The Valley Will Only Last So Long
March 16, 2026
Revelation, chapter number two. I enjoy those song services. Think about the words, and I like to look out and see someone raising their hand a little bit and kind of getting into it. It’s a good thing. It means to me you’re singing from your heart and you’re getting into it a bit. That’s a good thing, and praise the Lord for it.
Revelation chapter 2 in God’s Word. We looked at Ephesus this morning, the church at Laodicea. We’re going to talk about the church at Smyrna.
And that’s Smyrna, Tennessee. Somebody’s talking about Smyrna, Georgia. No, it’s not Smyrna, Georgia. It’s Smyrna, Tennessee. Come on now, you know. But it’s a great church. One of the few churches of the seven that did not get rebuked by the Lord under severe persecution. And the Lord is really complimenting them.
I want you to know, this morning we preached one phrase: “Why all the valleys?” And, “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in…”
Thank you. I think with James, man, James the bowler there. James can bowl, by the way. That guy, if I would go bowling, I want him or Michael McNeil on my team next time, for sure.
But anyway, where were we at? Yeah, while I was, that was enlarged me when I was in distress, you know, in the valleys, he’s growing us. But then tonight, for just a bit, there’s a time limit on the valley, or the valley will only last so long. Why all the valleys this morning? And tonight, the valley will only last so long.
At the beginning of it tonight, we’re going to use your Bible a lot. So get your Bible. If you say, “I don’t know where they’re found,” there’s a table of contents up front. You can find the page number and all that.
We’re going to use your Bible a bit tonight, and that’d be good. After a while, if you hadn’t found it, we’ll just hold your Bible open. We’ll never know you didn’t find it, you know. If it’s upside down, we’ll have a pretty good idea. So we’ll use your Bible a little bit up front here, all right? Revelation 2. And we’re going to start in verse number 8. We’re just going after the little truth here. We’re going to use a couple of different passages to get to it, and then just a short bit we’ll preach on that subject tonight.
Would you please stand, if you’re able to? This shows the word of God respect. Revelation 2 and verse number 8 of God’s Word. The Bible there says, “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”
By the way, I always like it how he comes to them. He’s wearing a different hat almost every time, and it’s coming to a church. Many of them are persecuted, some of them are martyred. And Jesus comes to them with a hat: “Hey, I went through that. I was martyred too, if you will. And I’m alive again. I’ve been through it.” End it like our Savior comes to us with what we need, and it’s coming to each church with what they need.
He told this church severe persecution. Verse number nine, he said, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich.” Kind of the opposite this morning of the church of Laodicea. He goes on, he says, “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation.”
What’s the next two words? Notice the time limit to him. He’s going to tell you how long it’s going to last: Ten days. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Would you pray that God speak to our minds and our hearts on this subject? The valley will only last for so long. Father, would you truly just make this truth real? Lord, encourage us through it, Father. Give us a determination to live for you through the valleys. And Father, we’ll thank you for what you do. Lord, we ask for this in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated. Isn’t it interesting? He said this time of tribulation, trials, the valley—I’m going to tell you up front, it’s only going to last ten days. Look, if you will, over in 1 Peter chapter number five. First Peter chapter number five, just a little before Revelation.
1 Peter, 1st, 2nd Peter, 1st, 2nd John, Jude, Revelation—that is it. And 1 John chapter number 5 and look at verse number 10. First Peter? Not sure what all that was about. Don’t know if I want to know what that’s about.
First, are you listening real good? Turn him up. First Peter chapter number five. First Peter chapter number five. And you’re there in the book of 1 John, you’re there? Brother, go for it. Amen. Amen. 1 Peter 5, verse number 10. Look at verse number 10.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, watch this: After that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.”
It’s not indefinite, not forever. It’s timed, if you will. After that, you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. And then after a while, after it’s served its purpose, if you will, after you’ve grown, after you’ve been enlarged in it. But after a while, it’s not just an infinity. No, this is a timed thing.
Look over in Job chapter number 42, if you would please. Job, chapter number 42, if it’s just closing your Bible and open it up. It’d be kind of in the middle of it, right before Psalms. And someone said the fellow that got a job in the Bible, right before the Psalms, you know, in the book of Job. And Job’s trial—you know the trial. I think one of the most famous trials of the Bible. He lost all ten of his children, and then financial problems and health problems, and his wife, she’s going through it too. She said, “Curse God and die.”
This trial, we don’t know exactly—a lot of Bible scholars think it lasted about a year, a year and a half. But look at the end of this saying here, Job 42, Job 42 and verse number 10. “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job.” Here’s what I want you to know: So there was a definite ending where the Lord said, “It’s done. I’m turning the captivity of Job.”
Now, it’s interesting when it happened. The Lord returned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends. By the way, if you’re battling bitterness towards someone, pray for him, like what Jesus did on the cross. Also, when he prayed for his friends, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. But notice this trial Job went through. It wasn’t indefinite. There was a definite starting point, and there was a definite time where God turned. God said, “All right, it’s done. It’s over. I’m turning the captivity of Job.”
Church at Smyrna, ten days. Ten days. Peter to the Christians scattered and those that are going through it, he said, “Hey, you’ll suffer a while.” It’s a time limit. Job, there was a definite time when his trial ended and God turned the captivity of Job.
Here, like one of my verses we asked tonight about the promise and promises. One of my promises has been this here: Look over in Psalms 128. This is a promise I’ve been claiming here lately and been one of my promises like Psalms 128. I think I shared this Wednesday night or two ago. I really like this one. It’s been a verse for me here lately. But I’ve had a thought about it here, maybe just a touch confused about it all, but I want you to see it. And I think it’ll tie into where we’re trying to go at tonight. Psalms 128. And once you find that, would you say, “Praise the Lord”? Praise the Lord. Good.
Look at verse number one. Verse number one right there. “Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways.” Now here’s the promise I like it: “For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands.” I think that has to do with finances and whatnot. Here’s how I like this: That second part here, “Happy shalt thou be.” That’s the one that spoke to me. I read it, I liked that right there. Then he kind of finishes up, “And it shall be well with him.”
I’ve been thinking about that. He says, “Blessed is every man that feareth the Lord, walketh in his ways,” and three things. Three things. He says that you’re going to eat the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with him. That happened, but I got thinking about this, and I thought about Hebrews 12.
Maybe, or since we’re turning a lot in the Bible, look over in Hebrews 12, if you would. And I’m letting your fingers do the walking tonight, amen, you know. Hebrews chapter number 12, kind of the back part of the Bible: Hebrews, James, 1st, 2nd Peter, 1st, 2nd John, Jude, Revelation. Brother Bill says that’s right, good, because it’s been a long time since I did all that. But Hebrews chapter number 12, and look at verse number 2. Hebrews 12, verse 2.
Notice what he says here. It’s a familiar passage, but to me, it seemed for a bit a contradiction from the promise over there in Psalm 128: “That thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands, happy shalt thou be.” But notice what it says about Jesus. Verse number two, Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.”
Well, that don’t sound like he was happy. Endured the cross, despising the shame. Wait a second. I thought if I feared the Lord and walked in his way, then I’m going to be happy. Well, Jesus is enduring the cross and despising the shame. So what’s the deal there? How does this all go together?
Look back over in 1 Peter again. I think the answer is found right here. First Peter chapter 1. We’re looking a lot. We’re about to be done turning for a bit tonight, all right? We’re doing Bible drills tonight in church, you know. 1 Peter chapter number one. And look in verse number six, if you would please. First Peter 1 and verse number six. You there? Amen? Good deal. 1 Peter 1, verse number 6.
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a—what’s the word?—season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” Notice it’s a season. You know, the Christian life is full of seasons. There’s going to be a season that’s a time of testing, trials, temptation, and you’re going to have to somewhat endure those. They’re not going to be wonderful. Now, we count it all joy because he’s growing us. We count all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this verse: the trying of your faith worketh patience, let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The end product: God’s going to grow me, so I have joy because of that. But there’s that season. You know, you’re not going to have that joy for the joy that was set before you.
See, but here’s what I’m trying to get at tonight: this time of temptation and trial, it’s a timed thing, if you will. You said, “Well, it lasted for so-and-so’s whole life.” Yeah, but not for their eternal life. Sometimes God does let it last. I think of a lady that got saved years ago in our church, and she got shingles. And she had shingles until the time she passed—maybe five years, I don’t know. But, friend, that was a time thing. Now, that’s very rare. See.
But I’m saying whatever trial you’re going through, there’s a season that you’re going through, but don’t give up, don’t quit. It’s ten days. It’s for a while. It’s a season. Now, that happy shout not be is coming, just as sure as the sun went down last night, it’s going to come up the next morning. The sun is coming up. Don’t let the devil get you so discouraged and defeated that you say, “Well, I’m going to live in this valley for the rest of my life.” No, friend, you won’t be there for the rest of your life. Even if it is for the rest of this life, that’s not for eternity, but that’s very rare. But your trial is timed. Think: ten days. God turned the captivity of Job. Joy does come in the morning. Your trial, your testing, is a temporary thing. God hasn’t forgotten about you. God hasn’t put you on the shelf over there, and he’s done, he’s finished with you. Friend, as long as you’re breathing air, God still wants to use you. He has a plan. He has a time. All right. You’re going to go through a valley, and I allow that for many different reasons, but it’s not going to be forever. And, friend, you hang on. Don’t quit during the trial. It’s a timed trial.
Hey, can I say this? Healing is coming. I was asked recently by one of our widows, “How are you doing?” And she said, “Well, I’m staying busy.” I think very wise to do that. And I said, “Is it getting any better?” She said, “I think a little bit.” And frankly, she’s being wise, but she knows healing is coming. Your trial is a timed thing. It’s not for eternity.
I thought about when I lost my fingers. I mentioned them this morning, mentioned tonight. One of you told our missionaries, you know, “Well, if Pastor wasn’t missing fingers, he wouldn’t have anything to talk about,” you know. Might as well live up to it, you know. But when I lost my fingers, if you put your hand down, man, you talk about throbbing. You feel every heartbeat for a while there, you know, boom, boom, boom, you know. So I would walk right because they don’t want to mind to bump it.
I mentioned someone this morning, Brother Powers. You know, when you finally got everything off and it started to heal up a little bit, you finally got to go back to shaking hands. And then I’ve got to shake some guys trying to show me how strong he is, and he’s killing me with that big old firm grip. Get out of here, you know. You try it with missing fingers, you know. Anyway, you know, the throbbing and all that, but I’d say, “Hey, it’s getting better. This is only going to last so long.”
And your trials sometimes just break your heart. You say, “I don’t know if I can live with this.” God knows exactly how long you need that, how long it takes to get the product he wants. He’s not going to leave you in there a second longer. God says, “Hey, church, smart up. It’s only going to be ten days.” And he knows what I need, how long I need it. He knows the growth I need to go through during that time. He has a plan. He has a reason for allowing that for the time he’s allowing it.
Well, the devil says it’s going to be like that forever, and he’s a liar. God did turn the captivity of Job, friend. The sun just assures it: sets in the west, it rises in the east every morning. And the sun’s going to come up in your life.
Look, if you will, back over there at Revelation, where we started at Revelation 2. Back over the church this morning. I want you to notice something else about that verse. You probably already noted it, but I want you to see it. Revelation 2 and look in verse number 10. We read a couple of verses, but look at verse number 10. Revelation 2 and verse number 10. Good job. These guys are getting quick up front here, man. They beat Brother Josh. Well, that’s not saying much, but, you know, I’m teasing with them, of course.
Revelation 2, look at verse number 10: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation: ten days.” Ten days as a time, ten days. But “Be thou faithful unto death.” Watch the last part: “And I will give thee a crown of life.”
Hey, friend, while that ten days or however long it is for you and I were going through our trials, hey, God has given you that time, whatever it may be. You know, the Bible only mentions a crown of life twice: James 1 and Revelation 2 right there. It’s only timed, and it is only for those that go through severe trials—this one here, Revelation, martyrdom—but only those that go through severe trials can win that kind of life. So while you’re going through those ten days, it’s your opportunity to win a reward. Don’t miss it.
You might only have ten days or a year and a half like Job, or however long it may be, but that time limit—you know Joseph, he was in prison, but he did become prime minister eventually. And he only had a certain amount of time to win that kind of life. And I’m saying when God allows that thing in your life, don’t say, “Well, it’s going to be like this forever. I’m never going to get out of this.” Say, “Hey, this is my time for me to win a crown of life for the Lord.” It’s just a season.
Paul, you’ve been through so much. So much Paul had been through. He said, “I bear in my body the marks”—he had scars from the beating and the stoning him at the city of Lystra and the shipwreck and all that Paul had been through. Paul’s been in heaven for about 2,000 years. Hey, Paul, can I talk to you for a second? Was it worth all you’ve been through? Paul would say, “You better believe it’s worth it. Oh, yeah.”
Job, was it worth all you’ve been through? You’ve been in paradise or heaven about 4,000 years. Job, what is it worth of what you’ve been through? And he’d say, “You better believe it. It was very well worth it going through that year and a half to gain all the eternal rewards that it gained.” Friend, during that time, it’s a special time. You can win some rewards that you cannot win any other time in your life.
Stephen, beaten to death by that mob, your preaching, and your Holy Spirit—was it worth it to be beaten? He would say, “Yes. Jesus Christ stood up and welcomed me home to heaven. It was very well worth it.”
Look, if you will, over in 2 Corinthians. I told you we’re going to turn a lot of passages tonight. We only have one more after this one. In 2 Corinthians, look in chapter number 4, if you would. 2 Corinthians chapter number 4. And would you look at verse number 17? 2 Corinthians chapter number 4, and look in verse number 17, please.
Watch what he says here: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment.” Now, I understand when in the middle of it, it seems like a whole lot longer than a moment. I understand sometimes your heart’s just breaking; it seems like an eternity. But the view here, the comparison here is to what we’re going through down here to eternity. And in comparison to eternity, thirty years is just a moment, however long your ten days are.
He says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Romans 8:18 says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” You can’t compare them.
I had the opportunity, I don’t know, maybe 15 years ago. I was in Philadelphia, just a brief time there, and I had a wedding. I visited a church. We were there for the weekend. I think there was weddings on a Saturday or something, so Sunday we went to church. It was more like an inner-city church, not huge, but boy, it was a good church. They were seeing people saved. They were reaching people. It was awesome. But it wasn’t big.
I went there, went to Sunday school and church. In between Sunday school and church, some of the men—I got to meet some of them and talked to them—and they said, “Hey, you know our pastor?” I said, “No, I don’t.” And they began to tell me this story about how many ever heard of Roger Staubach? Come on, back of the old football fans there. That Roger Staubach, he played for Navy. And by the way, after he got out of the Navy, he went and fought for our country. Then he went back and played the NFL. Wouldn’t be good to have professional players like that nowadays. Anyway, he won the Heisman Trophy. And when he was playing, he went to five Super Bowls. He was elected for the Pro Bowl for six years. He’s elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and whatnot—just, you know, everybody knows Roger Staubach. Good man. This is what the man in the shirt said:
They said, “Our pastor was the guy behind Roger Staubach when he left the Navy, and he played for the Navy after Roger Staubach. And they said, you know what? He broke all his records in the Navy. He said he was lined up to be a superstar in the NFL, and he broke all the records, but God called him to preach.” And the man was proud of their pastor. I liked it. He said he turned down all the offers, and he’s our pastor.
My friend, I don’t know—maybe the guy’s still here. He was older; he probably is still living. But one day he’s going to go to heaven, and he’s not going to regret that for a second. The rewards he’s going to get are going to far outweigh what comes down here. Friend, I’m just saying that trial—I don’t know how long it is for you. We go through different trials throughout life. But he said, “Hey, church this morning, ten days.” He said over there in Peter, “When you suffered a while.” Job, he turned the captivity of Job. Joseph, he didn’t stay in prison; he got out. God blessed him.
I don’t know the trial you’re going through, but friend, don’t listen to the devil. He’ll tell you the sun’s never going to shine again, and he’s a liar. Joy comes in the morning.
Look at one more passage, and we’re done for that. Look over in Malachi, Malachi chapter number three. That’s the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi chapter number three. And I think it could probably just mention the truth, and you’ll know it, but we’re going to look at it real quickly here. Malachi 3. And look in verse number three. Malachi 3:3. If you’re there, would you say, “Glory to God”? Good, good. Malachi 3, and look in verse number 3. Malachi 3:3.
“And he shall sit”—that’s interesting—“he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi.” By the way, if you’re a born-again Christian, you’re a priest through Jesus Christ. “And purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”
Now notice that first little phrase: “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Several different stories going around the internet. I’m going to read one of those. This is going to read: A lady was in a Bible study; they were studying about refining silver. And so she called a local refinery, more an old-school type one. And she said, “I want to come and learn about how you refine silver.”
She set up a time; she went there, and the man welcomed her in and let her come in, and she began to watch. The guy would take some silver and there was some instruments, and he would hold that silver in the fire. They had set so I could just hold it in the fire. I’m going to read for you: “One must place the silver in the middle of the fire where it is the hottest and allow the heat to burn away all the impurities.”
She asked the silversmith if he had to stay with the pieces of silver in front of the fire the whole time it was in the flames. The silversmith answered emphatically, “Yes.” He told her there was more to his job than just sitting and waiting, though. You see, he had to monitor the silver the entire time it was in the fire, never taking his eyes off it. If the silver is left in the flame even a second too long, it will be in part, in some ways, ruined, watching the whole time. Time limit, if you will. He said, if it’s not in the flame long enough, impurities would remain in it.
She listened and then said silently for a moment before asking, “How do you know the exact moment when the silver is completely refined?” And he smiled at her and said, “That’s a good question, and I have an easy answer. The silver is fully refined when I see my image in it.” He’s trying to make you into the image of a son.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please? Our heads are bowed, eyes are closed. Would you just spend some time with him? That trial is not for eternity—ten days, for a while, a year and a half for Job. He knows what he’s doing. He’s watching. He’s refining the silver. Would you please stand? We’re going to stand, have a word of prayer. You just spend some time. Come to an old-fashioned altar if he’s called you to do that; you’ll be obedient to him.
Father, thank you that you’re a loving Heavenly Father, and though you allow us to be in the fire, you have a reason, and it’s timed. Thank you for that great, great comforting truth. Lord, bless our people tonight with it. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.
Would you spend some time with the Lord? Your heads bowed for just a moment there right where you’re standing. You know, we mentioned this morning while in the valley, the greatest lesson you can learn is that salvation—Jesus paid it all—and you go to Jesus. I want your payment on the cross, your death, burial, resurrection, to be on my account. I want to be my personal Savior. If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior tonight, it would be a great, great time. The Bible says, “Today is a day of salvation.”
You say, “I know I’m a sinner. I understand there’s a penalty, but I believe Jesus died on the cross for me. I’d like to put my faith in Christ alone. I’d like to ask him to be my Savior.” Right there where you stand with their heads bowed and eyes closed, would you call him right now? Would you say, “Oh, dear Jesus, I admit it. I’m a sinner. I understand there’s a penalty, but I believe you died on the cross for me and rose again. Right now, Jesus, would you pay for all of my sins? Would you come into my heart and would you be my Savior? Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.”
Their heads bowed and eyes closed, you said, “Preacher, I never had, but I just asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior.” If you’ve done that tonight, you slip your hand up. Anybody like that? Just ask Jesus to be my Savior. Anybody like that? I don’t see any hands. That’s our greatest lesson you can learn while in the trial. But here’s a good thing about it: that trial—it’s just—it’s a time of trial. That valley is not going to last forever. Amen.
Original File: 2026-03-16 - Pastor Paul Chisgar ＂The Valley Will Only Last So Long＂ Sunday PM 3⧸15⧸2026