Valley View Baptist Church

The Bible says that Naaman was a mighty and honorable man. But, he was also a leper. But he knew that if he could get in touch with Elisha then he could call upon God to heal him. So he sent word to Elisha that he needed healing. But the word he got back from Elisha was not what he expected! And he didn't want to obey.

How often do we limit God by our unwillingness to do what God has asked us to do? How often do we delay obedience? Maybe the response isn't what we were expecting. But even in those times we must allow God to work!

Are you caught up in your own thoughts and limiting the moving of God? Are you holding on to your own pride, trying to do it in your own power, in the place you want to do it? Or are you seeking after God, hearing His direction, and obeying Him?

The Christian life is a series of ups and downs. One day you are on top of the mountain, seeing God move and work in your life. And literally the very next day you can find yourself down and discouraged. Elijah found himself in this situation.

One day he experiences a great victory, calling down fire from Heaven and defeating 450 false prophets of Baal. He was very confident in his God, the One True God, and even gets a little cocky and mocks those false prophets.

But, the very next day he finds himself discouraged, sitting underneath a juniper tree, and wishing that he would just die! What happened in 24 hours to take him from that victorious experience to this lowest of lows?

Discouragement and depression are real, and prevalent in our world, even among Christians. Listen as we examine how Elijah found himself in this situation, and what we can do to avoid the same.

The book of Romans lays out the difference in those who are spiritually minded and those who are carnally minded. Jesus Himself teaches the Disciples about being more spiritually minded and looking at things with a different perspective. On the surface it's easy to see things carnally with our eyes. But by changing perspective, and looking at things with the eyes of Christ, we can see things with a spiritual mind.

Are you spiritually minded? Are you viewing things with the eyes of Christ, or the eyes of man? To be a Christian means to be more Christ-like. Change your perspective, and be more spiritually minded.

Your life is full of responsibilities. Responsibilities at home, with your family, at work, at church, serving God, reading your Bible, prayer, etc. If you're not careful, those responsibilities can become burdens, and then they can stress you out. Maybe you have found yourself saying "I don't have time for this!" You're stressed out.

But Jesus is ready and waiting to help you shoulder the burden. It's interesting that He doesn't offer to get rid of the burdens. Instead He offers equipment to help us bear the burdens. Once we are yoked with Him, He is the stronger ox. He shoulders the bulk of the load. He directs our direction, our speed, and our strength.

Do you need to accept His yoke today?

Why do we go through pain in our life? It's a common question that you undoubtedly have asked yourself at some point in your life. The loss of a loved one. Maybe it was a disappointment at work. Maybe just an unanswered prayer. Why do we suffer? What is the purpose of that kind of pain?

Peter found himself in jail, suffering, for nothing more than preaching the Gospel. But his friends gathered together to pray for his release. Peter himself suffered. His friends were upset and in pain because of his imprisonment. But why? What was the purpose of his suffering?

God uses pain and suffering in our lives for His Glory. He uses it as an instrument to produce good things in your life.