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.

In this powerful and timely message, the Lord speaks a clear directive: “Don’t Deviate from the Plan.” Just like Jonah, many of us have felt the urge to go our own way, but in this season, God is calling His people to stay the course. The storms around us may tempt us to detour, but obedience is critical—not just for us, but for everyone connected to our journey.

Introduction:
God’s plan is still good. The Holy Spirit prompted this word as a warning and encouragement to the body of Christ. Now is not the time to veer off course. While everyone’s journey may be different, God’s universal plan for every believer includes:

1. Knowing God personally
   John 17:3 – Relationship with God is the foundation of eternal life.
2. Becoming like Christ
   Romans 8:29 – We are predestined to be conformed to Jesus’ image.
3. Doing good works and bearing fruit
   Ephesians 2:10 – We are created to walk in the good works God prepared for us.
4. Making disciples
   Matthew 28:19 – We are called to spread the Gospel and build His kingdom.
5. Living for God's glory
   1 Corinthians 10:31 – Every action should reflect and honor God.

This framework answers the question: “What is God’s plan for my life?”

What does it mean to deviate?
To deviate is to stray from the assigned path. It’s choosing convenience over consistency and substituting our will for God’s. Like Jonah, we sometimes flee from assignments we don’t understand or want—but God’s purpose must be fulfilled.

Key Points of the Message:

I. Deviation Endangers Others

• Jonah’s disobedience triggered a storm that threatened everyone on the ship.
• Deviation doesn’t just affect you—it endangers your family, ministry, and those around you.
• Your obedience is directly connected to someone else’s deliverance and breakthrough.

II. Deviation Delays Destiny

• Jonah’s flight led to him being swallowed by a great fish and stuck in darkness for three days.
• Running from God always delays the blessings and purpose He has for you.
• Delayed obedience is still disobedience. Don’t prolong your breakthrough by going the wrong direction.

III. Deviation Demands a Return

• Jonah had to go back to the original assignment. God didn’t change His plan—He waited for Jonah to obey.
• God’s Word came to Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1), showing that His purpose is unshakable.
• God’s calling will keep circling back until you surrender.

Conclusion:
Deviation starts as delay but can lead to devastation. Don’t let temporary comfort cost you your eternal calling. Repent, return, and fulfill the mission God gave you. There is a nation assigned to your voice—don’t leave them waiting.

In this inspiring and timely message drawn from the story of Lazarus, we are reminded that faith isn’t a one-time experience—it’s a journey. Through the lens of Martha’s encounter with Jesus after her brother’s death, we see how faith evolves, stretches, and grows even in seasons of delay, loss, or impossibility.

Martha believed Jesus could heal Lazarus while he was alive—but when Jesus arrived after Lazarus had died, her words still carried power: “Even now, whatever You ask of God, He will give it to You.” This declaration becomes the foundation of the message: faith that believes beyond the grave, beyond the closed doors, beyond the deadline.

This sermon is a call to those whose situations seem too far gone—relationships, dreams, ministries, or health—reminding us that Jesus is not restricted by time or circumstance. Even now… He can do it.

I. Elevated Faith

John 11:22
Martha’s faith evolved—from believing in healing to believing in resurrection.

• Delays don't cancel God's promises; they elevate our faith.
• "Even Now" faith dares to expect what seems impossible.
• Elevated faith stretches into the supernatural, into what we haven’t seen God do yet.

II. Even Now Faith

Luke 8:49–50
When Jairus was told his daughter was dead, Jesus said: “Fear not: believe only.”

Even Now means:

1. It’s never too late with God.
2. Delay is not denial.
3. God moves beyond deadlines.
4. Resurrection is possible.
5. Faith confronts finality.
6. Faith finds a way.

Reflection: God doesn’t just heal—He makes whole. Faith thrives in the face of impossibility.

III. At Your Word

Matthew 8:8
The centurion said, “Just speak the word and my servant will be healed.”

• Martha and the centurion shared the same truth: If You say it, that settles it.
• God’s Word still has the power to shift reality.
• Faith doesn’t always require presence—just permission from heaven.

IV. Prophetic Declaration

God is speaking LIFE to what has looked lifeless:

1. He’s reviving what you gave up on.
2. “Even Now” faith opens closed doors and redeems lost seasons.
3. Missed moments are becoming miraculous movements.

V. Cold Case / Cold Faith

Like the show Cold Case, where unsolved crimes are reopened, many of us have filed away:

• Dead dreams
• Forgotten prayers
• Abandoned assignments

But today, God is reopening the case.

• The enemies of faith—fear, doubt, and delay—have been exposed.
• Your faith is being revived.
• The case is reopened and the verdict is VICTORY!

Takeaway Truth:

Closing Invitation:
If you’ve closed the door on something because of time, pain, or silence—this message is for you. Tune in and declare with boldness: Even Now, God Can.

In this motivating and spiritually-charged sermon, Minister Gary Woodson encourages believers to “Stay in Motion”—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Anchored in Romans 12:4-5, the message reminds us that we are all members of one body in Christ, each with a unique role and purpose. When one part moves, the rest are impacted. God has gifted us with the ability to manage our emotions, especially when it comes to how others influence us. The key? Staying grounded and moving forward in God.

Minister Woodson illustrates the message using the example of a rowing team—eight rowers guided by a coxswain. In our spiritual walk, the Holy Ghost is our Coxswain, setting the pace and giving direction. But Jesus is the Captain of the boat—our lives. When we let God lead, we move in sync with His purpose. God is in control—trust Him.

2 Peter 1:5-8 outlines eight spiritual qualities that help us stay spiritually productive:

• Faith
• Goodness
• Knowledge
• Self-control
• Perseverance
• Godliness
• Mutual affection
• Love

These virtues aren’t just suggestions—they are spiritual tools that keep us effective and fruitful in the knowledge of Christ. When we cultivate these, we remain spiritually in motion.

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

• Trust what God has placed in you. He has equipped you to control your attitude and reactions.
• Stay means remain. In means present. Stay present in God’s will.
• Let the Holy Ghost guide you, and let Jesus lead. He knows where the boat of your life needs to go.
• Surround yourself with winners. Build a team that’s spiritually effective, productive, and aligned with God’s direction.
• Don’t lose your momentum. Even in resistance, keep rowing—keep believing.
• Listen to God. When you do, you will not fall.
• Every time we row, we row in victory.
• Stand tall even if you must stand alone.
• Declare over your life: “Not today or tomorrow, Satan!”

Closing Encouragement:
Minister Woodson reminds us that momentum is spiritual. Once you're in motion in Christ, don’t let anything slow you down. Victory is already declared for those who stay the course, follow the Spirit, and keep their eyes fixed forward. No matter the storm, no matter the opposition—stay in motion and trust the One who leads your boat.

What if Father’s Day was more than just a moment of celebration—what if it was a Divine Demonstration? This year’s message isn’t just about biology—it’s about identity, legacy, and unity. Fatherhood is more than a title; it’s a transfer of purpose. Through a powerful visual illustration, a father and son walk in step—same motion, same pause—revealing that Jesus and His Father were not just connected, they were one.

Jesus didn’t just represent His Father—He revealed Him. And just like Christ stepped through the frame of flesh and into His purpose, we too are called to step into the image and intention of our Heavenly Father.

I. The Wrestle with Release

John 1:14, Genesis 32:24-30

Before legacy can be fulfilled, there’s a wrestle that must be faced.

• Jacob’s Wrestle: God meets Jacob alone, not to destroy him but to develop him. The encounter leads to a transformation—Jacob becomes Israel.
• The Father Speaks: “I didn’t come to overpower Jacob, I came to prepare him. I taught Myself how to restrain My divinity long enough to touch humanity—and in doing so, I taught My Son how to walk with compassion and strength.”

Lesson: God doesn’t wrestle us to weaken us—He wrestles us into purpose.

Son’s Wrestle: The Garden of Gethsemane

Luke 22:42 – “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Jesus didn’t wrestle demons here—He wrestled His own will.

• The Son reflects: “I saw My Father with Jacob and learned how to touch without tearing, how to surrender without losing.”
• Though divine, Jesus embraced the agony of obedience. He learned from the Father how to restrain power to fulfill purpose.

Key Reflection: Every son will have a Gethsemane moment, where surrender shapes destiny.

Conclusion: The Return and the Reunion

After the Cross came the tomb. After the tomb came the cloud—the ascension.

• The Son declares: “I’m not wounded anymore. I’m a witness—the mission worked.”
• The Father responds: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” No longer a prodigal son, but a prophetic one.
• Together, Father and Son model not only reunion but revelation. What we see in Jesus is not only God’s power but His pattern—how to walk, wrestle, and win.

Final Declaration (Read Together):

“So on this Father’s Day, remember this:
Every son carries a glimpse of his father’s glory, and every father, when he looks at his son, should see his legacy alive.
Just like Jesus, we were born to reflect, to wrestle, and to return.”

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

• Fatherhood is more than shared DNA—it’s shared destiny.
• Sons don’t just mirror their fathers—they manifest their mission.
• God wrestles not to punish but to position us for purpose.
• Your identity is secure when your unity with the Father is clear.

I. From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Acts 2:14; Acts 4:13 (ESV)

• The Holy Ghost transformed ordinary people—fishermen, tax collectors, doubters—into bold, powerful vessels of God.
• Peter, once fearful, now preached with fire. These were not trained scholars—they were people who had been with Jesus.
  Reflection: When God fills you, He doesn’t check your résumé. He checks your availability.

II. Five Kinds of Power Released at Pentecost

1. Power to Be Bold Witnesses

Acts 1:8; John 20:19

• Before Pentecost: fear and hiding.
• After Pentecost: boldness in the streets.
  The Holy Ghost emboldens you to speak truth without fear.

2. Power to Speak with Divine Authority

Acts 2:4,6

• Speaking in tongues wasn’t just noise—it was understood in every language present.
  A supernatural gift for communicating the Gospel clearly and powerfully.

3. Power to Transform Lives

Acts 2:37-38

• Peter’s message pricked hearts—3,000 repented and were baptized.
  Real Holy Ghost power leads to transformation, not just celebration.

4. Power to Unite Believers

Acts 2:1; Acts 2:44 (ESV)

• Pentecost created spiritual unity—“one accord in one place.”
  True revival starts with oneness of heart, mind, and purpose.

5. Power to Operate in Signs and Wonders

Acts 2:43

• The early church didn’t just talk the Kingdom—they demonstrated it.
  Healings, deliverance, and miracles followed Spirit-filled believers.

Reflection Questions:

• What are you doing with the power you’ve received?
• Are you hiding it or walking in it?
• Is your Pentecost power only seen in services, or is it changing lives around you?
  The Holy Ghost didn’t come to make you dance—He came to make you witness.

Conclusion: From Fisherman to Fireman
Peter wasn’t just reformed—he was ignited. Pentecost turned him from a fisherman into a “fireman,” not the kind who puts out flames, but the kind who starts them. He preached the Gospel with boldness, became a key leader in the early church, and operated in the full force of the Holy Spirit.

Final Thought:
You didn’t just receive a moment—you received movement. The same fire that fell at Pentecost still burns today. You have power—use it. Don’t just carry it, release it.