Community is our step in 2024 to help fulfill the Vision of TWBC. Community is how we will lead people to an encounter with God, resulting in life change. Accountability + Transparency = Community 

Accountability - means you can count on me. It is caring for those you are in Community with. 

Transparency – being real about where you are so we can help you get in alignment with who you are. 

Community – Is caring and being cared for where you are so we can help you get to where you need to be. 

The You Matter series is designed to Biblically address your Identity, Purpose, Place, and Value. It is the ultimate series that will move you from where you are into alignment with who you are. 

Last week, Pastor Hunter delivered an outstanding message about Identity. Once your Identity is established, you will begin to step into your purpose. When you step into your purpose you will encounter pushback. But the pushback should be a confirmation of just how much YOU MATTER! 

II Samuel 5:17-25 

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. 

When the enemy pushes back, you must know “Whose Preaching” and “What Message” you are listening to. 

There are several Preachers in our life. 

· I have the preaching of my circumstances. 

o Finances - Present & Future 

o Schedule 

o The pressure that is on me - it is all real, but not all necessary. (expectations, comparisons) 

· I have the preaching of my emotions. 

o Emotions are great to have but are horrible preachers. 

· I have the preaching of my perspective. How I see things versus the reality of how they really are. 

o How can I be full of the Spirit but so dry and thirsty? 

o How can I have received divinity but yet be stuck in desperation? 

o How can I have received true love but feel so lonely?

There is preaching that is focused on me, which is usually from me, and there is preaching that is coming to me that will transform me. 

This means that a message is coming to me that will recognize where I am at in the moment, but its purpose is to lead me out of the mess. 

The preaching that will transform me, it isn't for the moment it is to get me through the moment. You may be looking in the wrong place. 

There is preaching leading me by faith, but that doesn’t always comfort me in my fears. 

David had messages coming from him, but he also had a message coming to him. 

He had to decide what message he would let manifest; one message would have made him a victim, and the other would have brought victory. 

Messages that come from you will always lead to you being the victim and bring you to a place of captivity. 

II Samuel 5:22-25 

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 

Have you ever started doing something on purpose and it seemed to invigorate giants instead of defeating them? 

Example: Praying for your spouse, kids, career and it got worse instead of better. 

Rapha - giant 

Valley of Rephaim - means Valley of Giants. 

in the sense of invigorating; a giant: giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s) 

It matters where the message comes from. If you look at your life from the Valley of Circumstances, you’ll live out your life from the Valley of Criticism. 

23 And when David inquired of the Lord, 

David asks God “Shall I go up into the land of invigorated giants? 

God answers: he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

The message from The Valley was about the giants in front of him. The message from God was about warriors who could march on the tops of trees going before him. 

The message matters. Who is preaching to you? Are we listening to messages from the valley beneath us or the God above us? 

God says, "I'll face your adversary; you circle around and get the victory." 

What has tried to surround you, is actually being surrounded by you. 

But the best part is there is a greater Rapha. This is a word with a dual meaning. 

It is like saying, "You are a shrimp," and "I like to eat shrimp." 

Exodus 15:26 “26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice (the right message) of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear (hear) to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases (plagues) on you that I put on the Egyptians, (You be defeated like the giants of Egypt) for I am Jehovah Rapha (Giant Restorer).” 

Jehovah Rapha - the Lord who restores and heals. 

The writers of the scriptures didn’t use “giant” because it is comparative, so they used Jehovah, which is authoritative. 

How often do we fall victim to comparing giants rather than turning to a higher authority? 

You have an authoritative power above you, and it is going before you to fight the battle in front of you! 

What purpose is God asking you to pick back up that you have laid down because of the pushback.