THE VALLEY OF DECISION

#1) Just look around.

A) Joel 3:12-16 V14 We are at the brink of this Valley of Decision today.

- This account speaks of Armageddon and we are closer than we realize.

- Just look around and take a look at what’s going on.

- Our schools are making it mandatory that our children be taught that all lifestyles are ok.

- Our country is in no way united.

- Our leader is constantly called into question.

- The media paints a picture that is so far left that the truth is almost impossible to find.

- Sin on a worldwide scale is rampant.

B) Joel 3:13 Just take a look at all the wickedness in this world today.

- Our schools are attempting to teach our young children about the “normal alternative of homosexuality”.

- If a child in class voices his “opinion” that homosexuality is wrong he is counseled that it’s inappropriate to even think such a thing.

- Wickedness in our time is everywhere and in almost everything.

- Pornography is one of this countries biggest money making markets there is.

- It is more widely accepted now than ever before.

C) Crime in general is completely out of control.

- The FBI did a statistical report in 1980, that’s 24 years ago and even those numbers are staggering.

- Needless to say things have got worse since then.

- In 1980 23,000 people were murdered in the U.S.

- 82,000 women were raped.

- Over 500,000 people were robbed.

- Over 650,000 people were assaulted.

- America Today and US News and World Report recently gave the following “Clock Tick Statistics”.

- A murder occurs every 23 minutes; during this service there will be at least three murders.

- Forcible rape every 6 minutes; there will be at least 10 rapes during this service.

- A robbery every 58 seconds, there will be at least 62 robberies during this service.

- Aggravated assault every 48 seconds, there will be at least 75 assaults during this service.

- A car is stolen every 28 seconds, during this service there will be at least 128 cars stolen.

- During this service there will be at least 450 burglaries.

- This accounts for only those crimes, which are reported.

D) This is how we know that we are at the Valley of Decision.

- Joel 3:13 Wickedness is truly great in our day and age.

- The effects are clearly seen and it’s seen everywhere.

#2) A foundation under attack.

A) Psalm 11:3 Notice that this verse uses foundations in the plural.

- It’s not just bad in America.

- Wickedness is everywhere; America happens to be one of the most civilized countries in the world.

- Violence may be a problem here, however in Europe and Eastern countries other forms of wickedness abound.

- For a large part America is shaped by the influences of Europe.

- Homosexuality is more freely accepted in those countries than here.

- Our foundations are under attack.

B) Biblical morality is being challenged every day.

- Our basic moral foundations are being destroyed.

- When someone stands for what is morally right they are mocked.

- They are persecuted and eventually they are silenced in one form or another.

- Our foundations are crumbling around us.

- Psalm 11:3 “what can the righteous do?”

C) Many people feel as though there is no recourse in these days.

- We become overwhelmed by the wickedness around us.

- We begin to feel as though we can no longer trust God to take care of the situation.

- We feel as though the very foundation is crumbling from beneath our feet.

- What can the righteous do?

#3) Don’t Faint.

A) Luke 18:1-8 V1 DON’T FAINT.

- This parable speaks of the very times we live in right now.

- Our Judges, Our Government and most men in power have NO REGARD FOR MEN OR GOD.

- We cannot allow their wickedness to cause us to faint.

- We need to always pray.

- We need to continue the struggle to lead the lost to JESUS.

- We need to constantly be the servant of our King.

- We cannot FAINT.

B) We have a responsibility to the lost to stand on the sure foundation we have in God.

- Many foundations may be destroyed but not OURS.

- We shouldn’t feel as though God has forgotten us or as though He isn’t aware.

- Luke 18:7-8 We need to “cry day and night unto Him”

- We need to believe His word.

- God will avenge His children.

- One day God will return and destroy all the wickedness that overwhelms us today.

- God hears our cries even now, though He bear long.

C) Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision”

- God is bearing long because decisions need to be made now.

- At the time of this verse it will be to late.

- Today multitudes and multitudes of people are standing at the edge of this valley.

- Today someone here may be standing at the Valley of Decision, what will be your choice today?

D) Joel 3:12 Will you be the heathen?

- Joel 3:16 Or will you put your hope in God and become one of his elect?

- We truly live in a wicked age, but with God as our strength and comfort we can stand at the brink of this Valley of Decision with confidence.

- What will your choice be today?

- The time is short please don’t delay.