The fellowship of His sufferings

During the turbulent years of Brother Lindsey’s ministry he was injured and beaten numerous times by hostile crowds and anti-war protestors. Within those riotous crowds were certain groups such as members of the Hell’s Angel’s motorcycle group, the Manson family, and members of the Black Panther Movement. As a result of anti-war protestors and mob crowds Hubert was injured by their hostility over 100 times in one year. His wife Phoebe was also physically and mentally injured during that period of time. As a result of those beatings Hubert had lost his eyesight twice however; he was marvelously healed by Christ once. He became blind again in the mid 1970’s and remained blind throughout the latter years of his ministry until he died. Hubert always confessed that Christ was going to heal those blind eyes again, the second time!

Blindness never affected Brother Lindsey’s preaching for 29 years because he had almost the entire Bible memorized. He could preach endlessly and explain in detail verses, chapters, and books from the Bible with very little effort. Hubert’s memory was indescribable! His memory allowed him to live up to the nickname, “the Walking Bible.” It’s hard to comprehend but Hubert’s memory of the Bible and ministration of the Spirit allowed him to captivate people’s attention and interest. He would preach Christ in the Spirit and impact hearts and souls with the power of God’s Divine Grace.

Even though Hubert suffered and was beaten numerous times by an ungodly and riotous people he always came back with love in his heart. Love enabled him to keep on preaching Christ even to those who beat him. His return to that crowd only magnified the love of God in the heart of a man commissioned to do a work for Christ. Hubert would modestly tell those who hurt him, “I will love you until the end” and he meant every word he spoke. Any one that knew Brother Lindsey knew his amiable spirit, his compassion for the sinner, and how much he loved humanity. He never deviated from the love God put in his heart! Hubert’s love was heartfelt and truly proven by action as a Christian! His love for humanity even for those who beat him was a testimony for Christ that spoke by his example. Love for God and love for humanity, even for those who beat him is just another reason why Hubert was nick named, “Holy Hubert”. Only a true man of God could have a heart to love those who beat him and still not gripe or hold a grudge against them. Brother Lindsey never wavered from his love for man or for Christ. He walked in love as he made himself an offering for the Christ he served.

Eph 5:2…And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

Hubert suffered from opposition because his holiness preaching conflicted with the fallen nature of man. Hubert’s compassion toward fallen man allowed him to understand why men “reject” Christ and Christ’s messengers. Hubert’s love allowed him to love those who rejected him. Hubert Lindsey understood that the fellowship of suffering he experienced for Christ made him conformable unto Christ’s death. Brother Lindsey’s fellowship of suffering allowed him to understand why he was sometimes hated, sometimes rejected, and often misunderstood for the Christ he served. Resurrection power from God helped Hubert Lindsey to endure suffering like the Apostle Paul wrote about in his Epistles.

Phil 3:10-15…That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Hubert expounded on the above verse with much clarity. He used the Greek to explain how that resurrection can mean being resurrected “out from among the dead”. Resurrection in Philippians 3:10-15 implies a resurrection without dying! Entire Sanctification which was the heart of Brother Lindsey’s Gospel is the Spiritual work of the resurrection power of God in the heart and life of a Christian, “This side of Heaven”. Like the Apostle Paul, Hubert Lindsey taught that a sanctified man can deal with suffering for the cause of Christ because Christ suffered. A sanctified man who preaches holiness knows Christ; the power of His resurrection; and the fellowship of His suffering.

There are many details about Hubert’s opposition and suffering for Christ’s sake that will surface throughout this biography. This writer’s expectations are with hope to clarify how Brother Lindsey’s fellowship of suffering was made perfect in the eyes of God. Hubert Lindsey had a servant’s heart that allowed him to be conformable unto Christ’s death. Hubert gave himself as Christ gave himself. Hubert ministered Christ to any one and to every one who would hear. Hubert’s main objective in life was to get people to Christ. The sanctified life that Brother Lindsey experienced was the source of power and strength that helped him to endure suffering like all other Apostles suffered before him.

1 Peter 4:13-14…But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.