Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
They're Not After Me, They're After You (Part Two)
Christianity isn't just a personal belief; it's a vibrant community experience. Imagine trying to navigate a dark mine without a guide—this is what it's like to be a "secret Christian" without sharing your light. We explore how commitment to our faith through actions, lifestyle, and church engagement can illuminate paths for others. Drawing from personal stories and 1 Corinthians, we emphasize the power of living our faith openly and the urgent mission to persuade and guide others towards Christ.
Amidst today's moral and spiritual challenges, we confront the erosion of faith and discuss how societal pressures, like those from the COVID-19 pandemic, have tested the church's resilience. This episode addresses the spiritual warfare that aims to leave believers unprepared for the rapture, highlighting the importance of staying informed and spiritually strong. We ponder the subtle yet profound battles waged against faith, urging listeners to remain vigilant and proactive in nurturing their beliefs.
Reflecting on our spiritual heritage, we celebrate the lineage shared with Abraham and the realization of biblical prophecies through modern Israel. This episode encourages voting with biblical principles in mind, supporting Israel, and preparing for Christ's return. Finally, we end with a celebration of praise and worship, exalting God's unmatched majesty. Join us in honoring the Lord's role as provider and protector, affirming His transformative power and worthiness of our worship.
Thank you, jesus. God will open, he'll open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing. My God will open. He'll open up the windows of heaven and He'll pour you out a blessing. My God will open. He'll open up the windows of heaven, he'll pour you out a blessing, and you will not have the room, 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. We are a non-denominational Pentecostal church located in Springdale, pennsylvania. Our sole mission is to present the living truth of a risen Lord Jesus Christ to a remnant church and a lost world. Let's get into the service recorded live at Valley Gospel Church.
Speaker 3:This morning's message will pick up well right about where last week's left off, and last week's left off with this thought that Christianity isn't a private or a personal faith, isn't a private or a personal faith. It isn't a religion that we can secretly hold close. I'm a Christian. We can't be a secret Christian. There is no such thing. That's a misnomer. It's why I teach all the time that this me and Jesus thing that you hear a whole lot of people oh yeah, you're a preacher, I know Jesus. Me and Jesus are buds. That me and Jesus thing is not only false, it's dangerous. It's false and dangerous.
Speaker 3:Our Christianity is supposed to be shared Supposed to be shared. My goodness, colette, I know you said that where your study was going and it's so spot on point. Our Christianity is supposed to be shared by our witness, by our actions, by our lifestyle, and we do that by preaching, by teaching, by committed church attendance oh, don't go there, pastor. Look, everybody in here has something. Someone else needs, someone needs to hear, someone needs a word, someone needs an encouragement. Committed church attendance is important. By handing out CDs and tracks, by talking to friends and family about Jesus. See if we're not helping others to recognize Christ. If we're not helping others to follow Christ in a deeper, more meaningful way, we aren't doing our job. We aren't fulfilling our name. Christian, just not Chrissy. Let's go to work.
Speaker 3:I'm going to tell you a little story and you'll understand it after we get there. But my father-in-law was Arabelle's dad, diane's dad. He was a coal miner and he loved being a coal miner. My dad was a coal miner but he didn't love it. Arabelle's dad loved it. That was his passion. That was his passion. He would tell a story of a particular job he had on, and it was a job that happened on.
Speaker 3:Sunday evenings Coal mine was. You started Sunday night, you went all week and you ended Friday night afternoon shift. Mine was empty Saturday, Sunday until Sunday night. The job he had was called it's even a neat sounding job fire boss. He was the fire boss and he was the first one in the mine. Uh, after it was closed up for a couple of days. Uh, Cool sounding name, isn't it? Fire Boss.
Speaker 3:My impression I got because of my dad's position in the mine. I got to visit a coal mine a few times and go underground with him. My impression was it was a scary place. Scary place at first. When you first got down to the bottom of the slope it was like a dirty cellar. That wasn't bad. But when you got up to the face, where they actually mined the coal, it was scary creaks and groans and little animals running by. Seriously, it was water coming out of the roof, water coming out of the walls, water coming up from the floor, and he had to go in and check all these things to make sure the water was pumped out, that there was enough oxygen, that everything would be safe for that shift that was coming in Sunday at midnight and he told a story about training this new guy that would accompany him to be the next fire boss, and he told about how frightened this new man was going into a coal mine that's empty and no one else is there.
Speaker 3:And Arabelle's dad said to him don't be afraid, follow me as I follow Christ. So if you'll turn with me, please, to 1 Corinthians, let's start with 10. Read the last verse of 10 and the first two verses of 11. And maybe the coal mine story will make a little sense. 1 Corinthians, 10 and 33, and then 11, 1 and 2. Whenever you get there, please stand for the reading of God's word. I didn't want you to trip.
Speaker 4:Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you.
Speaker 3:Hallelujah I used for a subject this morning, part two of they're not after me, they're after you. We'll conclude this series not next week After you. We'll conclude this series Not next week, but the week after. I think it's such an important Revelation, a truth, that, in order for us to do what we're called to do and what we're called to do Is persuade men Persuade men, and as we're to do that, as we participate not only in the spiritual realm but in the natural as well, and to do that we need more than a superficial understanding of the word of God. We need more than a superficial. Yeah, I'm a Christian, are you? Are you? Are you superficial? Yeah, I'm a Christian, are you? Are you? We need to understand the truth of God's word, a depth of understanding of what thus saith the Lord. So let's pray and we'll go. We'll see how far we get. Amen, heavenly Father. Thank you, lord. I thank you, lord, for this revelation of truth. Lord, I ask, I thank you that you have given me the courage to say what needs to be said. Lord, I ask your anointing on your truth, lord, on your vision, on your word, directly to me, lord, I ask you to anoint your people to hear and to receive. It is in Jesus. Jesus name we pray. Amen and amen. Please be seated now. This might be a little bit of a or a half a step back from our political direction of last week and we'll get back in that direction, should the Lord allow. It's just that it's important that we look at some foundational material first. Firstly, it's so important. Committed church attendance is so important and you know what important and you know what it's so important for our kids. You know it's great to see Reagan and Cam and Lily and and Riker and and Gabe and Mika and Sophia and Lucas and Blake, my sons, the Thunder, ada and Owen Seabass really sea bass, really great. And it's great because the effect is exponential when the little ones are in church, even if they wander a little bit, even if they get distracted a little bit by school, by life, by activities, or they're tired. Tired. What does a 10-year-old have to be tired about? I'm tired. What are you tired about? What could you possibly be tired about? Drag them in, drag them in. Most of you don't know I had a drug problem. I drug my kids to church. I drug them in every Sunday. Well, of course, stephanie, you didn't have to drag, but the other one you had to drag, Hallelujah. But even if they wander, they'll have a touchstone, a touchstone of truth that will guide them when those deceptions come. And those deceptions will come when that evil knocks at the door. They'll have a touchstone. They'll always know the path home. They'll always know the path home and, as a mother, a dad, a grandfather, a granddad or grandmother, brother, sister, help your kids find their way home. Help your grandkids find their way home, even if they're lost. Help them find their way home.
Speaker 3:Secondly, it's important for all of us to be committed to our church, to be committed to church service, to be committed to Bible study. Look, the world is moving so fast. Evil not just crouching at the door, it's standing at the door trying to block our way. The enemy's gaining strength, he's gaining power. He knows his time is short. It's like that two-minute warning it's time to go. You either get it done or you don't. We have to stay in the word. We have to be in the presence of God. We have to be in fellowship with other believers.
Speaker 3:As I said earlier, everybody has a word for someone. That's what the Apostle Paul said. Everybody has a word, and you know, a word of encouragement or somebody says you know, when I see them on Wednesday night I'm going to tell. I need to tell them what the Lord showed me, and that's important. What the Lord showed me and that's important, that's important for us to stay strong. You know, a young lady told me last week your friend Sam, that life was throwing so many things at her and her husband that she knew she needed to be in church. She knew she needed to be here.
Speaker 3:I heard a story on Greg Laurie's podcast. It's a good story. A young couple, sunday morning getting ready for church and the wife was up, ready, ready to go, dressed. Husband, still in bed, went in and said come on, honey, we got to go to church. It's getting late, it's time to go to church. Every Sunday it's like this I have to come in and drag you out of bed. It's time to go. He said look, I'm not going. Why aren't you going? He opened his eyes long enough to say I'll give you three reasons why I'm not going. The church is hot, the music is loud and nobody likes me. She said I'll give you three reasons why you need to go. Everybody likes you, the music is heavenly and, for God's sake, you're the pastor. So, in this day of radio and television and podcasts, I'll ask this question Is church attendance no, let me rephrase that Is committed church attendance important? I'll give you the answer that you've all given me yes, good night. Yes, yes, it is.
Speaker 3:We went over statistics last week. If you remember, in 1960, 90% of the people in the United States identified as Christian, 90%. Today. It doesn't reach 50. It doesn't reach 50. It doesn't reach 50%. And again, if we measured in an understanding of what actually a Christian is, it would be much, much lower than that. You know, everybody who wears a cross and has a Jesus bumper sticker isn't necessarily a Christian. So why? Why is that the case If church attendance dropped from 50%? That's the other statistic Church attendance in 1960, 50% dropped to 20% today.
Speaker 3:And here's the speculation. If you read periodicals, christianity Today. Here's the speculation that, well, there are cultural changes. There have been since 1960, and indeed there have and there have been social changes. The family isn't comprised of the same makeup. Technology Now we can hear a sermon at the click of an iPhone.
Speaker 3:A shift to spirituality, away from Christianity. Do you hear that a lot? I'm a spiritual person, not necessarily a Christian, but I'm a spiritual person. I believe in God. It's the same right. We believe the same Hallelujah, hallelujah. We believe the same Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Speaker 3:Church services have become, I think, more of an event to spectate as opposed to a meeting to participate. Parishioners have become customers Rick Warren actually said that a parishioner is a customer and they've become customers more than disciples of Christ. Not even asked for input or prayer requests. I remember Jimmy Biernesser, before he came to Valley Gospel, telling his pastor at church that will remain nameless, assembly of God, that he had a word. The Lord wanted him to deliver on a particular Sunday and the pastor said, yeah, not today. Well, but the Lord gave me this to share for today, not today. We have a full schedule. So your schedule is too full from a word from the Lord. And look, I realize the pastor has to be cautious and we have to be careful at, but if you know Jimmyiernester and you don't know that he's an authentic person moved by god, then I don't know that you should be carrying the title pastor.
Speaker 3:All of those reasons have some validity, but I believe the reason is much more sinister. It is much more planned and orchestrated, much more in tune with our topic and our title 2 Timothy To Tim. That's what I write in my notes To Tim. That's what I write in my notes 2 Tim 2. Tim 2, timothy 3 and 2. Well, let's start with three and one.
Speaker 3:This know also that in the last days, perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves. Covetous boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good. Traitors excuse me, traitors. Heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, minded lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. For those few verses, listen. For those few verses to be written by the Apostle Paul to his young protege, timothy, to be prophetic and to be true. If what that was written is prophetic and true, it's more than cultural, it's more than social or societal. Paul called them perilous times, Perilous times to come and are now here.
Speaker 3:This is just from the headlines of the last two months. A teenage girl was abducted from an NBA game and forced into a nightmare in Dallas, texas. A 13-year-old teen girl stabbed her mother to death in Pennsylvania after she took away her cell phone. A California woman killed her mother and live streamed it on Facebook In 2020, in 2024,. 71 articles in national publications have been written declaring Christianity a threat to this nation 71 articles in this year. A threat to the nation. A teacher was fired in Pennsylvania for not using the proper pronoun in addressing a student and the name wasn't good enough. We want the pronoun Wasn't acceptable. Some of the trucks, reports say carrying supplies to Carolina, georgia, to the hurricanes, are being hijacked and disabled, tires slashed.
Speaker 3:Look, I could go on and on, but this world is turning closer and closer to evil. So many examples they're running through my head now that I could share with you that prove that 2 Timothy reading. But it gets so dark and the point that I wanted to bring out is that's what we see now. It's a cold, calculated assault by the enemy of our soul. The attack began just to be clear and foundational. The attack began to separate people from their faith through doctrines of devils. I don't know exactly when it began, probably when I was a kid but it began to separate people from their faith through evil doctrines, doctrines of devils, through ministers and priests failing that. Well, I can't go to church anymore because what he did or what they did False doctrine, people being tricked out of churches.
Speaker 3:Then came along the social or the cultural press, that church was about control and it's about taking away our freedoms. And that's the exact opposite of what church is. Church extols freedom. Yeah, some pastors went wonky and wanted to tell you how to dress and can't wear ties and stupid, stupid things. But the consensus became church is just trying to keep us from fun.
Speaker 3:Then and I mentioned kids a little while ago then every activity, every activity, I don't care, practice, game, sport, everything got scheduled on a Sunday morning. You parents and grandparents know I'm telling you the truth Everything's on a Sunday. And even now you see more people having weddings on a Sunday. I asked John he had to do a wedding a couple of months ago, it was on a Sunday. Who schedules a wedding on a Sunday? I asked John he had to do a wedding a couple of months ago, it was on a Sunday. Who who schedules a wedding on a Sunday? Anniversaries Sunday. Then. Then COVID, covid, covid.
Speaker 3:Government, cdc doctors say can't gather restrictions, rope things off, put a mask on. And that allowed the situation that began our dissent, especially that we said okay, we'll do that. And it's left us with a church that's weak and emaciated. They have very little truth, no power and no positive influence on the culture. Instead, the culture has influenced the church, all in an effort for the Antichrist spirit that we know is already active, that's already busy in this world, to usher in a time of preparation for the time immediately followed by the rapture Seven years of terror in the tribulation.
Speaker 3:So what's the planned outcome? And here's what the lord showed me. First, keep that number that go in the rapture. Keep it down, keep it low, as little as possible. Limit the witnessing, the, the preaching, the outreaches to get the word out. The track handing out, leading people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ has become so underrated, so unbelievably put to the side. It's all about our Christianity. What can he do for us? How can he help us? How can he fix this?
Speaker 3:The enemy knows that on that bright and cloudless morning after the dead in Christ from all the ages, from urns and mausoleums and graveyards and caskets and battlefields and oceans and deserts and forests, and the call goes out to every living being come up hither, come up hither, glory. The enemy knows that that's coming, but keep that number as low as possible. Secondly, following that moment, following that moment and we'll touch on it a little bit at the close. But following that moment, when we go back to heaven to be with him, when we meet the Lord in the air, our Lord, our commander, our king, our love, the entirety of the world, on every continent, every nation, every king, kindred, every tribe, will be thrust into the great tribulation. Immediately following that, the great well, the tribulation, the last part of it being the great tribulation, a time of unbelievable hardship and confusion, where the Antichrist at the midpoint will seize total control. Israel will suffer greatly, where men will seek death and can't find it. But life will go on, life's going to go on for those seven years. They'll still be given in marriage, they'll still be working, you'll still be attending things and, in complete fact, you will still be able to come to Christ. You will still be able to come to Christ during that time, still be saved.
Speaker 3:And Satan and the Antichrist want those people that are going into the tribulation period, that missed the rapture maybe just a mistake, didn't get it, didn't think it was going to be that fast that miss it and they find themselves in the great tribulation. Satan wants those people not even knowing what happened with the rapture, he wants them to be ill-prepared. And what is this great guy that just made this wonderful peace pact with Israel? That's now in Jerusalem? What's this great guy talking about? That's what he wants. That's the scheme. Is he really bad?
Speaker 3:Satan wants us, those people that enter the tribulation, to be ignorant of what God said. He wants people ill-informed, weak, unable to stand against the Antichrist and to decide. Even during that time of tribulation, he doesn't want people to be able to reach out to the Lord's hand and say save me, save me, lord, even though it will be possible. You know, the biggest comment I get in talking to people about being saved it's all. When I see that happen, when I see these things coming together, when I realize that we're in the tribulation or the rapture is about to happen, I'll resist, I'll resist, I'll do it. Look, for a couple of years, and some even today, we couldn't resist tying a diaper around our face that accomplished nothing. But you're going to resist the Antichrist. We'll resist the son of Satan. Think that through. Think that through.
Speaker 3:It's why, this time, this election, is critical. It's crucial. It's crucial in that we are able, as a body, as a minister of the gospel, that we are able to preach, to teach, to minister, to witness, to hand out tracts with as little interference as possible. So much talk and action regarding Christianity now and the church right now. How to eliminate us, how to sideline us, how to keep us quiet.
Speaker 3:Look and people would tell me I shouldn't say this there's only one choice in our election, only one who even reasonably defends our faith and our priorities. Not to save us, please. Oh, you got a Messiah. No, I don't have a Messiah thing. I have a Messiah, hallelujah. But just to keep the devil off our backs for a time that we can do what we're called to do. Look, I don't want any government help, I don't want any grants, I don't want any money. Just stay out of my business, just stay out of the church. Well, I hear you, but I can't get past that persona, I can't get by that bravado, that pride. And I hear you, trump couldn't be my assistant pastor. That's the truth. But we need him as our president. We need him as our president, hallelujah. He's surrounded. If you didn't know, he's surrounded by Pentecostal preachers. Now, I don't know if that's his doing or the Lord's doing. Surrounded by Pentecostal preachers, hallelujah.
Speaker 3:I watched just briefly yesterday a live stream of his return to Butler and the hosts on. It was a live stream. I don't know who the hosts were, but you could look out. Probably I don't know, I don't. It was a stadium full. I mean, it had to be 30, 40, 50,000, maybe more, I don't know but the hosts waiting for all these different people that were talking. The one host, and it wasn't a religious broadcast, kurt, it was just a live stream. He said I can sense the Holy Spirit here. He said that on TV. I can sense the Holy Spirit here.
Speaker 3:Look, we're not electing pastor-in-chief, we're electing commander-in-chief. So what did he do for the church? What has he done for the church? Why do I have that opinion, and so many of you as well? Well, he made appointments to the Supreme Court that would not only defend the Constitution, but would defend religion and rule favorably in regard to the sanctity of life and religious freedom Freedom to bake a cake however you want and for whoever you want, freedom to pray on the 50-yard line at a football game, to pray at an abortion clinic without fearing incarceration, to defend Christian hospitals and Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A.
Speaker 3:In May of 2017, he signed the law of free speech and religious liberty, instructing the IRS, among others, to take no action against churches or non-profits that speak on their moral or political beliefs to provide religious exemption mandates that violate our faith. He passed a bill that agencies of the federal government must not second-gu guess the seriously held beliefs of religions. Until that bill was passed, it was to be understood that religious freedom didn't extend outside these doors, that we can be free in here, we can yell, we can shout, we can speak, but don't go outside, don't take it to the courtyard, don't take it. Two rules that allowed religious organizations to make faith-based objection to mandates that violated our belief. If you remember back when people were losing their job, told they couldn't come to school, they couldn't go to work, and we were signing exemptions like crazy, telling those institutions well, yes, they can, they have a right. Amen, amen, amen, amen.
Speaker 3:He reversed transgender public school policy, allowing biological males to access and use girls' bathrooms. Now that has since been either ignored or overturned. Unfortunately, he did that by executive order, so it's not a law. He issued an executive order again that it was unlawful for the federal government to affix contracts based on gender preference or social standing, citing that Americans shouldn't be forced to violate their faith in order to get a contract. In other words, if you're only hiring gay contractors, you're only hiring transgender contractors.
Speaker 3:Or recognized. It's a big one, kurt. He recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and he moved our consulate and our embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some of the law's rules, again, as I said, have been ignored, have been overturned by the current administration, by the current justice system. But we can't stop fighting, we can't stop moving forward and it's all about Israel. It's all about Israel.
Speaker 3:There's a group called you may be familiar with this, kurt, I know you're a follower of Israel, but it's called Bridges of Peace. This group I want to just read to you just the statement that they made this group has walked alongside of Israel through the darkest days and their solemn statement says this Since October 7th, israel fights on the front lines of Western civilization. It's a war between light and darkness. Now that might sound really strong or spiritual. Israel, israel you all know the Genesis account. I will bless those that bless Israel. I will bless those that bless Israel. I will curse those that curse her. I will be their God. They shall be my people.
Speaker 3:And you know that might not have made sense for a long time, those statements about Israel and what may not even be more fully understood is Father Abraham. I heard the kids singing that last week downstairs. Father Abraham had many sons and it's so powerful because we think that Abraham was the father of all who believe he was a friend of God. And my initial thought or vision is this old Jew sitting somewhere in a cave and God goes and gets him and said come to work. Not the case, not the case at all. So who was Abraham? Where did he come from? Abraham was called out of the air of the Chaldees. He wasn't a Jew Huh, wasn't a Jew? In fact, what's the point? He became the first Jew. He became the first. A Gentile became the first Jew.
Speaker 3:Now, how does that relate to you? That you, as a Christian, become a spiritual Jew grafted into the family? It's exactly what happened to Abraham. We have a good history there. Abraham no word, no law. Abraham is a friend of God simply because he believed him and kept his covenant. It happened before Moses, before the commandments. Abraham was this nomadic idol worshiping, just looking for truth, just wanted to just show me some truth. You know, I'm worshiping this tree. I'm doing show me some truth. And God did and considered him a friend, my, just like Romans 2 said, we become. We become attached to that covenant, we become grafted to that covenant. Hallelujah, and in you, in Abraham, in every Christian, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. The Bible says that's our calling. That's our calling.
Speaker 3:When we look at history, some of the things historically that have happened when it said about the nation of Israel would be great and have influence over the whole world. And can you imagine that 80 years ago there was no Israel, no such place. They were all scattered all over. The Jews that came out of Israel, all scattered. There is no nation of Israel. So I don't know, maybe my Bible was wrong, maybe it just got a little overzealous, maybe it got confused, but in 1949, israel became a nation. I think it's Zechariah. Zechariah said that out of Israel they would feed the nations. How could that happen? Israel was barren. It was wasteland. There was no fruit or vegetables in Israel, no olives. Some of you might remember this, some few, but do you remember in the 60s and 70s when they would say plant a tree in Israel, plant a tree, plant a tree in Zion. After Israel became a state, got to re-tree it because it was wasteland. It was nothing Today. Today, israel supplies fruits and vegetables to nearly all of Europe. So Zechariah is saying they'll feed the nations. Amazing.
Speaker 3:How can we doubt the authenticity and the authority of the Bible, that every Jew will ultimately accept Jesus as their Messiah after rejecting him for the last 2,000 plus years? How do we not believe that 100% of the Bible is prophetically and historically accurate? With that in mind, this coming election, I have to put myself behind, my interests behind. Well, you may not, don't care, don't care. We have to put tradition behind, we have to put political correctness behind and party behind. And we must, I must, must base my vote on biblical criteria. That's all that matters.
Speaker 3:Support of Israel which candidate best supports Israel? The sanctity of life. Look, it is what it is Georgia. Every time I say it is what it is, I think of Georgia, because she says it all the time. It isn't a glob, it isn't a mass, it isn't an embryonic chemical, it's a baby. It's a baby, and we'll drill down on that in the final message.
Speaker 3:And thirdly, biblical marriage. It's an expose. Biblical marriage is a type of our relationship with Christ. The bride, the groom, the ceremony, the marriage supper, all point to our union with Christ, all of them. Don't get caught up with someone's affiliation or how they or the words they use, or whether they cite scripture or don't. Three tenets for today Support of Israel, the defense of life and defense of biblical marriage.
Speaker 3:And I'll close with this we're told to occupy till he comes. Bible says occupy till he comes, and too many folks think that that means just hang on, get in your fruit cellar, get in the bum shelter, hang on. You see all these places that are selling getaway bags and food and things in bags that you can put somewhere. Occupy till he comes. But it means so much more than that. It means so much more than hang in there. It means to do all that we can in preaching, in teaching, in witnessing, and make that possible by our participation in the election, voting for biblical principles, voting our faith, voting Jesus Christ, not to keep him from coming. He's coming. He's coming. Hell, high water, don't matter, he's coming. Don't matter who gets the election, he's coming, hallelujah. But to welcome him. But to welcome him, welcome him holding converts that we were able to reach, that we were able to drop a word that we were able to. How many of you sense the bride's coming. Behold the bridegroom comes. Behold the bridegroom comes. Behold the bridegroom comes.
Speaker 3:The Bible says he will come quickly, quickly, not unexpected quickly, and will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. In the twinkling of an eye I always see he will step out on a cloud less than a mile from this planet and we will rise, changed to meet him. I don't know where that change takes place In the root, I'm guessing, but I don't know. But that change will take place, but that change will take place. But, russell, you know the thought that bugs me, that's always on my mind, that's always in my heart. What will it be like just before? What will this world be like just before he comes? What will it be like as he draws closer? And it'll be one thing for the church, it'll be another thing for the world. But when he draws so close, we can feel his presence, my, my, and that we, as followers of Christ, stand steadfast and strong. And when he appears, we will see him like he is. All kind of pictures, portraits, painting Well, no pictures, but paintings and depictions of Jesus. And we will see him like he is.
Speaker 3:Hallelujah, hallelujah the bride. And in the church there should be no fear, no concern regarding his return. No fear, no concern regarding his return. I don't have things to finish, I don't have anything I want to pass on, I don't have any money I want to put aside. I'm expecting at any moment and I look for him at every moment and church. That day won't surprise you, it won't come as a shock, it won't overtake you, because we're expecting him, we're preparing for our king. Hallelujah, saying goodbye to self-ambition and worldly dreams. And I got to do this, I got to finish this. I've got to work on this, I've got to build this.
Speaker 3:He shall appear the second time, without sin unto salvation. Glory, not to atone for sin this time, but to triumph over it. Glory, he will not be mocked, he will not be scourged or crucified. He will not be a lamb led to slaughter. He will be this time as the commander in chief Hallelujah Of the Revelation army.
Speaker 3:Full battle array. Garments dazzling white, a gleaming sword, the general of generals, the king of kings and the Lord of lords. His vestures dipped in blood, crimson red. The same Jesus who left this planet more than 2,000 years ago, in view of at least every Christian. He left quietly, but this time, this time, he'll come with a shout. Every born-again believer of every age will rise to meet the Lord in the air. Grandma, grandpa, god-fearing presidents and leaders of the past, kings, your wife, your husband will see the host of angels and hear the trumpet of God and the cry of the archangel. Behold, the bride comes. Hallelujah, the son of man, the triumphant one, the Lord, god, the deliverer, our savior, our kinsman, redeemer, the champion of all champions, alpha, omega, beginning and end.
Speaker 3:Dead in Christ. Dead in Christ. I don't know which way I want to be. I guess I'm betting against myself if I want to be the dead in Christ. The dead in Christ shall rise first and the thunderous ovation of previous corpses or ashes or whatever receiving glorified bodies than we which are alive and remain of previous corpses or ashes or whatever receiving glorified bodies, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up to the applauding hands of the already risen dead. Can you does that? Just blow your head off? Just, and all this happened, sam, just 5,000 feet above this planet. Jesus standing he doesn't need a cloud. Jesus standing sending angels to every corner of the earth, so not one child is left behind. And so shall we ever be with the Lord, where's that going to be? I don't care. Wherever Jesus is, that's heaven, right? I don't care. Until that time, we'll be about our Father's business. Two weeks to conclusion to this series. Thank you for listening.
Speaker 2:Thank you for listening to this week's podcast. We pray it was an encouragement and a blessing to you. You can contact us at Valley Gospel Church, 1069 Butler Logan Road, Springdale, Pennsylvania, 15144. We invite you to listen to this week's worship service that follows and tune in for next week's podcast.
Speaker 1:We came to glorify your name, lord. You are love, you are life, you are Lord over everything. Alpha Omega, jehovah, the King of Kings, wonderful Waymaker, worthy of my offering, hallowed be thy name. Oh, let's sing it again Hallelujah. We came to glorify your name, lord, you are love.
Speaker 5:You are light. You are Lord. You are light, you are Lord over everything. Alpha, Omega, Jehovah, the King of kings, wonderful way, Make worthy of my offering. Hallowed be thy name, yes, Lord.
Speaker 1:You're the answer to all of my problems and you're solving. Hallowed be thy name. You supply all my needs and I call you Abba, father.
Speaker 5:Hallowed be thy name. Oh, you are love, you are light, you are Lord over everything. Alpha Omega, jehovah, the King of kings, wonderful way Maker, worthy of my offering. Hallowed be thy name. He is Lord, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Lord, you're the only God, and there will never be another.
Speaker 5:Hallowed be thy name.
Speaker 1:And ten thousand angels could say how much I love you.
Speaker 5:Hallowed be thy name. Oh, you are love, you are life, you are Lord over everything. Alpha, omega, jehovah, the King of Kings, wonderful waymaker, worthy of my offering, Hallowed be thy name. Yes, lord, you are name. Yes, lord, you are Lord, yes, you are.
Speaker 1:You're an almighty fortress In the time of tribulation.
Speaker 5:Hello, would be thy name, and.
Speaker 1:I'm more than a conqueror, in every situation hallowed be thy name.
Speaker 5:Oh, you are love, you are life, you are lord over everything, alpha, omega. Jehovah, the king of kings, wonderful way maker, worthy of my offering. Hallowed be thy name. Oh, you are love, you are life, you are Lord over everything, alpha, omega. Jehovah, the King of kings, wonderful way, maker, worthy of my offering. Hallowed be thy name. Oh, I like this part.
Speaker 1:I'm gonna lift you up higher and higher Hallowed be thy name. This whole world is gonna see how much you set my soul on fire.
Speaker 5:Hallowed be thy name. Let's sing it. You are love, wonderful way, make her worthy of my offering. Hallowed be thy name.
Speaker 1:Yes, lord, there is none like you. You are worthy of all. Praise Jesus, hallelujah. Yes, lord, king of kings, yes, king of kings, yeah, I'm gonna lift you up higher and higher Hallowed be thy name. This whole world is gonna see that you set my soul on fire. Hallowed be thy name.
Speaker 5:You're the only God, and there will never be another.
Speaker 1:Hallowed be thy name, and ten thousand angels couldn't say how much I love you.
Speaker 5:Hallowed be thy name. Oh, you are love, you are life, you are Lord over everything, alpha Omega, jehovah, the King of Kings, wonderful way maker worthy of my offering. Hallowed be thy name.