Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
Christmas Eve
Can the story of Christ's life, death, and resurrection still resonate in a world that's constantly changing? Join us as we promise to unpack the enduring power and relevance of this pivotal message, which stands as the spiritual cornerstone at Valley Gospel Church. Despite centuries of doctrinal shifts and denominational divides, the essence of faith remains untouched. Led by Theodore Gardner, we'll journey through historical shifts within the church, addressing moments where divine inspiration seemed stifled, only to witness new revivals and the youthful energy that breathes fresh life into our beliefs. We'll challenge the perception of Christianity's decline, showcasing the resurgence of faith as a testament to the message's unwavering strength.
We also draw parallels between our spiritual journey and a relay race—illustrating the critical role of passing the torch to future generations. Through personal stories and reflections, we celebrate the church's responsibility to equip young believers with the wisdom and faith needed to carry the mission forward. Revel in the profound themes of divine love and sacrifice, as we explore the boundless nature of love through vivid imagery and sacred narratives. Concluding with gratitude and worship, we invite you to experience the joy found in the gospel’s everlasting message, embracing the personal and transformative love of Jesus.
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 3:Hello welcome to Valley Gospel Church. 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 in a lost world. So let's go into the service recorded live at Valley Gospel Church.
Speaker 4:So let's go into the service recorded live at Valley Gospel Church. Well, ironically, what the Lord has put on me I have to thank Colette for already doing that ahead of time Happens all the time here. But I'm going to continue on the way I was told to and I'm turning to Luke, chapter 2. And I'm reading. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests. And you'll say, well, that's the same story that Carlette just read and it is the same story. Matter of fact, it's the same story. Matter of fact, it's the same story that I read last year Amen, and it's the same story that's been read for 2,024 years.
Speaker 4:Some of the people in the world might say, well, can't you add a little something new to it, to spice it up a little something? Can't you change it just a little bit? And I asked what can I change in the greatest story that was ever told, the greatest event that ever took place? You see, the story of the birth of Christ and the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ is the foundation on which we stand. I don't know about the world, but that's the foundation that we stand, and without a foundation you don't stand. In a period of time, you crumble. So what is it that we would ever want to change in that? Well, the law has changed over the ages. When I look at the first century church, all the new believers had one doctrine, one gospel, one calling, shared a message of salvation to the world, shared a story of Christ, the one that we just shared. It seemed really simple, but as I followed it through the years, things did change.
Speaker 4:Churches through the centuries have split up into denominations and opposed one another. Doctrines have been rewritten out of the same Bible, but only using bits and pieces. Even the plan of salvation has been altered in some cases or watered down per se to make it easier. Now it is easier to be saved. There ain't but one way to be saved Amen. But it's easier for those who want to be an evangelist but won't yield themselves to the Holy Spirit. So they rewrite it, so they can go out and say I've led 10,000 to the Lord, I have led no one to the Lord. The Holy Spirit has drawn them and I've helped guide them and we all have who teach and preach the Word of God.
Speaker 4:There has been a slow decline in conversions and power within the church. I've even seen the quenching of the Holy Spirit where tongues were forbidden, the speaking in tongues Don't quiver, don't get scared and don't run out but they've forbidden the speaking of tongues or the manifestation of the Spirit or the gifts of the Spirit, and they've shut them down. And I asked the Lord how can this be? Why are they doing this to the greatest story or the greatest event ever told? I mean, when you look at the world, I understand there was some decline, what would appear to be some decline through the periods of time when persecution was severe on the church. I mean it would be your death if you stood up and stood up for Christ. And I've seen where some of them might have went into hiding or some even got afraid and walked away. But I ask the Lord to help me to understand. How can anybody change this story that we live by?
Speaker 4:And I want to read you another piece of scripture real quickly. In John, chapter 8, jesus says I'm the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. And when giving that scripture to me, I said well, it's kind of going into a different sermon, isn't it? And he said no, if you want to look at the decline in the church, you need to look through the light that God has given you to see the reality of what's going on.
Speaker 4:And now I go back and I look and I've seen that, yeah, through the ages and different centuries there was some decline. But looking at it through the light of the Lord, I've also seen that somewhere along that line there was this new burst of revival. The Lord, I've also seen that somewhere along that line there was this new burst of revival, some new young believers being drawn by the power of God that's keeping it going. You say, well, how do you know? I said this is the 21st century. How did it get here from the first century If people declined, if the decline was real and not just an appearance?
Speaker 4:See, the world wants to tell you that Christianity is in decline and I'm telling you it's on fire. We're surrounded by a group of young people in this world today that you just don't see all the time A new people, young and on fire for the Lord Looks like it just come out of nowhere, but it doesn't come out of nowhere. This isn't out of nowhere. This is the Holy Spirit working through the power. Jesus is the light and the light is shining. Let me say this tonight this is going to be brief, but I want to say this tonight I don't want you to ever forget this the Holy Spirit never loses his power and the light of Jesus never gets dim. Amen. God's plan for us ever since the beginning has never changed. It's not going to change, and remember this. The Lord is coming back. Amen, he is coming back, and this gave me a lot of hope as a believer.
Speaker 4:I don't even want to admit this out loud, but as a believer, I go through periods of time when I just don't feel like I'm doing enough to be. I want to pretend to show you how Christian I am. You know, I feel like I'm losing that spiritual power that the Lord has given me and I do believe that at times well, even now I'm just not on fire like I was, daniel, when I was your age. I'm not. I'm not just not on fire and the spirit sat down and talked to me. If you can believe that I hope you do the spirit says there's a valuable truth and it's hard truth, but it's valuable and you need to know this. And I said what is it, god? He said you get no. He said you get no. You're like a oil lamp and the wick has been turned down so you can continue to burn a little bit longer. The candle's getting a little bit shorter, you're getting old. It's life, it's God's plan, the brevity of life. And I said, oh no, how's the gospel going to continue to be spread if I'm not there? And trust me, the gospel of Jesus Christ was never put on my shoulders or mankind's shoulders. God has used mankind through the ages to continue his plan, but it's always been his plan and with that he gave me another scripture and I think this is a very important scripture for us to read tonight. In 2 Timothy 4, verse 7, he says this Paul says this I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Speaker 4:Amen. Paul did that. Paul did that. Paul finished the race. But let me ask you this Is the race over, because Paul got old and can't go on no more. Did the race end? No, no, there's a time that you have to pass that on. You got to turn it over to somebody else. Jesus had to turn it over to somebody else. Jesus' time had come for him to leave and he turned it over to these young disciples, not a bunch of old men about to die. He had a bunch of young guys that he had put the seed and the Holy Spirit in and said you got to carry this on. Paul finished his ministry. Paul did well, but the race wasn't over. Paul's leg of the race was over. Amen. Paul had to pass it on.
Speaker 4:Christianity, followers of Christ, should look at it like you're in a relay race and as you're going along and as we get a little bit older, as the Lord said, you have to be prepared to just pass that on, and I think that in this, oh, I love this church. I do, I love this church, but I love the people even more, because we come to realize here that in this family, that these little ones that we have here today, the ones that go down and and pastor arabelle and andrea and staff and me and daniel got the little rascals on it these are the future worship teams, pastors, evangelists right, these are the ones that were grooming, because we realize here that our candles are burning, amen. We realize that we know there's a day coming pretty soon, bob, I, a lot of us, that our race is about over and your race, our races, are coming to an end. We have to pass this on. We share what God has given us and we share it with the younger ones. There's some here tonight that I think that the message is for some of you that are sitting here tonight too. I'm going to tell you this right now God's message Stephanie, krista, russ, phoebe, daniel, aaron, when he was here, you younger ones, you need to be ready.
Speaker 4:I don't know how much longer he has, but the time is going to be coming, coming, and he's going to need somebody to step up. Amen. You have to step up. I never thought I would have stepped into this lifestyle at all and now I would wish that it would never end. But it will end and it's time for the others to step up.
Speaker 4:I thank God for this church. You know, it's through this vision that the pastor had to where it ain't good enough just for us to come and be here and worship God, which is a wonderful thing. That's what we're called to do. But we can't just think about us. It ain't about us. It's about training up the future to take over, because 21 centuries has been going and we don't know God's plan. It may have to go 21 centuries more. So we need to keep doing what we're doing here. You know it's oh.
Speaker 4:I've learned by being here that it's not our joy or the joy of the Lord is just keeping this church alive. I think it's the joy of the Lord is just keeping us alive. You know, it's that joy of the Lord that keeps us coming back every week. It's that knowing what the Lord would have. Same old story, same old Christmas message Give it every week. It's that knowing what the Lord would have. Same old story, same old Christmas message Give it every year. It doesn't change. But then again, like I said, who can change the greatest story ever told, amen. Now you're real good at praising the Lord. I say we do it some more, amen, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. When I am worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings.
Speaker 1:And when my bankroll is getting small. I think of when I had none at all gone at home and I fall asleep counting my blessings. Jesus, jesus, jesus. There's just something about that name, master Savior, jesus, jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name. Oh, let's praise Him, sing. Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus. There's just something About that name, master, master, savior, jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim.
Speaker 2:Give Him all the glory.
Speaker 1:The kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name Kings and kingdoms. That name Kings and kingdoms. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name.
Speaker 3: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:Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood. When the Prince of life, our ransom, shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He will never be forgotten Throughout heaven's eternal days. On the mount of crucifixion, fountains open, deep and wide, through the flood, gates of God's mercy float a vast and gracious tide, like mighty rivers poured incense from above. Oh, heaven's peace and perfect justice Kissed a guilty world in love. Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood, when the prints of life, our ransom, shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember, he will not remember. Who can cease to sing His praise? He will never be forgotten throughout His eternal days, eternal days. On the mount Of crucifixion, fountains open, deep and wide, through the flood, gates of God's mercy Float a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love like mighty rivers, poured in sense and from above. Heaven's peace and perfect justice Kissed a guilty world in love, who His love will not remember and who can cease to sing his praise? Oh, he can never be forgotten throughout his eternal days, forgotten throughout heaven's eternal days. Grace and love like mighty rivers, poured in steps and from above. Oh, heaven's peace and perfect justice from above. Oh, heaven's peace and perfect justice. Kissed a guilty world in love. Heaven's peace and perfect justice. Kissed a guilty world in love.
Speaker 1:Oh how he loves you and me. Oh how he loves you and me. He gave his life. What more could he give? Oh how he loves you. Oh how he loves me, oh how he loves me. Oh how he loves you and me. Let's sing it again oh how he loves you and me. Oh how he loves you and me. Oh how he loves you and me. He gave his life. What more could he give? Oh how he loves you. Oh how he loves me, oh how he loves you and me. Sing it again oh how he loves you and me. Sing it again oh how he loves you and me. Oh how he loves you and me. He gave His life. What more could he give? Oh how he loves you, oh how he loves me. Oh how he loves you and me.