"Every Valley Shall Be Filled" Luke 3:1-2

1. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:1-2 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

2. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:3-6 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.

3. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:3-6 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

4. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:5 • This was a fit time to begin preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. • The moral and political conditions did not keep the Voice of the prophet from being fulfilled. • Verse 5 is a symbolic description of the work that was to be begun by John and completed in Christ.

5. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:5 Commentators give detailed application of this prophecy, and, following their example, we may regard the Pharisees and Sadducees as mountains of self-righteousness, needing to be thrown down, and thereby brought to meekness and humility; the outcasts and harlots as valleys of humiliation, needing to be exalted and filled with hope; and the publicans and soldiers as crooked and rough byways, needing to be straightened and smoothed with proper details of righteousness.

6. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:5 But the application is general, and not to be limited to such details. However, civil tyranny, and ecclesiastical pride must be leveled, and the rights of the common people must be exalted before the kingdom of God can enter in—J W McGarvey (Four-Fold Gospel)

7. "Every Valley Shall Be Filled"Luke 3:5 • This was a fit time to begin preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. • The moral and political conditions did not keep the Voice of the prophet from being fulfilled. • Verse 5 is a symbolic description of the work that was to be begun by John and completed in Christ. • But even today there are many valleys to be filled by the Lord.

8. The Valley of Darkness • The valley is a fitting symbol of darkness. • It is dark in the valley when the sun is shining on the mountain top. • It is often too dark in the valleys to take photos. • Our valleys are often dark when the sun is shining on the everlasting hills of God. • We cannot see our way.

9. Jeremiah 10:23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

10. The Valley of Darkness • The valley is a fitting symbol of darkness. • It is dark in the valley when the sun is shining on the mountain top. • It is often too dark in the valleys to take photos. • Our valleys are often dark when the sun is shining on the everlasting hills of God. • We cannot see our way.

11. The Valley of Darkness • The valley is a fitting symbol of darkness. • Christ came to fill our valleys with light. • He is our light.

12. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

13. The Valley of Darkness • The valley is a fitting symbol of darkness. • Christ came to fill our valleys with light. • He is our light. • He will give us light.

14. Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

15. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

16. The Valley of Darkness • The valley is a fitting symbol of darkness. • Christ came to fill our valleys with light. • He is our light. • He will give us light. • He brought life and immortality to light.

17. 2 Timothy 1:8-11 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

19. The Valley of Doubt and Fear • All men walked through the valley of doubt and fear before the Lord came. • People had doubts about a resurrection and life beyond.

20. Job 14:14 "If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes."

21. The Valley of Doubt and Fear • All men walked through the valley of doubt and fear before the Lord came. • People had doubts about a resurrection and life beyond. • There were doubts about how man should worship.

22. John 4:19-20 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

23. The Valley of Doubt and Fear • All men walked through the valley of doubt and fear before the Lord came. • People had doubts about a resurrection and life beyond. • There were doubts about how man should worship. • There were doubts among the Jews. There were many sects because of their differing views.

24. Acts 23:6-8 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection--and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

25. The Valley of Doubt and Fear • All men walked through the valley of doubt and fear before the Lord came. • People had doubts about a resurrection and life beyond. • There were doubts about how man should worship. • There were doubts among the Jews. There were many sects because of their differing views. • There was a constant fear of death. Nothing to look forward to.

26. The Valley of Doubt and Fear • All men walked through the valley of doubt and fear before the Lord came. • Jesus came to fill our valley with confidence and hope. • He gives us confidence that we will live again.

27. John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

28. The Valley of Doubt and Fear • All men walked through the valley of doubt and fear before the Lord came. • Jesus came to fill our valley with confidence and hope. • He gives us confidence that we will live again. • He gives assurance to all believers in Him of being accepted with God.

29. John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me."

30. Hebrews 4:19-22 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

31. Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

33. The Valley of Despondency • Men often settle in this valley. • Israel drifted into it and their bones were dried up.

34. Ezekiel 37:1-3 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

35. Ezekiel 37:4-7 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord." ' " So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.

36. Ezekiel 37:8-10 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." ' " So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

37. Ezekiel 37:11-13 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.

38. Ezekiel 37:14-16 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it," says the Lord.' " Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.'

39. Ezekiel 37:17-20 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand. "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?'-- say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand." ' And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.

40. Ezekiel 37:21-22 Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.

41. Ezekiel 37:23-24 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.

42. Ezekiel 37:25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.

43. Ezekiel 37:26-28 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."'"

44. The Valley of Despondency • Men often settle in this valley. • Israel drifted into this valley and their bones were dried up. • They could not see a way out of this helpless condition so far removed from Jerusalem and their homeland. • People often become despondent when they feel that the Lord is not with them.

45. The Valley of Despondency • Men often settle in this valley. • Jesus came to fill our valley with strength and deliverance. • Paul's valley was so filled.

46. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

47. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured.

48. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

49. The Valley of Despondency • Men often settle in this valley. • Jesus came to fill our valley with strength and deliverance. • Paul's valley was so filled. • The Lord will be with us and will help us.

50. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."