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Hans R. Waldvogel

Hans Rudolf Waldvogel (1893 - 1969). Swiss-American Pentecostal pastor and evangelist born in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Emigrating to the U.S. as a child, he grew up in Chicago, working in his family’s jewelry business until a conversion experience in 1916 led him to ministry. In 1920, he left business to serve as assistant pastor at Kenosha Pentecostal Assembly in Wisconsin for three years, then pursued itinerant evangelism. In 1925, he co-founded Ridgewood Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn, New York, pastoring it for decades and growing it into a vibrant community emphasizing prayer and worship. Influenced by A.B. Simpson, Waldvogel rejected sectarianism, focusing on Christ’s centrality and the Holy Spirit’s work. He delivered thousands of sermons, many recorded, stressing spiritual rest and intimacy with God. Married with children, he lived simply, dedicating his life to preaching across the U.S. His messages, blending Swiss precision with Pentecostal fervor, remain accessible through archives
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Hans R. Waldvogel emphasizes the necessity of faith in the process of healing, urging believers to trust in God's promises as revealed in Scripture. He reflects on his own journey of overcoming doubt and discovering the abundance of healing available through Christ, who took on our infirmities. Waldvogel challenges the congregation to believe in the unseen power of God and to approach Him with the expectation of wholeness, as Jesus asks, 'Wilt thou be made whole?' He highlights that faith is not just a feeling but a substantial reality rooted in the resurrection of Christ, which empowers believers to receive healing.
Talk on Healing (John 5: "Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?")
Selected Verses: Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Isaiah 53:1. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Johh 5:6. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Opening: When I came to God for healing, I had a hard time because I had been indoctrinated in the Baptist way. And so I needed help. I needed healing, and I said, “Well, I’m going to find out whether it’s in the Bible.” And I found the Bible chock full of it—chock full of healing from one page to the other, and never one word against it—not a single word to inspire unbelief, but everywhere the call of God to believe, to “hope against hope.” And I found out that it is “impossible to please God” excepting as I believe Him. “He that cometh to God must believe.” Well, what shall I believe? I said, “I’m going to believe the Bible. I’m going to believe this book.” I told you about the preacher I dealt with who didn’t believe in divine healing. And one day I visited him, and he said, “My goodness, I never knew how sick I was until I read the doctor book.” He had a doctor book that described all the sicknesses in the calendar, and so when he saw something described that he thought he had, why then, he thought, “My goodness, I didn’t know how sick I was. I thought I was sick, but now this doctor book tells me how sick I am.” But here’s a doctor book that tells me how well I am,—glory to God!—shows me the “unsearchable riches of Christ,” glory to God! And I said, “I’m going to find out whether it’s in the Bible, and if it’s in the Bible, I’m going to stand on it, and I’m going to believe God, and I’m going to take it, and consider it settled forever.” And I found out not only that the Bible was chock full of promises, but here was provision! here was a fountain! here was a limitless ocean of life! Glory to God! And when He says, “Without faith it is impossible” to please Him, He says, “faith is substance.” It isn’t reaching up into the air where there’s nothing—it’s substance. It’s a substance that’s more substancious than the things you feel and the things you see, because that Substance is the resurrected Son of God—His resurrection life! … Selected Quotes: “Blessed are they that have not seen.” There’s something unseen that is substance: it’s Christ, resurrected from the dead, Christ “who was delivered for our offenses,” and who “Himself took our infirmities” upon Himself. Now if Jesus Christ had pointed to Gabriel, or to Michael, one of the archangels, and said, “Now, you foolish boy, I’m going to make him suffer with your corns, and your mumps, and your measles,” then you’d have faith, wouldn’t you? But instead of that, Jesus Christ took all our infirmities upon Himself. And in order to make the healing available to us, He had to “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil,” and “bring life and immortality to light through the gospel.” But, “who hath believed our report?” That’s always the question: who hath believed what God says? We believe what the doctor says. … Oh, how we ought to study about faith, how we ought to study Jesus! That Isaiah 53 is written directly and personally for you, never mind all the others, but for you. It’s written for you! “To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” Why, God desires to manifest His power. “The arm of the Lord” refers to that wonderful power of salvation for body, soul, and spirit. We have often quoted this text: “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,” and what are they looking for? They’re looking for you! When Jesus came from heaven, He constantly looked for people that needed Him. And then He offered Himself to them. And when that woman at Samaria’s well said, “Oh, when Christ comes, he’ll help us. Oh, how we need him.” He said, “Why, here I am. I’m here—right here. And if you knew Me, you’d ask Me, and I’d give you—without question—I’d give you a living fountain of water, not just a few drops to quench your thirst now, but I’d put a well inside of you.” … “There was at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk”—of Baptists, of Methodists, of Presbyterians, of Pentecostal people, of Catholics—“waiting for the moving of the water.” You go to these divine healing meetings, and you see the same gang in every meeting—the same noses. I’ve been there. They’ll let Bosworth pray for them, and if they don’t get healed, then they go to Wigglesworth. And if they don’t get healed there, then they go to Oral Roberts, and then they [don’t] get healed there, and then they go to Osborn. Why don’t you just come to Jesus Christ? … And Jesus asked a wonderful question, which He asks of you too: “You want to be made whole? Why, that’s what God Almighty sent Me down from heaven for, and I’m always looking for somebody, that I can prove My power, that I can prove the faithfulness of God. I’m just looking for somebody that has no more help anywhere else. And I will glorify the Father by: ‘Come on! Get up! Run!’” … What good would it do you to hang out a shingle and say, “I am the Lord, thy Physician,” if you can’t heal me? It wouldn’t do Him any good—it wouldn’t honor Him. That’s why He put that in the Bible: “Wilt thou be made whole?” Now, it’s up to you. … I tell you, we fool around with the word of God. We ought to recognize that “faith is substance.” You’re dealing with a victory that’s already accomplished. You’re dealing with the Christ who has already borne your affliction, and has been raised from the dead by the power of God, that now He might fill your body with resurrection life. But only faith appropriates it. And that’s where our trouble comes in. That’s where the fight comes in. … Oh, beloved, faith is substance—faith is Christ waiting to glorify Himself! He says, “The body is dead because of sin.” Don’t be surprised if you catch a cold once in a while. And don’t be surprised if you got a kink in the back. But don’t run and wait for the angel to stir you up. Here is God Almighty: He says, “The spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.” What does He want? What does He want? I couldn’t live without Him! … German at 11:34: Du siehst aber so elend aus. — But you look so miserable.
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Hans Rudolf Waldvogel (1893 - 1969). Swiss-American Pentecostal pastor and evangelist born in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Emigrating to the U.S. as a child, he grew up in Chicago, working in his family’s jewelry business until a conversion experience in 1916 led him to ministry. In 1920, he left business to serve as assistant pastor at Kenosha Pentecostal Assembly in Wisconsin for three years, then pursued itinerant evangelism. In 1925, he co-founded Ridgewood Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn, New York, pastoring it for decades and growing it into a vibrant community emphasizing prayer and worship. Influenced by A.B. Simpson, Waldvogel rejected sectarianism, focusing on Christ’s centrality and the Holy Spirit’s work. He delivered thousands of sermons, many recorded, stressing spiritual rest and intimacy with God. Married with children, he lived simply, dedicating his life to preaching across the U.S. His messages, blending Swiss precision with Pentecostal fervor, remain accessible through archives