Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
When Perfection Comes
Unlock the mysteries of spiritual gifts and their profound impact on modern Christianity as we journey through the vibrant history and practices of Valley Gospel Church in Springdale, Pennsylvania. Promising an exploration of the church's Pentecostal roots and the charismatic movement that swept the 20th century, this episode challenges conventional views by reaffirming the biblical foundation of spiritual gifts. Learn how manifestations like "Laughing in the Spirit" intertwine with a scriptural grounding found in 1 Corinthians 12, illustrating the enduring significance of these gifts for believers today.
The episode brings to light the unyielding mission of the Great Commission, urging believers to spread the gospel across all nations, as set forth in Mark 16 and Matthew 28. With supernatural signs such as speaking in new tongues and performing miracles as the Holy Spirit’s testament, we reflect on the obstacles faced by modern churches that prioritize intellectualism over empowerment. Discover how embracing the Holy Spirit can equip believers with the authority and power Jesus promised, ensuring the Great Commission is fulfilled with renewed vigor.
Finally, the conversation celebrates the timeless nature of God's gifts, emphasizing their continuous relevance and availability to believers. Confronting interpretations that suggest these gifts have ceased, we advocate for seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a portal to spiritual empowerment. As you listen, experience a heartfelt invitation to welcome the Holy Spirit’s transformative power, allowing His presence to illuminate and unite our lives. Join us in this spiritual invocation, where comfort, guidance, and the promise of God's eternal gifts await.
Thank you, Jesus. 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 3:Hello Welcome to Valley Gospel Church. We are a non-denominational Pentecostal church located in Springdale, pennsylvania. 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.
Speaker 4:Let's get into the service recorded, live at Valley Gospel Church church we have back in, I don't know. July, august, we were studying in Bible study and we touched on the early part of the 20th century and how we saw the emergence of many, if not all, of the Pentecostal denominations Assembly of God, four Square Gospel churches, of which we are one, apostolic churches, holiness churches. You know, when someone asks what denomination we are, I usually reply that we're Pentecostal in nature, although we are not denominational, and what I mean by that is we welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit, we embrace his gifts, we expect his manifestations. Now, in the latter half of the 20th century 1960, maybe through 1980, somewhere in there there was the charismatic movement. Some of you were part of that in the 60s and 70s. You experienced that. The movie that we're going to watch on Wednesday is kind of a snapshot of that the Jesus Revolution, and that gave birth to the independent or full gospel churches, or full gospel churches. It's where we have seen Baptist Pentecostal churches or, as I like to call them, baptocostal Free will churches, charismatic Catholics, churches of every denomination that practiced and embraced the spiritual gifts that God has given.
Speaker 4:Now I have seen and experienced many manifestations of the Holy Spirit, of the independent full gospel charismatic churches, charismatic churches. But our experience, what we have experienced or what we believe, doesn't establish truth in doctrine, and I'll explain that in just a little bit. Chrissy, let's go to work. I have experienced some things in some of the full gospel churches. One good example might be there was a manifestation some years ago called Laughing in the Spirit, where the congregation would spontaneously burst into laughter and laugh for a half an hour. It may have been from God, I really don't know. God is sovereign. What do you mean by that, pastor? He can do whatever he wants. It's not my job to say well, you're not following the rules, but we can't make laughing. The tenth gift of the Spirit is my point. Whether or not it was of God, I'll leave that between the participants and God, but we can't make it the tenth gift.
Speaker 4:I often say it doesn't matter what you believe, believe whatever you want, truth is still the truth Doesn't matter. The truth is found solely and exclusively and completely. Our doctrine, what we base our theology on, what we believe is found in, can only be found in the unaltered, unedited, forever word of Almighty God, and that's where we're going to look today. So if you have your Bibles, just turn with Chrissy, please, to 1 Corinthians 12. We're going to skip a couple of verses, but 1 Corinthians 12 and 4, and then we'll skip up to verse 7 through 11. Whenever you get there, please stand for the reading of God's Word. 1 Corinthians, 12 and 4.
Speaker 5:Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another. Faith by the same Spirit to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to another, the working of miracles to another, prophecy to another, discerning of spirits to another, diverse kinds of tongues to another, the interpretation of tongues, but all these work, that one and the selfsame Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will.
Speaker 4:What we see here is a glimpse of the nine gifts of the Spirit the only nine. There are Nine, nine, only nine. That's all that the Lord identifies for us as these gifts are translated by the King James Version of the Bible. Regarding the word of God and I thought about Jesus standing in the temple on that Saturday when he took the scroll of Isaiah and it was Daniel it was an epiphany that the word took the word. The word read the word In the beginning, it was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Word read the word In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Then the word became flesh and dwelt among us and when I envisioned that whole thing, that the word preached the word, it just blew me away. That all came together in one spot, in one place, at one hour, where the Word preached the Word. Of these nine gifts word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues these are the gifts that Jesus said we needed, that Mark and Paul said would accompany true believers. As this gospel is preached Now, most Christians, across most denominations, believe these gifts were active back then.
Speaker 4:They were real then. They were real in the first century. All of them. All of them worked. But for the most part, the question that has risen in the past 50 years are they active today? Are these gifts active today? And, being completely honest with you, most, if not all, churches in Christianity today would say no, except for faith and wisdom will let you do that because they're quiet, nice, safe gift. Now some say they passed away with the last apostle. That's another sermon that they ended when we received the Bible, and I'm not sure when that is, whether that's a scroll time or a canon of scripture or 14th century, when it was put that I'm not sure. Or that it stopped when we became enlightened. I don't know when that happened. Yeah, did indeed.
Speaker 4:I'll invite you this morning as we search the scripture, I'll invite you to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal his truth. I'm starting way down here so I don't get too far up, because then I start shouting you don't hear me as we seek what the word of God has to say. This is an important and possibly life-changing message entitled when perfection comes, let's pray, heavenly father. Thank you, lord. Thank you for this New Testament glimpse into a reality, lord, that we are called to embrace. Lord, to practice, to keep you at the center. Lord, we welcome you, holy Spirit, into our presence. Lord, we ask your anointing not only on the reading of your word today, but that I might rightly divide your word of truth, leaving nothing out, adding nothing. It is in the name of your precious beloved Augustine we pray. Amen and amen. Please be seated.
Speaker 4:As we move deeper into the 21st century, as we moved closer to the lord's return at what seems like. I don't know how it feels you, but it seems to me that it's that light speed, that the hands of time are ticking so quickly. It's like skipping beats and everything's going so fast and we're spinning down to the final ticks in a blur. I believe God is sealing, sealing S-E-A-L, sealing his children, and he's marking us for purpose. That sealing or marking is with that Holy Spirit of promise that we read about. Let me try to explain Two verses in the Bible.
Speaker 4:We know them as the Great Commission. The Great Commission, this gospel shall be preached for a witness to all the world, and then shall the end come. One is in Mark 16, regarding the Great Commission, the others in Matthew 28. And in essence it says that the priority and responsibility of every believer is to go into all the world, into our world, into our parameter, and preach the gospel. Tell them about Jesus. Fields are white to harvest. Let's get to work. Tell them about Jesus. Fields are white to harvest. Let's get to work. That's the gist of the Great Commission. Those that accept and believe the gospel will be saved. Those that reject or ignore the gospel will be condemned. In fact, the Bible says won't will be condemned. They're already condemned. It's already over.
Speaker 4:John Mark goes on to say that as the number of believers from his time until the end, as that number grows, the same signs and evidence that they are believers will accompany them. Those signs are they will speak with new tongues, they will perform miracles, there will be healings, they will cast out devils, they will be immortal in God's will. Oh, you're going too far, pastor, stay with me. The companion verse to that is Matthew 28. I'm going to ask you to turn there. Matthew 28. This is the companion verse to the Mark reading that. I just kind of paraphrased Matthew 28 and 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, teach all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the world, amen, amen.
Speaker 4:These words of Jesus make it clear, do they not, that the Great Commission wasn't just for a period of time. This preaching would go on, presenting of the gospel would go on until Jesus would return. It wasn't just for the first century, it wasn't for the apostolic age when the last apostle died, it wasn't until we got the Bible. The Great Commission is intended for the entire Church Age. Now, most of all of you know when the Church Age, the Church Age, is from Jesus's. Well, actually, you could go right up to Pentecost, but it was from Jesus' first coming until his second coming. That's known as the church age. That's where we're at now. Nowhere is it taught that the commission, the great commission, ended or it's been put on hold. In fact, the Great Commission is ever increasing, ever increasing.
Speaker 4:You and I, we, the church Valley Gospel Church, are in the process of fulfilling that command in the 21st century. The command is preach the gospel to all of creation, and that's exactly what we're trying to do. Say, how are we going to preach the gospel to all of creation? We're in this little tiny church in Springdale, yeah, we're reaching worldwide, we're getting the word worldwide. The command says preach the gospel to all of creation. Command says preach the gospel to all of creation.
Speaker 4:Those that believe, those that believe you and I are all of those, from every believer, every time, every century, every age, and the signs that will accompany these believers, they will speak in new tongues. Oh see, there's the rub there it is, there's the issue They'll speak in new tongues. You know why tongues are so rejected, especially today? Because tongues make God bigger and us smaller, and platforms don't like that. They don't like that. I'm the big kahuna here. That's what pastors like, that's what church leaders like, leaders like, and allowing the Holy Spirit to have control. We got to stand down and we don't like to stand down. They will speak with new tongues, they will identify and cast out demons, they will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.
Speaker 4:So the Great Commission throughout the church age, pentecost until return, pentecost until return involves preaching the gospel, accompanied by a confirmation of supernatural power. I'm just telling you the truth. That's what's here of supernatural power. I'm just telling you the truth, that's what's here. The Holy Spirit confirms his word through supernatural signs that accompany them. You know, we sometimes you might forget a message, or what did Daniel say the last time he preached? Yeah, he was talking about. Yeah, I am. But we won't forget.
Speaker 4:When they're accompanied by a supernatural manifestation, they tend to stick, they tend to it's something to see, something to hear. But for the last too long, much of church history, we've tried to reach them with the word only. That's been our premise, that's been our modus operandi reach them with the word only. The Apostle Paul you've all heard of him, right? The Apostle Paul said this gospel comes to you not with word only, but with the power of the Holy Ghost, and we're to pursue that great commission. You and I, just like Paul, just like Peter, just like John, just like Jesus, has commanded with supernatural signs. Supernatural signs and wonders, supernatural power that are made possible by the Holy Spirit of promise. You see, it's not money, it's not education, it's not social status. He's the Holy Ghost.
Speaker 4:Pastor, I just don't see it. I don't see the need for tongues, as my North Hills pastor friend said we don't need to shout anymore, we have microphones to shout anymore, we have microphones. I just don't see the need for tongues in this modern intellectual church. Well, there's your answer. There's your answer. We have eyes but we don't see. We have ears but we don't hear. The church's power does not rest in the communication skills of its leaders or the musical skills of our musicians. It isn't in big buildings or camp eye or education or activity or resources. The church's power is the Holy Ghost. Glory, glory, hallelujah. 1 Corinthians, 1. 1 and 7. 1 Corinthians 1. So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaker 4:Several years ago, arabelle and I and Daniel was there we went to Omega Church in South Hills to see the Gay Through Vocal band. They were there, huge edifice, huge, huge. We used to see what 5,000, 6,000, somewhere in that neighborhood. And we went there for this concert and as usual, I always go to the table. I want to find their tenets of faith. I want to see what they believe. I want to see what their ministry is all about. I want to see what their ministry is all about.
Speaker 4:And what I read, everybody else was enjoying the concert, at least at the beginning, and I was so saddened by what I read. I was so dismayed by what I read. It shocked me. It said in their tenets of faith, that little pamphlet by the door. It said that anyone practicing the so-called gifts of the Spirit would be immediately put out of the church. Now, this church were I to call it by name, you would all know the name Preaches on radio podcasts five days a week, as do many preaching churches today, but it preaches this message to an intellectual church. I'm stopping from the name because I realize this will be broadcast worldwide, but I ask you to forgive my bluntness.
Speaker 4:Church leaders not worthy of the title pastor, with a PhD behind and in front of their name, who think they are so anointed and so blessed, so educated, that they rise up against the altogether lovely one, against the fairest of 10,000, against the bright in the morning star, that they rise up against the living word. Hallelujah, the mighty baptism baptizer in the Holy Ghost is Jesus, just as he had promised. And he promised all the gifts all the way till the end, all the gifts, all the way to the end. And, preacher, you've come up against the ancient of days. You wonder why nothing's happening except money in your church. You're wondering why nothing's happening. People aren't getting saved, no one's getting healed. It's simple because you have risen up against the ancient of days and he can't use you. You know, the preacher speaks and the secretary trembles. Jesus speaks and the winds obey. Little bit of difference.
Speaker 4:Hallelujah, the pastor walks into a board meeting and all the board goes Hello, pastor, good morning pastor, how are you? And they're all intimidated. Hallelujah, jesus walks in and demons tremble. Glory, glory, glory. Have mercy. Lord Preacher, you're so full of yourself and your ability to turn a phrase, to present a sermonette, to raise a building, to raise a dollar. You better stand down. Perfection comes, perfection's coming Glory. 1 Corinthians, 2. Am I too loud? No, not loud enough. All right, brother, thank you for that. 2 and 4. Two and four.
Speaker 4:And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. How be it? Now we'll stop right there. It's not wisdom. It's not wisdom. It's not eloquence, it's not wisdom. It's not wisdom, it's not eloquence. It's not our word, it's his. It's not our idea, it's his. And to my purpose-driven friends who love all the purpose-driven drivel, my purpose means nothing. His purpose means everything. His word is sharper than any two-edged sword. His word moves mountains. His word unlatches and unlocks every secret of the universe. His word reaches into the heart of a man or a woman and sets us free Glory.
Speaker 4:Look, if you allow this message to take root in your heart this morning, you too can be set free. You can be set free. You can be set free as so many spirit-filled Christians that accept the straightforward Bible promise that we can receive the very power, the very power of God, in our lives, that we can not only witness the man and I don't want to get stuck on just manifestations but we can witness the manifestations exactly as God has promised. Preachers fight against the gifts of the Spirit because they empower the laity. Huh, where all the important things aren't here, that the important things are there. And so the preacher who spent all his money going to school and to seminary. We like the power here. We can't trust you to present the power, the Holy Spirit allows the power to flow. Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Speaker 4:In our generation, as in every generation, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are a testimony. They're a confirmation of the gospel that we preach, of the gospel that we share. You can call it unenlightened and you'll hear that all the time that it's backwoods. It's last century. It's unenlightened Now that we're educated, now that we read all the books. We don't need all this.
Speaker 4:Let me tell you this God, the Holy Ghost, will hold you accountable. He will hold you accountable for what's being said, what's being allowed, what's being preached. I wish I could soften this up for you this morning, but I can't. I can't. John 14. John 14 and 11. Amen. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very work's sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you that he that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to my Father Now. Jesus is speaking there, there, and he's saying we're going to do greater things than he was able to do, and he's not saying it because I'm leaving, just because I'm leaving. He's saying greater work shall you do, because when I leave, I'm going to send you the Holy Spirit. That's how it's able. He will send the Holy Ghost.
Speaker 4:Jesus's promise is that, without restriction to time, to age of a believer, we can do the same works that he did, even greater, even greater. What work? What work? Discernment, miracles, healing, wisdom, knowledge, tongues, interpretation, faith, prophecy. Because he returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit. He returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit. That's the long and the short of it. His disciples did the work he did. They healed the sick, they cast out demons, they raised the dead. But the promises were not restricted to only them. In other words, it didn't end when the last apostle died. The promises went on, went on from Pentecost until the second, coming by the power of the Holy Ghost to all those who have faith in him.
Speaker 4:Faith moves it all. Faith moves it all. Faith moves it all In Jesus' earthly ministry. He depended completely and exclusively on the Holy Spirit. But preachers today, christians today, think we can do it on our own Because we got the education. Now, right, we got the book learning. Yeah, if Jesus needed the Holy Spirit, then how can we be without the Holy Spirit If he told us that we needed the Holy Spirit. How can we be without him?
Speaker 4:Topic for a completely different sermon, but I believe I can prove from Scripture, because you always get this well, jesus never spoke in tongues. I believe he did. I believe he did and I believe I can prove it from the Word of God. Different sermon, romans 11. You know what, jeffy, I never reset the time. That heat's going to go down in a little bit. Can you just click it back up? It drops really fast. It dropped 15 degrees yesterday in a half hour, with the block being cold, I guess. 11. And where are we at? Romans? See, I get distracted by temperature. Romans 11 and 20, 29.
Speaker 4:For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. I wanted to read that because the word for gifts, there is charisma. You bought charismatic church, right, there is charisma. You bought charismatic church, right. What we talked about at the outset, the moving of the spirit back in the 70s, 60s, the charisma. That's where charismatic comes from here the assurance that his gifts, his charisma, are never withdrawn. His gifts are never withdrawn, withdrawn, his gifts are never withdrawn. So they couldn't have ended in the first century, they couldn't have ended in the last apostle. Otherwise that makes that verse moot. And who are we? We're going to start throwing out verses now. The assurance is they're never revoked, they're never withdrawn. We can decide we don't want them, we won't practice them, we won't exercise them, we can even reject them, but they are never withdrawn.
Speaker 4:You know, we wonder why we don't see more healings, more miracles, more deliverances in our churches. A major part of that reason is that we've minimized or rejected the ministry of the Holy Ghost. We've kicked him out. We've said no thanks, we're good like we are. It's through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that miracles and healings and deliverance flows. Through that ministry. Your Bible and your Lord wants you to increase your gifting, not decrease it. Increase it. Seek all of them, ask him, seek the baptism in the Holy Ghost. The baptism in the Holy Ghost is the gateway to the gifts. It opens the door. Pray in tongues, sing in the Spirit often, as often as you can.
Speaker 4:Maybe you're thinking as I did at one time you don't want to be in the flesh. You know, I feel something, I hear something, I hear something, but I don't want to be in the flesh or acting with an emotional response or to be out of order. It's as if think about this analogy there are all those little buttons on my steering wheel of the car, one with a guy with vocal things coming out of his mouth and a little orange triangle and little. I have no idea what. They do Nothing, so I just keep my hands off, especially that guy. He scares me. I have no idea what they are, but I don't quit driving. What Well, I might as well park the car. I don't know what that means or how it's to be operated. I just don't mess with it, just keep my hands up.
Speaker 4:You have a license. We have a license through our salvation, to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, even if we don't understand everything, even if it doesn't make complete sense, and if you're worried about being out of order, the Holy Spirit will put you in order. I'll help you be in order. I've never called anyone out and said sit down. That's wrong. But I have taken folks and gone. Well, you better be. We need to be a little cautious with that, and that's what it's all about. That's what we're to do.
Speaker 4:This might sound like a very harsh statement to make. Like a very harsh statement to make. As Christians, you and I, we cannot be everything that Jesus wants us to be without the baptism in the Holy Spirit, can't be, can't be. Jesus couldn't, the disciples couldn't, the apostles couldn't, you and I can't. We can't do it without the Holy Ghost. God doesn't change. God doesn't change, I change not. And he doesn't change in his gift giving. He doesn't change in what he wants us to have. He doesn't change in what he wants us to have. He confirmed the gospel with gifts and manifestation in the first century and he confirms his preaching today, in the 21st century, with manifestations and gifts. That's just truth. Back to 1 Corinthians. Back forward, 1 Corinthians 13.
Speaker 4:I know a lot of scripture, right 13 and 8. Charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall See. This is before I read it. Let me just tell you this is most Pentecostal. Churches will skip over this verse Because they think oh see, there it is. Let me explain this to you in fullness Charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there shall be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away with. As I said, this is a portion of scripture that is often used by those who reject the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was used by that nameless church in South Hills. It was used as proof that the gifts have ceased at some arbitrary time. When the Bible came into being or assembled, their contention was that the Bible is perfection and when it came, the gifts were no longer needed, so they vanished away. Needed, so they vanished away.
Speaker 4:That's the worst piece of logic that I have ever heard, and it comes from men who call themselves doctor, doctor, oh, it's brandish too, doctor. Do you know, jeffy, I'm a paper away. I get a letter from Duquesne every other year that says write this thesis, send us a couple of thousand dollars and you can have a PhD. You can put the doctor in front of your name. I won't do it. I will never do it. I don't want it. I don't need it. And even though I write that on the application every time, they still keep sending. I think it's the $2,000 that lures them. I don't want it because he must increase, I must decrease Glory.
Speaker 4:They say that the completed. Listen to this. Think about this. You're all logical people. Think about this. They say that the completed Bible, the completed word of God, will nullify the gifts. So let me get this straight the book that says we need them, how to receive them, how to utilize them, how to operate in the gifts, spends chapter after chapter imploring us to seek after the gifts, is the same book that says they don't exist. Is that what you're trying to tell me? That this book makes void the gifts?
Speaker 4:You would have thought that God would have edited 1 and 2 Corinthians and Acts and Romans before the book come out. You would think Not too smart doctor. In truth, those verses make the strongest case that the gifts are for today, that they are for every believer. So am I saying that they won't pass away? Nope, they will. They will definitely pass away. The question is when and in what sense? When and in what sense? The answer is in that same text that we just read they will pass away when perfection comes. They will pass away when perfection comes.
Speaker 4:When is that? That is very clear. It's when God moves his headquarters from heaven to earth, hallelujah. It's when the new Jerusalem, kurt, descends from heaven, when the son establishes his kingdom on earth and rules with a rod of iron as commander and king and God when perfection comes. Until that time, we will not lack any gift for the furtherance of the gospel. Wouldn't that be stupid? He's telling you to go out and spread the gospel. But I'm taking this away. Let's see how you do now. It's a stupid thought. It's a stupid thought. It's a stupid doctrine. Until that time, we will not lack anything, until the end, as it says in 1 Corinthians, 1. Won't lack a thing. When Jesus comes, we will know him in fullness, completeness, face to face with the giver, face to face with he who gives the gift when perfection comes.
Speaker 4:When Jesus left this planet, he said some things concerning spiritual gifts. Right, first, he says it's better for us if he leaves so he can send the comforter and give us the gift. Second, he says I'll come again, I'm coming back, don't worry, I'm coming back, coming back with you. When he left, he gathered his followers, told them to wait, to be endued with power, not to preach, not to minister, to work until they had that power. That's what he said. After delivering that final order, he was received back up into glory in full view of all of his disciples Some say as many as 500 were there. He was received in perfection, received in perfection. Having accomplished all that, he came to do without a mistake, without a misstep, never having to take anything back. He didn't have to go oh kind of misspoke there Never had to say that Just prior to his coming again.
Speaker 4:The second time he's again gathering his followers. It's happening all again. It's happening again in small churches, in unified groups, in large battalions. It's happening. He's gathering his people that are sealed with the Holy Spirit promise. He's gathering those that have responded to the call, those that have heard the midnight cry. You think you just happened to be here today? I think not.
Speaker 4:At this very moment, we're being prepared to meet the groom, but not to meet him empty-handed. We're not going to meet him empty-handed. Who goes to a wedding empty-handed? Nobody, nobody, no. We're to meet him at the designated time, 5,000 feet in the air, with a harvest, with a harvest. Nobody, nobody, no. We're to meet him at the designated time, 5,000 feet in the air, with a harvest, with a harvest, that white field, colette. We're to meet him with that harvest.
Speaker 4:In order to meet him with that harvest of souls, you and I need to be operating at full power. That means leaving religion behind, leaving denomination behind, leaving self behind, depending completely and solely and exclusively on the Holy Spirit. And then the Bible says the very powers of heaven shall be shaken and everything that can be shaken will Lift up your heads. Worship in spirit and in truth. Your redemption draweth nigh. Perfection comes.
Speaker 4:I don't know about you, but I sense a growing anticipation of something's coming, a perfect storm, an approaching storm. We're being gathered and forsaking the world, just as happened 2,000 years ago. We're walking away from things that held us captive for so long, full of the Holy Ghost, like Stephen looking toward heaven. Even so, come quickly, lord, even so, and we will see Jesus coming in power and glory, radiating might and dominion. We're going to see that.
Speaker 4:Can't you just imagine the buzz that's going on in heaven right now? Right now, if all of our thoughts are correct, if all of our discernment is correct, and it's so near, so close, just around the corner, can you imagine the buzz going on in heaven right now? Angels are getting ready, cherubim are getting ready, seraphim are getting ready, preparations are being made, buzzed and and wheeled. Beings are scurrying to and fro, back to the throne, back to orders from the throne are being given. Heaven is alive with activity. All the lights are up, battalions are being assembled right now, just waiting for the nod from the Father to perfection when he says go bring our children home, ma, ma, ma.
Speaker 4:And maybe you think well, how do they know? How do the winged creatures and the wheeled creatures how do they know? It's time. The Bible says no one knows but the Father and the Father alone. Jesus said he didn't know, but the Father, yeah, no, that's true.
Speaker 4:But I believe they can see into our world and they look down into places like Lower Borough and Sharpsburg and Springdale and they see a coming together. They see a unity in the spirit where personal issues are being yeah, get that out of here, I don't have time to deal with that right now. I got bigger fish to fry, hallelujah. And they see gifting increasing and they see gathering. They hear the languages of heaven being spoken and sung that they're familiar with. You know Paul said, though I speak with the tongue of men and angels. Do you know when? When we're praising and worshiping god in the spirit, that is the language of heaven, that they understand what we're saying, even if we don't, they do, and the church's message is changing and becoming unified.
Speaker 4:We're moving away from concerts and activities, and how to live prosperous and how to lose weight in 2025. And how to make the most of your church membership to getting ready to meet Jesus, getting ready to see him. Are your lamps full? The fields are white to harvest. Are we ready? Are we already church? Get ready. Perfection comes, perfection's coming and it's harvest time. Can't worry too much about my job. My teams show my retirement. Can't worry too much about that, because it's harvest time. It's harvest time and we will need every spiritual gift in order to bring that harvest in, or we're going to come up short. We're going to come up one. Oh, you only got two bushels. Oh, well, you did okay. I don't ever want to hear that call that. I don't want to hear. Yeah, you did okay. I don't ever want to hear that, colette. I don't want to hear yeah, you did okay. We need to be at full power. We need to be at tactical alert. Lamps burning bright, plenty of oil Can't run out. Assuming an offensive battle position. Perfection comes.
Speaker 5: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 6:You know, this morning we welcome the Holy Spirit into our presence here, the Holy Spirit that empowers us, that comforts us, that teaches us. He's the one that guides us, purifies us and unifies us. Welcome, holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:We are in your presence.
Speaker 1:Fill us with your power. Live inside of me.
Speaker 2:Sing it again, sing it again.
Speaker 1:Welcome, holy Spirit. Yes, lord, we are in your presence. Fill us with your power. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. Live inside of me. Sing it again. Welcome, holy Spirit. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. Live inside of me. Sing it again. Welcome, holy Spirit. Yes, lord, welcome Holy Spirit. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. Live inside of me. You're the living water. Live inside of me. You're the living water. You're the never-drying fountain, comforter and counselor. Take complete control. Welcome, holy Spirit. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. Live inside of me. Hallelujah. Welcome, holy Spirit. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. Live inside of me. You're the living water. You're the never-drying fountain, comforter and counselor. Take complete control.
Speaker 1:Welcome, holy Spirit. Hallelujah, we are in your presence. We are in your presence, Lord. Fill us with your power. Fill us with your power and live inside of me. Welcome, holy Spirit, and live inside of me. Welcome, holy Spirit. We are in your presence. Fill us with your power. Live inside of me. You're the living water. Power. Live inside of me. You're the living water. You're the living water. You're the never trying fountain, comforter and counselor. Comforter and counselor, take complete control. Welcome Holy Spirit. Yes, lord, we are in your presence. Fill us with your power. We are in your presence, fill us with your power. That's good. Live inside of me. Come on and live inside of me. Welcome home.