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God Of The Hills And Valleys Text: Rom. 11:22 Scripture Reading: I Kings 20:23-28. Intro. Defeat in battle against Ahab’s forces prompted the Arameans to change location: I Kings 20:23
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God Of The Hills And ValleysText: Rom. 11:22 Scripture Reading: I Kings 20:23-28
Intro • Defeat in battle against Ahab’s forces prompted the • Arameans to change location: • I Kings 20:23 23. Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, "Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they. • I Kings 20:28: God’s response… 28. Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, "Thus says the Lord, 'Because the Arameans have said, "The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys," therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.' " God Of The Hills And Valleys
Intro • People still treat God the same way; they view Him one • way and think they can get around Him • Is God “the God of the ‘hill of grace,’ and not a God demanding obedience?” • Is God “the God of the ‘hill of mercy,’ and not a God of justice? • Is God “the God of the ‘hill of love,’ and not a God of severity? • Is God “the God of the ‘hill of Heaven,’ and not a God who sentences to Hell? • Man needs to have a balanced perspective of God’s nature • Or, His grace may be cheapened (Rom. 6:1-2: Grace used to justify sin) • Or, God’s love may be abused (Mt. 25:41: Taught God would never condemn to Hell) God Of The Hills And Valleys
Intro Rom. 11:22 22. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. • God’s kindness (goodness, NKJV) • God’s severity • The personal choice As Israel and Syria learned, so must we: God is Lord over mountains and valleys! God Of The Hills And Valleys
God’s Goodness Rom. 11:22: “Consider the goodness…of God” (NKJV) Rom. 2:4: “The riches of His goodness” (NKJV) 4. Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? • God’s goodness leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4) • God’s goodness can be seen in sending His Son (I Jn. 4:10) • God’s goodness can be seen in our salvation (Eph. 2:1-9) • God’s goodness can be seen in our adoption (Rom. 8:14-17) • God’s goodness can be seen in our reservation in Heaven (I Pet. 1:3-4) • The goodness of God is extended to those who “continue • in His goodness” (Rom. 11:22) • Heb. 5:9: God saves those who obey Him! Let us consider the goodness of God and continue in it! God Of The Hills And Valleys
God’s Severity Rom. 11:22: “Consider the…severity of God” (NKJV) Rom. 11:17-21: Israel rejected as God’s holy nation and Gentiles grafted in (Mt. 21:43) 17. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18. do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20. Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21. for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. • He says not to be arrogant of our adoptions because as God did not spare Israel, He may not spare those “grafted” in. • They were rejected as God’s elect nation because of disobedience (Rom. 10:1-3, 21; 11:20). • Not God’s rejection of the Jews’ personal salvation (Rom. 1:16; 3:1-2; 11:1). God Of The Hills And Valleys
God’s Severity Rom. 11:22: “Consider the…severity of God” (NKJV) II Pet. 2:1-9: God’s severity seen in judgment of wicked • Sinful angels – II Pet. 2:4 (Jude 6) 4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; • World of Noah’s day – II Pet. 2:5 (Gen. 6:12-13) 5. and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; • Sodom & Gomorrah – II Pet. 2:6 (Gen. 19:24) 6. and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; • The wicked will be punished in Hell – II Pet. 2:9-11 (Mt. 25:41-46) 9. then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10. and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, 11. whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. God Of The Hills And Valleys
God’s Severity Rom. 11:22: “Consider the…severity of God” (NKJV) Heb. 10:26-31: God’s severity seen on the unfaithful 26. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27. but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30. For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 31. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. • God views one who has fallen away guilty of: Trampling under foot the Son of God; Regarding His blood as unclean; Insulting the Spirit of grace • Heb. 10:27, 31: Judgment is all that’s left to such an individual. • To turn away is serious and a “terrifying thing!” (Heb. 10:31) God Of The Hills And Valleys
God’s Severity Rom. 11:22: “Consider the…severity of God” (NKJV) Rom. 11:17-21: God’s severity seen in Israel cut off II Pet. 2:1-9: God’s severity seen in judgment of wicked Heb. 10:26-31: God’s severity seen on the unfaithful The severity of God falls upon the wicked and disobedient! God Of The Hills And Valleys
Personal Choice Rom. 11:22: “If you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” Which will you choose – God’s severity or His goodness? • Will you choose to fear God or to fail God? • Will you choose to obey or reject God? God Of The Hills And Valleys
Personal Choice Rom. 11:22: “If you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” God is Lord of the hills and the valleys! (I Kings 20:28) • The “hill of God’s grace” is given to the one who is obedient (Rom. 6:14-18) • The “hill of God’s mercy” is given to the one justified by conforming to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29-30) • The “hill of God’s love” is given to the one who “walks with him” in keeping His commandments (obedience) (I Jn. 2:3-6) • The “hill of God’s Heaven” is given to those who are “faithful until death” and “overcomes” (Rev. 2:10; 21:7) God Of The Hills And Valleys
Personal Choice Rom. 11:22: “If you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” God’s severity is reserved for those who are disobedient • II Thess. 1:7-9: Those who do not know God and who have not obeyed the gospel will be eternally separated from Him. • Rev. 20:14-15: The 2nd death is for those not written in the Book of Life! We must choose if we want the goodness of God or to experience His severity! God Of The Hills And Valleys
Conclusion Rom. 11:22: Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. God’s people are to serve Him with fear/reverence – Heb. 12:28-29 28. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29. for our God is a consuming fire. • When we remember God’s rejection of Israel as His • nation, we should pay attention: • To continue (obey/abide) in His goodness that we not be “cut off” – Rom. 11:22 • There is a day of wrath that is coming – Rom. 2:5-8 • Blessing of eternal life to those who do good • Wrath and indignation to those who disobey. (II Thess. 1:7-9) • God’s goodness blesses our lives now and will bless us eternally – Rom. 2:7 God Of The Hills And Valleys
Conclusion • Let us not be like the Syrians in our attitudes towards • God! • The Syrians couldn’t defeat armies of God on the mountains so they said they would go to the valleys (I Kings 20:23). • Many want to ignore the commands of an obedient faith so they teach, God is the “God of the hill of grace, mercy, and love” therefore no acts of faith necessary! God is the God of the hills and valleys and will defeat those who think they can “get by” from assigning to Him jurisdiction of man’s making! (I Kings 20:28; Js. 2:14-26) Let us “consider the goodness and severity of God” and “continue in His goodness!” God Of The Hills And Valleys
“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)