Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
The Certainty of These Things
What happened when a new diabetes diagnosis intersected with the Christmas season at Valley Gospel Church? Join us as this personal story unfolds, giving light to a poignant message of faith. The episode kicks off with an inspiring musical performance by Stephanie and Colette, creating an atmosphere ripe for reflection on the true nature of Christmas. We journey back to the time of Mary and Joseph, delving into the complexities and faith challenges of their remarkable journey, as depicted in the gospels of Luke and Matthew. Through their trials, we explore how submission to God's will can transform our spiritual lives, drawing parallels between their story and Jesus' own path of obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The narrative deepens as we consider the arrival of Jesus, the Savior, in humble beginnings, as recounted in Luke 2. This powerful chapter invites us to reflect on Mary's quiet contemplation of the miraculous birth and her pivotal role as a mother. We examine how Jesus, despite his modest start, embodies the ultimate power and glory, reshaping our spiritual journey and purpose. As you listen, be reminded of the enduring presence of Jesus, whose influence can profoundly affect our lives, even when our circumstances seem unchanged. Let this episode be a guide to nurturing faith through the wisdom of scripture and the practice of spiritual gifts.
God Will Open. 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:We'll bring the first message of 2025, but this song that Stephanie and Colette are gonna do is so fitting and so appropriate along with the theme of the message. So before we dismiss for our Sunday school classes, they're going to do this song. Amen, you want to get this, judy. Make sure you record the song so it's part of the Ladies. Whenever Mary, did you know that your baby boy Would someday walk on water.
Speaker 4:Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you deliver will soon deliver you, Mary. Did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby you kissed the face of God? The blind will see, the deaf will hear praises of the Lamb? Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary? Did you know that your baby boy Will one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy was heaven's perfect lamb? The sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.
Speaker 3:I am Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. I said this is somewhat of a post-Christmas Christmas message, but we're still in the season, correct? So I can do this. You know, we celebrate the holidays Christmas with warm fires and gift giving and decoration, feasts, merriment, lots of food, russian tea cakes. Required to do some blood work this fall and they did the blood test and they said, oh, you're diabetic and I, I don't know what that means. Well, it's blood sugar and it's carbs and sugar and you're going to have to take this and this and this and this. And I listened for a moment and then I said you know, if this is something I can regulate with my diet, then I can fix this. So I completely fasted from sugar, which wasn't fun, fasted from sugar, which wasn't fun, and cut the carbs down and brought my blood sugar way down. This Christmas I ran into some of Colette's Russian tea cakes, which is why I'm bringing this up. Which is why I'm bringing this up, and it's so. Arabelle and Stephanie have been so supportive and they watch and buy me sugar-free this and sugar-free that and you know, and for a beekeeper, no honey. That's it's been. It's been a little weird, but Stephanie came in and I had white powder all over my face and she said is that sugar? I said no, it's cocaine. All right, leave me alone. It's cocaine. Oh, okay, so we were all right.
Speaker 3:All the events in our Christmas celebration, everything that you did, everything that surrounded your celebration and still happening this week, the events that surrounded that first Christmas were anything but merry. In reality, the Christmas story, biblically speaking, is a story of sin and treachery, assassins, real cloak and dagger stuff, and really nobody was Mary. In fact, most of those involved showed us the condition of the world at that time, a world lost in sin, seeing no way out. Herod showed just how far he was willing to go just to keep his power. Priests and scribes so willing to give Jesus up before they even knew all the ramifications, just so willing to give him up that there wouldn't be an assault on their power and their influence. Midnight flights into Egypt to save Jesus' life, slaughter of hundreds of children as Herod tried to kill the Christ. That's the reality of the first Christmas.
Speaker 3:One of the other truths of that first Christmas and I'm just going to bring it home into our living room here is there was a relationship issue Mary and Joseph. I thought about this. Jeff and Jamie, do you remember when you guys did this skit about Joseph and Mary? My goodness, that was eons ago. But when Mary and Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, there was a bit of a time lapse. And between the time that Mary found out that she was having the Holy Ghost baby and the time that Joseph found out that Mary was having the Holy Ghost baby, there's a time lapse there.
Speaker 3:So to have our post ChristmasChristmas Christmas message, two readings this morning One from Luke 1. Luke 1 and 28. And Matthew 1. So they're nice and close together. We'll get them. So whenever you get there, luke 1 and 28., we'll begin there. Whenever you get there, I'll ask you to please stand for the reading of God's word, luke 1 and 28,.
Speaker 3:And the angel came in unto her. And 28,. This should be. God shall give unto him the throne of his father, david, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom. There shall be no end. Then, said Mary unto the angel how shall this be seeing? I know not a man. And the angel answered and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God, if you just skip back to Matthew 1 and 19.
Speaker 3:Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel. What the Lord has given me to examine is what happened between this young couple who were engaged, love under intense pressure from family, friends, neighbor, the church. And I wonder what the conversation that lies between Luke 1 and Matthew 1 was like. What was that conversation? The Bible makes no real mention of it, but it might have been something like this, and I'll use for a subject this morning the words that Luke spoke to Theophilus the certainty of those things. The certainty of those things, which is what he opens the chapter of Luke with. The certainty of those things, let's pray, heavenly Father. Thank you, lord. Thank you for this post-Christmas Christmas message, lord. Lord, I'm so awed by your tremendous power, lord, I'm so awed by your tremendous power and your influence. Lord, I ask that your people not only hear and receive, lord, but that I'm able to rightly deliver and elaborate on that which you have given me. Lord, let this word this morning be a lamp and a light. It is in the name of your precious Son we pray. Amen and amen. Please be seated Now.
Speaker 3:Luke began that book and I just want to do a little historical background here. Luke began the book as well as the book of Acts addressing Theophilus. Now, we don't know who Theophilus is really. I know there's a lot of supposition as to who he was or whether he was really just a universal name addressing the church Lots of thoughts on that but Luke calls him most excellent. So I believe that he is a high-ranking official of some kind, whether Greek or Roman. And Luke goes on to give him the advent of Christ, the birth of Jesus.
Speaker 3:Now, tradition says that Mary came from a little town called Sepphoris Sepphoris, a few miles away from Nazareth, not very far at all. It's how she met Joey. She's the daughter of Joachim and Anne. They were Nazarites Nazarenes what does that mean? That means that they were an ultra-conservative group within Judaism. They were holiness people. If we put it in terms of Christianity, they were holiness people. They wore the long dresses and the hair bobs and that's who they were. From the Nazarenes, mary learned about life. Now, very few people visited this little town. It had very little wealth, it had no commerce to speak of, but it was full of life. Children were born, couples were married, sheep got lost, young men left home.
Speaker 3:The people of Nazareth had a strong faith, a strong and abiding faith in God. They were descendants of Abraham and lived under constant political threat, but they believed God would send a Messiah. That was their strength. God would send a Messiah and he would deliver them from their oppression. Mary shared this zealous faith. She was a holiness girl herself, but she didn't stand out. You know I guess we get this depiction that she was very different from everybody in Sepphoris. She wasn't Everybody believed. She was pretty much the same.
Speaker 3:When she was in her early teens, 15 maybe at the oldest her parents arranged for her to be married. They chose Joseph the carpenter. The engagement took place. Then Mary returned home to Sepphoris to spend a year with her family until she would return to live with Joseph. That's just. That was the tradition, that was the custom, that's how it was done.
Speaker 3:But something happened. Something happened that would turn Se Sephoris upside down and we can only imagine Mary and Joseph's life after the angel left that we read about in Luke, that angel's message that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, she would bring forth the Son of the Highest. That message must have struck like lightning. They experienced fear, perplexity, anger. Everything about my life has now changed. Everything was upside down After the angel gave his message.
Speaker 3:There was joy, there was awe, but the angel left and Mary and Joseph were all alone, all alone, and in Sepphoris, life went on. Life went on as usual. See the town? Didn't the townspeople, the neighbors, the friends, the acquaintances? They didn't see the angel. They didn't hear the message. They didn't hear. Don't worry, this is the Holy Ghost, baby. They were still tending fields, they were feeding sheep, they were sowing. They were still tending fields. They were feeding sheep, they were sowing, they were reaping, they were harvesting, casting sideways glances at Mary and Joseph. Yeah, yeah, right, an angel, an angel. The word of God was made flesh. And Mary and Joseph, their life was turned upside down. But to this little town, to this little community, they were still just teenagers. They were still a couple of love-struck teenagers who really didn't know what they were talking about and we kind of avoid anything they have to say or their story. But here's the point Both of them had just completely. Joseph and Mary had relinquished total control of their lives to the Holy Ghost. They gave it all up.
Speaker 3:You see, when God begins a new work in our life, whatever God's called you to, when he takes you to a new level or you suddenly begin to understand, you suddenly begin to understand, to really get the intricacies of God's desire in your life. Maybe you're beginning to see God's hand move in your life, maybe you're understanding your work a little better, maybe you're understanding your walk in the Spirit and what that means. Your walk in the Spirit and what that means You're turning over control of your life to the Holy Spirit and you're hearing his voice. He's leading you, he's speaking to you. You're seeing prayers answered and maybe now and I don't think I'm wrong here maybe now you wonder why doesn't my sister get it? Why isn't my brother? Why doesn't he understand? Why doesn't my mother? Why aren't my kids? Why aren't they seeing this clearly and completely? Why isn't my mother? Why aren't my kids? Why aren't they seeing this clearly and completely? Why isn't my husband get this? Or my wife?
Speaker 3:It's why Mary said I am a handmaid of the Lord. That was Mary's response. I'm a handmaid of the Lord, submitting to the will of God, and that's a real relationship. That's the relationship that we're required to have with God. Submission to his will rather than our will, rather than what we want, what we desire, how we see it.
Speaker 3:Submission look. Submission in God's economy. See, god's economy doesn't work like ours. Submission in his economy makes you more powerful than you would ever imagine. Submission is a true godly virtue. Jesus in the garden, do you remember what he said, father? If there be another way, let this cup pass from me. I don't want to do this, but nonetheless, your will not mine. Your will not mine.
Speaker 3:Look, satan doesn't really. He doesn't really fear our worship. He doesn't really fear our preaching. He doesn't even fear our preaching. He doesn't even fear our prayer. He fears your submission. That's what he fears. He fears your submission because he knows a submitted child of God has been given the authority of God, has been given that authority and is willing to be led wherever, whenever, whenever.
Speaker 3:When we're submitted, we have the authority over the powers of darkness. When we're submitted, then we can actually say we are powerful, we're powerful. That's the certainty of those things that Luke wrote, the certainty of those things Jesus, yeshua, joshua, whatever language you want to say his name in, as you sang this morning about that name. It's the same in every language and it means the salvation of Jehovah. Jesus is the salvation of Jehovah. He took on human flesh. Think about this, and that's what the Advent is all about. He took on human flesh. Think about this, and that's what the Advent is all about. He took on human flesh. He left the pageantry, the beauty of heaven, left 500 trillion angels praising him day and night, left perfect communion with his dad, perfect relationship, perfect communion with his dad, perfect relationship. Submitted himself to become the perfect sacrifice. Wow, I don't know. A king who submitted himself to become a lamb. A lamb led to slaughter. A king submitted to become a lamb, a ransom for all.
Speaker 3:Maybe you're saying this morning you know, pastor, I don't feel powerful. Maybe you're saying I don't even feel saved. Or maybe you feel afraid, or apprehensive, or anxious. Maybe you're feeling a little doubtful this morning, especially with all the things that went on over the holidays and the things that didn't go quite well. What we are as Christians is not by feeling, it's not by feeling, it's not by sensation. I don't feel married, but I am. I don't feel 70, in spite of Ted's prophetic words the other night that I don't have long for this world. Maybe you all don't have long for this world.
Speaker 4:Maybe you all don't feel like a warrior in God's army, at least not all the time.
Speaker 3:Maybe you don't feel like a child forgiven or a soul set free and you keep dredging up the past, the things that you did, the things that should make you unqualified or at least make God angry with you. Maybe this morning you don't feel delivered or even anointed to the pulling down of strongholds. Here's the message the Holy Ghost sent me with this morning you are, you are, not by what you feel, but by what this says. You are Amen. I am who I am because the I am tells me who I am, because the I am tells me who I am. You are what you are in Christ, not by sensation, not by feeling, but by faith in what God said and Mary. Mary submitted to God, not by her feelings, not how this was going to look when she went back to class, but by her faith in what the Lord had to say. And Mary trusted him. She trusted him. Now, when the angel left and Mary and Joseph were alone, they faced a lot of questions, as I'm sure you know, with only faith to guide them. That's all they had. They didn't have counselors, those that they could talk to, especially about this. You know, if they went to a priest or a counselor that said you know you're evil, you're wicked. What did you do here? But what about their marriage? How would this go? Would there be a divorce in their future? Would there be issues along the way? Would Joe have one of those nights where it was like I don't know? I don't know if that's the Holy Ghost, I know what the angel told me, but would there be a stoning in the future? The shame, the reproach, and how would they explain? How would they explain the mysteries of God and this angel that no one else saw? How would they explain it? God answered their prayers when Joseph was visited by an angel himself and we read what he said Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The child that she's carrying is a child of the Holy Spirit. So together, together, mary and Joseph, would submit and do the will of God, regardless of the repercussions, in spite of the stares, in spite of the name-calling that I'm sure happened, the gossip, the comments, having only each other and an abiding faith in God. See, that's why, god, that's why, in community and in relationship that God put us together. In community and in relationship that God put us together, because that's important that we have one another.
Speaker 3:The hall of faith. How many of you know where the hall of faith is? Hebrews 11, amen. The hall of faith says well, it says a lot of things, but faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Speaker 3:It's seeing, you know, and we get questioned on that particular verse all the time, but it's seeing with spiritual eyes. That's what the point is Seeing what God has promised before it's materialized. It's seeing Lazarus walk from the tomb before the stones even rolled away. You know that was such a powerful depiction on the chosen when Jesus stood outside the tomb and called Lazarus to come out. And that's exactly the truth that Jesus stood outside. He already saw him coming out. It's seeing the walls of Jericho flattened before one stone fell, and I'll bring it home. It's seeing your child, your relative, your brother, your sister with hands raised praising God before they even come through a church door Hallelujah. It's seeing your loved ones set free while they're still bound in addiction.
Speaker 3:Glory. It's seeing yourself in a godly relationship with a man or a woman while you're still by yourself. If that's what you desire, that's what you desire, but that's only half the verse. The evidence of things not seen. The proof, the proof that what you hope, what you pray for, what you desire, has come to pass. The thing that you have not yet touched, not yet realized, not yet received. Knowing that God's promises are true and the proof is he's free from bondage, she's free from bondage, amen. Knowing all things are possible and the proof is the treatment, the surgery, dean, was successful. Hallelujah, glory. Knowing that our Lord will make a way where there is no way. Amen, your faith is your faith.
Speaker 3:It's so hard to describe faith, but faith is what we're rooted in. When you get a plant in really good soil deep vermiculite, peat, moss, black soil do you ever notice how hard it is to get it out of the pot because it's rooted so strongly and sometimes've got to cut the side of the pot? Right, ted, can't get it out. Can't get it. It won't come out. It likes it there. It's perfect. It's a perfect environment. That's our faith. That's our faith. We won't come out. We won't come out free. I will not walk away. We won't come out free. I will not walk away. I will not turn my back. This is who I am, this is where I am and this is where I'll stay Glory. Sorry for the landscape analogy, it's all that rolls in my head. But here's the thing we need to feed our faith. You and I need to feed our faith.
Speaker 3:Did you ever hear someone say well, I wish I had her faith, I wish I had man. If I had his faith I could move mountains. Feed it, feed it, feed your faith. Feed it by hearing the word of God, feed it by reading the Word of God. Feed it by reading the Word of God. Feed it by practicing or being in practice with the gifts of the Spirit. Amen. Practice praying in the Spirit. I don't mean practice where you rehearse it, but let the Holy Spirit move, especially in your private time. Pray in the Spirit. Paul said he prays in the Spirit every day. Feed it with Bible study. Let's close with Luke, luke 2. And this puts it all in perspective, at least for me Luke 2 and 1.
Speaker 3:It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed, and this taxing was first made in Cyrenius, the governor of Syria, and all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city, and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of the lineage of David to be taxed, with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn, and there was, in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore, afraid, and the angel said unto them Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born and you will find the baby. We'll stop right here and you will find, and this will be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. No real fanfare, no fireworks, no bright lights. Here he is, no blinking arrows telling us where he lay, no bells, no whistles. But here's the proof, here's the proof. You, here's the proof, you'll find the baby. You'll find the baby. You'll find the Messiah lying in a manger, in a feeding trough. That's where he was.
Speaker 3:Manger makes it sound like this neat word. It was a feeding trough Wrapped in swaddling clothes. And I told you on, I don't know, christmas Eve maybe, but it was what an epiphany for me when I read that the shepherds of that time would wrap the ones that they were sending to temple for sacrifice. They would wrap the little lambs in burlap so that it wouldn't get damaged or hurt or injured or have an imperfection, because the lamb had to be perfect. So to hear the words of Luke saying you'll find the baby, you'll find the perfect lamb wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Speaker 3:And as for Mary, the Bible says she treasured these things in her heart. You know, joseph dies at some point and there's just the slightest implication and we never hear about him again. But it says that Mary treasured these things in her heart, pondered them. It says that Mary treasured these things in her heart, pondered them. I believe this is one of those instances. I think the Greek word is symbolo and it means that she thought about it continuously. That's all she could think about what had happened, this baby that you're holding. When you touch your little baby, you've touched the face of God. Wow, and it's no wonder. That's all she thought about, that's all that was on her mind. We having lunch today, mom, nah, fix something yourself.
Speaker 3:All she and Joseph had been through fear, hurt, doubt. And what would God do now? The baby you delivered will soon deliver you. How would she and Joseph raise the Messiah? How do you raise a Messiah? How do you raise a Messiah? How do you raise God? Get down from there, you'll get hurt. Don't run with that stick. Well, run with it if you want, after he got a little older and you be home by whenever you want. You know best their lives, their cares would continue, but their lives, their world, would never be the same, never be the same. That little baby would be not only the head of the church, but he would be the commander in chief. He would be the head of all this little baby. He was the final authority in all matters.
Speaker 3:We used to sing a song I lay in Zion a true stone. We used to sing a song I lay in Zion a true stone, a precious stone, a sure foundation. These things are that, these things that Luke spoke of that. This little baby is the awesome God of the universe. How do you wrap your head around that? That he was the ancient of days, that he is Yahweh and Jehovah and Yeshua, and that power unleashed from the manger changed heaven and it changed earth forever. These things are the things that this baby rescued Shadrach, meshach, abednego. This baby rescued them. This baby created. Everything that was created was created by him. This baby defeated Lucifer. This baby was called Faithful and True. He was Alpha and Omega. He would walk on water, he would turn it to wine, he would raise the dead and he sets the captives free. This baby, this baby, will gently guide you and I on our path. He will change our course. He will appoint and anoint us as we allow. He will empower us to present the gospel for his glory. And really I am closing.
Speaker 3:When you leave this morning, is it still morning? No, when you leave this afternoon, you still have the same job. You'll still have the same family. You'll still go to the same school. You'll still have the same wife or husband. But you can decide this Christmas season. You can decide. It'll be like no other. Like no other, maybe no rockets or fireworks, but today, the burden that you've carried for so long can be lifted. Leave it here. Leave it here when you walk out. The hurt, the sorrow, let it stay here. These things, these things that Luke spoke about, were wrapped in swaddling and they were placed under your tree. Jesus wrapped in flesh, glory was the very first Christmas present. Amen. Have a blessed rest of your holiday.
Speaker 5:Would you stand please? 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 4:Thank you, jesus. Shout Jesus from the mountains. Shout Jesus in the mountains. Shout Jesus in the streets. Shout Jesus in the darkness over every enemy. Shout Jesus for your family. I speak the holy name of Jesus. Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. Shout Jesus from the mountains. Shout Jesus in the streets. Shout Jesus in the darkness over every enemy. Shout Jesus for your family. I speak the holy name of Jesus, of Jesus. Your name is power. Your name 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.
Speaker 1: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.
Speaker 4:I speak Jesus. Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. Burn like a fire. Shout Jesus from the mountains. Shout Jesus in the streets. Shout Jesus in the darkness, over every enemy. Shout Jesus for your family. I speak the holy name of Jesus. Your name is power. Your name is healing.
Speaker 1:Your name is life, break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows, burn like a fire. Yes, lord, hallelujah to the Lamb.
Speaker 4:We glorify your name, jesus. There is pure power in the name of Jesus. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord Most high. Oh, let's sing it another time. Blessed be the name of the Lord, hallelujah. Blessed be the name of the Lord, hallelujah. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High.