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

• ne 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

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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
• ur 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.

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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.

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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

• utgrowth 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.

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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!

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