In this powerful sermon, Victory in the Valley, we are reminded that not every victory will be won on the mountaintop. While mountain victories are visible and celebrated, some of our greatest breakthroughs happen in the quiet, shadowed places of the valley. David declared in Psalm 23, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” because even there God brings victory.

Ezekiel 37 reveals a valley filled with dry bones—death, despair, and hopelessness. Yet God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” His answer wasn’t based on sight but on faith: “O Lord God, You know.” In that valley, God transformed what looked impossible into a vision of restoration and life. This shows us that valley victories accomplish three things:

1. They test your faith.
2. They stretch your endurance.
3. They refine your praise.

Key Points from the Message:

I. You have to see it before you see it (Ezekiel 37:3).

• When your natural eyes see defeat, faith allows you to see possibility.
• Ezekiel didn’t limit God to what he saw—he trusted His Word over the situation.
• Even in the dark valley, focus on what God has promised, not just what you see.

II. You must speak what He says (Ezekiel 37:4).

• God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones—victories require action.
• Your valley needs a voice—speak life, scripture, faith, and hope over your situation.
• Don’t dwell on the problem; declare the promise.

III. Stand until the shaking is over (Ezekiel 37:8).

• Victory is a process: first a noise, then a shaking, then a coming together, then breath, and finally standing.
• Many lose faith in the shaking because they don’t trust God to finish what He started.
• Don’t let noise, distractions, or delays cause you to walk away. If you leave during the shaking, you’ll miss the standing.

Conclusion:
The valley is not your end—it’s where your testimony is being built. What God is shaping in the valley will become your greatest victory. It may not look like it now, but it ends well. Trust the process, keep speaking life, and stand firm until you see God’s promises fulfilled.

Homework for the Week:
Speak life over everything that’s supposed to live in your world until you see it standing. Remember—the valley is the pathway to victory.

Life will test your faith, your endurance, and your resolve. Not everyone will make it through the storms still holding on to God. Some will give in to pressure, some will walk away, but God is calling you to be the one left standing. This isn’t about being better than others—it’s about being anchored, steadfast, and faithful when the dust settles.

The call to “stand” means more than surviving; it’s about remaining rooted in worship, pressing past fear, and praising through pain. Scripture is filled with examples—Daniel refused to bow, Job held on after losing everything, the Hebrew boys stood in the fire, Jesus stood silent before Pilate, and Paul declared, “After you’ve done all… to stand.”

Key Points & Notes for Listeners

I. Lasting From the Lessons (Romans 15:4)

• You can’t stand if you can’t last—not just through pain, but through the entire process.
• How you exit the storm matters: bitter or better. Wounds can become wisdom.
• You’re not standing just to survive—you’re standing to arrive at God’s intended end.
  • Lessons in the losses
  • Wisdom in the warfare
  • Purpose in the pain
• Only those who stay long enough to learn will last long enough to lead.
• Example: Job lost it all, but gained a deeper revelation of God (Job 42:5). God tests our strength while teaching our spirit.

II. Struggling From a Place of Strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

• Paul admitted his struggle—his “thorn” never left, yet he kept preaching, writing, and standing.
• His strength came from grace, not self-effort.
• Faith-fueled endurance keeps you standing when life shakes you.
• Strong believers often fight unseen battles, yet they keep showing up.
• Worshippers wobble, but they don’t fall down.

Conclusion — Standing is Winning (Matthew 24:13)
In the Kingdom, standing isn’t what you do after you’ve won—it is the victory. You may not walk away with a trophy, but endurance secures eternal reward. God is looking for those who will still be standing when the storm passes—anchored in His word, fueled by His grace, and faithful to the finish.

Challenge to Listeners:
When trials hit, don’t measure victory by the absence of wounds—measure it by your refusal to quit. Stand like Daniel, endure like Job, walk through the fire like the Hebrew boys, and remain rooted like Paul. When the dust settles, let God find you still standing.

What do you do with what's left? In science, “residual” refers to what remains after the main part is removed — the leftover, the remainder. But in God’s hands, the residual isn't just what’s left — it's what He chooses to use. In this message, we examine how God uses what's left — the remnant — to reveal His power and establish His presence. Sometimes, what remains after the cutting, the pruning, and the separating, is exactly what’s right for God to begin His work.

This sermon follows the story of Gideon and his army in Judges 7. God stripped Gideon’s army down from 32,000 men to just 300 — not because of weakness, but because He wanted to show that victory comes from Him, not from numbers or might. The message encourages us to not mourn what has been removed but to rejoice in what God has decided to keep.

I. Too Many (Judges 7:2)

God told Gideon, “The people that are with thee are too many...” — not too weak, but too many for God’s purpose.

• How do you know when it's too many?
  • When numbers become your confidence instead of God.
  • When the crowd distracts from the mission.
  • When pride begins to replace praise.
  • When you say “We did it,” instead of “God did it.”

22,000 left the camp because they were afraid. Fear has the power to paralyze progress — that’s why God made room for only the faithful. Then, out of the remaining 10,000, God refined again. The final 300 were chosen based on posture and alertness — those who stayed watchful even while drinking water. Discipline, awareness, and readiness mattered more than numbers.

II. The Core Over the Crowd (Judges 7:7)

God chose the core, not the crowd.

• The crowd is impressive — until they’re tested.
  • They cheer but don’t commit.
  • They support in good times but flee in hard times.
• The core is dependable.
  • They remain when the stage lights go off.
  • They fight when others flee.
  • They carry weight and mission.
  • They are the faithful few who are willing to follow God's plan even when it's not popular.

God is calling us to appreciate the power of the core. In your life, He may be removing the extra so you can see the essential. Don’t be discouraged by subtraction — it’s God's setup for true impact.

III. Strategy Over Strength (Judges 7:16)

Gideon’s 300 didn’t need to fight with weapons. God had a strategy.

• God gave each man a trumpet, an empty pitcher, and a torch inside the pitcher.
  • The torch represents light — God's presence.
  • The trumpet represents sound — worship and declaration.
  • The pitcher represents brokenness — allowing God’s light to shine through.

This powerful illustration reminds us: God doesn’t need our strength — He needs our surrender. Often, it’s our broken seasons that allow His glory to shine the brightest. The sound of worship can tear down strongholds greater than any sword. Victory was not won by military might but by obedient hearts and a God-ordained strategy.

Key Takeaways:

• Don’t despise what’s left — God is in the remnant.
• Crowd size is not equal to calling.
• Your brokenness can become your brightest light.
• God removes what’s unnecessary to strengthen what remains.
• Victory comes not through numbers or noise but through obedience and strategy.

In the end, “Residual” is not what we’ve lost, but what God chooses to use. God is dwelling with the remnant. He’s building revival on the foundation of what remains. The subtraction was necessary so that His power could be multiplied.