Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
Who Am I?
Ever wondered why Jesus chose ordinary fishermen and tax collectors over religious leaders to be his disciples? Join us for an enlightening exploration into the origins and impact of Jesus' apostles. We'll spotlight the transformative journeys of figures like John, Jude, Peter, and Andrew, and illuminate the critical contributions of early church stalwarts such as Junia, Phoebe, Priscilla, and Barnabas. Reflecting on scriptures like John 3:25-30, we delve into profound questions about our identity and purpose within the faith, culminating in a heartfelt prayer for divine guidance and enlightenment.
Discover the vital lessons of humility and dedication drawn from 1 Corinthians 14:36, as we dissect the God-appointed roles in ministry and the dangers of pride. We'll critique modern trends that deviate from essential biblical truths, stressing the importance of steadfast preaching on salvation and repentance. Through personal reflections on overcoming life's trials with faith, we underscore the power of trusting in Jesus and relying on God's Word. Concluding with a thankful acknowledgment of His guiding hand, this episode aims to strengthen your spiritual journey through introspection and unwavering faith.
Well, a God will open. He'll open up the windows of heaven and He'll pour you out a blessing thing. My God will open, He'll open up the windows of heaven and pour you out of blessing, and you will not have the room to know Not because of you, but because he's good and you will not have the room to receive Him.
Speaker 2:Hello, welcome to Valley Gospel Church Podcast. We are an independent full gospel church, worshiping in spirit and in truth, located in Springdale Pennsylvania. In spirit and in truth. Located in Springdale, pennsylvania. Our single mission is to present a message of truth and hope centered on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. So let's go into a service recorded live at Valley Gospel Church.
Speaker 3:Hallelujah, we all ready for the Word of God. Yes sir, jesus chose his disciples, his disciples who then became his apostles. He chose them from the common of society. He didn't choose from the established clergy, the priests, the scribes, nor did he select the well-to-do, the known and honored and honored. In fact, not one of his apostles or disciples would have been known outside of their connection to Jesus. He chose a rough bunch fishermen, tent makers, tax collectors, caterers. He chose them to be the foundation of the church Andrew, bartholomew, james, the Elder James, the Younger, john, judas, jude, matthew, peter, philip, simon and, we all know, thomas. They were the 12 that Jesus called. Some were crude, some were unlearned, some were loose cannons, some were moody, some were depressed and negative. They were religious, but they really didn't have much faith. Now, this rough bunch, I like to call them the dirty dozen. The Bible tells us in Revelation 21 that the new Jerusalem that will come down from heaven will have 12 foundations, and inscribed on those foundations will be the names of those 12 men. So call them whatever you want. What an honor.
Speaker 3:Just, really quickly, let's just take a look at some of the historical accounts of just a couple John John was the son of Zebedee. He was a fisherman by trade, said to be an explosive-tempered man. Jesus called him Thunder Voice. But as he aged and matured, he always remembered the Lord's command of love, jude. History says he was a missionary. He was killed with arrows at Mount Ararat for his testimony. Peter, son of Jonas, was crucified for his testimony. Peter, son of Jonas, was crucified for his testimony. Philip died by hanging for preaching the gospel. Andrew, peter's brother, was crucified for preaching Christ. James, john's brother. Together, jesus called them the sons of thunder. Jesus called them the sons of thunder. They were loud, they were boisterous, they were strong-willed.
Speaker 3:So why just look back, like we talked about this morning, colette? We looked back, we sang back. Why just look back at the apostles? Because in these few men and women, god left the care of the kingdom to begin and nurture his church. Krista. Let's punch in Now within this ecclesia from those 12, ecclesia, the Greek word for the early church, the gathering, this handful of men and women Junia, phoebe, priscilla, udia, barnabas, mark. Yeah, but see, pastor, they weren't the original 12. Yeah, neither was the Apostle Paul, and he wrote most of this book, most of the New Testament. They were given the responsibility to oversee and grow the church from which would be birthed what we now experience universally the church of the living God, amen. So, if you have your Bibles no, I know you have your Bibles whether it be electronic or paper, turn with me, please. Turn with Krista, please. To the book of John, st John, the third chapter. Whenever you get there, john 3, I'll ask you to please stand in reverence to God's word 3 and 25. St John 3, 25 to 30.
Speaker 2:Then there rose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying, and they came unto John and said unto him Rabbi, he who was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bear witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said a man can receive nothing except to be given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the christ, but that I sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and bear him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.
Speaker 3:Wow, wow. I used for a subject this morning who am I? Who am I? Let's pray, heavenly Father. Thank you, lord. Thank used for a subject this morning who am I? Who am I? Let's pray, heavenly Father. Thank you, lord. Thank you for this. Look back so we can look forward, lord. Thank you for this revelation of truth, lord, I ask your anointing on the reading and the study and the going deeper of your word. Lord, let it be a lamp unto our feet, a light to our path. It is in the name of your august, all-powerful, soon-coming Son, we pray. Amen and amen. Please be seated.
Speaker 3:These men and women that we mentioned that came from that original 12, them, those and many others from then until now. We know so little about them. Curiosity says who were they? Who were they? What did they represent? How did they get involved in this move of God? What drew them? What did they do? What about their families? What were their personalities, their likes and dislikes? We know a little bit about them, but you know, we know everything about personalities today, whether it be film actors or sports figures or singers. We know everything where they were born, their marriage, who they're dating, families, cars they drive, homes they live in salaries. We know everything, salaries. We know everything Historically. You and I can find out anything about a politician, a general of the past, a president, with the press of a button. We can find out everything about them and women that Jesus chose to begin this work that has grown a million times over in the past 2,000 years.
Speaker 3:We know so little about them. Truth be told, we know very little about Jesus, don't know a lot about his brothers and sisters, him growing up, his mom, mary, his stepdad, joseph, things he did as a boy and understand. He was a little boy and we don't know anything about him, about what he liked, what he didn't like, foods that he might have liked and you know that kind of translates today to true ministers and preachers. We don't know a lot about them and it takes a little while to get to know them and to know about them, because a true man or a woman of God projects Jesus more than himself. A true woman of God talks about Jesus more than herself, points to Jesus, not a church, exudes Jesus, breathes Jesus. We know more about Saul prior to the Damascus Road. We know more about him than after he's led to Straight Street. Brother Ananias lays hands on him, he receives his sight, he's baptized in the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. We don't hear anything about him personally, we don't know what his thorn in the flesh was Amen. Or we don't know what his thorn in the flesh was, amen. Or we don't know the details of his death. Because he proclaims and portrays Jesus.
Speaker 3:2 Corinthians, please. 2 Corinthians, 4. 2 Corinthians, 4. 4 and 1. Check this out now.
Speaker 3:Therefore, 4 and 1. Therefore, seeing we have this ministry as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Verse 2. The light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them, unto them, for we preach not ourselves, but Christ, jesus, the Lord, and ourselves, your servants. For Jesus' sake, we have received this ministry, our ministry, the same as we have received his mercy. What does that mean? It means that it's not something we deserve, not something that we worked really hard for, put ourselves in position to be just like the early disciples. Maybe we're not even qualified when we receive the call. But he's teaching and we're learning. He's still working on me, the song says to make me what I ought to be, not limited to preacher, pastor, teacher.
Speaker 3:Let me explain. Everyone in this tabernacle this morning has a calling from God to minister some form, some fashion, whatever that area might be, regardless of your gender, regardless of your ethnicity, your age, your education, where you came from, where you came from, where you've been blonde hair, brown hair, blue hair, no, hair doesn't matter, because, you see, it's not our church, it's not our style, it's not our look, it's not our eloquence. You hear that? Well, I can't preach because I have this. Remember Aaron saying he couldn't talk to Pharaoh because he had a stuttering problem? It's not our education, it's not how hard we work at it, because it's not our message. It's not how hard we work at it because it's not our message. It's not our message or the clever way that we might present it. It's not our glory. It's all about Jesus. It all belongs to him.
Speaker 3:How many of you know? That's how a kingdom works. Everything belongs to the crown. That's how a kingdom is set up. When England had colonies set up in the United States, everything here belonged to the crown. Everything belonged to King George. I don't care what you built, what you mined, what you found, all of it belonged to the crown. You say, well, I don't like that, pastor. That's how a kingdom works, hallelujah. Everything you possess, your relationships, your education, belongs to the crown. You know why? Because he paid the price. He's the king of kings, he's the lily of the valley, he is our all in all. And who am I? Who am I? Jesus saves we don't. Jesus heals we can't. Jesus raised the dead we cannot. Jesus endured the lash. Jesus bled the blood we didn't. He died the death we didn't. He rose again in power and glory. He ascended unto his father in heaven. He's seated at the right hand of the Father and he's coming again. We didn't, we aren't. And who am I?
Speaker 3:I want to preface this next reading with a gospel truth Our God gives no priority to the work that you've been called to. In other words, he doesn't place a premium on your office or the title. You have so many name tags today. So many name tags today. So many name tags Bishop, prophet, elder priest, pope, cardinal evangelist, pastor. Our God puts no premium on that office or that title. In other words, one office isn't valued above another. Prophet isn't above an evangelist. Evangelist isn't above above another. Prophet isn't above an evangelist, Evangelist isn't above a pastor. A pastor isn't above a lay minister. Everything's equal and level at the base of the cross. Different perhaps, but all equal. Hallelujah.
Speaker 3:1 Corinthians Just go one back. 1 Corinthians, Just go one back. 1 Corinthians. 14. 36. 14 and 36.
Speaker 3:What I love that. What? Came the word out of God, from you, or came it unto you? Only, if any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant still.
Speaker 3:We have all been given a God-appointed, god-anointed work in his great ministry. Yeah, you might not be equipped, you might not at this moment be qualified for that Doesn't mean the call isn't there. If you don't know what your work is, what God has called you to, ask him openly and sincerely and he'll tell you what it is Like. We always say, donna, our God's a progressive revelator. He gives you what you need when you can handle it, when you're ready. But he will reveal it to you and here's the good news he will equip you to do it. Glory and we are only limited by our dedication and our commitment to his work.
Speaker 3:Paul tells the church at Corinth it's not your work alone. It hasn't been given to you all by yourself. It's not your responsibility to carry out this entire gospel. It's been given to other people as well to carry out. See, we progress in our Christian walk by going deeper in God's word, by learning more of his truth, by allowing him to reveal to us and by putting into practice what the word instructs us, by exercising not only his gifts but exercising the promises that he made us, and by being obedient.
Speaker 3:As we grow in the Lord and we begin to grasp our ministry, we decrease, we decrease. That's a rough thing today. That's where ministries fail, that's where ministers fall. God moves us ahead, he equips us, he provides everything that we might need, he blesses us and anoints us, and then we start to think we deserve it. We're doing a bang-up job.
Speaker 3:Of course I should have some notoriety, there should be some honor. There should be some honor, there should be some glory, and we strived. So why shouldn't we preachers, pastors, evangelists why shouldn't we reap some of the increase? That's not what your Bible says, your Bible says he the increase. That's not what your Bible says. Your Bible says he must increase. We must decrease.
Speaker 3:Glory, I like. I love the 38th verse, what Paul says. Paul says if you're not getting this, I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what else to say. If you're not understanding, I don't know.
Speaker 3:When we view our ministry as something to the exclusion of the gospel, exclusion of gospel truth, such as and you've probably heard some of these ministries that claim to be the new wine or the fresh fire or the rhema word, then I have abused the privilege of the gospel. And who am I? Glory, you know I've sat under a whole lot of messages in the past 30 years. Some were great, powerful sermons from the throne, but so many were a preacher's point of view and a whole lot of social and societal issues, the evils of holiday decorations, dress code, jewelry, hair and dress lengths, keeping your eyes closed so the demons can't get in. I actually heard an entire message from a pastor. That was the thrust of the message Keep your eyes closed when you think you're in some type of spiritual darkness, so the demons can't get in, because that's how they get in. Whole message. Where am I going with this?
Speaker 3:While I suppose all of those preachers meant no harm and they thought they were doing what was right, but they were expressing some opinion or a belief of their denomination or somebody they heard along the way and never looked at it for themselves, never checked out what the Word had to say. Like John said last week, it's the word, preach the word, it's the word that matters and in that sense, even if you believe it with sincerity and your belief is heartfelt, it doesn't matter what you believe, because the truth is still the truth. The only truth is Jesus Christ, the word of God Almighty. You know, today the message of salvation and redemption and holiness and repentance are being minimized, they're being marginalized, they're being stepped on. We don't talk about the blood. There's no preaching on the baptism in the Holy Ghost or the rapture. Sin and repentance is barely mentioned and instead we talk about filling seats, worship attainment, raising money for the pastor's project or to buy him a motorcycle for his birthday. All of that calls attention to man, not to Jesus.
Speaker 3:And who am I? Who am I? See, as long as we're preaching on solid doctrine and Bible truth, and don't stray from that and don't misunderstand it doesn't mean you can't mention other things along the way. As long as we're staying with solid doctrine, bible truth, fundamentals, salvation, sanctification filled with the spirit, heaven, hell, sin and repentance. I don't need to, I don't need to preach on social issues.
Speaker 3:You'll know what to do. You'll know how a child of God should act. You'll understand obedience. Just keep bringing the truth. Just keep bringing the word. You'll know bring a little bit of the word. You'll know giving. I don't have to pass a plate. I don't have to pound you for money. You'll know what your responsibility is. My, if I'm teaching age-old traditions of religion. You'll know what your responsibility is my. If I'm teaching age-old traditions of religion because that's the way we do it or that's the way our denomination taught us, then I've handled the word of God deceitfully.
Speaker 3:And who am I? First, timothy 1. Timothy 1 and 3. Just a tad long of a reading, but I couldn't find a place to cut it off. To make it shorter. It off, to make it shorter. 1 Timothy 1,.
Speaker 3:Let's begin with verse 3. As I besought thee to abide, still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions. Now, the end of the commandment is charity, and out of a pure heart and out of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned, for which some, having swerved, have turned aside into vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully, knowing this that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for the whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust and I thank Christ, christ, jesus, our Lord, who has enabled me for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
Speaker 3:Yeah, a lot there, huh. We receive solid biblical teaching and you support your pastors, your teachers. You are confident in him or her to rightly divide the word of truth, whatever level they're at, whatever their job is in the church, whether it be singing or opening or whatever that might be, but you're confident that they will rightly divide the word of truth. Then together, you and I, the entire congregation, we carry this pearl of great price. That's the responsibility that's been given to us. Charging others to teach no other doctrine, or certainly calling it to their attention. That's not biblical, that's not scriptural. Glad you believe that. But it's not scriptural Because this gospel was committed to our trust.
Speaker 3:And wow, who am I? Who am I? Who are we to have that commitment into our trust, this glorious gospel? Oh, the blood that was shed to bring this to us, the cost, the price that was paid down through the ages, starting with Jesus, but down through the ages, men and women of God who lost their lives, who gave up their lives to further this gospel. It'll take a minute. It'll take a minute, but to answer that question, who am I? I'm going to ask you to repeat the who am I's? And this is all from the Bible.
Speaker 3:Who am I? I'm anointed and appointed. I'm blessed. I'm a conqueror and Christ-like. I'm a disciple. I'm enlivened and eternally saved. I'm faithful and forgiven. I'm God's own child. Wow, I'm an heir and the holiness of God. I'm inspired. I'm a king's kid. I'm living in the spirit. I'm never forsaken. I am openly in love with Jesus. I'm power endued. I'm sanctified and saved. I'm under the blood. I'm sanctified and saved. I'm under the blood. I'm victorious. I'm a work on the wheel, glory. I'm zealous of good works. I'm zealous of good works. That's who you are. That's who you are. That's who you are. That's who you are In a state of oppression and depression.
Speaker 3:On a restaurant placemat, rusty Goodman penned the words to a song that is the title to today's message. Through this song, or maybe because of it I'm not sure when the healing came, but Rusty Goodman was healed of depression. Maybe the song was a gift afterwards for the healing. Who am I that a king would bleed and die for? Who am I that he would say not my will thine for the answer. I may never know why he ever loved me so that to an old, rugged cross he'd go for who am I? One more verse when I think of how he came so far from glory came to dwell among the lowly such as I to suffer shame and such disgrace. On Mount Calvary, he took my place and I ask myself this question who am I? Amen. Thank you so much for listening. Hallelujah, hallelujah we pray.
Speaker 2:This message is a blessing and encouragement to you. Most of all, that it fortifies your faith as the return of our Lord draws near. We encourage you to share the love of Jesus this week and invite you to listen to next week's podcast.
Speaker 1:I've had many tears and sorrows. I have had questions for tomorrow. There were times when I didn't know right from wrong. But in every situation God gave blessed consolation that my triumphs only come to make me strong. Been a lot of places, I've seen a lot of faces, yet there were times when I felt so all alone. But in my lonely hour, in that precious lonely hour, jesus let me know I was His own.
Speaker 1:Through it all, through it all, I have learned to trust in Jesus. I have learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I have learned to depend upon His Word. So I thank God for that mountain, I thank Him for the valley and I thank Him for the storm he's brought me through Cause. If I'd never had a problem, I wouldn't know that God could solve them and I wouldn't know what faith in His Word could do. That's why I sing now. Through it all, through it all, I have learned to trust in Jesus. I have learned to trust in Jesus. I have learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I have learned to depend upon His Word. Yes, I have learned to depend upon His Word. Yes, I have learned to depend upon His Word. I have learned to depend upon His Word. Thank you, lord.