1 THE VALLEY OF GRACE LUKE 9:37-51 Mountains and valleys exist in - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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THE VALLEY OF GRACE LUKE 9:37-51 Mountains and valleys exist in all of our lives; for most of us, they always will. Coexisting in our reality we have the highest highs and lowest lows.  Living in grace is the answer in both locations!  We must eventually come down from the mountaintop; most of us really cannot live there as Christians.  After every mountaintop, it seems as though a deep valley filled with problems, predicaments and people awaits us; you will rarely have one without the other.  That is why Jesus came down from the mountain, and also why He would not come down from the cross. Matt. 27:40 2

THE VALLEY PEOPLE WERE WAITING In the valley waiting was a demon-possessed boy, a desperate man, a powerless “church” (the amazing and super-spiritual disciples, that is), and a mocking world.  Boy, doesn’t that sound like fun? Yet, Jesus’ sudden appearance changed all of them.  In much the same way, Jesus is sending us—His church—from our mountaintops into the valleys of life to meet people who need a touch from Him.  Boy, have I been relearning that the Devil never attacks according to my schedule; and he shows up nearly every time there has been a time of refreshing afforded me. 3

THE LORD’S BROKEN HEART The Lord’s heart was broken by the pervading atmosphere of persistent unbelief.  The valley of grace is filled with those who will not believe. But that is what grace is for: changing unbelief to belief.  Notice THE TRIUMPH OF HIS GRACE over the problems of the people. “Bring the boy to me.”  Jesus in effect says, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  Jesus at once rebuked the demon and healed the child.  THE POWER OF HIS GRACE is able to rebuke any demon, destroy any disease, dissolve any dire strait. 4

THE DISCERNMENT OF THE SAVIOR Jesus and the disciples would now begin the journey to the Holy City— Jerusalem!  As you might expect, no long, difficult family journey is complete without the kids bickering about who is the greatest! Jesus spotted this divide immediately.  Or, about the “proper” way to dispatch a demon!  This passage shows us the very essence of sectarianism. Many of the terrible persecutions that clutter the history of the church are the outgrowth of this same spirit. v. 49  It was this very spirit that moved Cain to murder Abel. Gen. 4:1-8 Unfortunately, little has changed in the last 2000 years. 5

THE VALLEY OF GRACE LEADS TO GOLGOTHA: THE PLACE OF THE SKULL  Jesus put a stop to the bickering before the kids—I mean, the disciples—got into real trouble. It was going to be a long trip to GOLGOTHA.  The Savior sets His face on Jerusalem. Luke 9:51  Here in Luke’s gospel we have now followed the Lord’s path from the TEMPTATION to the TRANSFIGURATION.  The Prophet Isaiah had foretold of this time: Jesus’ whole life was leading up to this journey. Isa. 50:6-7 THE RUBICON WAS ABOUT TO BE CROSSED . . . Jerusalem was coming! 6