The Mountain Equips You For The ValleyParaugs

The Mountain Experience Equips Us To Resist Temptation In The Valley

For the next couple of days, we will zone in on the life of Jesus to see how his mountain experiences equipped him for life in the valley. In Matthew chapter three, John the Baptist was preaching repentance to the people and baptizing them, and along came Jesus the Son of God to also be baptized. Immediately John recognized him and tried to deter Jesus from being baptized by him. I like to look at this baptizing moment in Jesus’ life as a mountain experience. John baptizes Jesus, and as he is rising out of the water the heavens opened up, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him, and God says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13 – 17). Mind you Jesus is now getting ready to enter the scene of full-time ministry, and even before he does any great miracles he is first baptized, anointed and affirmed by his father in heaven – Jesus has his mountain experience and is then sent out in the ministry field. 

Right after this event, the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness (valley) to be tempted by the devil. Immediately we can recognize that the mountain experience equipped Jesus for the valley, Jesus went on a forty-day fast, and at his weakest moment physically the devil pounces with temptations – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. One of the priorities of the mountain experience is to help us deal with us first. This would help us recognize that before we can minister to someone or to offer advice, we must first have the victory over that area in our own lives. I have heard the saying, “You can’t lead someone where you have not been.” And, you can see that Jesus, the Son of God, chose to do life like us to show us how valuable the mountain experience is in getting ourselves aligned with heaven’s agenda on earth. 

The first thing the enemy challenges Jesus on in the wilderness (valley) is his identity – “If you are the Son of God” - (Matthew 4:3). But because of the affirmation Jesus had in his mountain experience when his father said, “This is my son” (Luke 3:22), he spoke confidently in his identity as the “Son of God” and overcame the lust of the flesh by not turning the stone into bread to satisfy his hunger. Again, the enemy tried to attack the identity of Jesus by quoting the same line, “If you are the Son of God” - (Matthew 4:5). He was pushing Jesus to prove himself – the pride of life, but his Father’s words of affirmation strengthened him to resist his pride to demonstrate how many angels could save him had he jumped off the high pinnacle. And finally, the enemy tries with the lust of the eyes to get Jesus to buckle by promising him all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship – (Matthew 4:8-9). By this time Jesus was so secure in his identity and mission received from his mountain experience, he smashed the enemy’s plans with the Word of God and was now ready to go into the valley to help others overcome just like he had. 

My friends, without the mountain experience, it would be challenging to stand against the forces in the valley (culture, fads, opinions, and other voices) that pull at us in every direction. To know who you are and to survive in the valley, we must ascend to the mountain of God and get His Word in our hearts just like Jesus did.

Remember: The mountain equips you for the valley!