Regaining Lost Ground

Shane Idleman: Flora, dexo, glucose. I'm ready, I'm going in. And she said, "Sir, we have to apologize. The machine is broken. We'll call you next week." I said, "What? I've been waiting for this for a while. We're counting on this. What's going on here?"

Listening to the right voice—you've got to get alone with the Lord and hear that voice. It doesn't mean you're not wise or that you are naive. It means I need to hear the voice of the Father. If I don't hear His voice, I need at least to spend some time with Him so I make a decision based on peace and not on fear, based on God's opinion and not on man's.

Guest (Male): Thank you for joining us here at Westside Christian Fellowship, located in Leona Valley, California, one hour north of Los Angeles. Today on Regaining Lost Ground, we hear part one of this uplifting message of hope titled Lessons While Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Pastor and author Charles Swindoll once said, "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." Journey with Pastor Shane as you are equipped with this powerful encouragement to walk fearless in the face of death here today on Regaining Lost Ground.

You can hear the whole message at Pastor Shane's YouTube and Rumble channels. Make sure to subscribe today. For more information, visit us online at westsidechristianfellowship.org. That's westsidechristianfellowship.org. We also encourage you to hear more truth from Pastor Shane with the Idleman Unplugged weekly podcast. And now, from Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, here is Pastor Shane Idleman.

Shane Idleman: My plan was to go right into worship, but a lot of things are important to share with the church. A lot of this was bathed in prayer and waiting on God. That's what I did for a couple of weeks. It was incredible, and I want to share some things with you.

I had a whole message on Psalm 23, but I'm just going to highlight a couple of areas. If I had to choose a title, it would be Lessons While Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Many of you know Psalm 23. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me."

There are only four points, but they are important points. You see up there, number one: Transformation in the Valley. What I'm about to tell you is what I've been praying about. You never know; people are divided. I've sought godly counsel. Many of you know three weeks ago I went private with the announcement, but I'm actually going public with it today. On livestream, thousands of people will hear this in a matter of days or weeks. There's a reason behind that. I'm going to explain that in just a minute.

When I was diagnosed with cancer—for those who don't know, it's been exactly three weeks—it was an incredible turning point. Most of you can relate. There are people here going through more difficulties than I'm going through, and I've prayed for you tonight. I understand that. But I wanted to publicly announce it. I only want to say it once and then move forward.

Maybe Sunday, too, because there are a lot of people here on Sunday who do not come on Wednesdays. You might ask why bring it up because people said I should just keep it private. My pride wants to keep it private. I wish I could keep it private, but I just looked at the Rumble video which has 1,500 views on a private announcement. I'm getting text messages from all over the United States from people I haven't heard from.

"Praying, brother, for you. At least you ran your race good." I'm saying, "Hold on, my race is still... I'm still running my race!" I did get a different number, too, that I use most of the time, but I'm blocking that number. They are well-meaning friends and people I haven't seen in a while.

The reason I bring this up is that I want to encourage people not to waste the pain. I hope I can do this because God's been touching me at a very deep level, and this church will change. This pastor's been renewed. As much as it hurts, I have to bring this forward to help others. That's really the point.

Not everybody knows, but as soon as we posted it, YouTube decided to remove it and strike me. That pissed me off. Is it okay to say that? I prayed about it. Morgan said, "Okay, they just... we're going to go that route. You just awoke the sleeping giant, and I'm pissed off." I know I might get scolded for that. I apologize. Give me a little grace.

Anybody who's hearing this now or later, follow us on Rumble because what I may talk to you about in the future is going to get me banned on YouTube and Facebook. For two weeks, I did a deep dive. I believe God put it on my heart. I did a deep dive for 60 hours, writing a booklet for people going through what I'm going through.

I've looked at—and I'm not going to say specific stuff or it'll get canceled—but I've looked at everything. I just wanted to offer people hope because the medical industry, as much as we love it, is based on fear and pressure. People need to have hope even as they're going through the study. I couldn't stop writing. For 60 hours, I was up in an upper area of a house. For two weeks, it was by far the best experience I've ever had.

From that came this booklet. People have edited it and looked at it. I'm not going to get into detail because of YouTube right now. That's why I'm going public with it—to help people. I walk into Sprouts or Trader Joe's and people say, "There he is. Did you hear?" I have the same challenges as everybody else. This one caught me a little off guard.

"But I thought you were the health and fitness guy." For 30 years, I was the debauchery guy, and sometimes that can come back to bite you. Nothing's bulletproof. Nothing's perfect. Only God and God alone. We all have trials in our lives. YouTube ticked me off, and what I'm hearing in the conventional ways of doing things in the medical field has really ticked me off—how people are being treated.

I think God is using this to really get out there and help people. I actually do have the rough draft ready. We've had editors looking at it. If you want to see that, let the office know. I've got to be careful on this, but I don't care anymore. You're going to do that? You're going to ban what I said? I didn't say anything controversial. The fire was lit, and that's what prompted this.

It's just a short booklet, something like "A Full Assault Against Cancer." We're doing really good as a family. The candle was broken, but the flame still remains. God's doing a deep work. You'll probably see it in places like Christian Post and different outlets that will pick up that the Pastor has announced cancer.

It's okay because it's ultimately to help people. That's why I did it. Normally, I would just keep it quiet and deal with it, but it can help a lot of people. I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. That's where I'm resting.

There is a transformation in the valley. Walking through the valley of the shadow of death, there's a tenderness that can't be taught. There's a certain tenderness that can't be taught without going through that valley. That brokenness... there's no other way to get that deep reservoir of the heart on fire for God. A deep brokenness can only come from the wells of desperation.

Pain is the fire that allows the hammer of God to forge hearts and to shape character. I know we all go through pain. Many of you have come out of it, and some of you might be going into it. If you haven't yet, just keep living. But there can be a purpose in that pain. The first week was a little touch and go. "Really, God? Why, God?" You can get bitter, and you can get in this low spot.

You've got to strengthen yourself in the Lord. What was meant to really silence me has only awakened me even more. What was actually meant to discourage has only emboldened my faith and my preaching. That's why I truly don't know what the future holds. Should we plan a vacation in August? Of course. I'm taking it day by day. But isn't that life in general?

We don't know what the future holds, but thank God we know who holds the future. I am telling you the truth: a preacher has been revived through this, and hopefully so has the church. I expect a much stronger anointing at Westside. We don't have time for games. Look around. The nation is a stench in the nostrils of a righteous, holy God.

The watchmen are silent. They're cowards. Many pastors that are supposed to be shepherding are woke and silent. God help us. There's an urgency. When you go through that valley, it changes the way you view things. You don't fear things like you used to fear. Often the stronger the anointing, the deeper the brokenness.

A.W. Tozer said before God uses a man greatly, He will hurt him deeply. I'll never forget reading Tozer when I was a young man. He said, "I aim to do more in this generation than any other preacher or pastor." His friend said, "Tozer, if that is truly your aim, be prepared to suffer."

We don't like to hear that. We don't want that, do we? We want a relaxing, great life. But there's something through walking through the valley of the shadow of death that life itself cannot teach you until you go through that valley. We have mountaintops and we have valleys, and they coexist. In this case, the psalmist is walking through the valley, and he doesn't plan on staying stuck there.

He is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Here's the wonderful thing as a believer: no matter what the outcome, we know what the final outcome is. We rest in that. That's our strength. That's our hope. Death is only a shadow when the sun is blocked. When we block out Christ and focus on other things, the valley can become darker and more depressing the farther you drift from the light.

Have Him be your anchor. Have Him be everything you cling to. There is comfort in the valley. In the valley, there is a definite shift. We feel vulnerable while enemies look down. It's hard to find comfort in the valley. Shepherds would know this as they would walk the sheep through the valley. What's above them? The enemy. The predators that wanted to take them out.

It's hard to find that comfort in the valley. But he said, "Yet I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." Most people don't realize how profound that is—to just go and eat in front of your enemies. It is like the Air Force dropping into Tehran and having dinner.

God says, "I will prepare a table before you." Who can stop God Almighty? What enemy can stop Him? We've got to strengthen ourselves in the Lord again. Eating and fellowship often represents peace. Your enemies are around, but He will guard you. He will hold you. When there's nothing left to hold onto, you hold onto Him tightly.

Through that valley, He will slowly remove everything you used to lean on and everything you used to trust in. It's through that intimate relationship that you truly know Him as the Shepherd. I have to talk about the counsel in the valley. This is a very important lesson. I haven't mastered it, and I'm trying, but you need to be very diligent to listen to God in the midst of danger.

Watch out for the godless voices telling you how to navigate your valley. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. The enemy will use fear to push you into things. I'm not against making decisive decisions and getting stuff done. Any Type A personalities out there can relate. But when it comes to God, you have to hear the right voice because He doesn't have ulterior motives.

He's not going to make a profit off you. Careful who you listen to. I don't have all the answers, but I know who does. The hireling often counsels much differently than the Good Shepherd. A hireling is a person paid to go watch the sheep. They could care less about the sheep; they're waiting for their money. But the Good Shepherd is a good shepherd.

Remember what I said a month ago? Little lamb, you've got a good shepherd. Avoid the culture of fear and death that profits from your valley. That can be in lots of different areas. In entertainment, your valley is the divorce, and the divorce attorneys are at your throat. Advice from people—consider and weigh their advice, but do not walk blindly.

Listen for God's voice. Watch the circumstances. Pray about things. God rarely rushes. It's that still, small voice and allowing Him to open the doors in your life. Do not get worked up and worried about things. It can be challenging. I don't know if I should tell you this, but too late. About four hours ago, at 2:00, I walked in to go get a PET scan where they put the flora dexo glucose.

I was ready and going in. She said, "Sir, we have to apologize. The machine is broken. We'll call you next week." I said, "What? I've been waiting for this for a while. We're counting on this. What's going on here?" But do you fear? Lord, You're in control. I don't think this caught You by surprise.

Listen to the right voice. You've got to get alone with the Lord and hear that voice. It doesn't mean you're not wise or that you are naive. It means I need to hear the voice of the Father. If I don't hear His voice, I need at least to spend some time with Him so I make a decision based on peace and not on fear, based on God's opinion and not on man's.

I hope you're not thinking I'm saying don't listen to people. The Bible says to seek godly counsel. It's very important to get godly counsel. I would say do not delay getting a diagnosis. Use wisdom. I think I've been dealing with this for probably a year, just the way I've been feeling with night sweats and things like that.

I could feel my body just not in a good spot. I kept avoiding it until a couple of physicians shot me straight, and I listened to their advice. But it's really about hearing the voice of God, too, and spending that time with Him in His word. Let me tell you, sometimes you don't know what to do.

You think I knew every step of this journey? Not even close. But I've sought the Lord. I have peace. This seems wise. I'm going to step out in faith. If He is not guiding me, I'm in trouble already because oftentimes you don't have exact directions. "Tomorrow this, and Friday this, and Saturday this"—that's not faith. That has nothing to do with faith.

That's actually security, and there's no faith involved. When you have to step out into that uncharted water, it's where the rubber meets the road. I love that verse: "He will make a table." He will just present a table in front of my enemies. That probably means a lot more to me than you because all of you combined probably don't have as many enemies as me. Many will be rejoicing about this announcement.

You just pray for them because demons get happy when Christians get hurt. That's just the way it is. Anytime you go up against that spiritual battle, it's hard. They want to silence you. What the enemy intends for evil, God has made for good. I said it two weeks ago, and I will say it again: I thank God for this.

How can you say that? Because it has awakened and renewed me. There's a relationship so deep it reminds me of 1999 when I first came back to the Lord. Thank God for that. I'm probably the closest to sinless perfection I've ever been. Even saying "pissed off," I thought I probably shouldn't have said that.

There is conviction in the valley. The Lord disciplines His children often by using deep valleys. Could God have been spanking me? Possibly. Wake me up. Just like you, I grow cold, callous, and indifferent. It's hard to stay broken and humble unless God begins to break and humble you. I don't know that for certain, but that should be a part of your prayer if you go through the valley: "Lord, what are You trying to teach me? What are You trying to show me?"

Guest (Male): You've been listening to Regaining Lost Ground with Pastor Shane Idleman. You can find more information at westsidechristianfellowship.org. That's westsidechristianfellowship.org. For all the latest on what God is doing with His ministry here, please be sure to follow us on most social media platforms.

Westside Christian Fellowship is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles in Leona Valley, California. Thank you again for listening to today's message of Regaining Lost Ground, where we are reminded daily that times change, but truth does not.