Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
Newborn King
Discover the deep spiritual meaning of Christmas and the majestic journey of Jesus beyond the traditions and commercialism that often overshadow its true essence. Imagine the blessings that God generously bestows upon us, and how they shape our faith and gratitude. This episode opens up a heartfelt exploration of the transformative power of Jesus' birth, offering hope and redemption amidst life's trials, as we reflect on the profound message of Christmas.
Join us as we recount the significant events following Jesus' crucifixion. For 40 days, Jesus walked with His disciples, demonstrating His triumph over death before ascending to heaven. We delve into the magnificence of Jesus' coronation as King of Kings, challenging the meek image and recognizing His eternal authority. Reflecting on His promise to send a comforter upon His departure, we uncover how Christianity extends beyond beliefs into a relationship rooted in the identity of Jesus.
The name of Jesus holds transformative power, offering salvation and healing to all who embrace it. From peace and blessing to breaking free from addictions, this episode celebrates the profound impact of proclaiming Jesus' power in every facet of life. Connect with Valley Gospel Church for further spiritual nourishment, as we proclaim the freedom and hope found in Jesus' name, inviting you to experience His presence and transformation.
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:You know, for I don't know, maybe far too many this Christmas, this holiday, it's just another holiday, just another time to get together. Festivus for the rest of us, right? A rerun of the trivial sentimental ride with old movies and good food and family, maybe a lot of family get-togethers with folks you don't see all the time. Maybe that's a good thing, I don't know. But you know, for real Christians, christmas is more than that. If you've had a spiritual awakening and, georgie, if that veil has been removed, then Christmas means that a deliverer has been sent. A deliverer has been sent from heaven's palace. He was sent to personally be involved in our redemption. We don't get redeemed or purchased with a price and then just go on our merry way. He means to be personally involved in our redemption. He wants to be involved in every aspect of our life and the wonderful thing about this relationship you have with our Savior, with our Redeemer, is that come well, the whole week really, but come Wednesday the celebration is real. The account of the virgin conceiving is real. The account of the virgin conceiving is real. That manger, that baby in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, is real. The good news is real. The message of the gospel is real and that news for everyone here this morning is you have Emmanuel, god, with us to walk with us through every situation, every crisis we face. Hallelujah Christi, let's go to work. You know, I don't know and I don't pretend to know, but you know, sometimes the holidays tend to get us a little bit down. I don't know, maybe you have some problems or some things that we're facing in life some difficulty in the family, maybe a crisis of faith, or maybe the commercialism of all the Christmas, the media, the blitz about Christmas, the stress of doing all this Santa stuff that we have to get finished, and that Jesus kind of gets lost. Kind of gets lost in all of this.
Speaker 3:And if you need encouraged by a story of joy and peace and power, then this is it. This is it, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ, the Lord. He is your kinsman, redeemer, who makes our crooked path straight. He'll raise our valleys, he'll lower the mountains in our life. Oh, you're still going to have to climb a mountain, but it won't be as high. You won't have to go as deep in that valley as you used to. He'll meet you where you are. He'll meet you in your need, in your sorrow. He'll meet you in your sin, and by his blood he has provided liberty and grace and a life worth living, and it's all made possible by that first Christmas morning.
Speaker 3:We'll enter a little bit of that scene this morning Of shepherds and sheep and wise men and stars of Mary and Joseph. But I'll promise you this If you came just to hear a simple Christmas story, not so much Hallelujah, it may be in a way you haven't heard before. So if you'll turn with Chrissy, please, to Matthew 2. Matthew 2, beginning with the first verse, 1 through 8. Matthew 2, 1 through 8. Whenever you get there, I'll ask you to please stand in reverence to God's word.
Speaker 4:Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying when is he who is born king of the Jews?
Speaker 4:For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem was with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they had said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea. For thus it is written by the prophet, and though Bethlehem in the land of Judah are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come a governor who shall rule my people, Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.
Speaker 3:Wow, wow, lots of things going on, sinister things going on here. Right, because that wasn't his intention to come and find a baby to worship A different intent I used for a subject this morning the newborn king. Let's pray, heavenly Father. Thank you, lord. Thank you for this. Happy birthday, lord, blessed birthday. So thankful, lord, that you came, that you came to die for our sin. Lord, that you took upon yourself human flesh, that you didn't have to do, but you did for our sake. Lord, I thank you for this word that you've allowed me to preach today. Lord, I ask you to reveal it to your people that they might hear and accept your word. It is in the name of your blessed August, soon coming son, we pray. Amen and amen, amen. Please be seated.
Speaker 3:You know after the fall of man in the garden and you all understand the fall how sin entered the world. But after the fall of man in the garden and before the birth of Jesus Christ, the world was a heartless and cruel place. It seems to me that we kind of were bending that way again, but little value was placed on human life. Widows, unmarried women, were routinely disposed of. In Rome, the disposal of children was commonplace If you didn't want a child for any reason, you just got rid of it. Just got rid of the baby, the child, the young child. Throughout the world, the elderly, the sick, the infirmed were routinely disposed of and sadly that's happening in so many places in the world today. Slavery was rampant, even in New Testament times, but there was a new king coming, a new king that the devil tried to stop, that Herod tried to kill as a baby, as a child, as a man, and he would change all of this. He would change all of that. He would set a new value for life, that every life was precious, that he would honor the elderly and the sick, that he would speak of love and compassion. This king would command that the trademark of his kingdom would be love, love. Women were to be treated not only as equal but highly esteemed. Women were to be treated not only as equal but highly esteemed and we see that in Jesus' ministry, how he esteemed women in the ministry and that anyone, anyone who would abuse a child, would answer directly to him. My, this newborn king, would change everything.
Speaker 3:This baby came as God. He came as the anointed one, as the light of the world, as the Messiah, as mistake, as a man. He was tested on all sides, just like we are. You know, sometimes we think, well, you don't know what I'm going through. Huh, he was tested on all sides, tested by religion, tempted by Satan, tempted by success, tempted to deceive, tempted by personal gratification. Just as we are, just as we are. But your Bible says he never failed, he never fell, he never messed up, never had to apologize for anything. How many of you know that he was just as much God in that manger as he was on that cross, just as much. Now you hallelujah that. You hallelujah that this may upset your theology.
Speaker 3:Jesus came as a baby, as a young boy, as a man, not to show us what we couldn't do or what wasn't allowed or the rules in religion. He walked the earth from manger to cross, to show us that his kingdom works, that his kingdom works, to teach us that we can do it, to show us that righteousness and faith work, that we can accomplish anything, because he accomplished everything. The Son of God became the Son of man, so sons of men could become the sons of God. Ooh, that's good. That's good. Let me say it again the Son of God became the Son of man, so sons of men could become the sons of God. My, you are the child forgiven, you are the soul set free, you're a pardoned prisoner walking now in liberty, liberty, which is exactly why he told his disciples greater things shall you do than you have seen me do. Greater things shall you do. Everything we face, everything we deal with, everything we struggle with day to day, is meant to mature us in Christ, meant to mature us in order to receive our sonship, our sonship, according to Paul in Romans 8, 13.
Speaker 3:I think it starts, but he says that all of creation is waiting for the sons of God to rise with manifestations. All of creation said when are you going to get it? When are you going to deal with these things in your life? When are you going to put that flesh behind? When are you going to deal with these things in your life? When are you going to put that flesh behind? When are you going to rise with manifestations? What manifestations they will. According to Mark 16, it says they will cast out devils. It says they will speak with new tongues, they will preach the gospel, they will preach this truth, they will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. That's the manifestations that all of creation is awaiting my for that to come to pass. For that to happen, the old king in our lives what old king? Oh, the job, the career, the bank account, the wealth, the sports, the music, the lifestyles, the worries, the schedule, the schedule, the calendar right, the works, all of those things have to be replaced with a new king, with a new king. Lives once controlled by the kingdoms of money, works, worry, doubt, are now controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. That's how that happens. That's how that comes to pass.
Speaker 3:You are in this world, but not of it. Isn't that what your Bible says? In this world, but not of it. You are, as a son or daughter of God. You walked a different road. You marched to a different drummer road. You march to a different drummer. You've heard the clarion call of this newborn king and all of your relatives were right. You are a peculiar person, my. If you walk to the manger to behold this king, if you determine him to be your king and follow him, then you are leaving this world and its values and again understand in this world, not of it, two very dissimilar things, and don't be surprised when old friends reject you or don't have time for you or don't want to hear from you. As Amy Grant sang, just keep your eyes on him and tell yourself I'll become a work of God.
Speaker 3:This king is shepherd for the sheep who's gone astray. This king is the bridegroom in the story of the ten virgins. This king is the merchant seeking goodly pearls. This king is the Samaritan on the Jericho road. This king is the door and the true vine. He is the light of the world. He is the bread of life. Amen. He is our savior. Lord and king, glory and brothers and sisters, he's real. He's real, hallelujah.
Speaker 3:Let's fast forward to the end of the church age, the church age as has been revealed to the revelator, john. John is given a vision of this king, who was king in a manger, who was king in a manger, but John is given a vision of him being crowned at his coronation Revelation 11. I just want to draw this parallel to you. For you, this is the same guy. This is the same guy. This is the same guy. This is the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, sought by wise men and shepherds. Shepherds knew Revelation 11, 15. Here we go now. And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the kingdom of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders which sat before God in their seats fell upon their faces and worshiped God, saying we give thee thanks, o Lord, god Almighty, which art and wast and art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and has reigned.
Speaker 3:After Jesus' crucifixion, after his burial and resurrection, he communicated with his disciples for about 40 days, ate with them, socialized with them, preached to them, ministering to those who would hear him, and then, in full view of his disciples after that 40 days and about some say between 150 and 500 were there he ascended to his father in heaven. Jesus did. Jesus had just defeated the last enemy that would ever challenge him, death Just won that battle and he was received back to his father, to the throne room in heaven. At his coronation that's the word I'm looking for at his coronation crowned king of kings. See, he was already king, but now he's being crowned king of kings.
Speaker 3:There were trumpet blasts in heaven. Your Bible says Trumpet blasts. There were loud voices, there were shouts of praise, there was jubilant hosanna. There was welcome to the king of kings, from angels, from cherubim, from seraphim and all the hosts of heaven, the wheeled creatures and the winged creatures and everything that heaven has. We're still not clear about all the creatures that are there, but this newborn king was now the king of kings. Glory King Jesus the glorified man had returned to heaven as Lord of all, lord of all. What a thunderous ovation it must have been. I can't even imagine it. I know what the marriage supper is going to be like and I try to envision that and I can't. But what a thunderous ovation. All of heaven rang with ecstatic praise. You think it gets loud in here occasionally during worship. Not hardly, not hardly. The kingdoms of this world are now the kingdoms of his Christ and he will seize them at his return. That's the plan. He will seize them at his return. Loud hosannas, ecstatic praise, crying aloud.
Speaker 3:The 24 elders fall from their seats on their faces to worship the king of kings. They lay on their faces and who has exercised this great power and has begun to reign? It is none other than the newborn king. You know, sometimes the salvation prayer will tell someone, or someone will say I recognize Jesus as my king, and I'm not saying that's wrong, don't misunderstand, but he already is king. He already is. You can't make him king. He already is. He already is the. You can't make him king, he already is. He already is the king of kings.
Speaker 3:He was a king back in the manger and his father crowned him king and lord of all and gave to him all the power of the Godhead. You know we get a little upset sometimes when people say, well, it's God the father. God the father gave his son all power. All power was given to him, all the power of the Godhead, in the fullness of God himself. Everything was given to Jesus. He is the head of all principality, all power and this newborn king. By him were all things created. Everything that was created was created by him, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by him and for him. It's really interesting.
Speaker 3:I wanted to show you. We got these little gizmos here, that just a quick little handout for everybody at the end, at the conclusion of service. But Arabelle got these. I just have to show you because it makes sense. It makes sense. There's this. There's this little baby Jesus. Not a baby, but a little Jesus. Right, it's a little Jesus and I said I don't know. And she said everybody needs a little Jesus. And I said, ooh, I don't know. And she said everybody needs a little Jesus. And I said, wow, I'm with you now.
Speaker 3:But this isn't him. This isn't him this little icon. Or the medal that you wear around your neck, the thing that hangs on your rearview mirror. You can stop picturing Jesus as this cute little thing, toy icon, whatever. Or a little cherub, baby right, you can stop all that. Or the lowly Galilean. Or the Jesus we used to have on the funeral fan holding the little sheep. He's not the baby in Mary's arms anymore. He is not the meek Nazarene, he is not the lamb led to slaughter. There will not be another trial. No cross to bear. He will not have to climb another Calvary.
Speaker 3:He came out of that grave in full resurrection power. We need to understand who we serve. He took his place on the right hand of his father At the throne, in the throne room, and took all dominion, all power over every principality. And the last principality, john, was death, and the Bible says he made that his footstool. Huh, made that his footstool. You see, when Jesus defeated death, he won the battle. That's why I get upset about the prosperity people that say well, jesus had to die again in hell when he won the battle at the cross. He won the battle.
Speaker 3:You hear preachers all the time say that we're locked in this eternal struggle with good versus evil. No Evil's been defeated. The war is over. The battle's been won. From that cross, sam, he said it is finished, finished. From the cross, revelation 12,. Now has come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. And the accuser of the brethren, who's that? The devil, satan, the accuser of the brethren, who accuses day and night, is cast down.
Speaker 3:Christianity isn't a theology, it isn't a religion or a belief. Christianity is who you are. It's who you are. It's a relationship with that baby in the manger, with that holy child glory, with the sea-walking Messiah and the stallion-riding Christ. My.
Speaker 3:He left this planet, but not without some promises. He did leave. He said I'm gone, I'm done with this, I'm leaving, but not without promises. One of the promises that he made is that he would send a comforter, a comforter by his spirit. He said he would never leave us, Never, and that he went away to prepare a place, and is preparing a place where every born again, every blood covered, blood washed, child of God will spend eternity. The new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem when the lamb is the light, where the little sheep is the light Glory. This baby that came to redeem is now on the throne. That's the message to every person in every land, to every supposed or so-called believer.
Speaker 3:A supposed or so-called believer, but in this day and age, I wonder, and the more messages that I listen to, I wonder why isn't Jesus recognized for who he is? Why is he laughed at? Why is his name an anathema, even among so many so-called believers? We don't want to lay a Jesus trip on him, just do some good things for them, do the next right thing. Why don't the Jews see him? Why don't they accept him? Why don't atheists see? Why doesn't our government see? Why don't we see? Why don't we see that the one who sits on the center of the circle, the one born of a virgin, the one lying in a manger, is the one who bruised the serpent's head? Same guy. 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 3 and 16.
Speaker 3:Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil, the veil shall be taken away. Now, the Lord is that spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding in the glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord the veil. The veil George talked about it years ago the veil of unbelief, the veil that keeps us from receiving the things that God wants us to receive. It's supposed to be removed the moment we come to Christ. It's supposed to be taken away. But even believers don't take it off. They don't want to take it off because then it requires a whole lot. If we take the veil off and we want to say this is what I think, want to say, this is what I think, this is what I believe, this is how we do it.
Speaker 3:As Christians, we're called to change continually, and when we look at this king, this glorious king, we are changed into his image, from faith to faith and from glory to glory, more reflective of him, trusting more in him, loving him more. And you know either, we're changing as his bride, more hungry for his word, more desirous of him for his word, more desirous of him, greater separation from this worldly life, because the Holy Spirit's an agent of change. That's who he is. He didn't come take up residence within us to let you just continue on in the same old ways. Oh, he'll let you. That's your decision. But that's not why he came, that's not why he was sent. He's an agent of change and if we don't allow him to make those changes, then we're becoming more like the world.
Speaker 3:Amen, no neutral, there is no neutral, no such thing. Forget that. You're either going forward or you're going backwards. Then we become more like the world, more materialistic, more liberal, more sensuous. And I'll ask you this and as Steph always teases me, she said sweetest words in the sermon is as we close, are you changing to be more like him or are we slipping back to some old ways?
Speaker 3:Are we putting back on our veil of unbelief? And you see, it's that veil that keeps us from seeing Jesus as king, from seeing him as Lord, as supreme. We don't accept him all-powerful, almighty. We don't come into his presence as a ruling king. When the veil is removed, we approach him as the one who reigns. We worship with the knowledge that Jesus is really there. You know, preachers say that all the time when we come into the house of God, jesus is in the midst, but I really wonder how many really believe that, that he's really there.
Speaker 3:When we remove the veil, we praise him, knowing that he accepts our sacrifice on the spot, instantly accepts our sacrifice of praise. He resides in you and I as king of all, and I'm going to be careful how I quantify this, but I'm afraid most Christians live as orphans, that we live abandoned and hopeless, and maybe through some mystical, magical power, this might work out. And the message that I was sent to deliver you this morning you are a beloved child of the sovereign God and he is in control of everything, everything. And if you accept that and I believe that word to be prophetic if you accept that prophetic word, why do we fall for every ruse of the devil? Why do we fall? Why do we give in to him? We accept what he says, we listen to his tricks, his lies, his deceptions?
Speaker 3:Don't you know that when that veil is lifted, you can say to him Satan, you can say to him you can't do that to me, you can't do that to me. Don't you know that the one who bruised your head will crush you at my insistence? Don't you know that you can't do it? Glory, just my request. My king will crush you, glory. I can bind you, I can cast you back to darkness simply by invoking the name of my king. That causes you to tremble. By the way, I'm resting in his glory, in his kingdom. King Jesus is your Sabbath. Rest that king. He will fight our battles, he will put demons to flight. He will protect us.
Speaker 3:How do you see Jesus today? How do you see Jesus in this Christmas season? Do you see him as a meek lamb or an effeminate December man? Or an effeminate December man? Or do you see him astride, a great white stallion, poised for battle, eyes as flame, myriads of angelic beings surrounding him who listen to every word, willing to deliver you and rescue you. Glory, I know I said I was fixing to close, but I'm not.
Speaker 3:Revelation, revelation 19,. You got to hear this. Got to hear it. Revelation 19,. If you don't get there, that's okay. 19 and 6.
Speaker 3:And I heard, as it were, the voice of the great multitude and as the voice of many waters and in the voice of the mighty thundering, saying Hallelujah for the Lord, god omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready, and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints, and he saith unto me. Right blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb, and he saith unto me. I know these are the true sayings of God. And when I fell at his feet to worship him, he said to me see, thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that thou have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. One more, and I saw, heaven opened and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Speaker 3:What a gathering. What a gathering. Talking about a coronation. We're talking about a marriage supper. Now. What a gathering. All the gathering. Talking about a coronation. We're talking about a marriage supper. Now, what a gathering.
Speaker 3:All the redeemed of all the ages are gathered in this great banquet hall, seated at the king's table, seated at Jesus' table. Moses, abraham, noah, joshua, all the apostles, you and I, all seated at the king's table. Then the trumpets blare, the trumpets blare so loud that it's deafening, and our heavenly father brings his son to the table and says Behold your king. Glory, glory, roaring and mighty. The applause goes up. That beautiful hall I don't know Inside, outside, don't care Will shake with praises to the king, the bright and the morning star. The voices will cry holiness to our king, holiness to our king, the bright and the morning star. The heavenly armies stand at rapt attention. My, they've seen all this before. We haven't Rapt attention.
Speaker 3:His head is crowned with crown after crown after crown. He's dressed in sparkling white, dazzling. The Bible actually says it's flashing. His name is the word of God. His vestures are dipped in blood, his eyes ablaze, a sword in his mouth and written on his thigh he's king of kings, hosanna, hosanna to the Lord, hosanna. Satan trembles. The song says I'm having a little block here. I'm kind of in a la-la land here. The earth is silent, the wind ceased to blow, every created being folds its wings. There's a new song being sung. It's a brand new melody where the blood bought the church. The redeemed, the altogether lovely one, the ancient of days. Thy will be done, thy kingdom come. Glory. That, brothers and sisters, is Christmas. That's Christmas, in this season, allow your minds to go back to that birth, to that manger, and allow it to go ahead to the coronation and to the marriage supper. My and he rules this earth as commander in chief Glory. I'm done, thank you.
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:My heart's in the five little fingers of His hand. There was no room within the end. When they came to Bethlehem, in a stable, the baby came. Little Jesus was his name. Thy name is power, thy name is healing. Thy name is healing. That name is light. Break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. Jesus came to save the world, man and woman, boy and girl. So bow before him, let's sing his praise. For his blessings, count the ways. Five little fingers on his hand. The Son of God, mary's little man. He was born in the manger, gentle, as a lamb. My heart's in the five little fingers of his hand. Oh, let's praise him this morning. Jesus came to save the world, man and woman, boy and girl. So bow before him, sing his praise and for his blessings count the ways. So I want to sing that verse again. Jesus came to save the world, man and woman, boy and girl. Let's bow before Him and sing His praise, and for His blessings count the rays gonna waste. Shout Jesus from the mountains. Shout Jesus in the streets. Shout Jesus in the darkness, over every enemy. Shout Jesus for your family.
Speaker 1:I speak the holy name of Jesus. Your name is power, your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every struggle. Break every struggle. Shine every struggle. Shine through the shadows. Burn like a fire. Your name is power. Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Life is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. Burn like a fire. I just want to speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind, because I know there is peace within your presence. I speak Jesus. I just want to speak the name of Jesus Till every dark addiction starts to break. We're declaring there is hope and there is freedom. Right now, I speak Jesus. Your name is power.