, the Lord ministered to me and gave me back his vision in the valley.The first story happens on the mountain top of Mt. Carmel, 1 Kings Chapter 18. This is familiar Bible story that I’ve preached many times in Senegal to demonstrate the power of the Living God over the spirits of animism and fear. Here’s a brief review…Elijah lived during a time of terrible moral compromise and spiritual decline. The people of Israel had abandoned the true God for false idols. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in the Northern Kingdom and Jehosophat in the Southern Kingdom of Judah openly encouraged godlessness. The prophet Elijah appeared on the screen in 1 Kings 17 without genealogy or introduction to deliver a message of divine judgment involving a 3 ½ year famine when people’s crops, livelihood and personal wealth literally shriveled up in the dry sun. But even the drought did not capture people’s attention as they held onto their false hopes and false gods to rescue them. The idolatry of Baal Worship ultimately led to a showdown between 450 cult leaders on Mount Carmel. Two altars and built and the Baal worshippers begin by dancing and chanting their incantations to no effect. Elijah mocks them by accusing their god of being deaf, on vacation or perhaps relieving himself. This only agitates the crowd of cultist into a frenzied mosh pit of bloodletting and desperation – but all of their activity amount to nothing, their prayers fall on deaf ears and the spectators are squirming from the futility and awkward silence. Then Elijah pours water all over the altar and builds a moat around to drench it with even more water, then prays a simple prayer to heaven. Elijah publicly demonstrated the power of God as fire came down from heaven and engulfed his sacrifice while the phony prophets of Baal fizzled and failed revealing their powerlessness. All 450 false prophets are rounded up an killed. Then Elijah prayed on the mountain and rain clouds formed and the drought ended by divine intervention. Now Israel knew only Yahweh held the power of life and death and only He was the source of rain and good things. In Senegal, the people are trapped by idolatry. Most of them are farmers and eek out an existence by growing peanuts and millet or raising animals. Each day they worship the spirits and offer sacrifices under sacred trees to try to protect their family, produce a healthy crop or prevent evil things from happening. When I traveled there recently, the country was in the middle of a 2 year famine and you really see the desperation. Each night the drums were beating louder than ever and the witchdoctors were in full force trying to conjure up the spiritual forces and fertility rituals to bring rain and ward off calamity. When missionaries present the gospel in many parts of the world where idolatry and spiritism reign, the term used is a “power encounter”. In order to be heard, you don’t just preach words, you must demonstrate the power of God. I could tell you many, many Mt. Carmel stories that I have experienced in Senegal, where God has supernaturally broke in and revealed Himself to people.
This may sound really foreign to your ears – but idolatry is alive and well in our country, it’s more subtle not as “in your face”. Even though Jesus warned us that we cannot have two masters, we mix up faith in God with financial security. Americans can do crazy things when the economy drops. Idolatry is simply trying to meet a legitimate need with an illegitimate thing or behavior. People try to cope with uncertainty by gambling, get-rich-quick schemes, consulting horoscopes and spiritual hotlines, good luck charms, overmedicating, addictions, substance abuse and other forms of escapism are all forms of idolatry - trying to replace God as the source of life and good things.
The miracle on Mount Carmel happened on one of the most visible places of the Holy Land. Mt. Carmel is a bold, bluff which extends from the western coast of Palestine for many miles to the central hills of Samaria. The place where the confrontation took place is situated at the eastern extremity which is also the highest point of the whole ridge called El-Mohhraka or “the Burning Place”. There is a wall of rock which shoots up over 200 ft and is visible over the whole plain and from all the surrounding heights. No spot could have been better for thousands of spectators to witness first-hand the mighty power of God.After the showdown, you could see the prophet bend down and “put his face between his knees”. Although they couldn’t hear his words, everyone would have noticed the changes in the weather. First, a small cloud appeared in the horizon, then a divine deluge. The people must have been ecstatic with joy. I was preaching in Senegal one time when the first rainfall came after a long drought, my last words were “God wants to bring blessing to your village…”, then, we all danced in the dirt.James used Elijah as an example of fervent prayer, when he says in James 5, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops”.Elijah was a powerful prophet of God, but he “was also a man just like us”.Let’s pick up the second part of the story in chapter 19.“Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel” (a distance of about ten miles). “Then Elijah girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab”. In the East, it was customary for kings to have runners before their chariots. Perhaps Elijah was trying to give a favorable impression to Ahab and Jezebel showing that while he was zealous to God, he was also devotedly loyal to his king. Whatever his reason for his mini-marathon, he supernaturally flew like a kite and raced past the royal entourage.One would have expected, after such a public demonstration of God’s power, after everyone had seen both fire and water come from heaven at the prayer of Elijah, a 3 ½ year famine ends, now they would all return to the worship of the God of Israel and take Elijah as their guide and spiritual leader, prime-minister of state, and restore God’s blessing to the kingdom. But instead; Elijah is rejected.Elijah ran to Jezreel full of hope, but Queen Jezebel’s reaction dispelled any bright visions of the future.Here begins Elijah’s Journey to the Valley of Beer-sheba19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. Jezebel issues a death threat vowing to kill Elijah within 24 hours.
Isn't it true that when we choose to serve the Lord, the enemy puts us on his MOST WANTED LIST?
19:4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a juniper tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."Where was the courage with which he had lately confronted Ahab and all the prophets of Baal? Elijah fled over 70 miles from the Northern kingdom to the southernmost part of the territories in Judah; but didn’t stop there, after dismissing his servant, he hid among the caves of Mt. Sinai, and there longed for death. How do you explain his sudden depression after the miracles at Carmel?When Peter and the Disciples encountered the storm on the Sea of Galilee, it was interesting that this followed directly after a supernatural mountaintop experience…the feeding of the 5,000. No sooner had they finished cleaning up after the miraculous provision of God, the disciples were on a boat. A huge storm began to surge and fear engulfed these men of faith. Every mountain top is followed by a valley of testing where we discover if we really learned the lesson when life gets difficult. Only Peter had the faith the get out of the boat, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” We all doubt, it’s not the absence of fear but the confidence to step out in obedience despite the fear that proves our faith.Hebrews 6:1,6 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…and without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who seek him.” If you don’t have any fear or risk, you don’t need faith.It’s not the amount of faith that’s important, but it’s the source of our faith. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard well-meaning Christians chide people going through a tough time for not having enough faith. In the end, they just sound a lot like Job’s “spiritual counselors” who presumptuously tried to speak for God but just shot their wounded friend and totally misspoke regarding the sovereignty of God. Remember, when your friends encounter tragedy, often the wisest words you can give are silence.How did God respond to Elijah in the valley? How does he respond to us? In the valley, God touched him and took care of his needs…19:5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 19:6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 19:7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."
I like the emphasis here on Physical Touch and Food. God sent an angel to sustain and keep him alive. When you show acts of mercy to those who are struggling, you are the physical arms of God. Don't we all enjoy "comfort food" when we're tired, traveling or far from home?
In 1 Corinthians 7:5-7, Paul wrote to the church, “our flesh had no rest, we were afflicted on every side, conflicts without, fears within, but God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus…but also by the comfort in you…your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me”. God always prefers a personal encounter.Receiving notes of encouragement, remind us that people are praying a real ministry for missionaries. We need to pray for and realize the angels God sends our way for they can minister to us in a timely way. We need to be the Sent One God has ordained to listen and empathize with those who mourn.
19:8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
Even though we often fear the future and the trials along the way, God will take care of our needs, because He knows that we cannot care for ourselves, He always longs for us to depend on Him.
Then God led him to another mountain, not a place of power but a quiet place of intimacy.
19:9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. Perhaps this was the same cave, or cleft of a rock, in which Moses hid when the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed his name, Ex. 33:22. Maybe Elijah was running desperately to the one place where he knew God had revealed himself in the past?When we are stressed out in or have lost our way in the valleys of life, we need to go back to the place where we heard the voice of the Lord. 19:10 Elijah replied in a mantra of self-pity, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." In the valley, God spoke to him in a still small voice…19:11 The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 19:12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.What an amazing encounter! Our God is always a God of Personal Encounter. He wants to be known and often reveals Himself more clearly when we have come to the place of listening. He revealed His strength and gentleness simultaneously. He is Lion & Lamb, Almighty Intimate One, Rock and Hiding Place, Warrior Shepherd, Inapproachable Holiness yet the Curtain to the Temple has been Torn in two…19:13 (Awestruck) when Elijah heard it, he (reverently) pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God poses a simple but probing question to Elijah. What are you doing here? Is a cave any place for a prophet of God? When we get depressed, frozen in fear, overwhelmed by the obstacles, the emotions we feel are natural, but we have been empowered to live a super-natural life. We can’t stay there!God has asked me many times this year in France…What are you doing here? Each time he has reassured me again of his presence, provision and will for my life. But I have to be willing to come out of the cave of hiding, listen to his voice and follow his direction. If you are depressed today, God wants you to COME OUT OF THE CAVEWhere can I flee from Thy Spirit? Ps. 139:7 Wherever we run, we cannot hide, we remain under the Heavenly Father’s eye and care. We may get lost in a wilderness, but God never leaves or forsakes us!19:14 Again he repeats himself to God, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." In the valley, God re-commissions him and restores his vision…19:15 The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram…Elijah was redeployed on his mission and given specific instructions of what God wanted him to do.When you walk through the valleys of life, God convinces us that He is in control and reminds us of our mission. What we think is plan B, C or D, can be turned to God’s glory. Don’t beat yourself up over past failures or pride yourself in past successes. Walk each day waiting on the strength from the Lord, fulfilling what he has asked you to do, take risks that put feet to your faith, and show mercy to those around you who are struggling or do not yet have hope.
You might be going through a valley of financial struggle, cancer or failing health, family separation, or perhaps you are just wandering in a dry desert without a clear word from the Lord. God wants to speak to you in His still small voice, wrap his arms around you whisper “I love you, come out of the cave, I want to bless you and do wonderful things in your life. This is only a valley. Soon we will be on the mountain.”